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This summer was always going to be about quality rather than quantity for Jurgen Klopp.

The Liverpool boss was standing in the bowels of Sydney’s ANZ Stadium last month when he was asked about the prospect of bolstering his ranks during the upcoming transfer window.

“The basis of this squad is wonderful,” he told the ECHO in the wake of the Reds' fourth placed Premier League finish.

“If everyone is fit then we are really strong and it’s difficult to make this team better. We will try to do that but we don’t need 12 new players or whatever.

“There won’t be too many leaving but we need to make decisions on those players who have been out on loan.

“I believe it will be a good summer for Liverpool. Then we will talk about real decisions and not what might happen.”

This was never going to be a summer of sweeping changes at Anfield.

Why would it be? Liverpool proved last season they have a first XI capable of beating anyone.

Their problems came when key personnel were missing. There were times when the absence of Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip cut deep.

Lessons were learned. Klopp pin-pointed three areas which needed to be addressed with top-class acquisitions to provide greater depth.

He didn't want rookies with untapped potential, but proven performers capable of making an instant impact at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah certainly fits the bill. The club record signing of the Egypt international addresses the dearth of high-calibre wide options in Klopp's squad.

Now they won't be so reliant on the pace and creative spark provided by Mane.

Salah will undergo a medical in Liverpool on Thursday ahead of his £39million move to Anfield.

The Reds, who initially bid £28million three weeks ago, are set to pay Roma £35million with a further £4million in add-ons.

It's Liverpool's first statement of intent this summer and it won't be the last.

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Once the ink is dry on Salah's contract, the Reds will ramp up their efforts to deliver further injections of similar quality.

Liverpool are prepared to spend big on a commanding centre-back and a dominant centre midfielder.

Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita were Klopp's top targets but both those deals are far from straightforward.

It remains to be seen whether the Reds go back in for Van Dijk after publicly withdrawing their interest earlier this month and apologising to Saints, who had accused them of ‘tapping up’ the Dutch defender.

What happens next depends to a large degree on Van Dijk himself.

He's desperate to move to Anfield but is he prepared to push for it and put in a transfer request?

Southampton informed him he was staying put but how will he respond when he reports back for the start of pre-season training?

Will Saints' new manager really want to retain an unhappy player?

(Image: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

Will Liverpool table the kind of eye-watering offer which actually suits all parties? There would certainly be a premium to pay after what's gone on and the Reds will know they need to tread carefully.

Liverpool are willing to pay £50million for Keita but there are no guarantees that will be enough to convince Leipzig to sell.

The Bundesliga outfit don't need the cash and their hand has been strengthened by UEFA's decision to allow them to take their place in the Champions League next season.

Will the Guinea international, who shares the same agent as Mane, push for the move to Anfield? Time will tell.

Other deals are in the pipeline. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a target as he looks to cut his ties with the Emirates this summer.

The England international believes he needs to move in order to further his career and playing for Klopp appeals to him.

Liverpool are keen but only at the right price and it's unlikely they would pay more than £20million for a player who only has one year remaining on his contract.

A left-back to compete with James Milner is also on the shopping list as Alberto Moreno prepares to leave Liverpool this summer.

After a frustrating few weeks, the cheque book has been opened to land Salah. The Reds' spending spree is only just beginning.