Damien Comolli expects 'busy summer' at Liverpool

Liverpool's new director of football Damien Comolli expects to have a busy summer as the club's owners step up the rebuilding process at Anfield.

Fenway Sports Group sanctioned the £57.8million purchases of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January, their first transfer window since taking over in October.

Although most of that came from the £50million sale of Fernando Torres to Chelsea, it was a statement of intent from the Americans.

And Comolli, who was heavily involved in those deals and has now has even greater responsibility having been promoted from his role as director of football strategy, believes there will be more arrivals in the close season.

"The owners said from day one they want to improve things and turn things around quickly and I have said the same thing since I arrived, so I expect a busy summer," said the Frenchman, who was appointed by FSG in November while Roy Hodgson was still manager.

"When we prepare for the next season it's difficult to say we work to the January transfer window. We work from summer to summer.

"When the window shuts in September we are preparing for the next summer window, not the one in January because, as people say, usually not much goes on in January.

"We proved that wrong but as soon as it shuts on January 31, we are thinking about the summer and what we are going to do.

"We talk about different targets, about players we thought about in January but couldn't do and keep the scouting team working."

Comolli's recruitment plans may be made more difficult in the summer if he cannot offer potential signings European football.

Liverpool need to finish fifth if they are to qualify for the Europa League, but in order to do that they have to haul in Tottenham, who are four points ahead with a match in hand.

The Frenchman does not agree with the theory that a season without European football would help the club's rebuilding process.

"I think Liverpool should always compete for the best competitions," he said.

"I think we will have the squad depth next year to compete both in Europe and domestically if we manage to qualify for Europe.

"We've got to be there, we've got to be in Europe and at the top because we are Liverpool Football Club.

"Also, I've got to say it's sometimes easier to attract players when your club is involved in European competition.

"We'll do everything to get back there. We want to be in Europe, that's where we belong."