Just a few days before his new Liverpool contract was announced, Virgil van Dijk offered a hint of what was to come at the club.
The Reds captain signed a two-year deal in April, doing so seemingly armed with the knowledge that Liverpool had a transfer masterplan ready to be launched.
“I think they’re planning to make it a big summer,” Van Dijk revealed. “So we all have to trust the board to do the right job.”
You would be hard-pressed to find a Liverpool supporter unhappy with what has transpired since.
By the end of June, the Reds had wrapped up a club-record £116million deal for Florian Wirtz, secured Jeremie Frimpong as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, and signed Milos Kerkez for £40m.
Hugo Ekitike has since joined and it means that Liverpool have spent close to £300m this summer before returning from their tour to Asia.
Ominously for their title rivals, the spree does not appear to be over.
A new centre-back remains on the wishlist. Most notably, Liverpool are in pole position to sign Alexander Isak after the striker informed Newcastle he wants to leave.
Isak moving to Anfield would be a painful sight for Arsenal in particular, who have held long-term interest in the forward.
Whether Ekitike and Wirtz will have an instant impact is up for debate, but Isak is as close to a banker as you could find.
The Swede’s signing would raise the stakes in this season’s title race, adding further firepower to a Liverpool side that scored at least 14 more league goals than any other club last season.
Liverpool did not win any of their last four matches and still finished ten points clear of Arsenal in second.
It is therefore a huge statement of intent to back that up with a summer of spending that could top £500m by September 1, and it leaves them as favourites to defend their crown.
Arsenal have been active themselves, with Viktor Gyokeres’ move from Sporting finally ending their striker search.
Noni Madueke has been added to the ranks, too, but if Isak did sign for Liverpool, the conclusion looking at the two squads would be that Arne Slot’s side are far better-equipped in attack.
Arsenal fans will be placing plenty of faith in the club tempting Eberechi Eze from south to north London to redress the balance.
The hope for Arsenal, Manchester City and all those with title ambitions will be that Liverpool’s new faces take time to settle.
