Topic: LIVERPOOL TRANSFER THREAD - 2023 (FSG posts = get muted)

[Knight]

We need to be planning for Van Dijk and Salah leaving over the next 2 years, so signing those players now, so center half (left sided) and a forward.

We also need an elite 6 in and around the 23-25 range i.e. peak years.

I think we'll sell one of Diaz or Nunez, especially if Salah is staying, the front line needs a refresh thats clear, the other areas of the squad are small tweaks rather than anything major.

In what world would you sell Diaz or Nunez and keep Gapko?

[mikey_LFC]

Centreback, midfield, attack.

Not sure I’d class them as needs, as I think we have solutions in the squad. I wouldn’t argue against signings anywhere though as we should be looking to build from a position of strength anyway. But I think the players we have would be good enough next season to compete for the top honours adding in their experience from this year and some level of development.

[jedimaster]

We absolutely need an athletic, fast, strong DM. Who that could be, no idea. Hopefully Mikey Edwards knows.

[Draex]

In what world would you sell Diaz or Nunez and keep Gapko?

After watching some videos on how Slot plays Gakpo seems perfect for the no.9. I think a front line refresh is coming and it will need space to do so.

Slot plays a bit like we used to with 2 very fast and direct wingers and a no.9 who drops deep.

[killer-heels]

Not sure I’d class them as needs, as I think we have solutions in the squad. I wouldn’t argue against signings anywhere though as we should be looking to build from a position of strength anyway. But I think the players we have would be good enough next season to compete for the top honours adding in their experience from this year and some level of development.

We have solutions because we have enough players. But I want a better defender than what we have, or at least on Konate's level that can take to the field regularly. In midfield, the balance is off, we have a lot of 8's but we need a much better 6 to help us on transitions.

As for the attack , its a clear case of upgrading on quality. I want another forward who is better than Nunez, Jota, Diaz and Gakpo.

Youngsters improving us is one thing but we also need to improve the squad through recruitment. All our strikers have questions against them, we need a few more sure things.

[mikey_LFC]

We need to be planning for Van Dijk and Salah leaving over the next 2 years, so signing those players now, so center half (left sided) and a forward.

We also need an elite 6 in and around the 23-25 range i.e. peak years.

I think we'll sell one of Diaz or Nunez, especially if Salah is staying, the front line needs a refresh thats clear, the other areas of the squad are small tweaks rather than anything major.

I don’t think Van Dijk leaves for at least another five years to be honest. He’s a good enough centre back to be around until his late 30s.

I also don’t think we will have a big changeover up top. I’d be surprised if we bring in more than one forward and more surprised if we sell any that aren’t Salah.

[Draex]

I don’t think Van Dijk leaves for at least another five years to be honest. He’s a good enough centre back to be around until his late 30s.

I also don’t think we will have a big changeover up top. I’d be surprised if we bring in more than one forward and more surprised if we sell any that aren’t Salah.

If I were a betting man I'd say Geertruida, Summerville and a no.6 will be our summer business.

[Robinred]

I wouldn't be getting your hopes up. I'd be very surprised if the contract offered isn't on reduced wages. Whether Salah would accept reduced terms remains to be seen. I'm not convinced

That’s a potential problem I agree. There seems to be two diametrically opposed views - one that Mo can recapture his best form at his age, the other that we are witnessing a decline that is more likely than not to continue. If you add in his wages on his current contract, it’s certainly problematic if LFC’s bean counters don’t want to countenance losing him for nothing in summer 2025.

This might be an unpopular view, but given all of those imponderables, I would like to see Slot focus on ensuring Diaz is given every incentive to stay.

[William Regal]

For what it's worth, my opinion is that we are selling Salah in the summer and we are only feeding the press this to extract as much money out of the Saudi's as possible.

The difference in transfer fee between a player we are happy to sell compared to a player we are publically trying to keep could be as much as £50m as far as the crazy Saudi money is concerned.

[Chris~]

We need to be planning for Van Dijk and Salah leaving over the next 2 years, so signing those players now, so center half (left sided) and a forward.

We also need an elite 6 in and around the 23-25 range i.e. peak years.

I think we'll sell one of Diaz or Nunez, especially if Salah is staying, the front line needs a refresh thats clear, the other areas of the squad are small tweaks rather than anything major.

A left sided centre back does little to improve the first team now though. Sign a quality player to play alongside Van Dijk and then if Quansah hasn't made the step up or Konate still not available enough you replace him when he leaves. You don't need to exact replacement in the squad already, just enough quality around them so when they leave so it's not as big an issue.

[Draex]

A left sided centre back does little to improve the first team now though. Sign a quality player to play alongside Van Dijk and then if Quansah hasn't made the step up or Konate still not available enough you replace him when he leaves. You don't need to exact replacement in the squad already, just enough quality around them so when they leave so it's not as big an issue.

Van Dijk can play the right side no problem?

Van Dijk, Konate, Quansah + New would be perfect.

It could be Van Den Berg btw he's had a great season again.

[A-Bomb]

I hope we keep to our philosophy - I'd prefer to see two best in class players between 23-25 years of age come in the summer than 4 players where we've compromised on quality. We've got a great group of players, a really strong squad, but i feel we are missing the next wave of very top quality players coming through. We've been blessed with the likes of VVD, Fabinho, Alisson, Mo, Mane etc that were at their peak arguably the best in their positions in the world.

I'd want our transfer activity to focus on players who have the ceiling to emulate that and drop whatever money we have on fewer signings but with potentially much higher ceilings.

[RedSince86]

Lutsharel Geertruida was watching our game at weekend.

[Working Class Hen-Pecked Hero]

Did we have any of the nerds in when we were linked to Bakayoko, or was it just lazy journalists? Pacy winger, and Dutch league

[RedSince86]

Lutsharel Geertruida stats as a CB.

[Original]

Lutsharel Geertruida stats as a CB.

So basically if we buy him we might as well stick him up front

[Draex]

So basically if we buy him we might as well stick him up front

And accept we won't ever be able to defend a set piece again

[Lone Star Red]

He can be our Danny Butterfield.

[KC7]

We absolutely need an athletic, fast, strong DM. Who that could be, no idea. Hopefully Mikey Edwards knows.

All we need. 

Other additions would be top ups, or alternatives.

Mo is staying (apparently, which is excellent as he was he exceptional prior to that layoff).
Diaz has been our shining light for the past month
Doak will be back and I can see him having a breakout season (Slot adores wingers who specialise in one vs ones)
Given Slot's penchant for them another speedy winger may be brought in.
Jota, Gakpo (Firmino type role), Nunez, three options in the middle.

Midfield, we are stacked in the 8s.
A top class 6 we have been screaming out for since Fabinho collapsed. Midfield has been disjointed with 8s babysitting the slow 6, or one of the 8s (Mac) coming back to "do a job there". We need a proper 6 to get that midfield firing and balanced again, one who screens the back line and shuts off the easy access the opposition have had to our final third, one who frees up the 8s, benefiting both the defence and the attack.
Bajcetic is an interesting one; class player, but not sure of his exact role.

First choice back four, Robbo (along with Diaz our best player this month), Virgil (outstanding season despite no protection infront of him), Konate, Trent.  Title winning standard. Bradley and Quansah (breakout seasons), Gomez (mr versatile)...we are a bit thin on quality after that. Tsimikas put in a car crash of a performance vs Atalanta, so there is a possible upgrade as a backup there. A fourth CB option with Matip going would be wise.

[HeartAndSoul]

All we need. 

Other additions would be top ups, or alternatives.

Mo is staying (apparently, which is excellent as he was he exceptional prior to that layoff).
Diaz has been our shining light for the past month
Doak will be back and I can see him having a breakout season (Slot adores wingers who specialise in one vs ones)
Given Slot's penchant for them another speedy winger may be brought in.
Jota, Gakpo (Firmino type role), Nunez, three options in the middle.

Midfield, we are stacked in the 8s.
A top class 6 we have been screaming out for since Fabinho collapsed. Midfield has been disjointed with 8s babysitting the slow 6, or one of the 8s (Mac) coming back to "do a job there". We need a proper 6 to get that midfield firing and balanced again, one who screens the back line and shuts off the easy access the opposition have had to our final third, one who frees up the 8s, benefiting both the defence and the attack.
Bajcetic is an interesting one; class player, but not sure of his exact role.

First choice back four, Robbo (along with Diaz our best player this month), Virgil (outstanding season despite no protection infront of him), Konate, Trent.  Title winning standard. Bradley and Quansah (breakout seasons), Gomez (mr versatile)...we are a bit thin on quality after that. Tsimikas put in a car crash of a performance vs Atalanta, so there is a possible upgrade as a backup there. A fourth CB option with Matip going would be wise.

Almost as if we haven’t learnt from previous seasons about standing still where it came back to bite us. We need to improve the squad. Our front line just doesn’t look like it’s quite right. There’s something missing there and we definitely need to bring in a front 3 player- that might mean letting one of the current lot go. As you’ve said, we need a holding midfielder. We also need a centre back. Virgil will be a year older and we can’t expect him to start every game and Konate is made of glass and can’t play more than a game a week or he’ll break down.  Ideally someone at the level konate was at when he joined us.

[Chris~]

Van Dijk can play the right side no problem?

Van Dijk, Konate, Quansah + New would be perfect.

It could be Van Den Berg btw he's had a great season again.

He clearly prefers the left side though. Think the only time he's played on the right for us in 6+ years was when Robertson played a bit at centre back against Prague. Not sure you want to be moving him across now and whether he'd be happy doing it.

[mikey_LFC]

Do people not think Gomez will be back to being mainly a centre back option next season?

[Lynndenberries]

Do people not think Gomez will be back to being mainly a centre back option next season?

Think it depends on if Kostas stays and Slot sees Trent's future in midfield.

[mikey_LFC]

Think it depends on if Kostas stays and Slot sees Trent's future in midfield.

Agreed it would be a factor, but I’d think we’d prefer to buy a left back and have Gomez in centre back. Can see the logic though.

[Kopenhagen]

Agreed it would be a factor, but I’d think we’d prefer to buy a left back and have Gomez in centre back. Can see the logic though.

We want a centre back. Tap-In has reported it.

[Draex]

Agreed it would be a factor, but I’d think we’d prefer to buy a left back and have Gomez in centre back. Can see the logic though.

Gomez should be a center back, he’s ok as a traditional fullback but really struggled when inverting.

[Lynndenberries]

Think one of the issues with Gomez is we haven't seen him consistently at CB since pre-COVID and he really seems to rely on rhythm.

[Samie]

Teun Koopmeiners has the chance to reunite with his former @AZAlkmaar
coach Arne Slot at Liverpool. With @LFC already making contact to work on a possible deal. Juventus are also interested but his £42M price tag is too high for them

[@SportMediaset]

[RedG13]

We've been linked to the Ecuadorian Willian Pacho, 22-year-old left-footed CB from Frankfurt. 6-2 in height, which is apparently 187 cm.

Career 56.6% won on aerial duels. I dont think the profile of CB is changing.

[William Regal]

Koopmeiners really annoyed me when we played them, he was everywhere with relentless workrate and aggression, hes the type of player you'd rather have in your team than be playing against you.

[Hazell]

What a name! Sign him up just for that.

[William Regal]

What a name! Sign him up just for that.

I'd just edited as well 

[RedG13]

Do people not think Gomez will be back to being mainly a centre back option next season?

Probably. He really good there too expect for Aerial Duel weakness but Also I think Virgil Minutes are going to need to be managed more at times, Konates already is. Quansah looks ready. 
I think LB the biggest question what to do.

[red mongoose]

Teun Koopmeiners has the chance to reunite with his former @AZAlkmaar
coach Arne Slot at Liverpool. With @LFC already making contact to work on a possible deal. Juventus are also interested but his £42M price tag is too high for them

[@SportMediaset]

I'm hoping that's just lazy journalism. I really think we can do better.

[Draex]

Career 56.6% won on aerial duels. I dont think the profile of CB is changing.

100%, we'd be mad to move away from aerially dominant center halves.

[Draex]

https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/ktTe1XfwCEWlZEggaPpxuQ/Show/Assessing-the-Feyenoord-stars-who-could-follow-Arne-Slot-to-Liverpool

[Hazell]

I'm hoping that's just lazy journalism. I really think we can do better.

When I was doing the write up for the first leg of the Atalanta game (yeah I know, sorry about that), I was doing some research and saw him being linked with us and Juventus. This was before Slot was linked us so there may be something in it.

[Egyptian36]

I'm hoping that's just lazy journalism. I really think we can do better.

Agree but would love a player like him as an inverted left back to give TAA and one the midfielders more freedom to attack plus as a cover for the midfield. It's a waste of resources to have a specialist backup left full back, better to have someone who can play in midfield too or central defence.

[red mongoose]

When I was doing the write up for the first leg of the Atalanta game (yeah I know, sorry about that), I was doing some research and saw him being linked with us and Juventus. This was before Slot was linked us so there may be something in it.

Apology accepted. Terrible preview.

[RedG13]

Agree but would love a player like him as an inverted left back to give TAA and one the midfielders more freedom to attack plus as a cover for the midfield. It's a waste of resources to have a specialist backup left full back, better to have someone who can play in midfield too or central defence.

The reason for having a specialist back up left back is hard to find left footed players.
It easier ask a Midfielder to do the RB since most of them right footed to fill in more. Having a right footed Left back can just screw with the width etc.
If your doing 7 defenders in a squad, it 2 LB, 4 CBs, 1 RB and use your Midfielder or a CB to fill at backup rb it correct way to use resouces.