Liverpool’s latest €30m deal shows why they’ve won the transfer window

Robin Bairner

• 18 Aug 2025 14:30 BST
• 5 min read

News

Liverpool have won the transfer window – and it’s not just because the Reds have signed talent like Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and, presumably, Marc Guehi.

Much of the attention has fallen on who Liverpool have signed, but who they have sold and how they have done it has helped to set the Anfield club up for years to come.

Ben Doak’s move to Bournemouth exemplifies how the Merseysiders have produced a transfer masterclass.

Current ETV

Ben Doak

M (R), F (C)

Liverpool

Ben Doak

M (R), F (C)

Liverpool

€18.2M

ETV Range

€16.3M - €20M

View full profile

Scotland international winger Doak is set to leave after making 10 first-team appearances for the Reds.

His progress has been somewhat stunted by injury, but a loan move to Middlesbrough last season, combined with some thrilling performances for his country, has left little doubt that there is a high-calibre player there.

For Liverpool to conduct a sale for €30 million (£25m) is, nevertheless, admirable work. Doak’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) is just €18.2m. The Reds have, therefore, secured excellent value for a player who has just one year to run on his contract.

As if that wasn’t enough, Fabrizio Romano reports that the Anfield side have retained a buy-back option for the player. Depending on what form this takes, Liverpool will either be able to buy him back at an agreed price or have the chance to match any bid Bournemouth accept for the player in future.

So not only has Hughes sold Doak at a price greater than his market value, he has negotiated a deal that means Liverpool are effectively in control of his future.

With Mo Salah blocking Doak’s route to the Liverpool first team, it’s a brilliant piece of double business by the Anfield side.

Liverpool summer sales

It’s not the first time they’ve pulled this clever stunt this summer either.

Hughes agreed a similarly impressive bargain with centre-back Jarell Quansah, who departed for Bayer Leverkusen in June.

The Bundesliga giants paid €30m to sign the England U21 star, who had an ETV of €26.2m at that time. A buy-back clause of €60m has been placed in the deal, with this valid from 2027.

Liverpool have effectively parked the player at a top club to gain first-team experience before revisiting him later.

Smart sellers

The Reds have done the unglamorous side of the transfer market very well. While the excitement has been generated by the new signings, Liverpool have consistently got good value for their players when selling.

If you push the case of Trent Alexander-Arnold to one side given that his was a unique situation when he was sold to Real Madrid for €10m, Liverpool have sold above the ETV in four of their five major sales this summer.

The exception was Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford, allowing him to move for €14.8m when he was worth around €19m.

Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Tyler Morton were all sold for a price above their current values.

So while Liverpool and Hughes are right to get praise for the signings they have made, the real magic’s been done with their sales.

Football transfer news headlines today

DONE DEALS: Every official completed transfer around Europe today

Alexander Isak signs for Liverpool and five transfers to be completed this week

Real Madrid ‘increasingly close’ to €40m Liverpool signing

Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Man Utd’s NEXT keeper, Chelsea STEP UP talks, Pep’s IDEAL signing

Lassana Diarra sues FIFA: €65m case will change the transfer market forever

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