Liverpool Moneyball: Scousers sitting on a goldmine if they are brave enough to cash in

Liverpool has been through some turbulent times both on and off the pitch in the past 3 seasons. We’ve gone from almost winning the league, having one of the most threatening attacks in European football to being toothless and barely above mid-table. It all comes with the fandom of being a Scouser since the introduction of the Premier League. But currently as far as squad quality and depth, Liverpool is falling behind, and fast.

It is still unknown whether Rodgers is the right man for the job when it comes to the transfer market considering the entirety of his best players have come from previous managers or the transfer committee, so only time will tell. But after the recent transfer moves of Chelsea, City, United, and Arsenal, Liverpool could be left in the dust if major signings aren’t made very soon as well as the potential of losing some of our best players (i.e. Coutinho to Barcelona).

I believe its high-time Liverpool start to embrace the FSG method of Moneyball and go all-in. If FSG can manage to identify the likes of Suarez, Coutinho, Firmino, Henderson, Gomez, Can, Sakho, Sterling, and Ibe I believe they can pull off some great deals with the money/wages we could potential have if they did a fire sale. The best part is out of the 21 players we could easily live without; we’d only need to sign 9 players at the minimum to replace them. I’ve listed the players would could sell with their current wage budget and estimated worth to give everyone a numerical perspective at what exactly we’d be looking at financially.

First Team Player Wages

Kolo – £65k per week – £1.4m estimated player worth
Enrique – £75k per week – £2.1m estimated player worth
Lucas – £80k per week – £8.4m estimated player worth
Allen – £45k per week – £7m estimated player worth
Lallana – £65k per week – £14m estimated player worth
Markovic – £60k per week – £10.5m estimated player worth
Borini – £60k per week – £5m estimated player worth
Lovren – £65k per week – £10m estimated player worth
Origi – £15k per week – £6.3m estimated player worth
Luis Alberto – £15k per week – £3m estimated player worth
Wisdom – £15k per week – £3.75m estimated player worth
Joao – £5k per week – £525k estimated player worth
Ilori – £20k per week – £2.8m estimated player worth
Balotelli – £65k per week (whilst on loan to Milan) – £7.7m estimated player worth

First Team Total per Year = £33.8m

Reserve Player Wages

Sinclair – £8k per week – £575k estimated player worth
Yesil – £8k per week – £575k estimated player worth
Dunn – £5k per week – £300k estimated player worth
Williams – £5k per week – £150k estimated player worth
Jones – £5k per week – £100k estimated player worth
Stewart – £7k per week – £80k estimated player worth
Vigouroux – £6k per week – £50k estimated player worth

Reserve Total per Year = £4.63m 

Grand Total of Potential Transfer Fees Earned = £84.31m
Grand Total of Wages Freed = £38.43m
Players LFC would Definitely Need after Fire-Sale = 2 centrebacks, 1 leftback, 1 defensive mid, 1 centre attacking mid, 2 wingers, and 2 youth strikers. 9 players total.

Players I’d go after:
CB’s – Niklas Sule, Daniele Rugani, Sven Van Beek
LB’s – Riccardo Rodriguez, Benjamin
Mendy, Jose Luis Gaya
DM’s –
William Carvalho, Matias Kranevitter, Niguez
CAM’s – Hakan Calhanoglu, Leroy Sane, Youri Tielemans
Wingers – Kevin Volland, Keita Balde Diao
Strikers – Domenico Berardi, Gabigol, Talisca


The Sturridge Debate

Daniel Sturridge is currently the most heartbreaking story at Liverpool. Sitting out almost an entire season through injury that required him spending his entire summer at a Boston rehabilitation center, Sturridge looks to be making yet another injury comeback within the next month. Though as exciting as it will be to have him back, there is still a massive lingering cloud of doubt whether he’ll be able to stay fit for very long. Which brings us to the important question, is Sturridge worth keeping on for £120k-per week whilst he continues to spend more time in the rehab room than on the pitch?

This is an extremely difficult question to answer due to his previous form, his young age, and his adoration by the fans. Sturridge could easily be sold, easily replaced, and his wages gone to better use – but it would still be a heartbreaking deal for everyone involved. I for one truly hope he returns back to tip-top form and health as soon as possible, but another season of injuries and I’d want him sold.

Have Your Say!
Have your say in the comments below and feel free to follow & tweet us at @LFCFansCorner and @MerseysideFisch. Tell us what you thought about a potential fire sale, who you think should stay/go, who would you like to see come in, and if you think Rodgers will be the man carrying out this mission!

Merseyside Fischer

Merseyside Fischer

Sports Coaching & Sports Business Management student working towards being involved with professional football or talent management. Boyhood Liverpool fan with an obsession of scouting unearthed talent and constantly looking in to transfer dealings worldwide. Reasonably opinionated about transfers & tactics.
Merseyside Fischer