A very different football village.

Liverpool - Ảnh 1. — Florian Wirtz is one of Liverpool's three "blockbuster" signings this summer - Photo: REUTERS

If Liverpool sign Guehi, their spending for the 2025 summer transfer window will exceed €500 million – a staggering figure.

Liverpool are more extravagant than Chelsea.

Because they were unable to complete the signing of the Crystal Palace center-back, Isak became Liverpool's last new signing. And Liverpool's transfer spending this summer stopped at €483.7 million.

However, the aforementioned figure does not include Mamardashvili - who was bought last summer for €30 million, then loaned back to Valencia for a year. This summer, Liverpool officially welcomed the Georgian goalkeeper to Anfield.

If this deal is included this year, Liverpool has essentially spent over 500 million euros. Even so, with 483.7 million euros, Liverpool has already surpassed the record for spending in a single transfer window, set by Chelsea in the summer of 2024 at 464 million euros.

But that's Chelsea, which has always been labeled "rich." Even after changing ownership from billionaire Roman Abramovich to billionaire Todd Boehly, Chelsea continued its habit of spending lavishly in the transfer market. It's important to note that this is a habit consistent with the social structure and not unique to wealthy owners.

For decades, Chelsea has developed a cold, professional work ethic. Each season they buy and sell a lot of players. And anyone who doesn't fit the job is moved on after one or two years, making way for new players.

Chelsea even buys countless young players under the age of 18, then sends them out on loan to various clubs. If these young players don't live up to their potential, they'll have to leave again.

In contrast, Liverpool is a team with a tradition and identity deeply rooted in the working class of England's largest port city. They often uphold ideals of fighting spirit, enthusiasm, loyalty, and humility.

Therefore, when manager Jurgen Klopp, with his "rock metal" football philosophy, arrived at Anfield, he was warmly welcomed and completely integrated into the Liverpool culture.

Throughout Klopp's nine years under his reign, "fiery spirit" and "passion" were two key elements. Therefore, the German strategist consistently retained many players who were considered no longer suitable for Liverpool's development, such as Henderson and Gomez.

Why did Klopp leave?

But since Klopp left, Liverpool has started to change. This summer, despite the painful shock of losing Diogo Jota, they decided to let go of famously passionate players like Nunez and Diaz. And also players who came through the club's youth academy like Elliott and Quansah... The reason? Liverpool wants even better players.

There's Isak – a top-class striker, a replacement for Nunez. Or Ekitike, a different version of Diaz, showing great potential. And also Wirtz – one of the best attacking midfielders in the world right now, whom Elliott can't even compare to.

Despite the high cost of the transfers, Liverpool's leadership skillfully navigated the game. Although they earned over €220 million this summer, that still hasn't recouped half of their expenditures.

Liverpool's net spending (expenditures after deducting revenues) reached €300 million this summer. It's worth noting that in Klopp's nine years, Liverpool's net spending was only €420 million – ranking eighth in the Premier League in terms of net spending.

The three "blockbuster" signings of Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitike alone cost Liverpool over 350 million euros. Under Klopp, Liverpool had also made some "blockbuster" transfers, but never at the rate of three deals per year.

Everything has changed, changed in just over a year since Klopp left. All Liverpool fans, the club's leadership, and manager Arne Slot are grateful to the German strategist because without his talent for managing and building the team, Liverpool wouldn't be as financially prosperous as they are now.

But it was also from that moment that fans realized the reason Klopp left Anfield, when his team was at its richest and most prosperous. Klopp realized that he was no longer suited to modern football, to the changes happening to the team he loved.

The football village was buzzing on the final day.

As expected, English clubs were very active on the final day of the transfer window, which closed in the early hours of September 2nd (Vietnam time). Specifically, Newcastle brought in another quality striker, Wissa (replacing Isak), for €60 million. Manchester City also acquired superstar goalkeeper Donnarumma from PSG and sold Ederson to Fenerbahce.

Chelsea successfully offloaded Nicolas Jackson. Meanwhile, Manchester United were the most active, successfully selling Antony (to Real Betis), Sancho (to Aston Villa), and Hojlund (to Napoli), while also signing goalkeeper Lammens from Antwerp.

HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mot-lang-bong-da-rat-khac-20250903104947856.htm