News that Liverpool are ‘open’ to selling Rhian Brewster this summer should the right offer be presented to them was met with understandably raised eyebrows by many Reds fans.
Nothing has been decided yet by Liverpool, and the player himself is likely to have a significant say in what happens next, but the possibility of the highly-rated 20-year-old departing is on the table at this stage.
On the Analysing Anfield podcast, Josh Williams and David Hughes attempted to make sense of the decision.
Williams began: "Brewster is a bit more of a Robbie Fowler, traditional number nine - and I’m probably going to cause a bit of conflict saying this - but I’d argue Fowler would struggle to get into the current Liverpool team.
"He was very much a penalty box number nine and Brewster is similar. The reason that Divock Origi gets minutes is because he can play as Sadio Mane as well as through the middle."
David Hughes said: "The argument for him staying around is the need to evolve as a side and the need potentially to change the formation. He is a really good option in a 4-2-3-1 and I would be really confident with him as the number nine.
"If Liverpool sell him, and there will be a buy-back clause so they can bring him back for a reasonable price. But say that is in two years, you miss out on a really good player for two years when Liverpool are looking to be successful.
"Brewster could be the difference if things are a lot tighter this year."
There are plenty of previous examples of buy-back clauses being useful - especially for the top teams around Europe.
Listen to the Analysing Anfield podcast by clicking HERE
Williams explained: "If you are going to sell him, you have to include a buy-back clause and a sell-on fee. If he moves to Sheffield United and then moves to Leicester in three years, there has to be a sell-on fee.
"But the whole buy-back thing, for me, is clever business. We see it quite often with top European clubs - Real Madrid did it with Mariano Diaz at Lyon [they sold the striker for €8 million, only to re-sign him 12 months later for €33 million after an 18-goal season] and Dani Carvajal at Leverkusen [brought back from Germany in under a year for €6.5 million).
"It minimises the risk and if Brewster becomes something crazy, Liverpool will be able to get him back for a reduced fee.
"That is how it worked with Philippe Coutinho: sell him while he is at the highest value. Clubs do it all around Europe, like Lille with Nicolas Pepe. They made sure they sold him after a great season because he was probably not going to have another one."
Hughes added: "Barcelona also do it. They did it with Gerard Deulofeu - sold him to Everton, exercised the buy-back clause and then sold him for a profit to Watford.
"Because he is so good and highly in demand, teams might be more willing to accept that deal with a buy-back clause in thinking he could score 20 goals this season.
"They would prefer not to have it in, but at the same time, he looks so good that they are willing to pay the price.
"If he does stay and didn’t get in the side, his stock will be a little bit less and then a side might not agree to having the buy-back clause in there."
If Liverpool do let Brewster leave on a permanent deal, the permanency of the transfer would have to be tempered by a clause that would allow him an easy return.
The striker is Liverpool's most sellable asset this summer, and should he push for a move in search of more first-team minutes, then he is likely to be granted it, but even so, plenty of Reds fans would see him depart with a sense of surprise.
*Do you play Fantasy Premier League? Do you back yourself to use your chips in the right gameweeks, and nail your captain every single time? Now is your chance to prove it – and win some prizes in the process.
