Inside Liverpool's transfer window as three failed deals and surprise signings reveal new strategy

In a move that represented a break in tradition to usher in a brand new era at Liverpool Football Club, a sporting director sat alongside a head coach for the first time at a press conference on July 5.

Arne Slot, the man whose replacing of Jurgen Klopp came with a tweaking of the job title from manager to head coach, was joined by Richard Hughes, who, after a turbulent spell for Liverpool with regards to their sporting director position, became the club's first permanent employee in the role since Julian Ward over a year earlier.

Hughes' in-tray was a bulging one at the top of the summer and he outlined the club's plans for the window, saying: "We'll know more as we go. The squad we've inherited is very talented but we need to improve. We will be opportunistic if we can."

'Opportunistic' became the phrase that would be repeated in the weeks that would follow but events the previous week had showcased exactly what Hughes had meant when they were approached by Newcastle United over a £75m deal for Anthony Gordon.

A medical had been arranged for Gordon in Leipzig while the England winger was with the Three Lions at the European Championship but the negotiations with the Magpies didn't get that far. After an enquiry for Jarell Quansah was firmly shot down, Newcastle asked for Joe Gomez to be part of the talks with a £45m transfer lined up the other way as the North East side frantically fought to ease their Profit and Sustainability issues with the Premier League.

Sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, to Nottingham Forest and Brighton, were eventually expedited to bring in around £75m, meaning Eddie Howe no longer needed to redress the balance and the deal for the Liverpool-born Gordon was off.

It's fair to say, however, that interest in the 23-year-old at Anfield has not evaporated and the subsequent reports of the winger having his 'head turned' by the advances from his boyhood club mean it is something that could yet be revisited at a later stage.

Admiration for Leny Yoro never went any further due to an expectation that Real Madrid would win the race but there were also serious reservations about the asking price of Lille, who were desperate to earn a fee for the 18-year-old defender before clubs could swoop on a free transfer. Liverpool walked away some time before United struck a £52m agreement with the Ligue 1 side.

Interest in Yoro was said to be independent of a wider centre-back search and simply down to a potential 'opportunity' to bring one of the finest teenage defenders on the continent for what was thought to be a relatively modest fee, given his contract situation. The Reds had no intention of paying over £50m for a 18-year-old who would have joined as fifth choice initially.

Martin Zubimendi became the latest player to fill what has now almost become a mythical 'No.6' spot in the squad as the search for a specialist, top-class defensive midfielder entered its third year. Having seen Aurelien Tchouameni, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia all move elsewhere, Spain international Zubimendi was indicative of Arne Slot altering the requirements for what was needed to be the deepest-lying midfielder at Anfield.

With a £51m buyout clause in the Real Sociedad star's contract, it looked as though Zubimendi had agreed to leave his boyhood club before a charm offensive from la Real saw the 25-year-old have a change of heart. Liverpool were made to walk away from the potential deal and opted not to pursue an alternative. That wisdom behind that choice will become clearer in the coming months.

A surprise £29m agreement was struck with Valencia for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili with the Georgia international set to link up with his new team-mates next summer. It was a left-field move that raised eyebrows but was indicative of a club future-proofing for the position where they feel they have the world's best in Alisson Becker.

The optics of securing the signature of Mamardashvili seemed questionable given the class of current incumbent Alisson and the lack of activity elsewhere but securing the 23-year-old on a six-year deal means it will at least be some time before Liverpool have to go hunting for goalkeepers once more.

A late move for Federico Chiesa did at least add some strength in depth to an already packed forward department and the £10m deal for the Italy international, who joins on a four-year deal from Juventus, could prove to be an inspired piece of business.

On the outgoings front, Liverpool have secured temporary homes for a slew of the next generation with Kaide Gordon, Ben Doak and Stefan Bajcetic all moving on loan, while Hughes was able to negotiate superbly to bring in over £60m for fringe players like Sepp van den Berg, Fabio Carvalho and Bobby Clark.

The wheeling and dealing means Liverpool end the window around £50m up, if the fee for Mamardashvili is excluded, who joins next summer, and while such an outcome is always conducive to the long-term plan at a club with the self-sustainable model imposed by owners Fenway Sports Group, it will be results in the coming months that will dictate whether the laissez-faire - or opportunistic - approach was the correct strategy.