There’s a basic point worth making whenever a transfer rumour starts doing the rounds: Arne Slot won’t be sitting there with the final stamp on every deal. Liverpool have never really worked like that, and they’re not about to become a one-man show now.
If a player is genuinely available, and the people above the head coach want him, the club will move. That’s not me pretending it’s simple, because it isn’t. But the idea that a move collapses purely because the manager “doesn’t fancy him” is often the easiest story to tell, not necessarily the truest one.
Who actually decides?
This is where the Edwards point lands. Whether you love that model or hate it, Liverpool’s recruitment has typically been driven by a wider structure: data, scouting, value, timing, and what fits the squad plan. The manager matters, of course. He has to coach them, improve them, and build a side around them. But final say? That’s a different conversation.
So when you hear “if Edwards wanted him, a bid would have been made”, it’s really a comment on how the club prioritises targets. Not every player who gets linked is actually a target. Not every target becomes a bid. And not every bid becomes a deal.
Why City change the whole equation
If Manchester City are properly in for someone, the choice stops being just about football taste. It becomes about the wider picture: trophies, stability, the pull of a dominant side, and the feeling that you’re joining a machine that already knows how to win.
You can hate that reality, but it exists. Players look at league titles, they look at who is competing every year, and they look at who has the clearest pathway to medals. That’s before you even get into wages, agents, or the sheer confidence that comes with a club that expects to lift things in May.
Liverpool’s noise doesn’t help
The other side of it is the mood around Liverpool. When the conversation outside the ground turns into panic, it leaks into everything. Doubts about the manager, constant chatter about what’s next, and the never-ending headlines around key players like Salah, it all adds to the sense of uncertainty.
That doesn’t mean Liverpool are finished, or that players won’t choose us. But it does mean the club can’t afford to look chaotic when they’re up against the most settled, trophy-backed pitch in the league.
Truth is, if a player has two strong options, he’ll often pick the one that looks calm, organised and already winning. Liverpool have to make sure they look like that again, quickly.
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Liverpool News Views offers daily Liverpool coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, EFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
