Rodgers Looks for More Control in Upcoming Contract Talks

Although talks have yet to officially open between Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers over a new deal, the wheeling and dealing has already begun with the Anfield boss firing an opening salvo in the press, where stakes a claim for more control over the clubs transfer business.
“I came to Liverpool because I hoped it would be a destination rather than just a stopping-off point” said the Northern Irishman, who went on to take a pretty decent swing at the transfer by committee approach at Anfield. “I felt the club had everything you would want as a football manager. It’s one of the leading clubs in the world and I want to be allowed to build and develop the club without interference.”
The 41-year old impressed during his time at Swansea City with limited resources at his disposal and, for the most part anyways, has done the same on Merseyside with the ownership group wary of splashing out too much cash too soon. Even though the Reds are enroute to not only qualifying for the Champions League, but potentially winning the Premier League title, it’s highly unlikely that the tight purse strings are going to change anytime soon, despite a substantial cash injection.
Still, if FSG — who Rodgers claims he has a fantastic relationship with — isn’t going to give him the unlimited funds afforded to the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, he at least wants to have a substantial say who the cash is spent on. “I have a great relationship with the owners and, hopefully, we can continue to develop the team” he said. “We’ve still got a long way to go, but I’m looking five years ahead.”
The jury is still out on a number of the Northern Irishman’s purchases, but if he can bring the Reds their first title of the Premier League era, he at the very least deserves a bigger say in what goes on in the transfer market.
The thing about Brendan is he speaks very vaguely and what he says can be taken a number of different ways. I don’t know the transfer committee setup but I think he’s earned a bigger place at the table. That being said, someone still has to look after the cheque book.
Yeah true, to me it sounds like he has not been happy with the sloppy way we have done transfers while he has been here.
Borini was a “waste” because he was injured and he was injured because he was over played. That should not have happened because we should have had DS arrive at the same time.
And now look at Salah at the Blues… Costa etc…
He wont come out and undermine the club by attacking those in charge of transfers. But I would assume he is privately pissed at them.
I agree — he’s earned himself a much louder voice.
Things have certainly been a bit sloppy — the Salah situation is a perfect reflection of that — but it’s a learning curve. Football is a sport like no other and the transfer market is an absolute jungle.
I think we’ve shown that we’re targeting the right players with bids being lodged for the likes of Costa and Mkhitaryan but it’s hard to say who is calling the shots at the committee meetings.
Champions League football will go a long way to putting us into contention for those types of players — let’s just hope that if Rodgers is handed a bigger say in proceeding that he uses it wisely.
Yeah and if we can make it to 2 wins and a draw then we will have even more ability to draw in top talent.
I think in the summer we have a greater chance of making better signings as well as the type of signings we’ve missed out on like Salah for example. But I’m not sure what he means by more transfer freedom, is it the policy about players over the age of 23 year olds, maybe he wants more money or maybe the reason we have missed out on many targets is partly down to the people higher than BR and not BR’s fault? I really don’t know