03 Apr 2023 13:01:20
From this season after reading a few scout reports and watching the players in Europe I think the following (that we are linked to) would make the most sense:

DM - Khephren Thuram, looks a very good player. Ed002 mentioned he could become first choice and I think Liverpool would do well to snatch him up. He's got all the attributes to do well in the Prem, tall (6'3), good speed and is rather strong. His ability to drive with the ball is also impressive. Something Liverpool have really lacked is some strong physicality and pace in the middle for some time. He would undoubtedly deliver that.

Other options I would look to at CDM would be Manuel Ugarte from Sporting (excellent passer of the ball and incredibly good all action defender), Manu Kone (unlikely) but looks a great player. My only concern with Kone is he looks a bit slow and isn't particularly agile.

CM (8) - Bellingham is the obvious shout. Paul Joyce today has stated that the player has made it clear that he would like to move to Anfield and if Klopp decides he wants him Liverpool will go all out for his signature. Paul Joyce is as close of a mouthpiece as possible to Liverpool FC and so it seems almost certain that Liverpool will be in the running. Everyone has watched Bellingham, there is no need to describe how good he is. Dream signing.

Mount - Can play the role. I wouldn't oppose his signing for a reasonable price as he is an excellent player. Good pace, work ethic, attitude and has a goal and an assist in him.

Matheus Nunes - He'd be a bit down the list for me. Has struggled at Wolves but has all the ability and physical attributes to be a top player. Incredibly quick, covers ground excellently, tall and strong. If he settled I think he could be quite the player.

Jesper Lindstrom - I have to confess I know very little about the player. Would be nice to hear from others about how they rate him. Looks a bit more attacking than those listed above which I don't think we really need.

I think two midfielders is a realistic figure for the summer based on the fees involved and the apparent need for another CB. The two I would choose would be Thuram and Bellingham. If I had to add a third I'd also pick Mount (but that's incredibly optimistic) .

For CB's Ndicka seems the obvious shout, would join on a free (giving funds to put towards the midfield) .

Hopefully FSG make this happen, although given their previous record I'm not particularly optimistic.

1.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 13:10:02
Thuram is not a dedicated DM. He is a cross breed of Kante and Camavinga. He is excellent in tight spaces and carries the ball really well. We need a dedicated holding mid and not another converted. Makes no sense to me at all to use him deeper.

Bellingham. World class and one we should have it no matter what

Mount - I don’t know where he would fit in? He would flop like Elliot on the right.

Nunes - I personally like him. He is a terrific ball carrier and press resistant, can drop deep and take the ball all the way up. The old school vintage Kovacic. He is literally limited at wolves. I will sign him. We need a squad.

Lindstorm - He is no Bobby type. Played more as a RW.

CB
Gvardiol - absolute must. Excellent defender

Ndicka - A good cover (3rd or 4th) choice to have and let him push Konate. I have no problem whatsoever.

2.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 13:14:48
Nice summary MonkeyMad. pretty much agree with you there.

I really like the look of Lindstrom plus he got Ed002s endorsement.

I would of course love Gvardiol but we have to be realistic about the type of ownership we have.

Ndicka, Thuram, Bellingham and Lindstrom would be really successful job by all involved.

3.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 13:20:30
Thing is Monkey Mad player sales could bring in and add to what FSG gives Klopp - the club have apparently looked at Fabinho replacements, if they get one then he would be sold

I agree we need 2 midfielders and a cb minimum. Ndicka looks the obvious choice, think Adam likened him to a bit like Konate when we bought him - could be a great option and a free transfer to boot

Midfield, a proper holding midfielder would be great which would see Fabinho sold. I agree with Bellingham as the obvious cm target, lad is going to be special

Truthfully I haven't seen many of the names you've mentioned, I like Mount, but not at the prices quoted. 40ish million for me would be the maximum, but let's face it Chelsea don't have to sell and want him to sign a new contract. My only other concern then would be wages. There are stories circulating about him wanting huge wages (Salah like levels) . I take the media with a pinch of salt like, but this would be a worry

Other names mentioned on here include Caceido and MacAllister, both of which I think would be good for us, but not cheap

I agree we need 2 as is, maybe more depending on sales

I would replace the likes of Ox and Keita with youth and if we do sell Fabinho then would replace him. I would not want us to sign more than 3 though, as this would effectively bl9ck the likes of young Bacjetic and Elliott who I feel both have a good future with us.

4.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 13:37:54
Like everyone on that list apart from Mount. Not to say he’s a bad player. But £50 million on someone who no one is quite sure if he’s a wide forward, 10, 8, or just a CM. That to me is beyond poor from our scouting network, Klopp and his coaches. For one, blowing that kind of money on a player that doesn’t quite fit our style of play and is not needed, is actually incompetence when you consider our budget ain’t exactly large to begin with and the size of the rebuild required. Plenty of cheaper, better and more suited to our system players across Europe. To make it easier, maybe our scouts should have a gander at the German and Portuguese league. Plus the wages Mount would demand is exactly why we are in the financial mess we find ourselves in, never mind the mess on the pitch!

5.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 13:40:18
Decent synopsis, MonkeyMad.

Should add the Florentino Luis (probably too costly), Romeo Lavia (City buyback clause), Alan Varela (Boca Juniors) are some additional no6 options to Manuel Ugarte. It's fair to assume that Fabinho could be moved on so we'll need to bring in a specialist here as Bajcetic is still very very young.

Thuram, Kone and Caicedo would be best used as box-to-box players - despite being capable of playing no6 if needed. A bit like Gini was utilised. You could add Yunus Musah to that list. Any one of those would transform the physicality of our midfield.

Not sure what Gravenberch will end up as but is capable of playing in multiple positions. He may get more opportunities under Tuchel now.

Not sure if Forest will be able to keep hold of Danilo beyond the summer. A very good Brasilian box-to-box player too.

Alcaraz will probably stay at Southampton, even if they do go down. And Wolves will want to see what Joao Gomes can do next season.

6.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 13:43:59
Yeah I agree. I think people are forgetting that Bajcetic is a player who will also have a part to play next season. With Ox, Naby definitely leaving and Fabinho/ Milner looking surplus to requirements it wouldn’t surprise me to see him sacrificed to bring in some funds.

Bellingham would be perfect as he is so versatile. Can play anywhere in the middle and that’s why he’s a must sign player for me.

7.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 13:47:20
Davey Sulls - For the business of football, Ed002 is your guy.
For player recommendations, however, I’d trust Ed001 even over a typical PL manager.

8.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 14:02:36
Good post MonkeyMad. Just to add, I would target Anton Sach of Mainz instead of Khephren Thuram. Sach and Ugarte at the base of our midfield would provide, steel, energy, mobility as well as two screens in front of the defence. And would do everything to get Bellingham to play ahead of them. How would finance such signings? quite simply by being ruthless, moving players on. We have some sellable assets and if we sell them could actually raise a decent amount to fund a rebuild. Sach wouldn’t cost the world, potentially between £25-35M. Not sure about Ugarte but I’m seeing £40-£50M would get him. Which is the same price that would get you Mount. But you’re getting a significantly better player and on lower wages to boot.

9.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 14:06:30
Good post MonkeyMad.

I just posted on the Discussions page and listed similar players to you. I think if we could get Ndicka, Thuram, Bellingham, Nunes and Lindstrom we'd be well set.

Much as people may mock Harry, he makes a really good point about press resistance. To play this controlled possession we seem so keen on you have to have players who can receive the ball under pressure and turn out of the situation. Bellingham and Nunes can definitely do that. Thuram (based solely on YouTube to be fair) also looks pretty good at it. So you throw them into our midfield and all of a sudden the frenetic approach and complete lack of control would be transformed overnight. Thiago is the only player in our squad who can do this currently and he's injury prone and 31 years old.

Ndicka is a good player. Similar level to Konate when he first signed, but left sided. Would need a season to bed in but after that could genuinely put pressure on Van Dijk in my opinion. Can also cover left back so we could let Tsimikas go and trust Chambers as the back up knowing Ndicka can step in if needed.

As for Lindstrom, he's just a really classy player. He does mainly play right "wing" but the way he plays in tight spaces and links up in and around the penalty area is superb. He's not an orthodox winger at all. Works so hard up and down the pitch as well. I really like him and his versatility could really allow Klopp to mix up the front line. And in a crisis he can drop into midfield too. Throw in that he's admitted he's a Liverpool fan and it's just a good signing all around.

10.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 14:16:09
Another Gini type would be fantastic, all the little things he used to do in that midfield that people took for granted. That performance against Barcelona being a prime example, obviously we all remember the goals. But I distinctly remember from about 85 minutes onwards he was just demanding the ball and holding on to it under pressure for the majority of the remainder of the game. Eating up time, nobody could knock him off it. How we have missed things like that.

11.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 14:33:03
Nunes has not done enough to prove that he is EPL ready/ resistant. It seems LFC do not want to make anymore Naby sized errors in the TM, so the Nunes pre move to Wolves and the fact that 3 of the players mentioned in the first post are LFC fans. To my mind, that is what will bring the passion and drive back to the squad, along with some hungry youngsters.

Personally id rather take a punt on Ugarte than buy Nunes, who has looked inconsistent and a bit lost at times.

Football is changing (imo) as its only a matter of time until FFP is seriously implemented -just look at the world economic forum 'great reset'. There is a lot of sense spoken there about wasted money and resources, and football, at least at the top is guilty there.
This means that getting it right, unlike the Chelski way, is paramount.

Jurgen's first ever rebuild is almost upon us. let's see if he has the minerals.

{Ed002's Note - Ugarte won't be joining Liverpool.}

12.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 15:00:46
Where is he going Ed? That is a real shame. He looks Ream.

{Ed002's Note - There are two sides in discussion and another three interested but nobody wants to pay the full release clause. None of this involves Liverpool.}

13.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 15:16:04
Rabiot on a free would be a good signing.

14.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 15:51:40
Rabiot is not conducive of good team spirit. He is exactly the type of player that we don't need after Naby.

Ed's do you think Caicedo is a no go, or moving elsewhere now?

I had not realised that Bradley was playing below the championship, hence he will need a season in the championship next to build toward being a squad member.
Will we make do between Gomez, Milner and Ramsay as back up for Trent? Unless any of that lot leaves, i can't see us buying another RB to challenge Trent.

Any idea on where Kamada is going to end up, on a free?

{Ed002's Note - Moises Caicedo might be an option to Bellingham but he will be very expensive after signing a new contract. I suspect Kamada will end up at Dortmund but there is interest from other sides as well. Not Liverpool.}

15.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 16:57:10
DM - Khephren Thuram, looks a very good player. Ed002 mentioned he could become first choice and I think Liverpool would do well to snatch him up. He's got all the attributes to do well in the Prem, tall (6'3), good speed and is rather strong. His ability to drive with the ball is also impressive. Something Liverpool have really lacked is some strong physicality and pace in the middle for some time. He would undoubtedly deliver that.

No one can be certain to deliver. Naby looked absolutely world class in Germany and will go down as one of LFC's worst ever signings, up there with Julian Dicks.
The EPL is the most demanding league on the planet. Look at our squad-Rinsed from Klopp ball and the EPL pace and schedule.

16.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 17:07:37
Rumoured midfield target Matheus Nunes appears to be less likely to complete a move to Anfield this summer, recent reports have suggested.

The 24-year-old is said to have been on Liverpool’s radar for a long time, but the Telegraph have reported that Liverpool are exploring “other more expensive targets” for the midfield this summer.

It is expected that Wolves will command a fee in excess of £50 million in the transfer window, and the Reds look to have turned their attention to other options.

Liverpool are still thought to be interested in moves for Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount and Moises Caicedo as they look to bolster their midfield for next season.

17.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 16:33:09
Thanks Ed. I guess Lindstrom is going to be that signing instead.

Which of the young players do you feel are dwfinitely ready to take up squad / rotation places for next season?

{Ed001's Note - definitely ready? None, there is never a definite about this, it will always change based on how they perform and it is about their response to any chances they get. I am going to assume Bajcetic and Ramsay are already in the squad, along with Carvalho and Elliott. That only leaves Bradley as a stand out option, but we already have Trent and Ramsay there, so that makes it difficult to see how that will work. Personally I would send Ramsay out on loan but that is just me.

Other than that, Doak deserves a chance to stake a claim, he has always impressed and it is disappointing, imo, that he has not got more minutes this season already.

Morton and Clarkson look capable of being options, I just don't see it happening. Even though we were at our best when young players like that were in and around the first team, it seems everyone wants 3 midfielders to come in and remove any chance that them and Bajcetic play for us.}

18.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 17:22:18
I really like the look of Jesper Lindstrøm. Frankfurt play a back 3, wing backs for width. Lindstrøm plays behind the striker as one of two number 10s almost. So he drifts out to the right and comes inside. He’s a workhorse and tricky. I think he’d be great. Can play all across the front and not like Firmino and Jota who apparently can but I think are a little ineffective in wider areas.

Whether he’d be high up my list or not, maybe not so sure. I do think we need an alternative to Salah sometimes. Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo, Salah and Lindstrøm would be a great mix for me. With youngsters after that.

But that midfield must be sorted first.

19.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 17:50:17
Totally agree Barnesybob. Lindstrøm Is young, talented and is open in his support of Liverpool. Plus like you said he can play across the front 3, which Bobby and Jota cannot.

20.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 17:53:50
Some good posts, ladies and gents, thanks very much. I'm no expert on the Bundesliga, but from what I've seen of Lindstrøm he looks one hell of a player and would be a great addition, so I agree with MK. However, where that would leave Elliott and Carvalho I'm not sure.

21.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 18:07:12
If we lost out in the Jude Bellingham chase and ended up with Mason Mount, that would be an absolute disaster for everyone involved on our end including the player.

22.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 18:52:26
Maybe it’s because i’ve seen much more of him but i’d rather Caicedo to Bellingham i think he’s more of what we need Bellingham from what i’ve seen look better when he’s going forward now if we could somehow have Caicedo and another deeper with Jude bombing forward ??.

23.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 19:29:42
Jude Ugarte Caicedo is a dream midfield. Also unattainable I hear.

24.) 03 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 20:56:30
Agreed re Doak Ed. He looks ahead of Carvalho to me in some ways.
Morton has not been as consistent as Elliot was at Blackburn, although i imagine his position requires more dicipline.

We absolutely do need those young players energising the mainstays, who can get complacent.
Every team should be made to field a certain amount of young players IMO. Money has ruined the game, or, like Chelski they create youth farms and stock pile for the purpose of making money.

The only way we'll get the turnover/ clear out we need for next season is with a handful of young players ready to fight. We simply can't buy enough to replace the outgoings.

{Ed001's Note - nor should we want to just buy replacements. The academy should always be a key part of the long term strategy and the players from it should be seen as, at worst, injury cover, to allow the club to just recruit top talent to build around.}

25.) 04 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 23:18:45
We need to be looking at fullbacks. I think it is more important than the midfield at the moment. I’d keep what we have but there are definitely better fullbacks out there. It’s fine to play with no discipline or defensive qualities when you are wiping the floor with teams, but everyone has improved and we have got worse. So we can’t afford luxury players at the moment. We need players that will play in their position and stop making stupid mistakes in every single game.

26.) 04 Apr 2023
03 Apr 2023 23:31:06
Geez lads, I clearly only watch us play. I think out of all the players mentioned, I've heard of maybe 4 and could only pick Bellingham out of a line up ?.

27.) 04 Apr 2023
04 Apr 2023 04:25:30
If Lindstrom is more right sided I would definitely be going for him. That might sound a little mad given our attacking options but we have no effective cover or competition for Salah at all. I would be happy with any combination of the players mentioned above but I would just make one point. In years gone past I would always say signing less pure quality is better than signing lots of good players. Our squad needs such a refresh that I am changing my stance on that for hopefully just this summer. If not signing Bellingham means we can afford 2 or 3 of the other players mentioned here, I’d do that regardless of how good he might turn out to be. Kelleher, Pitulagia, Adrian, Tsimikas, Matip, Gomez, Phillips, Williams, Ox, Fabs, Jota, Bobby are all disposable to raise funds and free up wage space for me. Expectations are low, perfect time to give some of the academy talent an opportunity I’d say.

28.) 04 Apr 2023
04 Apr 2023 09:23:34
To play for Klopp's team, you must understand the game, you must work hard against the ball and you must have the confidence and the capacity to play the final pass. Mount, at his best, does all of those things.

29.) 05 Apr 2023
04 Apr 2023 14:22:08
Bang on MK.
Press resistant is the most important attribute one should have when you are playing from the back. Bellingham and Nunes are outstanding in that area.
We really need at least two midfielders who makes themselves available for a pass form either center backs or Alli and while you have to turn with the ball instead of passing it back! We should be targeting those type of players.

Although Thuram is pretty good at it what is the point of playing him the deeper role I don’t get it. I need a true DM. Someone who sits there and there only. His job should be to win the second ball / first ball and scree the defense!