After Liverpool met with Dominik Szoboszlai’s agent Matyas Esterhazy early last week, they weren’t initially optimistic that an agreement could be struck.

Convincing the Hungary captain to make the move to Anfield wasn’t an issue. Szoboszlai was enthused about the possibility of continuing his development under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp. Agreeing personal terms on a five-year contract worth around £120,000 ($152,000) per week was relatively straightforward.

However, the structure of the deal with RB Leipzig was problematic. His €70million (£60.1m; $76.3m) release clause not only needed to be triggered by the end of June but the vast majority of the fee had to be paid up front.

The cost of transfers can usually be spread out in instalments over a number of years but this one would require a hefty and immediate cash outlay. It had deterred other suitors, including Newcastle United, given the implications in terms of meeting financial fair play (FFP) requirements.

Waiting until July and attempting to negotiate a lower fee or payment plan with Leipzig after the clause had expired wasn’t an option for Liverpool. They knew the Bundesliga outfit were under no pressure to sell and the cost would only have risen.

As Liverpool assessed whether they could make it work financially, the burning question was: how badly did Klopp want Szoboszlai?

The answer was emphatic. The manager viewed him as the ideal multi-functional attacking midfielder to complement the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton three weeks earlier. First-team ready but young, hungry and with the potential to hit much greater heights.

Szoboszlai had impressed Klopp with his dynamic performances for Red Bull Salzburg against Liverpool in the group stage of the Champions League in 2019-20. The German coach continued to watch his progress with interest after he moved to Leipzig in January 2021. Such had been Leipzig’s confidence in Szoboszlai’s development, they renewed his contract that summer — only six months after his arrival and before he’d even played a game for them due to a long-term injury — increasing his release clause from €55million to €70m and pushing it back by a year. He went on to score 20 goals and provide 22 assists in 91 appearances.

Liverpool had targeted Mason Mount prior to the end of last season but they felt that the cost of the package for a player with one year left on his contract was going to be excessive.

Manchester United, rivals for Mount’s signature, had the advantage of being able to offer Champions League football and went all out to get him. After protracted negotiations, United ultimately agreed to pay Chelsea £60million for the England international, who will earn around £250,000 per week at Old Trafford once his deal is finally completed. Regardless of Mount’s preference, Liverpool wouldn’t have matched those figures.

As well as having significantly lower wage demands, Szoboszlai is younger and arguably more tactically flexible given his ability to play as a No 8, No 10 and out wide in a front three. Liverpool also view him as a decent option to deputise for Mohamed Salah during January’s Africa Cup of Nations, which could take the Egypt international away from the club for over a month.

Liverpool, the box midfield and where Szoboszlai fits in

The reports Klopp got back from friends and former colleagues who had worked with Szoboszlai in Germany were glowing. They referred to his work ethic and the leadership qualities of a man who was appointed captain of his international side at the age of just 22 following a vote by his team-mates.

The Hungarian had flourished at Leipzig last season under the guidance of head coach Marco Rose, who played for Klopp at Mainz. Rose had been a mentor for the gifted midfielder when he initially broke through at Salzburg as a teenager.

Leipzig’s analysts noted how Szoboszlai had a great feeling for starting the press with his run often acting as the trigger. Their Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager told staff he had never seen a No 10 work so hard “against the ball”.

The Bundesliga club were first alerted to Liverpool’s interest around a month ago but at the time they felt that Newcastle might be his likelier destination. Leipzig’s preference was to keep him but knew if he left it would be for a club record fee given the clause.

By the middle of last week, Liverpool were the sole contenders for his signature — something senior Anfield figures were surprised about given his talent and reputation.  It was only on Friday morning – less than 24 hours before the release clause expired – that it became clear that Liverpool could proceed.

With owners Fenway Sports Group giving the green light to the financial outlay, sporting director Jorg Schmadtke called his Leipzig counterpart Max Eberl later that day to inform him that the clause was being triggered.

Szoboszlai, who is now the fourth most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history, had been a topic of conversation the previous day when the duo had sorted out the finer details of Fabio Carvalho’s season-long loan move to Leipzig.

It was the first incoming of Schmadtke’s tenure with his predecessor Julian Ward completing the transfer of Mac Allister last month before handing over the reins. Schmadtke’s input was sought given his wealth of Bundesliga experience, but this was very much a deal driven by Klopp, with Szoboszlai having been a player of serious interest long before the handover.

On Saturday morning, Szoboszlai flew in to undergo his medical and on Sunday he was given a guided tour of both Anfield and Kirkby’s AXA Training Centre. He had opted for the iconic No 8 shirt previously worn by Steven Gerrard.

Szoboszlai has been friends with Erling Haaland since their days together at Salzburg and the Manchester City striker was in contact to offer his congratulations on the move. Haaland has also been providing advice on where to live, with the midfielder spending time on Monday looking at properties in Cheshire before boarding a private plane with his father Zsolt and agent Esterhazy to fly home to Hungary. He intends to say his goodbyes at Leipzig before returning to Kirkby to meet his new team-mates next Tuesday.

Liverpool intend to take stock as they consider their next move in the transfer market.

Klopp wanted to sign two multi-functional midfielders capable of providing more energy and creativity to refresh that department following the exits of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as free agents. That’s been achieved at a combined cost of around £95million before the start of pre-season, which gets under way with the first wave of returnees to Kirkby on Saturday. No sagas, no fuss; just two release clauses triggered.

Nice’s Khephren Thuram is no longer viewed as a target with Liverpool having ultimately decided that Szoboszlai was the better option given his greater versatility, experience and skill set.

Liverpool could yet move for a young centre-back if the right option becomes available, but they won’t pursue a third midfielder unless one of the current crop leaves.

If you include Trent Alexander-Arnold, who finished last season in a hybrid role, Klopp currently has nine senior midfield options with Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.

It remains to be seen if that situation changes. Thiago has attracted serious interest from Saudi Arabia and has already turned down one lucrative offer. However, he currently intends to stay put for the final year of his contract.

Henderson has also been linked with a move to Saudi following the appointment of Gerrard at Al Ettifaq, but there’s been no approach so far and Liverpool do not expect to lose their long-serving skipper.

Since wrapping up the signing of Szoboszlai, there has been growing speculation had Liverpool turned their attention to Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. He is admired but as things stand they are not pursuing the Belgian defensive midfielder. They do not believe they have a gap to fill currently and they also feel that an asking price of £50million is far too high for a teenager who has only made 17 more senior appearances in his career than Bajcetic.

Despite all the recent noise around Thuram, it is worth noting that Jones and Elliott have been two of the standout performers at the Under-21 European Championship as they prepare for England’s semi-final with Israel today (Wednesday).

Klopp has been delighted to see them showcase their talent on the international stage and expects them both to kick on again next season.