While many expected Liverpool to bring in one or two high profile recruits this summer, that now appears in doubt. Their unwillingness to meet Timo Werner's transfer clause seems to indicate that they will be fairly frugal in the coming months.
That will disappoint some supporters, especially when you consider that Liverpool only signed Adrian on a free transfer last summer. It is also often said that teams should attempt to strengthen while they are on top.
However, the coronavirus pandemic is sure to affect not only the plans of Liverpool, but other clubs as well. The lack of spectators at games will be a big hit financially, while Premier League clubs could also have to return some money from their TV deals.
Speaking to Sky Germany, Jurgen Klopp said that while he admired the likes of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, he hinted that the current climate could contribute to a quiet summer at Liverpool.
There are all sorts of rumours in England about who Manchester United are going to pick, Chelsea are going to pick.
Timo Werner is a great player, Kai Havertz is a great player.
Right time, opportunity - everything has to come together. Six, seven weeks ago, we didn't know if we could play again this year...
It's rather quiet here (at Liverpool) at the moment, I think it's safe to say.
If you want to take it seriously and run a normal business and depend on income and have no idea how much you will earn... especially because we don't know when we can start playing with spectators again.
At the moment, all clubs are losing money. Without spectators, we have to pay back the season tickets and probably sell none next year.
At least maybe without the first 10 or 15 games. The VIP areas won't be packed and the tickets won't be sold. This will have an impact on other partners and things will look a bit different.
Discussing with the players about things like salary waivers and on the other hand buying a player for £50-60m, we have to explain.
It's not only incoming transfers that could be affected at Liverpool.
The club were looking likely to move on the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Dejan Lovren, perhaps even loan players Marko Grujic and Harry Wilson, but big money deals for those players will now be much harder to come by.
