Getting squad depth right 'keeps players on toes' - Fowler

[Getty Images] From the outside, Liverpool's failure to seal a move for Marc Guehi last summer looks even more interesting now. They have a buyback clause with Jarell Quansah, who left for Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last July, but there are no current plans for Quansah to return. Sources stress that if Liverpool bring in Bradley Barcola, who Paris St-Germain value in excess of £100m, then there will be limitations to what more they can do in the market. Deals for Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz have cost a combined £94.5m. Without any major outgoings from Andoni Iraola's squad, there is an understanding that this summer will not be like last summer, when a club record £450m was spent. Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, who scored 183 times for the Reds, said: "When you look at Liverpool across the past decade, one of the problems that we've had is that the first XI is more than capable but the argument that people have is the squad depth. "I'm a big believer in getting the squad right because it gives everyone a lift and keeps people on their toes, knowing that if you're not performing, someone else could do the job. "Go back to the days of Phil Neal and he'll tell you stories about how players would never want to get injured because they knew that if someone else came, they wouldn't get their place back. "You need that mentality and I think that has a real knock-on effect on standards." In six months from last summer through to January 2026, Liverpool agreed deals for five centre-backs who were aged 20 or under at the time - Giovanni Leoni, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Noah Adekoya and Jacquet. It is worth noting that Ndukwe, who was impressive against Sunderland in Nashville, must go out on loan this year as he does not yet meet the criteria for a UK work permit. The long-term potential of centre-backs is not a concern at Anfield but experience is in short supply - a glaring gap in this Liverpool squad and one that needs to be addressed.