August 9, 1977
Reports that Liverpool are about to make a major move into the transfer market to spread some of the half million they received for Kevin Keegan were treated with a deafening silence from Anfield to-day. It was even said that they could sign a big name in time for him to play in Saturday’s FA Charity Shield game against Manchester United at Wembley. That is extremely unlikely.
But manager Bob Paisley had a long conference with chairman John Smith at Anfield this morning, so that he missed some of the routine Melwood training session.
Four names have been mentioned: Trevor Francis (Birmingham), Kenny Dalglish (Celtic), Liam Brady (Arsenal) and Peter Sayer (Cardiff).
Yet and important meeting between the chairman and manager, with general secretary Peter Robinson also involved, was not to talk about the new gates on the Anfield car park.
Clearly, the lesson from the three-game tour in Hamburg and Amsterdam were the main topic of discussion, plus the developments concerning striker David Johnson, who could, later this week, ask for a move.
A report that Liverpool are interested in Francis comes out weekly somewhere or the other. It has been going on for years … and Francis is still at Birmingham. Every other senior club wants Francis as well; it is as routine as Lester Piggot riding a big race winner.
Dalglish is unsettled at Celtic but I understand from Glasgow sources that he is more likely to move to follow Keegan to the Continent than join an English club. Mr. Paisley has already dismissed Sayer from his plans. He said weeks ago he had better players already on the Anfield staff.
This leaves Arsenal’s Brady.
One thing is certain in this welter of rumour and speculation. Liverpool will go into the transfer market – Mr. Paisley has made no secret of that.
They have so much cash coming in from the Keegan transfer, the two finals in Rome and Wembley, plus League games last season, that something in the region of £750,000 will be I their coffers within the next few weeks as the income from these games pours in.
If they don’t spend it, more than 50 per cent will be swallowed up in tax. Liverpool won’t intend that to happen so players will be bought.
The situation can be summed up thus – if a top class player becomes available. Liverpool will go for him. None of the top men in the game are available just now … but they could be next week. That’s how things happen in football.
(Source: Liverpool Echo: August 9, 1977; via http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) © 2018 Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited
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