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Liverpool fans might be tempted to ask if Jorg Schmadtke has made a return to the club, as the club once again turns its attention to the Bundesliga.
The 61-year-old was persuaded out of retirement to take up the role of interim sporting director for the Reds in the summer of 2023. With his entire playing, coaching, and director career spent in Germany before his move to Anfield, he had an intimate knowledge of his home market.
True to form, Liverpool quickly put him to work securing its desired transfers from his native country. Following Julian Ward's final act of signing Alexis Mac Allister, the Reds made a triple swoop on the Bundesliga under Schmadtke's guidance.
Dominik Szoboszlai was brought in from RB Leipzig, followed by the unexpected signing of Wataru Endo to address Liverpool's No. 6 issues. The Reds then wrapped up their business by securing long-time target Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich.
That marked the end of Schmadtke's incoming transfer activity, with the German confirmed to have left the club toward the close of the subsequent January transfer window.
Richard Hughes took over the following summer, and while his first transfer window was relatively quiet, it's a different story for the Scot a year later.
Fast forward 18 months from Schmadtke's departure from Anfield, and Liverpool is once again dipping its toes into the Bundesliga market.
The Reds are currently negotiating to bring Hugo Ekitike over from Eintracht Frankfurt, having already settled personal terms with the striker. If they seal the deal, he will be Liverpool's third signing from the Bundesliga this summer, following the acquisitions of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz (£116m).
Given that Liverpool's previous shopping spree in Germany resulted in a midfield that helped Arne Slot's team clinch the Premier League title, the Reds will be hoping for a repeat performance.
There's a good reason why Liverpool keeps returning to Germany – it's been a lucrative market for the team consistently over the past decade.
Ekitike is poised to become the Reds' 57th permanent senior signing since the summer of 2014. Of these signings, Liverpool has most frequently recruited from Premier League and Bundesliga teams.
Ekitike will be the 15th player to join from Germany during this period, matching the tally from the English top-flight following the signing of Milos Kerkez last month. With Ekitike on board, Liverpool could field a starting XI featuring seven players who were signed from the Bundesliga.
The Bundesliga market is one that the Reds have come to trust, and it has served them well, with numerous players successfully making the transition to Anfield and adapting well to Premier League football.
If the new trio, including Ekitike, can emulate the impact of some of their predecessors, it will once again prove to be money well spent by Liverpool.
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