It was obvious that the average competitive strength of the Premier League's championship contenders this season was not very strong. It could be said that only Liverpool stood out, maintaining the stability and breakthrough of last season. Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, the regulars in the title race, did not play better than last season. Not only did they not score more points in the same period than last season, but they also decreased!
Every team had its own problems.
Manchester United's midfield had suffered from Hargreaves' serious injury more than a year ago. In addition, Scholes had a significant decline in his strength as he entered the end of his career. In the rear defensive line, Vidic and Ferdinand, once hailed as the strongest center-back combination in Europe, were constantly injured. Evans, who had been promoted, could not take on the big responsibility. Coupled with the impact of Ronaldo's departure on the offense, Manchester United's competitiveness in the league tournament, which was a competition of long-distance running endurance, had dropped.
But Ferguson had his own way of managing the team. He was always able to integrate those players who did not seem to be worthy of Manchester United or looked average individually into Manchester United's system, making Manchester United's overall strength a huge improvement. But it took time!
Chelsea's decline this season was sudden. The impact of the departure of important members of the management on the team's competitive strength could not be seen with the naked eye, nor could it be understood with words. But when the team's results declined, it would be deliberately magnified.
Many of the main players were injured at critical moments, which directly led to the rapid decline of the Blues' state. In addition, the results of the summer's small signings were also an important factor in the lack of stamina.
There was a lack of heroes to step forward at critical moments.
Arsenal's problem was already a cliché. They were young and had been struggling to move forward on the track of Wenger's romantic football. The team could not afford to be tossed around and seemed to be unable to withstand a blow. This team was always full of momentum when things were going well, but when adversity came, they were utterly defeated!
If there was any new change in the competitive landscape, it was naturally the rise of Manchester City.
It was difficult to say that Manchester City already had the strength to compete for the title. But in the past two years, Manchester City had been advancing step by step and the progress was obvious to all. There was no doubt that if there were to be reinforcements in the summer, Manchester City would be a title contender that the Premier League heroes could not underestimate!
With 13 rounds left in the league tournament, Liverpool's lead was as much as 12 points, which led Fleet Street to conclude the Premier League competition early: Liverpool would eventually defend their title!
After Qin Xiong returned to Liverpool, he first had to adapt to the changes in the team when he left.
Torres was gone!
He was taken away by Chelsea's sky-high price!
On the one hand, Torres's form was unstable in the first half of the season. With injuries, his scoring efficiency was low. On the other hand, Torres's request for a high salary last summer was rejected by Liverpool. The remuneration that Chelsea could offer was naturally very generous.
In the end, the Liverpool board could not refuse Chelsea's offer of 50 million pounds!
The Liverpool Board's idea was more pragmatic.
With this £50 million, they could not only meet Comain's demand to bring in at least a first-class full-back, but they could also bring in a younger, more ambitious striker with a lower wage cost!
After Torres's departure, Liverpool was the first to complete a transfer that shook Merseyside!
Liverpool's nemesis, Everton's main left-back, Baines, joined Liverpool for £20 million!
The full-back, who was once abandoned by Everton's youth team and later made a name for himself in Wigan Athletic's youth training system, was brought in by Everton, and gradually matured into the England national team in the past three and a half years. He came to Anfield.
Everton was not Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham Hotspur had the confidence to shout that Baines would not be sold for less than £60 million because although Tottenham Hotspur did not have a lot of money, they still had a family background. Moreover, the Jewish owner did business with the mentality of hoarding rare goods, which was very difficult to deal with.
But Everton was short of money!
The price of £20 million was enough for the board to withstand the pressure and complete the deal!
Baines himself was not particularly enthusiastic about the transfer. His only concern was the arch-enemy relationship between Everton and Liverpool. But after the club nodded, he was able to relieve a lot of pressure from the fans.
It was the club that gave him up for profit, it was not that he had to leave!
As Everton did not have a European mission, after Baines came to the team, Liverpool could take out a place in the Champions League registration list submitted by February for Baines to sign up.
As a result, Liverpool finally solved the problem of the left-back, Aurelio's absence due to injury and decline in form due to age this season.
At the same time, Liverpool basically had the two best full-backs in England: Baines and Johnson.
Of course, they had to be ranked behind Ashley Cole.
This was also very important for Liverpool's lineup. The English team still paid more attention to the local composition.
After solving the problem of the full-backs, Liverpool had to solve the problem of the lack of strikers after Torres.
Comain set his sights on his old club, Ajax.
The leading striker, Suárez, scored a lot of goals in the Eredivisie, but made a big mistake in the first half of the season. He inexplicably bit someone on the pitch!
This led to Ajax's intention to sell him out of concern for the club's image.
Liverpool made their move at this time.
In the end, they also bought Suárez for £20 million.
Liverpool completed three transactions in the winter transfer window.
Selling Torres for £50 million.
Bringing in Baines for £20 million.
Bringing in Suárez for £20 million.
Then, Liverpool not only made £10 million, but also left a sum in the salary budget.
The combined salary of Baines and Suárez was 5,000 pounds lower than Torres's previous weekly salary!
Comain had a detailed discussion with the club's senior management about this.
What he meant was: I made money for the club, but my responsibility and obligation as a manager is not to make money, but to win the game and win the title. So, please keep the money earned from the transfer market for me. I'll spend it in the summer!
If it were Manchester United's board of directors, they would not even bother with Koeman. However, Liverpool's board of directors was still deeply principled and was not a mercenary vampire.
They were supposed to provide Comain with a £20 million transfer budget in the winter, but they did not expect the club to make £10 million.
Wilcot brought the board's resolution: the £30 million here would be accumulated in the summer transfer budget!
And Wilcot also told Comain the goal.
To defend the Premier League title, Liverpool would give him a £40 million transfer budget in the summer. Plus the previous £30 million, then he would have £70 million to spend.
If he could defend the Champions League title, the club would give him a £60 million transfer budget in the summer, plus £30 million.
Clear some unwanted players in the transfer market, then Comain would have a £100 million transfer budget in his hands in the summer!
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