Liverpool has repeated Sadio Mané transfer trick amid $61m gap as Manchester United danger clear

Liverpool and Manchester United have started to move this summer, but transfer fees are far from the only cost factor for Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag.

With every transfer taking place across the Premier League this summer, the actual amount of money is somewhat obscured by the transfer fees quoted.

Last summer, for example, Erling Haaland cost significantly more than the $81m (£64m/€75m) release clause put in place by Manchester City when wages and fees brokerage are taken into account.

Even small moves cost a lot more than transfer fees alone. Dominik Szoboszlai’s release clause has been set at $77m (£61m/€70m), but with his wages on a five-year contract, Liverpool would have spent significantly more.

Liverpool have often signed players on the verge of becoming superstars at the FSG. The plan is to recruit them at lower salaries and then slowly develop them as they progress.

Sadio Mané, for example, was hired in 2016 before receiving a pay rise as a reward in 2018. He had one year left on his contract when Liverpool sold him. Mohamed Salah is the one who received the third salary increase and contract extension.

This summer, it was the same strategy. Liverpool have so far signed Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister who ECHO say will both earn around $150,000 a week, far less than the sums other clubs are willing to pay.

Mason Mount, for example, signed a contract this week with Manchester United worth more than $300,000 a week. On a five-year deal, that’s a difference of about $32 million between Mount and Szoboszlai.

Liverpool made an exception for the signing of Thiago Alcântara, but the former Bayern Munich player cost a relatively low transfer fee (less than half of what Mount Manchester United cost), so the overall cost of his signature was lower.

The rest of the transfers made were at relatively modest wages compared to what is offered elsewhere. Last year, Salah was in the same league as players like Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz. Generally, players start lower and work their way up the ladder.

For Liverpool, it works in two ways. On the one hand, the pay structure is manageable and everyone earns the same amount, instead of one player being miles ahead of the others; On the other hand, everyone is encouraged to keep improving and earning trophies.

Even someone like Darwin Núñez, who could be a record signing for the club, was signed on a relatively low salary compared to other Premier League biggest deals, meaning that in any scenario Liverpool could allow large contracts avoided. At Manchester United, Mount and Sancho are not alone.

Raphaël Varane, Casemiro, Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes all have equally large sums: two of them are over 30 and Martial is redundant. Marcus Rashford, when he makes a new deal, he’s going to join that group in that group.

Liverpool have the best model. While FSG has invested heavily in salaries (according to The Mirror, Liverpool had the fourth-highest salary in the Premier League last year, behind Chelsea and both Manchester clubs), it is more evenly distributed and correlated to performances, meaning situations like Martial and Sancho – who has been a clear disappointment since his move from Borussia Dortmund to Old Trafford – are avoided.

The Mirror report says Liverpool paid $61m (£48m/€56m) less in wages than Manchester United last season, and with Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gone, even with new purchases, should balance the situation. Only when those new players have proven themselves will there be raises.

Mason Mount could be a big hit for Erik ten Hag, but it represents the latest big gamble Manchester United have taken, as Liverpool remain more risk averse.