Topic: LIVERPOOL TRANSFER THREAD - 2023 (FSG posts = get muted) - No Mbappé

[Garlic Red]

thats a blast from the past. was it him who reported on our attempt to sign Mkhitaryan before he went to Dortmund? Or was it one of the other shaktar guys - Willian, or the one who went to china?

Think it was Alex Teixeira that went to China wasn’t it. Willian went to Chelsea over us. But yeah, he did report it and appears to be very much in the loop with Shakhtar goings on and has been for years.

[Knight]

Unless he's a regen of Modric then I doubt it's a legit interest. Klopp did the hard work and rebuilt a very diverse midfield, no need to rip it up next season when defence and attack are the priority.

A Modric regen playing for us would be glorious. What a player he's been.

[Jookie]

I think the interesting thing this summer will be the balance of contract renewals and signings. Balance in terms of squad composition but probably more importantly funds.

Matip, Thaigo, Trent, Salah and Van Dijk have contracts expiring in 2025

I think Robertson, Kelleher and Konate have contracts expiring in 2026 (so 2 years left this summer).

Then you have the likes of Diaz, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Gomez who have 3 years left on the deal. But we know Liverpool like to reward players for performance. Would likes of Diaz, Elliot and Gomez be in-line for contract extensions in next 6-12 months? Maybe even Nunez who is still on 1st contract but now a very important 1st team player.

I also think Quansah, Clark and Bradley get new deals on much improved terms.

Depending on how we tackle the above could have a significant impact on wage bill and therefore available funds. I think a lot of people have focused on Edwards and Hughes role in new manager selection and player recruitment. I think the biggest challenge may be around contract renewals and how we deal with likes of Robertson, Van Dijk and Salah in theor 30-33 age range. Additionally, for the younger players, some looking at 1st contract extension at Liverpool, what do the likes of Trent, Konate, Diaz, etc.. want to extend and prolong their career into the prime years at Liverpool?

[Jookie]

I'd have thought a CM of that age would be the last position we'd be looking to strengthen in.

Unless we think he's a significantly better prospect than players we already have.

If I had to guess I suspect we are always scouting and looking for players for every position. Even if it's not an immediate need in the squa. This could easily be part of that process. We need to be scouting everywhere incase a rare talent emerges or in case we suddenly need midfielders because of injury, sales etc..

[amir87]

A Modric regen playing for us would be glorious. What a player he's been.

Might sound like a wild shout but if Mac Allister had the same speed as Modric, he wouldn't be a millions miles off.

[Knight]

Might sound like a wild shout but if Mac Allister had the same speed as Modric, he wouldn't be a millions miles off.

Definitely some parallels there.

[Garlic Red]

Might sound like a wild shout but if Mac Allister had the same speed as Modric, he wouldn't be a millions miles off.

Was just about to start typing this before scrolling down. Think Lallana said that about him when he was at Brighton didn’t he.

Mac = Modric
Dom = Valverde
Trent = Kroos? 

[disgraced cake]

A Modric regen playing for us would be glorious. What a player he's been.

We signed him in the summer mate. I think it was after the Forest game where I first noticed it. Really do think he's the closest thing we'll see to Modric going forward (despite the fact he's still playing himself). Pretty sure he won't be *that* good but I do think he's one you'd be very surprised with if his best years aren't ahead of him.

Was just about to start typing this before scrolling down. Think Lallana said that about him when he was at Brighton didn’t he.

Mac = Modric
Dom = Valverde
Trent = Kroos? 

And to think we still have Curtis, Elliot, Gravenberch, Bajcetic all 23 or under. Get the right manager in with his own additions going forward and the post Klopp days might not be so depressing.

[classycarra]

Matip, Thaigo, Trent, Salah and Van Dijk have contracts expiring in 2025

May be wrong, but think Matip and Thiago's contracts are up this summer

[amir87]

May be wrong, but think Matip and Thiago's contracts are up this summer

You're correct.

[classycarra]

You're correct.

cheers

broken clock, twice a day etc

[Jookie]

May be wrong, but think Matip and Thiago's contracts are up this summer

You’re right.

I should have phrased it as those 5 players needing decisions on new contracts or not this summer.

I think Thiago and Matip both leave on frees but you never know.

[Persephone]

You’re right.

I should have phrased it as those 5 players needing decisions on new contracts or not this summer.

I think Thiago and Matip both leave on frees but you never know.

With Edwards in charge there is no way those two get new contracts. Joel has had many injuries in his career with us and he'll still have a long road ahead of him before he can even contemplate getting back to full fitness. It took Virg more than 2 years to come back to his level and he's not been injury prone before.

Thiago's body can't handle elite football anymore, it is folly to consider him for a new contract considering his current wages.

[farawayred]

Was just about to start typing this before scrolling down. Think Lallana said that about him when he was at Brighton didn’t he.

Mac = Modric
Dom = Valverde
Trent = Kroos? 

Trent's Kroos is better. 

[MightyReds]

What about Alphonso Davies? No link at all. Having a bit of contract stalemate at Bayern, but at the quoted $40million will be beyond our looking for value approach.
He is at a good age with upside, good pace with attacking attributes, play in attacking position for Canada. Defensively he is sound from the limited matches I watched him played.

[tubby]

What about Alphonso Davies? No link at all. Having a bit of contact stalemate at Bayern, but at the quoted $40million will be bring our looking for value approach.
He is at a good age with upside, good pace with attacking attributes, play in attacking position for Canada. Defensively he is sound from the limited matches I watched him played.

He's going to Real.

[MightyReds]

He's going to Real.

Yup from what I read. Just that no links at all so not even a chance we’re interested, unless laptop Eddie is working his magic in the background and we get a surprise signing.

[killer-heels]

What about Alphonso Davies? No link at all. Having a bit of contract stalemate at Bayern, but at the quoted $40million will be beyond our looking for value approach.
He is at a good age with upside, good pace with attacking attributes, play in attacking position for Canada. Defensively he is sound from the limited matches I watched him played.

We have absolutely zero chance of signing him.

[Asam]

We have absolutely zero chance of signing him.

Real is one of the few clubs we can’t compete with, if the player wants money, lifestyle and easy titles it’s hard to win

[Stockholm Syndrome]

If we can't get Alonso can we take Frimpong and/or Grimaldo and see how he deals with that adversity 

[Samie]

 

Liverpool are interested in BOTH @SportingCP defenders Ousmane Diomande (20) & Goncalo Inácio (22).

[@OJogo]

[disgraced cake]

Well, we will need a centre half with Matip probably on his way out. Don't know what either of those are like but maybe Inacio is in that sort of Konate stage where he's got a few good years of experience under his belt, played at a decent level, and has potential to become a really top centre half. Hope he doesn't share the injury prone side that Konate has to his game though.

Do Sporting have anyone else who looks like they can do it at the top level? They have Gyokeres but we're probably alright for a striker, same with Goncalves who's been pretty key for them.

[Drinks Sangria]

If we can't get Alonso can we take Frimpong and/or Grimaldo and see how he deals with that adversity 

Interesting one with Frimpong; on the one hand I’d expect he’d want to stick around with the coach who’s revolutionised his game, but he’ll make a lot more money elsewhere and his €40m release clause expires after the summer window. I’d imagine anyone in the market for an attacking right wing back will want him.

I’d be all over him if it wasn’t for Bradley’s emergence.

Grimaldo is great, he’s like a faster, grittier Fabio Aurelio but it would take a big fee and he’s 29 this year, only 18 months younger than Robbo.

[lionel_messias]

Heard that Dimande is a physical beast and Inacio is a superb passer.

Why ever would they both come here 👀.

(We probably only need one of them)

[careful on these streets, I've heard stories]

If we do bring in Amorin and he decides to go with a 343 with two #10s then we could see the revival of Fabio Carvalho's Liverpool career and likely the beginning of the end for Robertson.

[Legs]

If we do bring in Amorin and he decides to go with a 343 with two #10s then we could see the revival of Fabio Carvalho's Liverpool career and likely the beginning of the end for Robertson.

I really hope we don’t play a back 3 it’s just a system I don’t like at all.

[killer-heels]

If we do bring in Amorin and he decides to go with a 343 with two #10s then we could see the revival of Fabio Carvalho's Liverpool career and likely the beginning of the end for Robertson.

We would we disregard Gakpo, Jota, Diaz, Elliott, Jones, Szobozslai for Carvalho.

[careful on these streets, I've heard stories]

We would we disregard Gakpo, Jota, Diaz, Elliott, Jones, Szobozslai for Carvalho.

Never said those players would no longer have careers but Carvalho is suited to the #10 role just as much as some of the players on that list.

[killer-heels]

Never said those players would no longer have careers but Carvalho is suited to the #10 role just as much as some of the players on that list.

Well if thats the case then any manager would have decided to move to a system where a youngster is deemed more suited to that position. That would be an odd decision to make your team worse just to fit some formation.

[MBL?]

What's the story with Thuram and Kone this season? A lot liked the look of them but it never happened.

[Knight]

So does Amorim’s 343 have 2 6s, 2 wingbacks and 2 10s behind a 9? That’d be perfect for Salah as one of the 10s. Perhaps Szoboslai as the other. But a good role for Elliot too perhaps. Then Jones and MacAllister as the 6s. We’d need a left wingback and a CB. Trent at wingback could be good for him in an offensive sense. He’d be less of a deep lying playmaker and more of a De Bruyne playmaker.

[Barefoot Doctor]

If Amorim’s style doesn’t suit the overwhelming majority of the squad then we won’t be hiring him.

[lionel_messias]

If Amorim’s style doesn’t suit the overwhelming majority of the squad then we won’t be hiring him.

The statement is untrue and probably the outcome as well! 🤓

Main difference is probably in central midfield, if Amorim plays 2 of them, they have to cover more ground and
be quite responsible for holding shape, plus we have a few if all fit.

[killer-heels]

So does Amorim’s 343 have 2 6s, 2 wingbacks and 2 10s behind a 9? That’d be perfect for Salah as one of the 10s. Perhaps Szoboslai as the other. But a good role for Elliot too perhaps. Then Jones and MacAllister as the 6s. We’d need a left wingback and a CB. Trent at wingback could be good for him in an offensive sense. He’d be less of a deep lying playmaker and more of a De Bruyne playmaker.

Problem with that is that our squad is geared to 3 forwards and having 5 forwards. We go to two 10’s, you have to be confident that there are enough goals in there. Szoboszlai, Curtis, Elliott have to be capable of scoring a lot of goals in that system.

Personally i dont think that system suits the players we have. We would need more defenders and more 6’s at the club. I also think Trent’s days at wingback are over.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

If only the manager could change his system to suit the players. God dammit!

[Knight]

Problem with that is that our squad is geared to 3 forwards and having 5 forwards. We go to two 10’s, you have to be confident that there are enough goals in there. Szoboszlai, Curtis, Elliott have to be capable of scoring a lot of goals in that system.

Personally i dont think that system suits the players we have. We would need more defenders and more 6’s at the club. I also think Trent’s days at wingback are over.

Yeah I can see your point. But I do think there’s another way of assessing things.

Diaz might end up with 10 league goals this season, I reckon Szoboslai is very capable of that if he’s playing in the right sort of role for it. It also helps Salah out I suspect. Increasingly him having a wide starting position doesn’t serve him as he ages. Plus there are questions around nearly all of our forward line - Salah is getting older, Gapko doesn’t seem to have a position, Diaz may want to leave/ may not be productive enough, Jota spends a lot of each season injured. I don’t think our current forward line is an untouchable 5. It’s not like seeking to disrupt the wide forward/ false 9 thing when mane, Salah and Firmino were at their peak.

As for Trent, he’s never played wingback for us. He’s played right back. The change would mean 3 CBS to cover him which would free him up from defensive responsibilities. Or he plays at 6 and then we have enough - surely Mac, Endo, Trent, Bacjetic, Jones is enough? Probably need to buy a right wing back if Trent moved although Bradley is perfect for it. Also, if Trent is going to move into midfield I think it needs to be at 6 and being in a double pivot would be an easier transition than into a sole pivot role I suspect.

So if you’re committed to Trent moving into midfield and making as effective use of Salah as possible for as long as possible there’s some upsides to a formation change.

Also, roles matter much more than positions anyway.

[[new username under construction]]

If only the manager could change his system to suit the players. God dammit!

We don't like this way of thinking around here! Be gone or I will stab you with my knife made of potato

[killer-heels]

If only the manager could change his system to suit the players. God dammit!

Yes they should be. The only thing is I have read that he is insistent on playing 3 at the back. I dont fully believe that but we will see. Like I said if any manager comes in with that mindset then it could be a problem.

[Knight]

Yes they should be. The only thing is I have read that he is insistent on playing 3 at the back. I dont fully believe that but we will see. Like I said if any manager comes in with that mindset then it could be a problem.

Why would it be a problem? We’re not going to play the same way under a new coach , after all we’ve deliberately ignored the ‘continuity’ option in Ljinders. We’ll buy players this summer. We have 4 very good CBs at the club already.

[Garlic Red]

Don’t really see an issue with 343. It feels like our most common lineups this season have featured 3 centre backs and 2 players that can hold. For a couple of years Fabinho and Thiago played more like dual 6s. He made great use of Matheus Nunes when he managed him who is an 8 in a similar mould to Dom. Whether the front 3 are narrow forwards, inside 10s or proper wingers will probably change week to week, game to game and sometimes half to half. We ourselves fluctuate from building with a 2 at the back and a 3 at the back depending on the opposition and personnel.

I’m more interested in his principles with and without the ball. Do they press high, mid or sit in a low block? Are they comfortable breaking down low blocks or are they reliant on transition/counters? Is he someone obsessed with tactics or does he prefer to motivate and focus on psychology? He will have to do all of those things here but I still find stuff like that more interesting than whether he’s married into a single formation with only certain types of personnel to play it. The modern game is less about formations  and defined positions in my opinion.