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

[MD1990]

As we buy cheaper than most

DM - Fofana / Wiefer £25m
LW - Summerville  £25m
CB - Hancko - £35m  also get Tosin on a free

should we need a right wing Gilherme (Palmeiras) should be around £20m

£85m (£105m with RW) without sale and should improve us alot.

Diaz     £65m - £85m
Endo    £15m  - £20m

wages saved from big earners like Thiago around £18m a year.

Niko Williams would be great buy at £43m but his wages are big about £200k

we are liverpool they look like mid table PL signings

[petercormack]

Pure guesswork on my part/ putting 2 and 2 together and making 5, but would not be surprised to see Trent go and still see Salah here next season. That's if Slot sees Trent as one of his wing backs and thinks we can do better with someone else in midfield.

[rocco]

we are liverpool they look like mid table PL signings

We don’t but stars we make them

[amir87]

Number one objective should be to bring players in that make us more defensively robust. Conceding over 40 goals is simply not good enough.

A lot of focus has been put on our attack the past few months, which is not surprising due to the chances missed, but we absolutely have to go back to being hard to score against. You can't win the big trophies with how open we've been the past two seasons.

I'd say the absolute minimum is a central defender, a proper physical DM/CM, and an attacker. And all these players should be of the calibre to start, not project players or squad options. 

[Asam]

Number one objective should be to bring players in that make us more defensively robust. Conceding over 40 goals is simply not good enough.

A lot of focus has been put on our attack the past few months, which is not surprising due to the chances missed, but we absolutely have to go back to being hard to score against. You can't win the big trophies with how open we've been the past two seasons.

I'd say the absolute minimum is a central defender, a proper physical DM/CM, and an attacker. And all these players should be of the calibre to start, not project players or squad options.

This will help but our forward line isn’t working as hard as it used to, there’s too many passive / nice ball players and not enough aggression and desire

[Sheer Magnetism]

I also wonder whether, given we financed Alisson and VVD through a big player sale, Edwards is thinking of moving Ali and/or Trent on, bringing Kelleher and Bradley into the first team and using the additional money to fund some top-level recruits. Would be tricky in Trent's case though. Why wouldn't he just wait out the last year of his contract?

[Haggis36]

That was when he was quicker. He can't play as a striker because he doesn't enjoy the physical part of the game. Instead of tussling with fullbacks which he's struggling with now, he'd be tussling with stronger centrehalves and his holdup play is just not good enough for that role neither does he have the pace to run the channels.

If you play him behind the striker, it's effectively a midfied role. Can we carry someone that doesn't commit to tackles nor track back in the middle? It would be a lot easier to play through us than it is now.

IMO, a team can only carry one player. We're currently carrying two in Trent and Mo on the same side as well which is overkill. We need to be and play as a team again. If not, then the individuals being carried need to put in 8/10s regularly to justify it. I remember the chat about changing things to "carry" Fab before he was sold. If we're doing that for 2 players then we're not a team anymore.

Hard to look too far past this really. We need to go back to being difficult to play against first and foremost, as that was the bedrock of most if not all of our success under Klopp and was one of the first things he prioritised when he came here. Hard to do that if you're carrying 2-3 players who don't have 100% commitment off the ball or in defensive situations, and another 2-3 players who are just a bit powderpuff when it comes to that side of the game.

I don't think we've looked a good team unit for a while - we strike me as a team full of gifted players (certainly on the ball) and we'll always win a lot of matches because of that, but I don't think we look a cohesive unit and I'm not convinced we're stronger than the sum of our parts, or that players particularly complement each other well.

It's just that little bit too easy to play through us, or to bully us physically. You earn the right to play and all that, but I do think a degree of arrogance has crept into our game where we look at our players and think "well we have better footballers than every other team we play" and we don't always do the hard yards. The right hand side is a pretty obvious weakspot (and has been for 18 months) but I actually think it's more pervasive than that. In our pomp we had attackers like Mane and Salah - just pure pace, power and strength, and now we don't really have any of those qualities anymore. In midfield, lots of nice footballers who can play excellent football when the conditions are just right, but no-one really who's going to dominate their area or drag us kicking and screaming over the line in a tough game. Again, very little pace or power. Defence, 1/2 of our backline have a frustrating tendency to look like defending is a frustrating inconvenience to them, and physically players like VVD and Robertson are not what they used to be.

I don't think there's a single part of the team that couldn't benefit from some pretty significant upgrades and I think the focus has to be making us a nightmare to play against again - I'm not saying we need to be fielding 11 pure athletes, but at some point in the past 2-3 years the balance swung way too far in the other direction, and I think we carry just a few too many players who are talented but physically unremarkable. We'd clean up in Serie A, or La Liga, but in the PL you need to be able to do both.

[killer-heels]

I also wonder whether, given we financed Alisson and VVD through a big player sale, Edwards is thinking of moving Ali and/or Trent on, bringing Kelleher and Bradley into the first team and using the additional money to fund some top-level recruits. Would be tricky in Trent's case though. Why wouldn't he just wait out the last year of his contract?

Selling Alisson would be genuinely mental. Have to remember our sales have been in positions where we have been well stocked and even in that situation, it wasnt like we were actively trying to sell Coutinho. Selling Ali means we have to sign another keeper of quality.

You talk about it getting us further top quality, but then we just have to replace the top quality we have just sold. We didnt need to replace Coutinho, we already had Salah, Mane and Firmino at the club.

[disgraced cake]

Can't be doing with Summerville IMO, for his own good he should stay with Leeds if they get promotion or go to a smaller side first to prove he can do it in the/a top league. I'd rather keep Diaz than him as you can account for the good stuff he brings to the side such as winning experience and work rate (and general quality, he's still a top player even if we need someone more productive in front of goal).

If he's one of the first through the door it's setting the next years up to be pretty underwhelming IMO. I recognise that'd be a pretty bizarre claim about one player who does have good potential, but it's more the mould of player we'll be looking to bring in going forward, ones who might be great in three years. We don't need any more of that, we have plenty already. We need genuine top quality players who have achieved things at the top level to go on top of an already talented side/squad. For me, it's about not letting the standards drop with a new manager, even if he's not at Klopp's level. I'm not necessarily saying I think we'll challenge for the title next season but I'm certainly hoping we aren't trying to scrape for fourth or fifth place, because that'd be failure barring a trophy win elsewhere.

They did put the money down last season to try and amend the midfield, though it was after about five years of underwhelming investment. This summer, I expect quite a few to be moved on, mostly squad players which should bring back some decent money. Say Diaz moves on too, surely you're looking at about 60 odd million there, so there should be plenty to spend. There might be more than one starter leaving, too.

[Knight]

Hard to look too far past this really. We need to go back to being difficult to play against first and foremost, as that was the bedrock of most if not all of our success under Klopp and was one of the first things he prioritised when he came here. Hard to do that if you're carrying 2-3 players who don't have 100% commitment off the ball or in defensive situations, and another 2-3 players who are just a bit powderpuff when it comes to that side of the game.

I don't think we've looked a good team unit for a while - we strike me as a team full of gifted players (certainly on the ball) and we'll always win a lot of matches because of that, but I don't think we look a cohesive unit and I'm not convinced we're stronger than the sum of our parts, or that players particularly complement each other well.

It's just that little bit too easy to play through us, or to bully us physically. You earn the right to play and all that, but I do think a degree of arrogance has crept into our game where we look at our players and think "well we have better footballers than every other team we play" and we don't always do the hard yards. The right hand side is a pretty obvious weakspot (and has been for 18 months) but I actually think it's more pervasive than that. In our pomp we had attackers like Mane and Salah - just pure pace, power and strength, and now we don't really have any of those qualities anymore. In midfield, lots of nice footballers who can play excellent football when the conditions are just right, but no-one really who's going to dominate their area or drag us kicking and screaming over the line in a tough game. Again, very little pace or power. Defence, 1/2 of our backline have a frustrating tendency to look like defending is a frustrating inconvenience to them, and physically players like VVD and Robertson are not what they used to be.

I don't think there's a single part of the team that couldn't benefit from some pretty significant upgrades and I think the focus has to be making us a nightmare to play against again - I'm not saying we need to be fielding 11 pure athletes, but at some point in the past 2-3 years the balance swung way too far in the other direction, and I think we carry just a few too many players who are talented but physically unremarkable. We'd clean up in Serie A, or La Liga, but in the PL you need to be able to do both.

The additional element to this is we're not always even that good at the technical on the ball side of the game. We should be much better at progressing the ball through the middle of the pitch than we are given the talent we have on the pitch. City and Arsenal are both more physical than us AND are superior at passing through the press than us. Not ideal.

[Sheer Magnetism]

Selling Alisson would be genuinely mental. Have to remember our sales have been in positions where we have been well stocked and even in that situation, it wasnt like we were actively trying to sell Coutinho. Selling Ali means we have to sign another keeper of quality.

You talk about it getting us further top quality, but then we just have to replace the top quality we have just sold. We didnt need to replace Coutinho, we already had Salah, Mane and Firmino at the club.

The reason I mentioned it as a possibility is that we already have a keeper of quality in the reserves whose done a great job whenever he's come in. I wouldn't do it personally but I wouldn't be shocked if it had been raised as a 'what if'.

[PaleBlueDot]

Number one objective should be to bring players in that make us more defensively robust. Conceding over 40 goals is simply not good enough.

A lot of focus has been put on our attack the past few months, which is not surprising due to the chances missed, but we absolutely have to go back to being hard to score against. You can't win the big trophies with how open we've been the past two seasons.

I'd say the absolute minimum is a central defender, a proper physical DM/CM, and an attacker. And all these players should be of the calibre to start, not project players or squad options.

I actually think we have a good performing back 5. The issue is you cannot start a lone 6 two slow 8/10s in front (Mac and Harvey) with a forward line who don't know how to keep the ball. You will be exposed and run at.

Klopp has gambled with how he has set us up tactically for a lot of games this season and it only looks ugly now when the wheels have come off in attack. I honestly think we could sign a real DM this summer, play a lone 6 and two in-front and still struggle if we have the same personnel in attack who aren't good at ball retention and not very effective in attack either. Then the two in front of the 6 are ball playing midfielders and not runners like Gini and Hendo were. The likes of Mac and Harvey should be playing with more intelligent attackers.

There's a bit of an imbalance in the squad...and in my opinion the way to fix it is a tactical change (that Slot will bring) of two sitting and one attacking midfielder in front...and higher IQ attackers.

We need to be brave and accept that we shouldn't be changing around a manager's system to fit in a Mo for example. He isn't the right profile winger for Slot nor would he be an effect 9 or 10. We should absolutely be looking to move him along, with one of Diaz/Nunez (both if the offers were right but doubt the latter will be sold).

DM > RW > LW > CB > ST. That's the order of importance imo.

[Yorkykopite]

I'd like to make my annual appeal for Eze (price going up all the time).

[Haggis36]

The additional element to this is we're not always even that good at the technical on the ball side of the game. We should be much better at progressing the ball through the middle of the pitch than we are given the talent we have on the pitch. City and Arsenal are both more physical than us AND are superior at passing through the press than us. Not ideal.

Yeah it's frustrating and something I'm not fully sure I understand - is it a set-up issue? Players like VVD, Quansah, Gomez are all pretty good on the ball as far as defenders go. Trent is obviously world class on the ball (albeit, maybe more so in transition, is his short game at the same level?). Mac Allister, Elliott, Graveneberch, Jones, Gakpo - all technically very accomplished footballers. We pretty consistently struggle to build up through the pitch though without giving the ball away cheaply and inviting counters, unless teams sit in. It doesn't make sense. Watching some of Slot-ball, what stood out to me is how Feyenoord play a lot of very accurate one-touch football and watching it I just thought "we hardly ever do that, not without fucking it up", yet we have more talented players.

[Chris~]

Yeah it's frustrating and something I'm not fully sure I understand - is it a set-up issue? Players like VVD, Quansah, Gomez are all pretty good on the ball as far as defenders go. Trent is obviously world class on the ball (albeit, maybe more so in transition, is his short game at the same level?). Mac Allister, Elliott, Graveneberch, Jones, Gakpo - all technically very accomplished footballers. We pretty consistently struggle to build up through the pitch though without giving the ball away cheaply and inviting counters, unless teams sit in. It doesn't make sense. Watching some of Slot-ball, what stood out to me is how Feyenoord play a lot of very accurate one-touch football and watching it I just thought "we hardly ever do that, not without fucking it up", yet we have more talented players.

It'll always be a bit of both but I'd say more tactical/coaching, after 8 years you have a good idea of what a manager is going to prioritize and what their strengths are. We've never been amazing building out from the back and then sustaining pressure on a side that way. Think of our games against City and it's usually been about us being able to create attacking moments in transition by beating their press through direct play rather than passing through it. We've always been better being direct+creating transition situations to attack

[lionel_messias]

I'd like to make my annual appeal for Eze (price going up all the time).

Eze good
Eze good
...

(Also annual from me):

He like Sunday mornings...

[lionel_messias]

I actually think we have a good performing back 5. The issue is you cannot start a lone 6 two slow 8/10s in front (Mac and Harvey) with a forward line who don't know how to keep the ball. You will be exposed and run at.

Klopp has gambled with how he has set us up tactically for a lot of games this season and it only looks ugly now when the wheels have come off in attack. I honestly think we could sign a real DM this summer, play a lone 6 and two in-front and still struggle if we have the same personnel in attack who aren't good at ball retention and not very effective in attack either. Then the two in front of the 6 are ball playing midfielders and not runners like Gini and Hendo were. The likes of Mac and Harvey should be playing with more intelligent attackers.

There's a bit of an imbalance in the squad...and in my opinion the way to fix it is a tactical change (that Slot will bring) of two sitting and one attacking midfielder in front...and higher IQ attackers.

We need to be brave and accept that we shouldn't be changing around a manager's system to fit in a Mo for example. He isn't the right profile winger for Slot nor would he be an effect 9 or 10. We should absolutely be looking to move him along, with one of Diaz/Nunez (both if the offers were right but doubt the latter will be sold).

DM > RW > LW > CB > ST. That's the order of importance imo.

This is a brave and good shout on Mo. Perhaps, yes, he is not really suited as the RW nor the "10". He is good as the nominal RW who drifts inside though, very.


That said, if an £80-95 million bid comes in for Mo this summer, it should be adios time, ruthless but correct all the same.

[TtotheVizzo]

I'm desperate for us to get a properly good CB, who can start with VVD and end up replacing him as the senior partner in a few seasons. Konate has the tools to be that player but his stop/start career at Liverpool is stopping him from reaching his potential sadly.

Quansah looks like the real deal but I only want him playing with someone who is more physically dominant to help cover his weaknesses while he irons them out.

I also want a starting CDM, as close to peak Fabinho as we can get and AN attacker.

I think if you slot those players in, add a bit of a fresh start/rest for some key players over the summer, and (hopefully) a bit of a new manager bounce, we can be looking to stay as close to the top two as possible next season with a trophy to boot.

[Giono]

I actually think we have a good performing back 5. The issue is you cannot start a lone 6 two slow 8/10s in front (Mac and Harvey) with a forward line who don't know how to keep the ball. You will be exposed and run at.

Klopp has gambled with how he has set us up tactically for a lot of games this season and it only looks ugly now when the wheels have come off in attack. I honestly think we could sign a real DM this summer, play a lone 6 and two in-front and still struggle if we have the same personnel in attack who aren't good at ball retention and not very effective in attack either. Then the two in front of the 6 are ball playing midfielders and not runners like Gini and Hendo were. The likes of Mac and Harvey should be playing with more intelligent attackers.

There's a bit of an imbalance in the squad...and in my opinion the way to fix it is a tactical change (that Slot will bring) of two sitting and one attacking midfielder in front...and higher IQ attackers.

We need to be brave and accept that we shouldn't be changing around a manager's system to fit in a Mo for example. He isn't the right profile winger for Slot nor would he be an effect 9 or 10. We should absolutely be looking to move him along, with one of Diaz/Nunez (both if the offers were right but doubt the latter will be sold).

DM > RW > LW > CB > ST. That's the order of importance imo.

Very reasonable take. I agree that a DM is the #1 priority. That improves our defence immeasurably.

Selling Mo is also a good idea. His quickness is gone. Love the man, but every player has a best before date and this league demands greater physicality.

[Lynndenberries]

We should have plenty of money to spend this summer. We were ready to spend £100m on Caicedo last summer, Thiago is off the books as one of our highest earners, and I would expect a few players get sold. The struggle will be finding the right players to come in, especially if we want a 6.

[GreatEx]

I don't think he wants to be a right back anymore, which could be an even bigger issue

I think you might be right, in which case it is lucky Slot will have a team around him to come up with a plan: don't think we can afford to lose Trent. 100% not.

I hope this isn't the case, but if it is then I don't know why we would treat it as an acceptable state of affairs that we should build around. If it were up to me, any player not prepared to do what's the best for the team should start looking for a new club.

[DiggerJohn]

I'd like to make my annual appeal for Eze (price going up all the time).

I'm with you actually perfer Eze to Olise whenever I have seen palace play. Not popular to say probably as olise has a big fan group on rawk

[Agent99]

We should have plenty of money to spend this summer. We were ready to spend £100m on Caicedo last summer, Thiago is off the books as one of our highest earners, and I would expect a few players get sold. The struggle will be finding the right players to come in, especially if we want a 6.

I would imagine we'll have a decent 'war chest' this summer. Quite a few fringe players will be moved on and I think one of the forwards will leave. CL money will also be there. As you say its just the right players being available. What I wouldn't give for a prime Mane, Fabinho and Matip to be added to this squad.

[Samie]

Adrián has stated his intention to return to Spain this summer.

“I would like to return to La Liga after 11 seasons in the Premier League. It would be the end of a cycle. I’m still ready to compete. I feel very good despite being 37.”

[@Sport_Witness]

[Original]

That Nice Williams looks like absolute dynamite, surely he's in the mix for a wide forward

[red mongoose]

I think we need to start looking at pressing numbers (or words to that effect) from potential forward targets. I don't have any idea when it comes to those kinds of things, reading and interpreting stats, and wouldn't even know what to look for. But that ability and willingness to defend from the front should be a key attribute in players we are looking to bring in. Who are those players? And in particular, who are those young wingers who can both attack and defend with equal fervor and end product (meaning goals, key passes, etc.)

[amir87]

I'm with you actually perfer Eze to Olise whenever I have seen palace play. Not popular to say probably as olise has a big fan group on rawk

There's a more obvious need for someone like Olise in our squad. There's only Salah that plays in the same position whereas Eze would be competing with Jones, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Elliott.

[Bend It Like Aurelio]

I think the biggest issue with our squad is that we're neither here or there in terms of our pressing ability. The issue lies not in individual players, but perhaps we just don't rotate the squad much for rhythm purposes, so we tend to play players over and over again until they get injured.

In my mind there is a thing about buying players who are better stamina wise over other details, such as technicality or physicality. You want that player who could cover that last 10 lung busting yards chasing down a ball carrier rather than a player who is amazing on the ball for example. When you watch Slot's teams they never seem to be full of great technically gifted players, but rather more fit players who are able to learn and play a very fluid style of football and press for long periods of time. Right now for example our front line are specialists in playing 1v1 situations especially on the counter, but in possession we are dull because our forwards tend to dwell on the ball a lot thinking about how they're going to beat their man. Then without the ball pressing wise we seem to be less fit than many other top teams in the PL at the moment.

Think the latter is because we do play our players so much over and over again. There is a world where I can see us buying cookie cutter type players who can all press the ball all the time and have the intelligence to adapt to quick ball playing systems where we move the ball rather than move the player in possession. Then you can throw them into the system where we can constantly rotate players without losing so much rhythm. Doesn't necessitate players who are amazingly gifted with the ball or big monsters who are super physical. Above average in both departments would suffice IMO.

In that sense, our forward line for the most part probably don't fit. Jota is probably the only one who I think is most adept for this, unfortunately he's just injured a lot. Salah really doesn't provide the pressing ability anymore, Darwin runs a lot but he's not the most tactically adaptable, Gakpo looks tired all the time. Diaz is a great individual player but doesn't really mesh well with others, that's why his numbers are so average even though he looks great all the time.

If we can get the forward line sorted in the next couple of years as our midfield comes into their prime, we'll have an amazing pressing machine under Slot. But I imagine we're probably going to buy a few players who may not be household names, but rather good players who have amazing stamina, and perhaps good injury records.

[Samie]

Lille centre back Leny Yoro will not sign for Real Madrid in the upcoming transfer window.

[@ellarguero]

[Robinred]

I'd like to make my annual appeal for Eze (price going up all the time).

26 next month. Get a move on, Edwards&Hughes.

[Knight]

I actually think we have a good performing back 5. The issue is you cannot start a lone 6 two slow 8/10s in front (Mac and Harvey) with a forward line who don't know how to keep the ball. You will be exposed and run at.

Klopp has gambled with how he has set us up tactically for a lot of games this season and it only looks ugly now when the wheels have come off in attack. I honestly think we could sign a real DM this summer, play a lone 6 and two in-front and still struggle if we have the same personnel in attack who aren't good at ball retention and not very effective in attack either. Then the two in front of the 6 are ball playing midfielders and not runners like Gini and Hendo were. The likes of Mac and Harvey should be playing with more intelligent attackers.

There's a bit of an imbalance in the squad...and in my opinion the way to fix it is a tactical change (that Slot will bring) of two sitting and one attacking midfielder in front...and higher IQ attackers.

We need to be brave and accept that we shouldn't be changing around a manager's system to fit in a Mo for example. He isn't the right profile winger for Slot nor would he be an effect 9 or 10. We should absolutely be looking to move him along, with one of Diaz/Nunez (both if the offers were right but doubt the latter will be sold).

DM > RW > LW > CB > ST. That's the order of importance imo.

We scored 3 goals last night, the wheels haven't come off in attack. It's quite fun to see a post criticise the forwards for not being effective and advocate moving on Salah, who's attacking output has been outstanding this season. I think you're right that there are system issues that make the defence seem more of a problem mind.

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

He doesn't necessarily have to be physical. Jota does just fine. I think it could work, and if it's not an option then I think he's better off being sold while we can still get money for him.

Alisson
Bradley    Konate   Virgil    Robertson
Trent    CDM
RW             Mac Allister              LW
Salah

If we nailed those two wingers - find Slot's Mane basically - I think that general line up would work well. Obviously I'd have Jota in there but you can't count on his fitness. I also don't think we will realistically sign a 6 given that we'd also have Endo, Gravenberch, Bajcetic, Jones, Elliott, Szoboszlai.

Alisson
Gomez Konate VvD Robbo
Trent Wieffer
Salah Alexis Szobo
Nunez

[Original]

He's decided to go on a free there next year instead

That's just me being facetious obviously, seeing as that's what all the young superstars do

[killer-heels]

Alisson
Gomez Konate VvD Robbo
Trent Wieffer
Szobo Alexis Diaz
Nunez

Sign one player and sell Salah? Crazy. That attack isnt good enough.

[DelTrotter]

Alisson
Gomez Konate VvD Robbo
Trent Wieffer
Salah Alexis Szobo
Nunez

That would be depressing.

[Sangria]

That Nice Williams looks like absolute dynamite, surely he's in the mix for a wide forward

Too nice for me. We need more nasty bastards.

[Samie]

Love playing the old hits.

Khéphren Thuram could leave OGC Nice for just €15-20M this summer!

The Frenchman has made 27 appearances for @ogcnice his season in both a CDM and CM role! [@Nice_Matin]

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

Sign one player and sell Salah? Crazy. That attack isnt good enough.

Yeah, I realized I omitted Salah and changed it. I think we need to focus on adding players with defensive nous as well as strength to make it harder to play through. If we play in a more controlled fashion it may mean fewer chances for our forwards but better quality changes which could lead to more goals.

[lionel_messias]

Lenny Yoro

He always sounds like a character from Only Fools and Horses to me.


That doesn't mean we shouldn't sign him, though; there are other metrics aside from the sitcom related.

[Garlic Red]

I'm with you actually perfer Eze to Olise whenever I have seen palace play. Not popular to say probably as olise has a big fan group on rawk

I wanted him last season over Szoboszlai and Gravenberch. My heart sank when news came out City wanted him before settling on Nunes. I know a Palace fan who’s been saying for years he’ll be world class at a big club, he just makes everything look so easy. Not digging Jones out but Eze’s the type of player I thought Jones was going to be when coming through the academy.