I don’t really get the outrage about Liverpool supposedly overpaying this summer. Football has changed, the numbers have changed, and if you want top-level talent you’re paying top-level prices. That’s just where the game is.

More importantly, when you look at the spread of fees and the types of players we’ve targeted, it feels less like scattergun spending and more like a proper squad-build. There’s a plan to it, and you can see why the age profile matters too.

The “going rate” is uncomfortable, not wrong

Take the big ones. If you’re putting £125m on a forward like Isak, it’s not meant to feel tidy or sensible, but it does fit the bracket for elite attackers in this era. Red Jones’ point is fair: he’s had rotten luck with injuries and fitness, but the belief is the level is there. If he gets his body right, the noise dies down quickly.

Same with Wirtz at around £100m. A player with genuine quality, the sort that changes games rather than just fills a shirt. If he’s already starting to look excellent, that’s exactly how these fees get justified without anyone needing to win a debate on the internet.

The mid-range deals feel like proper team building

The ones around the £30m to £40m mark are where you can really see Liverpool trying to add usable, first-team depth. Kerkez for roughly £40m “seems about right”, as said, and settling in is half the battle for any full-back in this league. The Premier League is unforgiving, week after week, and consistency is usually what comes last.

Frimpong at around £30m with a release clause is the kind of deal you expect clubs to pounce on. If he’s been unlucky with injury, fine. There’s also a real adjustment period for players coming into this league, especially if they’re asked to defend more, press harder, and think quicker in transition.

Big fees, young profiles, and a lowered average age

Ekitike at £75m-£80m is the sort of striker fee that always causes arguments because goals cost money, and selling clubs know it. Frankfurt selling high doesn’t surprise anyone, but sometimes you still pay it if you think the fit is right.

Then you’ve got the younger punts: Leoni at £15m-£20m, described as highly sought after, and Jacquet at £55m-£60m, another young centre-half profile with plenty of interest around him. Red Jones is honest about not having seen him, but that’s modern recruitment, isn’t it? Clubs are buying profiles and potential as much as they’re buying highlights.

Overall, it does feel like we’re building an excellent squad, and the dramatically reduced average age is a big part of that. It’s not about winning the “net spend” chat. It’s about giving Arne Slot a group that can run, learn, and stay together for a few years.

Written by Red Jones: 2 February 2026

Tags: injury efl tactics