It's a 'surprise' Liverpool DIDN'T sign 'brilliant' star to replace Mo Salah - now it's too late

Liverpool have not hesitated to spend big to secure top talent from other Premier League clubs, with Virgil van Dijk standing out as a prime example of such an investment paying off.

Recently, however, the Merseyside club has turned its attention to more cost-effective options from European leagues, as negotiating within the Premier League has become increasingly challenging.

Players who are proven performers in England often see their price tag increased and can be become a popular target for numerous clubs making the competition for signatures increasingly more difficult.