Rodgers: How we planned transfers
On the day that he completed his sixth signing of the summer so far, Brendan Rodgers has explained why the business conducted by Liverpool to date has been the production of long-term planning.
Belgian international striker Divock Origi was confirmed as the latest new recruit earlier today, sealing a switch from French club Lille, where he will return on loan for the 2014-15 campaign.
The 19-year-old follows Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and Dejan Lovren through the doors at Anfield as the boss plots competitiveness on four fronts.
"There's a strategy behind what we're doing," Rodgers explained from New York, where the Reds meet Manchester City in the International Champions Cup on Wednesday evening.
"We were talking a lot right the way through last season with the recruitment team; we knew that we had to improve the depth of our squad - it was one of the objectives for the summer.
"Clearly we weren't strong enough last year in terms of depth, numbers and quality. We had always earmarked in the summer to bring in a number of players, in the hope that we would be in the Champions League.
"That would give us the opportunity to challenge on all fronts. The players that we're bringing in have clear profiles in terms of where we want them to play and what their role is.
"We see them as young players that can really develop in the future as well. The integration into the squad is very smooth because we've got a wonderful group of players and they always make it very easy for players coming in."
The boss also revealed his intention to add another forward option to his group, if possible: "There's no doubt we will look where we can, and if we can, to bring in another striker."
Rodgers provided a glowing assessment of Origi to Liverpoolfc.com following the transfer announcement, and repeated similar sentiments at his pre-match press conference.
"We're absolutely delighted to sign him because I genuinely think he has the potential to go on and be a world-class young player," the manager enthused.
"I saw him as a young player, for the national teams coming through, I saw his quality and then saw that grow and develop to play in a World Cup, where he showed a lot of his qualities.
"It's a great signing for the football club. He's someone that could have really helped us this season; he's 19 years of age, 6ft2, he can score goals and is strong.
"But we knew part of the deal was that he is going back to Lille on loan. But the overriding feeling is that we're absolutely delighted to have a young player who potentially could be a star over the coming years."