It's been a busy week or so for the Reds with plenty of talking points. From transfers to team sheets, and everything on the field, there's no shortage of intrigue in what exactly is happening surrounding Jurgen Klopp's men. I'll take a look at all four key transfers in the side followed along wtih a quick breakdown of some aspects of their new side I've found interesting. Let's have a look.
Danny Ings:
Before breaking down the more recent rumors, I wanted to touch on Danny Ings' departure from the club on deadline day. Ings is technically on loan this season, but there is an obligation to buy for Southampton at the end of the loan to the tune of eighteen million pounds (with an additional two million potentially in add-ons). The Saints are the striker's boyhood club and it's a great move for Ings I think. Southampton finished in 17th place last season and remain starved for goals. They've lost key play-maker Dusan Tadic to Ajax and are going through a period of reorganization as line-up mainstay Sofine Boufal is off on loan at Celta Vigo this season, Jordy Clasie remains away at Feyenoord, and Guido Carrillo was brought in by previous manager Mauricio Pellegrino and has been given up on by Mark Hughes as he rejoins Pellegrino at Leganes on loan this season.
At Southampton this season are strikers Charlie Austin, who played on top with Ings in his first start with the club, Shane Long, and Manolo Gabbiadini. Ings has the club's only goal so far this season and they will need a strong effort from him to help keep their side up, in all likelihood. I do not rate Hughes too highly as a manager as he's underachieved with Stoke in my eyes after having them solidly in ninth for his first three seasons at the club. Southampton do have the talent, especially in midfield with Mario Lemina and Oriol Romeu. However, they've gone through some tumultuous times since Ronald Koeman left. Between running Claude Puel out for playing negative football, Pellegrino's lack of success, and now scraping 17th under Hughes, I think looking at the Saints it's easy to be negative right now because a lack of goals in spite of some despite midfield and back-line shape.
Marko Grujic:
Grujic has officially joined Hertha BSC on loan for the season, a great move for the young midfielder. It's a jump up in competition from Cardiff and the Championship last season to last season's tenth place side in the Bundesliga, but the hope is that Grujic's physicality and size will hold up in the German game. I would not have minded to see Grujic stick around with the club and see the occasional game time, but very quickly it has seemed unlikely for that to be possible with star man Fabinho even having trouble getting into the matchday squad, let alone starting eleven. Instead, Grujic will have a new contract under his belt and should see decent minutes in one of the top four leagues in the world. Not only that, but he joins a solid side who should not have to deal with any relegation concerns.
What about Berlin? Well, the truth is, he will have to earn his starting spot and nothing will be handed to him. Hertha run a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 with two of those players being key youngsters for the side, them being 23-year-old Ondrej Duda and 19-year-old Arne Maier. Additionally, he'll join veterans Fabian Lustenberger and Per Skjelbred, both men at least 30-years-old, in fighting for minutes. I do not profess to be an expert of Hertha, but what I've seen, or at least taken note of, is that generally all their midfielders can play either as AMs or DMs, which is the category that Grujic would fall in as well. I think it's an interesting loan choice, I have previously heard and seen Duda (a Slovakian national who scored at Euro2016 against Wales) and was rather impressed while Maier really seems to be an up-and-coming German talent. Grujic will have to do well to impress and get into the starting eleven, but manager Pal Dardai has allegedly already been impressed with his new player.
Ragnar Klavan:
Klavan has left Liverpool for the hope of more regular playing time in Serie A for Cagliari. The club was very supportive of Ragnar as he made his move even discussing with his teammates, who recommended him to make the move, and he spoke with new Cagliari man Darijo Srna who he contacted via Dejan Lovren (his Croatian teammate). Klavan's moving on says a lot about young center-back Nathaniel Phillips. Klavan was almost assuredly the fifth center-back on the side barring any injury to any of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren, or Joel Matip. Phillips is a young lad looking to make his stamp on Liverpool in what is a short career up to this point, and he did so on the preseason tour, especially in the United States. If Phillips cannot play the role of fifth-choice center-back for the club this season, what would the point of a youth academy be? Therefore, the move works for all parties involved.
The club Liverpool's Estonian moves too struggled last season, finishing 16th in Serie A just barely avoiding relegation. His side was doled a 2-0 defeat by Empoli in the first match and saw mainstay Luca Ceppitelli go down with a muscle injury and get subbed off in the 23rd minute of the match. Cagliari ran a back three last season with Ceppitelli, Filippo Romagna, and Fabio Pisacane, but opened the season in a back four with a 4-3-1-2 instead of last season's more typical 3-5-2, with the usual right-midfielder Paulo Farago dropping into the right-back position. Between the surely-shifting formations of the side and the possible absence that Ceppitelli may face, Klavan I would expect to see involved with the side for their second match of the season in one way or another. Despite being 32-years-old, Klavan is now in a league that is known for extending the lifespan of its players, especially those that defend. This is an exciting opportunity for Klavan to see some game action in a top-class league and Liverpool's fans surely should watch out to see how he fares.
Loris Karius:
Finally, we get to the man whose loan/transfer is not yet confirmed, so I'll keep this a bit more brief about him. Loris Karius is rumored to be heading to Besiktas on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy provided he plays in 50% of the team's matches and the club snags European football. The deal would be for nine-and-a-half million pounds and would result in Simon Mignolet sticking around with Liverpool as the back-up to Alisson. Karius' move would result in the end of a time at Liverpool where it was, to put it simply, very odd. His time at Liverpool will forever be defined by his performance in the Champions League final, whether that's right or wrong, but he in net for the turnaround of Liverpool's defensive performances as well. He's only 25 and I think he has a bright future ahead of him if he has the mentality, and Besiktas has passionate fans. Their current keeper is Tolga Zengin who is known for his share of howlers as well despite being the club captain. He was stellar for Mainz prior to Liverpool and Besiktas is a big club in Turkey. I see no reason for Loris not to perform to a decent level provided the loan goes through with no issue.
Who do you think will fair best away from Liverpool? Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts? Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan and let me know, plus follow me for Liverpool FC coverage, including live Tweets during the matches, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Michigan basketball coverage!
Danny Ings:
Before breaking down the more recent rumors, I wanted to touch on Danny Ings' departure from the club on deadline day. Ings is technically on loan this season, but there is an obligation to buy for Southampton at the end of the loan to the tune of eighteen million pounds (with an additional two million potentially in add-ons). The Saints are the striker's boyhood club and it's a great move for Ings I think. Southampton finished in 17th place last season and remain starved for goals. They've lost key play-maker Dusan Tadic to Ajax and are going through a period of reorganization as line-up mainstay Sofine Boufal is off on loan at Celta Vigo this season, Jordy Clasie remains away at Feyenoord, and Guido Carrillo was brought in by previous manager Mauricio Pellegrino and has been given up on by Mark Hughes as he rejoins Pellegrino at Leganes on loan this season.
At Southampton this season are strikers Charlie Austin, who played on top with Ings in his first start with the club, Shane Long, and Manolo Gabbiadini. Ings has the club's only goal so far this season and they will need a strong effort from him to help keep their side up, in all likelihood. I do not rate Hughes too highly as a manager as he's underachieved with Stoke in my eyes after having them solidly in ninth for his first three seasons at the club. Southampton do have the talent, especially in midfield with Mario Lemina and Oriol Romeu. However, they've gone through some tumultuous times since Ronald Koeman left. Between running Claude Puel out for playing negative football, Pellegrino's lack of success, and now scraping 17th under Hughes, I think looking at the Saints it's easy to be negative right now because a lack of goals in spite of some despite midfield and back-line shape.
Marko Grujic:
Grujic has officially joined Hertha BSC on loan for the season, a great move for the young midfielder. It's a jump up in competition from Cardiff and the Championship last season to last season's tenth place side in the Bundesliga, but the hope is that Grujic's physicality and size will hold up in the German game. I would not have minded to see Grujic stick around with the club and see the occasional game time, but very quickly it has seemed unlikely for that to be possible with star man Fabinho even having trouble getting into the matchday squad, let alone starting eleven. Instead, Grujic will have a new contract under his belt and should see decent minutes in one of the top four leagues in the world. Not only that, but he joins a solid side who should not have to deal with any relegation concerns.
What about Berlin? Well, the truth is, he will have to earn his starting spot and nothing will be handed to him. Hertha run a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 with two of those players being key youngsters for the side, them being 23-year-old Ondrej Duda and 19-year-old Arne Maier. Additionally, he'll join veterans Fabian Lustenberger and Per Skjelbred, both men at least 30-years-old, in fighting for minutes. I do not profess to be an expert of Hertha, but what I've seen, or at least taken note of, is that generally all their midfielders can play either as AMs or DMs, which is the category that Grujic would fall in as well. I think it's an interesting loan choice, I have previously heard and seen Duda (a Slovakian national who scored at Euro2016 against Wales) and was rather impressed while Maier really seems to be an up-and-coming German talent. Grujic will have to do well to impress and get into the starting eleven, but manager Pal Dardai has allegedly already been impressed with his new player.
Ragnar Klavan:
Klavan has left Liverpool for the hope of more regular playing time in Serie A for Cagliari. The club was very supportive of Ragnar as he made his move even discussing with his teammates, who recommended him to make the move, and he spoke with new Cagliari man Darijo Srna who he contacted via Dejan Lovren (his Croatian teammate). Klavan's moving on says a lot about young center-back Nathaniel Phillips. Klavan was almost assuredly the fifth center-back on the side barring any injury to any of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren, or Joel Matip. Phillips is a young lad looking to make his stamp on Liverpool in what is a short career up to this point, and he did so on the preseason tour, especially in the United States. If Phillips cannot play the role of fifth-choice center-back for the club this season, what would the point of a youth academy be? Therefore, the move works for all parties involved.
The club Liverpool's Estonian moves too struggled last season, finishing 16th in Serie A just barely avoiding relegation. His side was doled a 2-0 defeat by Empoli in the first match and saw mainstay Luca Ceppitelli go down with a muscle injury and get subbed off in the 23rd minute of the match. Cagliari ran a back three last season with Ceppitelli, Filippo Romagna, and Fabio Pisacane, but opened the season in a back four with a 4-3-1-2 instead of last season's more typical 3-5-2, with the usual right-midfielder Paulo Farago dropping into the right-back position. Between the surely-shifting formations of the side and the possible absence that Ceppitelli may face, Klavan I would expect to see involved with the side for their second match of the season in one way or another. Despite being 32-years-old, Klavan is now in a league that is known for extending the lifespan of its players, especially those that defend. This is an exciting opportunity for Klavan to see some game action in a top-class league and Liverpool's fans surely should watch out to see how he fares.
Loris Karius:
Finally, we get to the man whose loan/transfer is not yet confirmed, so I'll keep this a bit more brief about him. Loris Karius is rumored to be heading to Besiktas on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy provided he plays in 50% of the team's matches and the club snags European football. The deal would be for nine-and-a-half million pounds and would result in Simon Mignolet sticking around with Liverpool as the back-up to Alisson. Karius' move would result in the end of a time at Liverpool where it was, to put it simply, very odd. His time at Liverpool will forever be defined by his performance in the Champions League final, whether that's right or wrong, but he in net for the turnaround of Liverpool's defensive performances as well. He's only 25 and I think he has a bright future ahead of him if he has the mentality, and Besiktas has passionate fans. Their current keeper is Tolga Zengin who is known for his share of howlers as well despite being the club captain. He was stellar for Mainz prior to Liverpool and Besiktas is a big club in Turkey. I see no reason for Loris not to perform to a decent level provided the loan goes through with no issue.
Who do you think will fair best away from Liverpool? Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts? Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan and let me know, plus follow me for Liverpool FC coverage, including live Tweets during the matches, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Michigan basketball coverage!
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