The Suarez pill is a difficult one to swallow. Just months after committing his future to the club he has moved on and his proclamations of love for Liverpool are a cold comfort right now.
The most obvious precedent is when Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in 2009. Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t really react to the departure as he seemed to feel it futile trying to replace him like for like.
And Liverpool will have a similar problem. Try as they might they aren’t going to replace Suarez with any one player as good. Because players like this only come along once in a generation – if you are lucky. When was the last time Liverpool had a player quite as talented as Suarez? You could perhaps argue that Torres, Gerrard, Barnes and Dalglish were in a similar class but none had quite the magic and ability to change a game so beautifully, and on such a regular basis, as the Uruguayan.
But what Liverpool can do is use the cash to plant some more seeds – to attempt to bring in some youngsters who can at least aspire to similar levels.
The Daily Star reports Sunday that Liverpool could spend as much as £133m this summer in an attempt to offset their loss:
LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers is planning a massive summer transfer splurge with Kop chiefs telling him to spend as much as £133million
This includes Can, Lallana and Lambert, who have come in for £39m combined.
Heavily linked stars Lazar Markovic and Divock Origi would cost another £35m.
And if Alberto Moreno, Wilfried Bony and Loic Remy show up then the sum will explode well over the 9 figure mark.
So while Liverpool have lost a talisman they have gained the ability to spread the wealth and quality around the team like never before.
It should be an exciting summer in the market for Rodgers and Liverpool, with time on their side and cash in the bank.
