Liverpool has only sold Leighton Clarkson for a transfer fee so far this summer.
Liverpool would typically have no interest in Burnley’s transfer activity, but this summer, the Reds will be paying close attention to one particular deal.
With Vincent Kompany in charge, the Clarets are currently in the Premier League after making a comeback at the first attempt and will be attempting to keep their place there. Kompany’s free-flowing style of play led to a return of 101 points during their highly praised Championship title-winning campaign from last season.
The Clarets’ shrewd transfer-market strategy, which was strongly influenced by Kompany’s past, was essential to their success. The 37-year-old, who managed Anderlecht for two years, recruited nine players from his native country while also focusing on one of his previous teams. In fact, Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ loan request was approved, and two Manchester City players were given permanent contracts at Turf Moor.
Arijanet Muric, a goalkeeper who left City after five League Cup appearances and several loan stints for a rumored £3 million fee, was one of the players who joined Burnley from the Sky Blues. Muric made 41 league appearances and quickly established himself as the Clarets’ first-choice keeper as Burnley sailed to promotion.
After completing a free transfer for former Liverpool goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, changes are again on the way for Kompany’s goalkeeping unit. James Trafford’s £19 million transfer is now imminent. The 20-year-old has never played in a senior match for Manchester City but has seen his stock rise thanks to short-term moves away from the Etihad. He is currently representing England at the European U21 Championships.
After being initially loaned out to Accrington Stanley in the first half of the 2021/22 season, Trafford spent the second half of the year at Bolton Wanderers before coming back to the Whites for a full season in League One the following year. Given how well he performed as Ian Evatt’s team advanced to the play-offs, he shared the Young Player of the Year award with Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley from Bolton.
Even though the third tier is the highest level, Trafford’s ability to command such a high price represents impressive business for City, though Pep Guardiola’s team is used to making deals of this nature. After playing in 0 first-team games for City and on loans to Rochdale and Portsmouth, the defending Premier League champions sold goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to Southampton for £12 million last summer. The price increased to £15 million with add-ons.
The demand for talented goalkeepers has never been higher, which will be good news for Liverpool as they prepare for Caoimhin Kelleher interest this summer. Given the current market prices, Liverpool may receive the “extraordinary offer” that Jurgen Klopp said would be required to part ways with the Republic of Ireland international.
Despite the fact that David Raya has only played two seasons at the top level of English football, Brentford is reportedly seeking £40 million for him in the coming weeks amid reports of interest from Chelsea and Manchester United. Although Kelleher is by no means a seasoned Premier League player, he has played for Liverpool in all types of competitions and has international experience.
According to a May Daily Mail article, the London club considered Kelleher’s £15 million price tag to be “unrealistic” and was considering him as a possible replacement for Raya. It is unlikely Liverpool will have the same perspective on the matter, and they would be well within their rights to demand more than £20 million for their No. this season, two.
Similar to how Borussia Dortmund gained influence over Jude Bellingham’s price after seeing Chelsea spend £106 million on midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in January, Liverpool might have seen Kelleher’s price rise as a result of the actions of others.