Football finance expert suggests Liverpool could struggle to find suitors for stars | OneFootball

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has suggested that Liverpool could struggle to cash in on players if they decide to move on any of their stars.

Maguire says that Liverpool need to balance the books by selling players before they sign replacements, due to the financial situation at the club. He adds that there is now a relatively small pool of clubs that have the money to be able to afford Mo Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino because of their form in recent years.

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire offered his insight into the current state of the transfer market from Liverpool’s perspective. “To a certain extent, you have to look at one out, one in, in order to keep the books balanced. The front three, they’ve all had advanced contracts since moving to the club.

“So even if the club did want to move them on, and there’s no evidence of that, there are a relatively small pool of clubs who would be able to buy them.

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“Because their transfer fees would be considerable because of their achievements over the last couple of seasons. They’ve got players to come back from injury as well, which will make a difference.

“We will see a struggle all around for clubs to move players on who are on big contracts.”

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Salah, Mane and Firmino all turn 29 next season and it could be a good time for Liverpool to cash in on one, or two, of them and refreshing the side with younger players. Jurgen Klopp could need to plan for the next generation of his team as his front three head towards their 30’s, which means signing forwards to replace them. If Maguire is right and the pool of clubs able to spend big on Salah, Mane and Firmino is small then Liverpool could have a tough time finding buyers/replacing them.

However, there is evidence to suggest that Liverpool’s transfer team have the ability to find players capable of performing for the club. Diogo Jota was signed in the summer from fellow Premier League side Wolves and scored nine goals in nine starts before suffering an injury earlier this season, suggesting that they could have found a long-term successor to Firmino through the middle.

The next task could be replacing Mane and Salah’s goals and contributions from out wide, although they do still have a few years left in them – with both being 28. Hopefully, the financial landscape changes in the next few years and there are more clubs able to put up the funds required to pay Liverpool good money, which could then enable them to spend well on players to come into the club.