Social media has changed football in so many ways, most notably in the dissipation of transfer rumours. While many of us enjoy the random links with players, some more reliable than others, there's a huge number of fans who treat everything they read on the internet as gospel and erupt in unbridled anger at unsubstantiated rumours or supposedly failed transfer attempts. They are happy to trawl Twitter, talk nonsense and troll politicians, but explode with rage when they read a story without official credibility. If they really want to avoid transfer rumours they really do need to unplug the internet router, turn off the television and have a bath with their radio. Even the official site shares unsubstantiated transfer rumours these days!
'Fake news!' they cry, no doubt vocally at their monitors as they type with blistered fingertips and foaming at the mouth, clearly influenced by the mop-headed leader of the United States. Explaining the difference between fake news and gossip to these people would be wasted time. The only thing to appease them would be a photo of their chosen favourite player from FIFA 17 stood in front of the Kop in a red shirt and scarf waved above their head. Until that day, none of the transfer rumours are real, Jurgen Klopp can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag and FSG are too stingy to put their hands in their pockets.
We are only a few weeks into the summer transfer window and already there are complaints that Liverpool have not done enough in the market, despite the addition of two great players in Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke. Talks are taking place with other players and, unlike what many fans believe, these do take time to complete. There is a lot of business to negotiate, both with the club and the player. FIFA 17 is not real life and deals aren't done with the press of the blue X button.
Liverpool are fortunate enough to not need to strengthen their current squad ahead of the Champions League qualifiers. We've not lost any of our first team squad from last season and are quite capable of getting through to the group stages without the addition of a new big name striker. It's always nice to get signings in early so they can join up with the squad for pre-season preparations and also much better to avoid last minute panic overpriced panic buys, but we're not going to be in that situation this year. We really can afford to play it cool, so chill out and enjoy the summer sunshine folks!