Topic: LIVERPOOL TRANSFER THREAD 2023 - archived discussions about what’s offensive

[Avens]

John Henry saying we won't change approach means we have £30m plus sales for a rebuild.

This.

No, not "this" at all. He said we'll continue to invest wisely. He didn't say we'll continue to spend a maximum of £30m. That is again just made up nonsense extrapolated from the most negative mind on RAWK. Which is a fucking achievement.

[Knight]

This.

People need to accept this is how it is until they finally sell up and leave, or change their methods.

We need two top class starting midfielders, one squad midfielder, cover at right back, 2 centre halves, cover in goal and a forward cover who can play right side. 8 players. But we will end up with something like:

Mount £50m, Nunes £40m, Bella-Kotchap £20m in
Matip £15m, Jones £15m, Kelleher £20m, Ox free, Keita free, Bobby free

£60m net spend, the usual suspects in the media heralding a new dawn.

Nah. This disregards wages and makes out like the only expense we have is transfer fees. It’s reasonable to assume that the money we’re about to save on wages will make its way into signings.

[Sharado]

Nah. This disregards wages and makes out like the only expense we have is transfer fees. It’s reasonable to assume that the money we’re about to save on wages will make its way into signings.

I have to say I'm really not holding my breath. I've - quite genuinely - lost count of the off record briefings about 'a big summer' now across the last 4 or 5 years. In August of this year we'll see how serious FSG are about being owners of liverpool FC, and where they see us in the years to come. I know you can't put a price on it, but in this market, given how little we've spent down the years, you're talking £200m. Much less and we've got a couple more years of Klopp before some fairly serious mediocrity kicks in.

[Aldo1988]

Can any of you please explain to me what the fuck a Top Red is?

Someone who defends the players and doesn't slag off the owners when we lose a game.

[RedBec1993]

So impressed with Ugarte so far.

[BobPaisley3]

So impressed with Ugarte so far.

Yeah, been excellent. Sporting remind me of peak Klopp away in Europe circa 18-20. So good going forward.

[RedBec1993]

Yeah, been excellent. Sporting remind me of peak Klopp away in Europe circa 18-20. So good going forward.

Yeah, so dynamic aren’t they. Ugarte looks exactly like a player we need and what we’re missing.

[fowlermagic]

Gravenberch just joined Bayern, do you really think he will want to pack his bags again 12 months later especially when Munich still look a force.

[BobPaisley3]

Yeah, so dynamic aren’t they. Ugarte looks exactly like a player we need and what we’re missing.

Only 21 too.

[Samie]

Gravenberch just joined Bayern, do you really think he will want to pack his bags again 12 months later especially when Munich still look a force.

Yes because he's pissed off at his lack of game time.

He moonwalks into our midfield with ease currently.

[Jayo10]

Has anyone corroborated the claim that Gravenberch, Firmino and Enrique all have different agents??

[rawcusk8]

Gravenberch just joined Bayern, do you really think he will want to pack his bags again 12 months later especially when Munich still look a force.

Think I read he’s played 90 minutes twice since joining, he’s not getting a look in and if he moves he’ll still have his pick of big clubs that want him. Doubt there is anything behind it but would be such a random thing for Enrique to claim.

[Egyptian36]

It maybe a silly comment, but you have to admit that your comment that they've held Klopp back since he arrived is just plain ridiculous.  I reckon they will fork out over £150 million this summer, we've been riding our luck with the players we got and even FSG can see that they need replacing.  It's not like we haven't spent big this season, Nunez and Gakpo cost over £100 million.

You should know better than repeating other clubs fans posts on Twitter when someone say Klopp isn't backed enough. Giving the manager 30m plus sales is not like giving him 100m plus sales, that's why we are in this situation right now.

[McSquared]

Has anyone corroborated the claim that Gravenberch, Firmino and Enrique all have different agents??

Quick google says they are all different

[Avens]

I have to say I'm really not holding my breath. I've - quite genuinely - lost count of the off record briefings about 'a big summer' now across the last 4 or 5 years. In August of this year we'll see how serious FSG are about being owners of liverpool FC, and where they see us in the years to come. I know you can't put a price on it, but in this market, given how little we've spent down the years, you're talking £200m. Much less and we've got a couple more years of Klopp before some fairly serious mediocrity kicks in.

At no point in the last couple of years were we in a position of needing a 'big summer'. We clearly are this time – it's obviously a different set of circumstances, so extrapolating behaviour that occurred in the past, in different conditions, doesn't work.

[clinical]

Yeah Ugarte over Nunes any day.

[RedBec1993]

Yeah Ugarte over Nunes any day.

I’ve seen Ugarte for nearly 120 mins and I agree 100%. Just has to sort his discipline out.

[Samie]

Two diffrent players though. Ugarte seems like another mad Uruguayan and he's a #6. 

[Samie]

Liverpool are closely monitoring Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga with a view to signing the 20-year-old in the summer.

There is a €40m release clause in place in his contract. [@ESPNFC]

[Kopenhagen]

Jose Enrique as a source now.

[deano2727]

We need quite a bit of work, don't we?

We are all blatantly aware of the dire need for midfielders, but it might take more than that. I don't think we are that deep in the doldrums as some would have you believe, but I'm starting to think that we might need more of a shake up of the squad than I originally thought. It might mean selling one or two of the 'old faithfuls' (I don't have any particular player in mind) to reinvigourate the squad.

Of course, doing this can easily backfire. As an example, selling Salah might seem like a fair gamble to make, but as much as his form has dropped off a cliff, he is still giving us fairly significant returns at his all time low with us. And who'd back against him raising his level next season? Certainly not me.

It's quite a tricky situation we're in. I'm just so glad Jurgen is at Red. Onwards and upwards.

[Caston]

Ugarte seems such an obvious signing.

Mendes client who we are in bed with. He would be no doubt pushing the player forward to the club.

[rocco]

Gravenberch just joined Bayern, do you really think he will want to pack his bags again 12 months later especially when Munich still look a force.

He had only started 1 league game this season

[clinical]

Two diffrent players though. Ugarte seems like another mad Uruguayan and he's a #6. 

There's always room for a couple.

[PIPA23]

seems he is a great talent, but I think if he excels with us, after 2-3 years their dream will be to move to Real / Barca...

[clinical]

seems he is a great talent, but I think if he excels with us, after 2-3 years their dream will be to move to Real / Barca...

You know. I don't think that's a massive issue if Madrid and Barca are prepared to pay big fees.

[PIPA23]

Yeah Ugarte over Nunes any day.

would be also good for Nunez's morale to have another Uruguay player in the town...

[PIPA23]

You know. I don't think that's a massive issue if Madrid and Barca are prepared to pay big fees.

We should aim to be a final destination club and not sell to our CL competition...

I thought we were on a path to finally getting to that position in the last few years.

[Fruity]

You know. I don't think that's a massive issue if Madrid and Barca are prepared to pay big fees.

I also think if players believe they can win the big trophies with us there is less desire to go to Barca/Madrid etc. Since Coutinho we have kept every player through their peak years.

[Draex]

I get the Joyce opinion piece smacks of laying the groundwork for compromises come the summer if we don’t get CL but it’s not that far from what we might need to do with champions league.

There are so many quality midfielders available and with the ages of Hendo, Thiago, Fabinho ensuring we secure three elite midfielders could be more beneficial than Bellingham plus one. It could also mean money is available for other areas, like a good quality back up right back and a center half etc.

Cant say I’m exactly excited by the continual links to Nunes and Mount, there are far better out there. One of the main traits I want us to recruit is a fighter, someone who plays on the edge, sorely lacking in our engine room.

[Samio]

I think the worrying part is that we do sell-to-buy, and love to look after that net spend.

With that in mind, nobody is actually going to leave for a big fee this summer, are they?

It was mentioned above, but I can only see Kelleher leaving for anything? Possibly Matip? I can't see Jones going anywhere given his contract length and our lack of CM's.

[JackWard33]

Yeah Ugarte over Nunes any day.

I mean Elliot over Nunes for that matter

[Asam]

I think the worrying part is that we do sell-to-buy, and love to look after that net spend.

With that in mind, nobody is actually going to leave for a big fee this summer, are they?

It was mentioned above, but I can only see Kelleher leaving for anything? Possibly Matip? I can't see Jones going anywhere given his contract length and our lack of CM's.

Salah | Jota would raise decent fees

depends on how serious PSG / Newcastle are

[cdav]

I think the worrying part is that we do sell-to-buy, and love to look after that net spend.

With that in mind, nobody is actually going to leave for a big fee this summer, are they?

It was mentioned above, but I can only see Kelleher leaving for anything? Possibly Matip? I can't see Jones going anywhere given his contract length and our lack of CM's.

We just don't know- this summer is a big change for a number of reasons. A number of players leaving on frees and it feels we are moving out of the phase of "investing in the wagebill" and need to look to get more value for money from it. End of the construction projects, increased capacity and for the first time in ages actual big glaring needs in the team and squad that should force change

The minimum is 3 mids (2 starting quality, one very good squad option who will become a starter) and a centre back are needed this summer as the key signings

[killer-heels]

Salah | Jota would raise decent fees

depends on how serious PSG / Newcastle are

Selling Salah would be mad. He is still producing and doesnt have ages left on his contract after this season anyway. Just 2 more years.

I absolutely love Jota but we are way past the situation where many players are safe. If we don't see some tangible improvement from Jota by the end of the season and/or he picks up another injury then it wouldn't be something I would ignore. However if he were to go, we need another attacker.

[Draex]

Selling Salah would be mad. He is still producing and doesnt have ages left on his contract after this season anyway. Just 2 more years.

I absolutely love Jota but we are way past the situation where many players are safe. If we don't see some tangible improvement from Jota by the end of the season and/or he picks up another injury then it wouldn't be something I would ignore. However if he were to go, we need another attacker.

We shouldn't be selling any of our forwards, it's our only area with the perfect blend of ages/experience. We need some continuity kept in the side as other areas need complete overhauls.

Jota will come good after a full pre-season, just needs to get fitness and confidence, he has the inner fight we need, same with Diaz.

[killer-heels]

We shouldn't be selling any of our forwards, it's our only area with the perfect blend of ages/experience. We need some continuity kept in the side as other areas need complete overhauls.

Jota will come good after a full pre-season, just needs to get fitness and confidence, he has the inner fight we need, same with Diaz.

I agree and its not something I would want to do. But if there is a big offer then I don't think we can ignore it. In terms of continuity, its not something I am too concerned about. I don't think one summer makes us challengers again so rather just pack all the change into this one.

I also think that whilst I was on board with our attackers, we may be in a situation where the balance is now off. We seem to have 3 forwards who are at their best in the centre but heavily compromised when playing wide right or wide left. Thats surprising considering thats where Gakpo started off.

[Draex]

I agree and its not something I would want to do. But if there is a big offer then I don't think we can ignore it. In terms of continuity, its not something I am too concerned about. I don't think one summer makes us challengers again so rather just pack all the change into this one.

I also think that whilst I was on board with our attackers, we may be in a situation where the balance is now off. We seem to have 3 forwards who are at their best in the centre but heavily compromised when playing wide right or wide left. Thats surprising considering thats where Gakpo started off.

I think our balance will get there, very similar to how we played with Mane/Bobby/Salah.

Mane = Nunez + Diaz - Playing on the shoulder inbetween fullback and center half i.e. stretching the play and running into the space created by our no.9
Bobby = Gakpo + Jota - False 9, coming deep and linking the play, press trigger on defense
Salah = Salah.. - Same as he used to, the copy of the left

We just need to fuck off what ever experiment we tried with Salah/Diaz hugging the touchline and our fullbacks underlapping! My hope is the Gakpo signing says that is being binned.

[killer-heels]

I think our balance will get there, very similar to how we played with Mane/Bobby/Salah.

Mane = Nunez + Diaz - Playing on the shoulder inbetween fullback and center half i.e. stretching the play and running into the space created by our no.9
Bobby = Gakpo + Jota - False 9, coming deep and linking the play, press trigger on defense
Salah = Salah.. - Same as he used to, the copy of the left

We just need to fuck off what ever experiment we tried with Salah/Diaz hugging the touchline and our fullbacks underlapping! My hope is the Gakpo signing says that is being binned.

Possibly, but then to me that shows some poor planning in terms of the Nunez signing. Is he really worth £65m plus as a winger? Seems like we could have gotten a better winger/inside forward than him if thats where we wanted to play him.

[Draex]

Possibly, but then to me that shows some poor planning in terms of the Nunez signing. Is he really worth £65m plus as a winger? Seems like we could have gotten a better winger/inside forward than him if thats where we wanted to play him.

I don't see Nunez/Salah and Mane/Salah before as wingers personally, more as wide forwards..  Mane was continually coming inside, Nunez has already shown he works the left channel well, cutting back onto his right foot etc. I also think he will be an utter menace at the back post on the end of Trent's crosses, I'd imagine most fullbacks will be terrorised by him, he's a unit.

Nunez just needs to get better at the press and keeping his fullback occupied, that will come with time and the midfield being more aggressive with him.