24 Jul 2017 07:31:11
Morning all,

Just a thought but what if we rejected all of Barca's advances towards Couts and ended up keeping him and Can, but not signing Keita. Would we be worse? No.
Would we be better? Not necessarily, but imagine a whole season with the Can of February to May and a fit Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho and Mane (and no ACON) .

I understand that it's exciting signing new players but there's a difference between signing a winger in Salah (to free Coutinho to play through the middle) or an actual LB than there is adding to an already overcrowded midfield.

We need to accept that whilst NB may well be a fantastic footballer, he's not Messi or Ronaldo.

Sorry for the long post. (ps I accidentally posted half of this before I had finished so apologies if there's half of this floating about.

1.) 24 Jul 2017
24 Jul 2017 07:43:18
Rednick my. Thoughts exactly well put.

2.) 24 Jul 2017
24 Jul 2017 08:44:53
Spot on, OP. I would keep Couts and Can if it meant kicking the whole Keita hooplah into the stands. I would rather have those players who've been here thru thick and thin, under Klopp's system esp. Couts who is now our offensive and creative engine, than some player unknown and unproven whose parent club have repeatedly said is not for sale.

3.) 24 Jul 2017
24 Jul 2017 08:45:57
If we keep Coutinho and Can, and add the signings of Salah and Robertson, then we are unquestionably a better team. If we add VVD then we are far better. If we had signed Keita, then selling Can would almost have been a necessity.

4.) 24 Jul 2017
24 Jul 2017 10:26:24
Completely agree with the original post, we're well stocked in midfield with players who are improving, Keita is a luxury signing and certainly not a necessity.

5.) 24 Jul 2017
24 Jul 2017 10:25:06
I don't think the transfers are related. If we pull out of the Kieta deal I don't see Barcelona and Juve then pulling out of theirs because of it. We could end up worst case losing the players and not getting Kieta.

6.) 24 Jul 2017
24 Jul 2017 11:23:59
If we'd got NK, I think Can would have gone. Now all eyes on Cans' contract as we definitely need him now. Consistently fit Can/ Hendo midfield is pretty damn good. (And don't forget Marko coming good.

7.) 24 Jul 2017
24 Jul 2017 12:03:20
I think we'll be ok even if Can went.
We have Ejaria and Grujic not getting a look-in and Milner can also cover CM.