Liverpool’s transfer bragging rights and why they won’t be concerned by angry Daniel Levy

In pictures: Crystal Palace v Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was previously allowed to splash the cash at Anfield to build a mega squad, and he did exactly that. But the business at the Reds has recently been kept to the bare minimum, and that was the case in January as well.

The Reds repeated their trick of only signing one player from the summer, then it was Ibrahima Konate, by acquiring the services of exciting winger Luis Diaz.

The Colombia international looked destined to move the Premier Leave rivals Tottenham Hotspur but Liverpool managed to hijack the deal at the very last minute and persuade the forward to come to Anfield.

According to The Athletic, Spurs had agreed on the transfer with both Porto and the player but his agent was unhappy about Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes mandating the transfer and thus invited interest from other clubs.

Klopp’s side were expected to pursue the 25-year-old in the summer and therefore couldn’t allow Diaz to move without putting up a fight, putting a replica deal on the table – with the exact fee that Tottenham had previously negotiated – which was accepted.

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Of course, the underhand dealings of Liverpool have infuriated Spurs’ Daniel Levy and there is an expectation that the previously-positive relationship between the two clubs will now have turned sour.

But is that really anything to worry about for Klopp and Reds supporters?

According to LFChistory, Liverpool have only ever bought three players from Tottenham and sold them nine, so it was hardly a fruit-bearing relationship for either club.

Robbie Keane in 2009 was the last player exchanged between the two sides, which goes to prove that being potentially ‘blacklisted’ by Spurs will hardly affect Klopp’s men will hardly feel the consequences of stealing Diaz from the grasp of the North London outfit.

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Another reason why Liverpool won’t fear this supposed ‘relationship’ breaking down is that Spurs no longer have the plethora of talent that they would be keen to sign.

Barring Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, it is unlikely that any of the Spurs squad would even make the matchday squad for the Reds on a regular basis.

Although the Merseyside outfit have a gap to close on league leaders Manchester City, they will be looking to improve on certain positions by bringing in the best of the best.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham has been linked with a move to Anfield in order to solve Klopp’s midfield issues, and if that deal doesn’t conclude then it is incredibly unlikely that the Reds will be looking at Harry Winks, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg or Oliver Skipp as alternatives.

Diaz is a smart coup by Liverpool and one that will provide them with immense quality in the final third.

The ex-Porto star scored 14 goals in 18 appearances in the Primeira Liga before making the move to England last weekend, and his clinical edge should push Sadio Mane to improve.

Question marks are still being raised as to whether Mohamed Salah will sign a contract extension at Liverpool, though the arrival of Diaz could mean that this is no longer a pressing issue given that Mane could return to the right-wing – though losing the Egyptian would be a hammer blow.

It remains to be seen how well Diaz does in the Premier League and whether Spurs live to regret not pushing the deal through sooner.

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