Liverpool transfer plan suggests FSG have learned from mistakes amid Man United crisis

In the gym at the AXA Melwood Training Centre, the words ‘Ready For More’ are written in big red letters on the wall.

It’s a slogan designed to galvanize the troops during the arduous afternoon strength and conditioning sessions, but it also neatly sums up the feeling in Liverpool this summer as the Reds look to build on what was a hugely encouraging campaign in the Women’s Super League ( WSL).

Matt Beard’s side defied expectations to secure fourth place last season, amassing 18 more points than the previous season and leapfrogging arch-rivals Manchester United in the table. A combination of astute recruitment, smart training and the team’s long-awaited move to Melwood has contributed to Liverpool’s impressive resurgence, but there is a feeling within the club that there is still plenty of work to do to close the gap to the top three.

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Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal (the three teams that finished in those places last season) have spent heavily in recent years to establish themselves among Europe’s elite.

In January, champions Chelsea signed Levante striker Mayra Ramirez for a British record fee of £385,000, while City and Arsenal spent money on Jill Roord and Kyra Cooney-Cross respectively last summer. Matching that level of investment is the only sure way to challenge the WSL’s former top level, a fact Liverpool’s decision-makers now appear to be fully aware of.

It emerged on Thursday that the club are willing to break their record transfer fee (currently £100,000 for AS Roma’s Sophie Roman Haug) to acquire the services of Canadian international Olivia Smith from Portuguese Sporting CP.

The ECHO understands Liverpool are hoping to agree a deal for the 19-year-old, who can play as a striker or attacking midfielder and has a release clause of around £210,000. There is certainly a lot to admire about Smith as a footballer.

Last season she was named Player of the Year and Young Player of the Season in the BPI League and, in 2019, she became the youngest player to make Canada’s senior national team at the age of 15 years and 94 days. There is also much to admire in what Smith represents.

Five years on from Liverpool’s embarrassing relegation to the Championship, Smith is a physical embodiment of the Reds’ commitment to do better. Getting his signature would be a huge statement of intent at a time when the financial landscape of women’s football is changing seismically in favor of those with the deepest pockets.

It is no coincidence that next season marks the first season in which all 12 WSL clubs are backed by a Premier League team. Now, more than ever, money is starting to talk and failing to invest generously could come at a significant cost. That said, it is understood that Liverpool will not be looking to carry out major surgery on their squad this summer, preferring instead to bring in a handful of quality signings, with an emphasis on strengthening their attacking ranks.

Of the seven players who joined the Reds last summer, six have been, to varying degrees, a success. Defender Grace Fisk finished last season as Liverpool’s Player of the Year, while midfielder Marie Hobinger was voted Player of the Season by fans.

Scotland centre-back Jenna Clark and Norwegian striker Haug have also impressed on Merseyside, while there have been flashes of promise from goalkeeper Teagan Micah and England Under-19 international Mia Enderby. Only Natasha Flint, who joined Celtic on loan in January before signing permanently for American side Tampa Bay Sun earlier this month, can be considered a little disappointing, and even she chipped in with a few goals before her mid-season departure.

There is, then, little need to disrupt the status quo by being overzealous in the transfer market. Liverpool’s progress over the past two seasons has been largely due to the foresight and careful consideration of Beard and women’s team general manager Russ Fraser.

The pair are working to a three- to five-year plan and that adherence to a well-laid strategy has paid dividends since Beard’s return to the club in 2021. Still, Liverpool cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

Twelve months ago, Manchester United entered the summer after a season in which they took the WSL title race to the final day and reached their first Women’s FA Cup final. Fast forward to now and, despite winning the FA Cup in May, Marc Skinner’s side look a shadow of their former self.

New minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s surprising ambivalence towards the future of the women’s team was made clear in an interview he gave to Bloomberg Television earlier this week, while several players, including goalkeeper Mary Earps and captain Katie Zelem, are set to leave with free transfers this summer. .

They risk becoming a warning; a desperate example of what happens when a club relegates its women’s team to a secondary role. To a lesser extent, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and even Everton have discovered how difficult it is to turn a season of progress into sustained success.

Liverpool will hope to avoid that fate next season and while Smith can by no means be expected to single-handedly turn Beard’s side into title contenders, his expected arrival suggests the club’s hierarchy have learned from their previous mistakes.

Liverpool, ready for more? It certainly looks that way.