Liverpool: Smart business – the theme of the Reds' summer window

Mamadou Sakhi and Tiago Ilori

After an impressive second half to last season, with a Liverpool side growing in confidence and adapting to Brendan Rodgers’s ideas, the summer transfer window represented an important crossroads for the club if it is to get back to where it wants to be.

It’s not rocket science to know that in order to compete with the best in Europe, you need the players to match. Despite Liverpool’s rich history and still being England’s most successful club, if Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich come calling, no club in the world stands a realistic chance of beating them to the signature of a top drawer player, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

And without the significant financial investment via cash rich owners the likes of Manchester City, PSG, Chelsea and Monaco have, Liverpool have to do smart business in the transfer market.

When I think of ‘smart’ business, not only does earning huge winnings from bwin poker pop into mind, but of a club like Borussia Dortmund: bringing through youth from the Academy, finding promising young players, looking at talented players with something to prove and scouting Europe for players who could be on the cusp of moving into that upper echelon of performance. Dortmund have done this brilliantly under the guidance of Jürgen Klopp and are now one of the best teams in Europe.

So, whilst Liverpool were disappointed to have lost out on one of their main summer transfer targets in Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Borussia Dortmund, the fact they were scouting the same player should be a sign of encouragement.

I think it can be argued that Simon Mingolet, Mamadou Sakho, Luis Alberto and Tiago Ilori are players who fit that ‘smart’ profile, though only time will tell if they prove to be ‘smart’ buys in the way that Coutinho and Sturridge have been thus far, two players who also fell into the ‘smart’ profile when signed in January.

A penalty save on his debut has certainly helped Mignolet settle in, continuing the impressive form he showed last season with Sunderland. Sakho had a shaky debut against Swansea, getting caught out positionally, but he also showed flashes of superb technique, as well as strength and aerial ability that should serve him well as he adjusts to the style of the Premier League.

At £15m, much will be expected of the French international who will want to prove a point to former club, PSG. Luis Alberto and Ilori may get limited chances this season, but have undoubtedly been signed with the future in mind.

Iago Aspas would seem to be a squad player to add more striking options. He looks decent and will need time to adjust, but with a good record at Celta Vigo and at £7.7m, doesn’t exactly represent a massive gamble. The loan signing of Aly Cissokho gives much needed back up at left back without the financial commitment of a permanent deal whilst the highly promising Jack Robinson gains experience on loan.