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Making a statement.

"To communicate an idea or mood without using words".

Liverpool this week attempted to arguably make their biggest statement in a transfer window since Fernando Torres waved a ‘Hola’ at Melwood in the summer of 2007.

Others have cost more, yes, but some signings just say more than others, they send that message.

With Virgil van Dijk the message was clear - Liverpool were back competing with rivals at the elite end of the market.

It was not about doing things differently, buying potential, moneyball. It was about meeting your rivals head-on and emerging as the winners.

The Dutchman was prized by others, make no mistake - with deeper pockets than the Reds too - but he’d made his choice and his choice was Anfield.

(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

The prospect of this strong, athletic talent filling that blood red shirt next season had fans rightfully full of hopes and expectation.

A need had been met - and in the best possible way.

For two days at least.

Then came a statement of a very different kind. Just a few words but damning nonetheless. A humiliating u-turn, apology and withdrawal from the race was difficult for all Reds to countenance.

There was a natural fury among supporters as a player who provoked genuine excitement appeared to have slipped through the fingers, even as he tried to force his way into the Reds’ grasp.

They’ve missed out on players before of course - Yehven Konoplyanka denied by a bizarre Ukranian owner, Alexix Sanchez by the apparent whims of his wife, Mohamed Salah preferring Chelsea (come back, all is forgiven!)- but this was different.

This time the hardest part was in the bag. The player wanted to come, the club wanted him and had the money available, yet still a Melwood lean was frustratingly denied them.

And there was a natural tendency to look for the culprits, to assign blame, to call for heads to roll.

So where to start?

New Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore will have looked on with embarrassment no doubt but the business of transfers is now well outside his commercial remit.

Transfers we know are now firmly the domain of sporting director Michael Edwards.

The former head of performance and analysis is not a one-man band of course, as he made clear on his appointment in November last year

“We have a brilliant team of people who all make a huge contribution to the process of player transfers and retention, together with recruitment for the senior team, development squad and our academy.“

But if this was Edwards’ first big test, on the surface at least it’s not difficult to argue that he’s failed it miserably.

The facts, though, may be rather more nuanced.

On his appointment Liverpool were keen to point out that Edwards has been playing an increasingly important role in transfers over the last 18 months even if it was Ian Ayre completing the deals. Roberto Firmino was one for which he was given plenty of credit.

Edwards’ player retention record has started well with new contracts for Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez. Emre Can will be another test of his mettle.

He doesn’t help himself of course and his desire to stay firmly in the background merely increases his reputation among some supporters as 'the geek with the stats who got lucky'.

But Liverpool insiders believe the suggestion owners FSG will conduct a full review and demand an explanation from Edwards over the van Dijk affair is likely to be wide of the mark.

Why? Because quite simply they were already fully aware and involved in what was unfolding. Edwards would be telling them what they already know.

If this was failure - and it was the very definition of it - then it was collective failure and everybody involved will need to assess how to get Liverpool back on the front foot.

(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

A season which ended on a high with a place secured in a Champions League cannot be put at risk by an ineffective summer.

The transfer window doesn’t open for another three weeks although Klopp told his final Anfield press conference of the season that much of the work had already been done.

That work must not be wasted.

It’s time to get some deals over the line, to start providing the vital strengthening which could take the squad to an exciting place next season.

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If not van Dijk - and you never know - then the supporters need to see others, to see the owners deliver a huge investment. The money is surely in the kitty?

Time is of the essence and the time to assess Michael Edwards and his team will be when the transfer window is at an end, not when it has not yet opened.

Liverpool had a very good summer last year and can have another one in 2017.

It's time for signings not sackings.

FSG apologist? No.

They do that for themselves these days.