Liverpool supporters have spent the summer watching the club's rivals get linked to big-name signings.
Manchester United has signed Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, while its neighbor Manchester City is linked with $100m-plus moves for Harry Kane and Jack Grealish. Down in London, Chelsea is being tentatively linked with Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland while Arsenal is in the hunt for Inter striker Lautaro Martinez.
Liverpool, meanwhile, after signing Ibrahima Konate, has gone from being linked with Saul Niguez, Florian Neuhaus and Federico Chiesa to rumors around a move for West Ham's Jarrod Bowen. With all due respect to the 24-year-old former Hull City man, it's a bit of an underwhelming link given the previous rumors that have swirled around the club.
The mixed reactions amongst Liverpool supporters are therefore understandable — some have expressed bewilderment at the link given Bowen's return of nine goals and as many assists in 58 Premier League games. Others, on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, have pointed to the previous master strokes and under-the-radar gems secured by sporting director Michael Edwards and professed their faith in the club hierarchy.
•Salah scored 20+ goals in Italy
•Mané was Southamptons best player
•Wijnaldum was Newcastle’s best player
•Jota performed brilliant numerous times (even in Europe) with hattricks
•Robertson cost only £8m, no riskJarrod Bowen is bang average compared to them. £30m is mad.— (@KIopptinho) July 31, 2021
If Klopp wants Jarrod Bowen, that’s good enough for me. #LFC
— The Crab Man (@The_Crab_Man_) July 31, 2021
Liverpool goes for Jarrod Bowen,
while United sign Sancho and Varane, City sign Grealish…Can FSG just get out.— (@KIopptinho) July 31, 2021
Harry Wilson PL goals for Bournemouth in 19/20: 7
Jarrod Bowen PL goals for West Ham last season: 8Both bang average dribblers and arent even that quick. Would be a disastrous use of funds
— Sean (@SeanDOlfc) July 31, 2021
Without comment on how likely it might be, I think Jarrod Bowen would be a really smart signing for Liverpool.
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) July 31, 2021
Activity has certainly dried up since the signing of Konate early in the window led Liverpool supporters to think the club was getting business out of the way with plenty of time left to go in the window. However, some have pointed out that deals for Thiago and Diogo Jota came late on last year.
Stop flapping it. We 100% bring two more in. We don’t do it like other clubs. We can’t.
Save your fume for the end of the window. #LFC— Graeme Kelly (@GraemeKelly1) July 27, 2021
Edwards and Jurgen Klopp have established credentials when it comes to unearthing gems. Andy Robertson and the since-departed Gini Wijnaldum proved unqualified successes coming from relegated clubs. Edwards knows what "player profile" he is looking for but the wide array of reactions from supporters is certainly understandable.
Whatever happens, there is still time left in the window. It would be wise not to judge the club's summer activity at least until the season begins, if not a few months in to the campaign.
