If Liverpool Can Only Sign 1 More Player This Summer, Who Should It Be?

This was meant to be the summer when Liverpool spent big. Instead, it feels like they've spent most of the last few weeks doing little more than window shopping.

Yes, winger Mohamed Salah was eventually signed at the start of July from AS Roma, who played hardball over a fee before finally agreeing to sell for £35.7 million, per Transfermarkt.

The Reds also picked up Dominic Solanke from Chelsea, bringing in a promising young forward who became frustrated with a lack of opportunities at Stamford Bridge. It is a deal with one eye on the future.

Andrew Robertson's arrival from Hull City has added competition at left-back, a position filled last season by a converted midfielder in the shape of James Milner. The Scotsman will hope he doesn't spent as much time on the bench as Alberto Moreno, the so-called defender who doesn't really know how to defend.

However, supporters still crave more. 

While two fresh attacking options and a new full-back were necessary requirements, the club has, so far, been frustrated in attempts to splash FSG's cash on two marquee names: Virgil van Dijk and Naby Keita.

Their rather public pursuit Van Dijk has so far led to nothing. Not since O.J. Simpson took a trip in a white Ford Bronco along the Los Angeles freeways in 1994 has anyone been involved in a chase that's created quite so much media interest.

Liverpool still have until the end of August to conclude any further business, but there are growing concerns among an antsy fanbase who are desperate to see a squad capable of challenging, both at home and abroad. A horrible history with summer transfer mistakes has left deep scars, too.

So, what if they could only add just one more signing before the transfer window closes? Bleacher Report ran a poll to find out the answer to this question:

It wasn't remotely surprising to see the towering Van Dijk come out on top. However, it was eye-opening how close Keita—the non-stop midfielder with an eye for goal—finished in second place, followed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in third.

Still, 46 per cent of those who responded believe Liverpool need to prioritise strengthening a defence that has often been the Achilles' heel.

"I don't think I'd be too different to most Liverpool fans if offered the chance to sign only one realistic player in this transfer window," Stephen Daly from LFC Daytrippers said.

"Whilst I'd love to bring in a better goalkeeper, and for the money being quoted for our potential transfer targets this summer, I'd love to see a top No. 9 coming in, I think centre-back has to be the area that is most important to strengthen.

"I'm not one for camps when it comes to LFC players. With our fans it always seems you have to pick one player over another. For example, it's Emre Can vs. Jordan Henderson, or Dejan Lovren vs. Mamadou Sakho.

"For me it's not about that, and whilst I think both Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren are perfectly adequate players to have in our squad, given they're both so injury prone, I think it would be madness to start the season with these two as our only genuinely top-level centre-backs."

Liverpool have conceded 40 or more goals for the past seven Premier League seasons. During that period, only Manchester United's 2012/13 squad (43) lifted the trophy when giving up an average of more than a goal a game.

Put down the right foundations and you have a firm base to build on—try to construct on quick sand, however, and you'll soon be surrounded by rubble.

Even when the Reds went close to claiming the Holy Grail again in 2013/14, Brendan Rodgers' side leaked 50 goals. They were in the running for the top prize despite their defence, not because of it.

ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images

If the current crop want to push on from last season's fourth-placed finish and threaten in the title race beyond January, the back four must be better.

But will one player really make all that much of a difference? And, more importantly, is Van Dijk the right defender to solve an issue that's undermined Liverpool for so long?

To find out the answers, Liverpool are going to have to fork out a huge sum. Manchester City have spent big already on defenders this summer, including setting a new world record when splashing out £52 million for Benjamin Mendy, per Lawrence Ostlere of The Guardian.

That watermark will surely be surpassed if Klopp finally gets his man and brings the Dutchman to Anfield before the end of next month.

Were it not for a cheeky trip to Blackpool and a steady stream of text messages, the deal might already be done.

Per John Cross of The Mirror, Liverpool flew the defender in for clandestine talks with Klopp, who followed up the face-to-face meeting by contacting the player regularly by phone. It was a summer romance that briefly blossomed by the sea before they were forced to take it long distance.

Southampton responded by reporting their rivals, forcing Liverpool to release a grovelling apology that made clear they had dropped their interest in the player. Few believed that to actually be the case, though.

Needing to take action into his own hands, Van Dijk informed the Saints he wanted to leave, according to Sam Wallace of The Telegraph. Absent from his current club's 25-man squad for a pre-season training camp in France, the former Celtic player looks to be embroiled in a messy divorce.

There was a further twist in the tale on Tuesday, as Sky Sports sources revealed how Van Dijk expects to be a Liverpool player before the window closes:

Much like the Van Dijk saga, Liverpool's pursuit of Keita has run about as smoothly as Derek Trotter's Reliant Regal van on Only Fools and Horses.

To paraphrase one of Del Boy's favourite catchphrases, this time next year he could be a Red.

Per Melissa Reddy of Goal, the English club have had two bids—the last of them a cool £66 million—rejected by RB Leipzig. However, in the same story it's confirmed Keita's current contract includes a £48-million release clause that can be triggered in the summer of 2018.

Klopp may have to be patient to add a box-to-box midfielder who took the Bundesliga by storm last season, scoring eight goals and providing the same number of assists.

Sadly, though, even Keita—who lines up for a club bankrolled by a well-known energy drink company—cannot sprout wings and fly away. With their first choice for midfield reinforcements currently grounded, Oxlade-Chamberlain could work for Liverpool as a back-up option.

The England international's versatility would offer depth to a squad that looked paper-thin at times during the last campaign. Klopp has shown a willingness to give youth a chance, but a hectic schedule, one that includes playing in Europe (hopefully in the UEFA Champions League), will stretch resources even further.

Adding a midfielder wasn't the No. 1 priority for many who responded to our poll, though:

"

Whoever doesn't vote van Dijk is lying or hit the wrong button. He's streaks ahead of any other target we could get to address our weakness

— Alex Barilaro (@Alex_Barra12) July 25, 2017"

"

You don't need attackers got a fantastic attack, defence let's u down a lot. Get van dijk and you will be right up there next season

— Chris cleghorn (@Chriscleghorn4) July 25, 2017"

Daly believes Van Dijk should be prioritised because he is more than just a big, aerially-dominant presence who can head clear the occasional corner or free-kick.

"Van Dijk has long been identified as our primary target and is a player I think is not only a step above what we already have, but is someone who has the attributes and pace to fit into the system that we play (which is not something that can be said for most central defenders)," he said.

"Given he has made it clear to his club that he wishes to move on this summer and seems to prefer a move to Anfield over other teams, for me he's the one essential signing this summer."

The fear for many Reds on social media is that neither Van Dijk nor Keita sign up before the start of September. In this scenario, such a forecast would undoubtedly lead to an immediate outbreak of mass hysteria, followed by bouts of finger pointing, blind panic and spells of wallowing in self-pity.

Crucially, Klopp has remained calm during a summer of speculation, picking his words wisely when speaking to the media.

"We are not afraid of big numbers at the club, we are not afraid to spend," he told Reddy in an interview to Goal. "But we have to do the right things, look at the right players and negotiate with the right clubs."

Summer transfer windows feel akin to buying new school shoes during the holidays. Some will pick out what they want and parents will pay whatever is necessary, whiles others will wait until the last minute to grab what they can.

A few will stick with what they already have, though, content to get as much as possible out of something they are comfortable with. There will be those who search endlessly for the right choice, believing the perfect ones are out there somewhere.

Occasionally, it goes spectacularly wrong and one poor boy becomes the laughing stock of the school yard (yes, that was once me). At least with a fashion faux pas you can quickly make amends. New shoes can be purchased in a hurry; new players, however, cannot be bought until the turn of the year.

Make the wrong choice and you're stuck. Liverpool's supporters should remember the disastrous Mario Balotelli signing in the summer of 2014 and understand that, sometimes, it's just better to keep your powder dry.

Rather than get caught up in the likelihood of potential recruits, all Reds should put their faith in Klopp. Were it not for him, players such as Van Dijk and Keita might not even be interested in moving to Merseyside in the first place. 

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.