Liverpool had a historic summer after spending more than £400million on new signings, and Virgil van Dijk predicted the spree months before the transfer window opened
Liverpool gave Virgil van Dijk precisely the transfer window response he wanted after agreeing to sign a new contract at Anfield. The Dutch defender delighted Reds fans when he penned fresh terms in April, but he campaigned for the club to make a statement in the transfer window prior to that announcement.
Arne Slot won the Premier League title in his first season as Liverpool coach despite failing to make a major outfield signing last summer. However, the Merseysiders made up for that frugality this year when they spent in excess of £400million on new arrivals.
The additions of attackers Alexander Isak (£130m), Florian Wirtz (£116m) and Hugo Ekitike (£82m) in particular have got fans excited. And supporters will be reminded on Van Dijk’s comments urging the club to go big before it was even known as to whether he’d remain at Anfield beyond this summer.
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« Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer, » said the Dutchman shortly before his two-year contract extension was confirmed.
« I think they’re planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board, as a Liverpool-connected fan, to do the right job. I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years. »
Many would be inclined to agree after seeing the business the club conducted across the board in recent weeks. And the Reds are already looking like good value to retain the Premier League title after winning each of their first three games.
There was nary a part of Liverpool’s squad that didn’t receive reinforcements this summer. Slot’s upgrades in attack are well-founded, while 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni has given the club the potential Van Dijk successor they’ve long sought after.
Andy Robertson also received fresh competition at left-back from Milos Kerkez, who appears to be Slot’s preferred option. And the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold was mitigated by the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong, who has dazzled at right-back thus far.
Those investments weren’t completely outside Liverpool’s means, either, after they sold nearly £200m worth of talent. And that should help soothe the club’s conscience after breaking from the more cost-conscious approach that so often prevailed during Jurgen Klopp’s reign.
Looking back now, Van Dijk’s comments on the transfer window sound like a man with more knowledge of the club’s plans than he might have let on. And after spending so little in the summer of 2024, it always seemed like a big response was likely ahead of Slot’s sophomore season.
That being said, few might have predicted just how big Liverpool’s summer splurge would in fact prove to be. And Van Dijk won’t be the only one of the belief the Reds are now primed to compete across multiple fronts for years to come.
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