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After a rapid start to the transfer window - which, in essence, began last year - things have returned to normal for Liverpool.

This was always what was anticipated when the World Cup began.

Only Roberto Firmino has arrived at Liverpool during FSG's tenure while an international tournament is going on - and although a deal was in place, the medical did not take place until after he returned from the Copa America.

Ian Ayre flew to Chile to seal the deal for the Brazilian international in 2015, but a similar situation is not anticipated this summer.

That, naturally, has led to a few concerning glances towards the transfer window.

If Liverpool were not to sign anybody until the World Cup is over - on July 15 - then the club would have just 25 days to complete deals with the window closing on August 9.

Jurgen Klopp won't be panicking, and nor should he be. But the clock is ticking.

The question, then, is this: when do Liverpool traditionally sign players in the summer, and what effect does it have on their subsequent campaign?

The announcement of Fabinho's £39.3million move from Monaco came in May, the earliest major summer transfer since the Boston-based owners took charge at Anfield in 2011. Loris Karius is the only other player to have arrived before June - and that was for a relatively modest £4.75m.

In their six previous summers, they have signed 48 players. Eight arrived in June.

Of those players, three have been unqualified successes, with Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez and Mohamed Salah all enjoying success at Anfield.

Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, signed within 24 hours of each other, did not manage to perform on Merseyside, but have since made an impact elsewhere. Rickie Lambert failed to ignite his Liverpool career, but cost just £4million.

In general, Liverpool do their business most frequently in July under FSG, with 24 of the 48 deals taking place in this month. Eight have taken place in June, 13 in August and three in September, although the window has often closed before September comes in several years.

That only one deal - or two, including Keita - has been completed is not strange, particularly with the World Cup ongoing. It also would have been three, if not for the strange situation surrounding Nabil Fekir, which saw his dream move collapse at the 11th hour.

But will it prove to be detrimental to the Reds' hopes of challenging for the Premier League title?

That both Fabinho and Keita are not involved in the World Cup is an undoubted boost as they will be at Melwood for the start of pre-season training on July 2.

Fekir - as well as the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, a player Liverpool have watched - would not have been returning until their participation in Russia was over anyway, regardless of whether they had signed or not.

In general, however, Liverpool do better when players are signed earlier.

In 2013, three players arrived in June; 11 months later, they would go closer than ever to lifting the Premier League title.

In 2017, Klopp's first full summer, all their business had been conducted before August; it would coincide with Champions League qualification.

In 2012 and 2013, which saw Liverpool finish eighth and seventh, only one player was signed in June; seven of the 12 were signed in August.

The uncertainty surrounding the club following Luis Suarez's departure in 2014 - the last World Cup year - also led to problems with just one June arrival; likewise, a year later, albeit with James Milner and Danny Ings arriving on free transfers. That transfer window, with just one June signing, would be partly to blame for Brendan Rodgers' sacking.

How much the start to the summer reflects on on-pitch performances is for debate.

In 2013, the three early arrivals were Aspas, Alberto and Mignolet, with only the Belgian having any real impact. Last summer, the deadline day signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did not stop him, or his team, from reaching the Champions League final and qualifying for next season's competition.

Perhaps Oxlade-Chamberlain is the cautionary tale, however. His first appearance at Anfield last season was actually with Arsenal, just days before completing his £35million move to Merseyside.

And though he finished his season - curtailed by a cruel knee injury - strongly, it took him months to fully understand and appreciate Klopp's style.

In truth, there is little Klopp or Liverpool can do. They acted quick to grab Fabinho and had Fekir sitting in a Liverpool shirt before the deal fell through. Other deals continue to be worked on, but the World Cup makes it harder.

Despite that, the Reds tend to do better when doing their business early. It allows the new signings to acclimatise to Klopp's methods, settle into the city, and begin the campaign a fully-fledged Liverpool player.

It won't be a fatal blow, but the sooner, the better.