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Liverpool has not had everything its own way in the transfer market, with clubs coming in for multiple players whom the Reds had no plans to sell. The latest potential nuisance is strong Bayern Munich interest in Luis Diaz.
Having said that, it has clearly been an elite transfer window at Anfield so far, led by sporting director Richard Hughes. The outgoings that have happened to date have netted impressive fees, and the incoming business has been scarcely believable in its scope and ambition.
The pinnacle in this regard has undoubtedly been Florian Wirtz. One of the most sought-after talents in the game, he was signed amid competition from numerous European giants.
One of the clubs most prominently in for Wirtz was Bayern Munich. And while its loss was Liverpool's gain, it has left the Bavarians with some major cash to throw about.
According to CF Bayern Insider, Bayern had set aside $175 million (£130 million) for the Wirtz transfer. When Liverpool won the race, it was forced to explore other ways to spend that money wisely.
That is how Diaz has come to feature at the top of the shortlist at the Allianz Arena. Two bids are said to have already gone in: the first worth $61 million (£45 million), the second worth $79 million (£58 million).
Liverpool, for its part, has instantly rejected both bids, and it maintains that it does not intend to sell. But it's suggested that $93 million (£69 million) might see Hughes entertain talks.
Thanks to the failed Wirtz bid, Bayern has enough money to stretch to those heights, should it consider Diaz worth the money. Not only that, but it can also press ahead with its separate push for Nick Woltemade of Stuttgart.
As with Diaz, two bids have gone in. In Woltemade's case, $76 million (£56 million) might bring Stuttgart to the table.
Between them, perhaps Woltemade and Diaz could help to replicate the impact that Wirtz would have had for Vincent Kompany's side. For Liverpool, however, winning the race for the German wunderkind could be set to deliver a secondary benefit.
Naturally, in an ideal world, Arne Slot would keep hold of Diaz. But with the Colombian having made it clear that he wants to leave, and the club reluctant to engage in contract talks with the 28-year-old, thoughts may turn at some stage to maximizing resale value.
And by beating Bayern Munich in the Wirtz race, Liverpool has equipped the primary suitor with money to burn. If Bayern does go up to $93 million for Diaz (and there is every chance the Reds would hold out for even more), it would fund well over half of the Wirtz outlay.
Throw in the fees that Hughes already extracted for squad players Caoimhin Kelleher and Jarell Quansah, and Liverpool is looking at a situation where it has already recouped its Wirtz spend and then some. That's pretty remarkable business.
Of course, Liverpool has made other signings, and could be plotting even more. The arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez had an impact on the club coffers, and a big-money move for Hugo Ekitike appears to be advancing.
But even if the Reds are unlikely to trade their way to a net-zero summer spend, at least the suitors for their players are coming with deep pockets. In Bayern Munich's case, that's directly attributable to Liverpool's capture of Wirtz.
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