Kostas Tsimikas and Takumi Minamino give Liverpool a transfer tip and show off a new strategy

Liverpool’s last two signings came in for just over £ 20m in total.

In Kostas Tsimikas, the new recruit to Olympiacos, and before him Takumi Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg, the Reds looked outside the box to bring in what they hope is a bargain duo.

While the two giants of Manchester, as well as Chelsea and many others, spend a lot of money on better-known names, Liverpool takes a different approach.

But there is also something else that differs from the pair being brought into the club when compared to previous signings. People like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were not enthusiastic about most of the other clubs and arrived relatively cheaply considering what they have achieved since then.

However, Tsimikas and Minamino signal the start of a new phase in Liverpool’s long-term recruitment strategy and also give an indication of what could come next.

Liverpool now have first choice XI and they no longer have to recruit players who move directly into the team and change the area of ​​the field they occupy, such as Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk or Andy Robertson.

Instead, they look to the future. Much has been written about the age of the Liverpool front, all three of the 28-year-old duo.

None of them show signs of decline – far from it – but they will eventually need to be replaced. Players in other positions while there are more games going on at the same time next season will also require more rotation in the near future.

With the signing of Tsimikas, Liverpool have a player who can naturally fit into the position that Robertson has made his own when the Scot needs a break.

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In the long term, there is a firm belief that Minamino can take on the role that Roberto Firmino specializes in. Indeed, there may not be a closer player to Firmino’s style, as well as the specific skills MPs need for the Brazilian without Jürgen Klopp having to drastically adjust the style of the attacking unit.

Speaking on the Anfield Analysis podcast, David Hughes said, “This is the ideal way to prepare for and conduct a transition period that could come over the next few seasons.

“They have these players who can come in and play at a similar level to the regulars that we have in similar form.

“I don’t expect this to happen, but when someone has been sold you don’t suddenly have to panic and bring someone in. That will really help the upcoming transition period over the next year or two.”

And Josh Williams said: “It feels like Liverpool have a shadow squad for the first XI – Minamino in Firmino form, Tsimikas in Robertson form and Neco Williams in Trent form.

“You can play any of the midfielders and get a decent level of performance. The main problem, however, is an alternative to Salah as it is very difficult – especially one with the left foot – and a better alternative to Mane than Divock Origi.”

Liverpool acknowledge that there will be a transition period over the next couple of seasons where the squad will be refreshed and signing players in a similar form to the ones they already have will help.

This is why links to Ismaila Sarr make so much sense, although its price tag in this window could prove prohibitive and the club may have to look elsewhere.

There may not be hundreds of millions to splash on expensive stars this summer, but in Minamino last January and now in Tsimikas for a bargain of £ 12m, Liverpool’s long-term transfer planning is already well underway.