Liverpool Banter 2

09 Aug 2026 09:37:44
Is the Barcola deal happening las week? It was mentioned on here its done then others are saying they we miles of on the price? Regarding the marquee signing vg mentioned any ideas? 🤔

09 Aug 2026 09:51:44
I don't think Liverpool FC have met the valuation of the player set by PSG.

09 Aug 2026 10:09:26
There would be no reason at all for LFC to delay an announcement after tomorrow when he is expected to return from holiday.

If he's not announced tomorrow, the deal is clearly not "done".

09 Aug 2026 10:20:46
I think PSG are trying to get one more morning's Labour out of him before announcing it.

09 Aug 2026 10:31:23
@Ron,
What is the relation between player on holiday and transfer announcement? The club won't officially announce any transfer unless the medical is completed.
So, this news has to come from the journalists who have repeatedly claimed that no fee has been agreed between the clubs.

09 Aug 2026 10:42:15
At the moment, it would not be unreasonable for LFC to delay the announcement for whatever reason (PSG or player request).
The reason is, he's not missing pre-season training.

Once the post World Cup holiday period is over (tomorrow), he would be missing vital pre-season training sessions.



Therefore, it would be stupid of LFC to delay an announcement after tomorrow because the player needs to be working with our first team and their coaches.

That's my logic. If he's not here tomorrow, the deal is not concluded.

09 Aug 2026 10:45:29
TBH, it seems like PSG are finding better value in the market than we are, if they are asking EUR145m for a player that they are happy to replace with others costing EUR40m. We shouldn't fund their spending, I'd rather we go after the players they deem better/equivalent.



Still can't believe we seem to have spent all summer chasing players that we a) were never getting (Diamonde) or b) didn't actually know the price of (Barcola). Bonkers, although we don't know how true our interest really is, could just have been whipped up by our ITKs.

09 Aug 2026 10:45:58
Indian, you have to take into account that the journalists didn't report we were interested in Araujo until it was done.

The Journos know nothing. Certainly not anything concrete, anyway. All of the official reports on Barcola say 'Sky Sports News understands' before every sentence, because they really don't have a clue.



They see a furore on social media about Barcola to Liverpool, so they put a very vague piece on their website because they know they'll get clicks. Same with Romano and all the others.

Liverpool aren't leaking information, which was shown with the Araujo signing, so we'll just have to wait and see.

09 Aug 2026 11:00:08
That's it in a nutshell, Ron. Be announced tomorrow if it is the done deal that's been talked about.

09 Aug 2026 11:09:09
I agree with your point @Ris, but the first person to break the news on both Ajauro and Munoz was Romano, and he is considered a tier 3 local wannabe on this site, apparently.

09 Aug 2026 11:17:27
Maybe PSG (or Barcola) want to wait until after the UEFA Super Cup? Gotta play against Aston Villa first and try to win another medal before getting on with the transfer!

09 Aug 2026 11:28:54
Johnny, I don't think PSG think the players they are buying are better than Barcola.
They have 3 wingers, arguably better than him already, before signing anyone. They are in the position to buy less proven potential stars for the squad, and sell a top player for a lot of money.

We are in the market for a starting winger to instantly improve our starting 11, and he seems open to the move to secure 1st team football.

09 Aug 2026 13:25:40
If we are really interested in Mbaye, and we didn't act on it until late in the negotiations for Barcola, I imagine that would have delayed what may have essentially been seen as a done deal. It lines up because rumour had it we were keen on Rayan until Kroupi got injured, essentially killing any possibility of getting that deal done this summer, which may have forced us back to the drawing board and a subsequent late pivot to Mbaye.

09 Aug 2026 13:35:18
If PSG or the player want to wait until after the UEFA Super Cup, then the deal is not concluded.
Once it is concluded it will be announced, otherwise Liverpool are sabotaging their pre-season.

09 Aug 2026 09:17:20
Liverpool has completed permanent summer signings for defender Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for €63.60m and winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna for €40m, but we could have added Semenyo for €72m and Geuhi €23m - the office of Edwards and Hughes needs to be scrutinized - we could have added 2 prem proven players for less than €10m.

Absolute joke to allow Citeh to rebuild in the areas we actually really needed to improve in.

09 Aug 2026 09:37:01
Is Guehi that good? I'm not convinced.

09 Aug 2026 09:37:21
I'd recommend getting back into bed, then trying to get out the right side next time.

09 Aug 2026 09:42:34
You do know that Edwards has left the building. And, by consensus, Guehi is no longer any good and he had a crap World Cup.

09 Aug 2026 09:45:03
The club spunked close to EUR350 million on Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike.

09 Aug 2026 09:45:10
How are we supposed to stop City rebuilding?

09 Aug 2026 09:46:08
Semenyo isn't even that good.

Apart from his goals, assists, chances created, pace, power, aerial ability, two footedness, ability to drive into space with the ball, work rate, pressing, positional versatility and team play, what does he offer exactly?

09 Aug 2026 09:51:25
Guehi, who single-handedly cost them the league with a misplaced back pass, and got them knocked out of the Champions League by getting embarrassed in his own box?

Terrible player.

09 Aug 2026 09:59:23
That's right, JK. Semenyo is no better than "Harvey Elliot is like a new signing".

09 Aug 2026 10:12:36
Bournemouth didn't miss Semenyo.
18 league games unbeaten since he left.

09 Aug 2026 10:25:37
Any team in England would miss Semenyo in fairness.

09 Aug 2026 10:53:35
Except Bournemouth, Florian?

09 Aug 2026 10:53:36
Nice post jk23, has shades of "what have the Romans done for us?" about it.

09 Aug 2026 10:56:38
Semenyo is decent but not as good as some on here seem to think. Not worth spending top money on.

Guehi, on the other hand, is bang average.

I remember Arsenal were rumoured to be after him before we were and I just thought, so what? Then when we were after him I thought it was a market opportunity to replace Gomez as a back up CB and cover the FB positions.

Not once did I think we would be signing Guehi as a starting CB.

He's just not good enough.

He's proved as much at City. He is just ok. He's not dominant in the air, not particularly quick, doesn't run the defensive line, gets bullied. He's quite good on the ball for a CB when he gets forward which is about all I could say. That's why he'd be decent cover for the FB positions too.

He doesn't really excel at anything though.

09 Aug 2026 11:02:45
Guehi is a decent player, and would've been a good squad option for us, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over missing out on him.

09 Aug 2026 11:20:53
If you say it, Beckers, then it must be true.

09 Aug 2026 11:27:26
Guehi isn't a player I'd want as a starter, too short, too weak, and has too many brain farts, but as a squad cover, he'd have been ok as he can cover full back and midfield. But that's about all. In the context of the current market, Semenyo was a bargain for City.

Home grown, gets 10+ goals a season and weighs in with assists, is versatile, very quick, physically strong, intelligent and hard working. A so called "market opportunity" if ever there was one and we sat on our hands monitoring it.

09 Aug 2026 12:17:34
I still miss Coutinho. Never mind Bournemouth not missing a good player, obviously they did good but can still miss him. We went great losing Coutinho, yet nobody still can do or play like he did for us. Let's enjoy the new manager and a new season. Time to stop haramball.

{Ed025's Note - hey. No talking about ex players on here. It’s frowned upon apparently 🤣..

09 Aug 2026 13:29:11
What in the twilight zone is going on here? You should have posted this back in January.

09 Aug 2026 14:08:46
Suppose so, Johnny. 😂😂 But they would have been even better with him still there. Turned out a great signing for City that lad.

09 Aug 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Why Rangers Must Handle Matchday Pressure Better

09 Aug 2026 00:22:57
I think as Arsenal have lost out on Vinny Junior I wouldn't be surprised if they went all out for Barcola, I hope we move fast as I could see him ending up with the Gunners. In saying all that the money getting touted for Barcola is insane and I can't help thinking there is better value out there.

09 Aug 2026 02:52:14
At some point Arsenal have to sell some players. £140 million spent already this summer, and their record sale is still Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 9 years ago.

09 Aug 2026 05:36:08
Yep, Arsenal's wage bill will soon become unsustainable unless they start readjusting their squad. Offloading mid-level earners like Trossard won't cut it - a large number of their squad is on well over 200k a week.
The Vinicius transfer was not a serious thing - he was never moving from Real Madrid to Arsenal.

He got exactly what he wanted, which was a hefty salary increase and improved terms at Real.
I expect Arsenal will be favourites again this season, but it will be tough for them if they remain so reliant on set pieces to score.

09 Aug 2026 07:21:23
The Gooners aren't gonna win anything next season, they'll be like us last season, and then go back to doing what they do best - not winning anything using 6 defenders.

09 Aug 2026 07:34:37
The internet is quite divided on which team currently has the highest wage bill. Some sites say Liverpool and some are saying Arsenal or City.

Personally, I think Arsenal are the favourites for the league again this season due to them having a very good side and squad, and the upheaval other clubs are having, be it new managers or having to sell players to balance the books.

09 Aug 2026 07:42:44
Arsenal don't want Barcola. They don't value him at the money that's being asked.

09 Aug 2026 08:06:49
Barcola is back from his holidays on Monday. I would assume that's the only reason we've not announced the signing yet.

Arsenal have zero chance. Why would any talented flair player want to play for Arteta? Even Vini Jr just used them for a pay rise.

09 Aug 2026 09:03:26
Arsenal have Nico Williams & Yildez as their targets for left wing. Barcola has made it clear that he views our style of play is more suited to him than Arsenal's.

09 Aug 2026 09:27:34
Presumably, and assuming we are actually after him, which I'm not 100% convinced about (just a gut feeling), wouldn't he need to undergo some sort of medical before everyone signs on the bottom line?

09 Aug 2026 09:36:34
Arsenal are certainly favourites for the League this season. Only a mug would suggest otherwise. It's not as if they came from nowhere to win last season. They have been consistently up around the top of the League for a brave few seasons now and they are still signing good additions to their squad. They'll be tough to beat.

09 Aug 2026 09:42:43
Arsenal have the best squad today, and instead of relying on "This midfield nearly won the quadruple", they added players to an already established squad.
Diamonde was nailed on to join us. Wasn't he? If Arsenal can stump up the money then PSG would have no issue convincing Mr Bracola to choose Arsenal.

09 Aug 2026 09:43:42
Vini to Arsenal was never on. Anyone with half a brain could see the angle, pure negotiation tactics.

09 Aug 2026 09:53:24
Remember when Alonso to Chelsea was never on or Diomande to Real.

If it's said on the internet then it must be true.

09 Aug 2026 10:01:11
You are Bishop Brennan's sarcastic deputy from Father Ted and I claim my ten lovely horses.

09 Aug 2026 11:17:44
Why should we now all of a sudden pull our fingers out?

Should have done that a while back already...

If anyone comes in and signs Barcola, we only have ourselves to blame.

08 Aug 2026 22:53:40
I know Iraola must have clearly requested a different set of transfers that will compliment his style of football.

Was camara ever a real target or just a hopeful one from fans?

I do think a winger is being targeted, i'm just wondering if a midfielder is because Iraola mentioned he wanted Ryan to not be stuck in a number position?

08 Aug 2026 23:25:57
I don't think a midfielder is being seen as an absolute necessity by the club unless somebody's planning to move on, like MacAllister.

08 Aug 2026 23:31:37
Still think that Ireola can get the best out of Macca.

08 Aug 2026 23:46:39
Let's hope!

09 Aug 2026 00:26:20
I hope the club sign the players that they think will have the best chance of being successful.

09 Aug 2026 01:19:37
I'm almost sure MacAllister and Jones will be gone by the start of the season.
Not so sure on Gakpo though.
Chiesa will be gone too.

09 Aug 2026 04:24:54
I have to say that I'm very concerned about the signing of Araujo. On the face of it, a loan for a highly experienced center back looks fine, but he is marginally less injury prone than Joe Gomez, and I also can't really stomach the fact that folks on here made Konate out to be the worst player of all time, but somehow think that Araujo is leagues better.

If you think that Konate is missing a few brain cells, you're in for quite a ride with Araujo, who is equally capable of brain farts in critical situations. Konate has had one season where he has arguably been a bit of a liability; Araujo has had at least two.

He doesn't strike me as being an especially intelligent footballer and often makes deeply questionable decisions, but yes, on paper and in certain moments he can be an elite center half. The problem is that he has recurring muscle injuries every year, exactly like Gomez.

Naturally, I will support anybody who puts on the shirt and I'd love for things to come off for him after all he's been through. I do have my worries when it comes to the player, though.

09 Aug 2026 05:26:26
I can't comment on Araujo, as I haven't seen him play, but you can't say Konate had only one season where he was a little of a liability.

Every season, he had several brainfarts and was a bit like Bambi on ice.

Konate looked half decent because of VVD next to him. That shows you the type of defender he was and that he wasn't a leader.

We were just blessed with VVD being fit a lot of the time.

Araujo, at least, is a captain with leadership qualities and is not as injury prone as Gomez from the stats. Gomez can put 2-3 games together without coming off injured.

I can't comment on his football, as I've never paid attention to him at Barca or with the Uruguay national team.

09 Aug 2026 06:37:14
I have to say that I can't agree with that. For me, overall, Konate's career with us was very positive, and I rate him a lot higher than a lot of people here, I think. Under the circumstances Araujo is a borderline acceptable move, but nobody can convince me that he is in any way an upgrade on Konate, he is in a lot of ways the same sort of player as Konate (aggressive, good aerial and ground duel winner, decently comfortable straying out wide to cover for his full back, quick and physical), but not a superior one.

09 Aug 2026 07:04:56
All fair points Patrik, but you're missing 1 key point. Konate didn't want to be here... Araujo does. Give the lad a chance. It's a loan with no obligation, so if he does the job, it's a cracking piece of business, if he doesn't, it buys us a bit of time to find the right player next season without spending a fortune on a gamble.

Also, another leader to have around to help advise the young centre halves we have at the club.

We didn't spend that big of money on Jacquet for him to be a squad player, in my opinion.

09 Aug 2026 08:11:04
When was Konate a good aerial duel winner btw? He left pretty much everything to Van Dijk, and when he did go up for a header, you had absolutely no idea where it was going because he had a head like a 50 pence piece!

Thanks for the service, of course (and he did have some great moments, to be fair to him), but he was very average overall, and in the end, he got way too big for his boots, asking for such a monumental salary increase.

Madrid are in for a shock, and more fool them for paying him that much.

09 Aug 2026 08:18:03
The amount of times he headed the ball straight up in the air, MK. And he never, ever had a season like Araujo did in 23/24.

09 Aug 2026 09:30:19
I'm pretty sure Konate was in the upper 90th percentile for aerial duels won among center halves last year, MK. Are we seriously going to contest the notion that Konate had an excellent season the season before the last, by the way?

09 Aug 2026 09:30:46
In fairness, Patrick, I don't Konate was as bad as he bes made out to be here either. He was our man of match in a Champ League final and was part of a good partnership that won a league.

Never got to the level I thought he would with us tho, I felt as he seemed lacking in concentration. Araujo in good form is a better player than Konate in good form imo.

09 Aug 2026 09:44:29
I think the club needs at least one midfielder regardless if no player goes. It's way too easy to pick our midfield, and good competition is necessary in my opinion. Having numbers doesn't necessarily equate to having quality. Big difference.

09 Aug 2026 09:59:17
Konate did a good job for us overall. Had a mistake in him, but also top performances. Last season, though, probably not helped by Jota and his father's passing, was all over the place.

08 Aug 2026 22:22:50
Good old Luis Garcia, (he drinks Sangria).

Article on BBC Sport talking about facing his good mate Alonso in their last friendly...

"I wish him all the best [at Chelsea], but even though I love him, hopefully he ends up second to Liverpool next season."

He came from Barca to bring us joy.

08 Aug 2026 23:30:59
He's 5ft 7, he's football heaven.

08 Aug 2026 23:36:35
That header against Anderlecht, the other one against Fulham, the volley against Juve, the 30 yard screamer against Charlton and of course the ghost goal. The lad had some fantastic moments.

09 Aug 2026 00:10:08
Please don't take our Luis away.

09 Aug 2026 01:16:52
Chewy,
Don't forget the volley v Chelsea in the semi at Mold Trafford. ✔️

09 Aug 2026 08:54:57
Good stuff, Ron. I remember when he arrived, dressed cool as f***, hipster chique. And didn't he bring us some Iberian joy? He was my password for more than 10 years.

09 Aug 2026 10:03:33
That volley against Juve.

09 Aug 2026 13:24:49
Soccer AM: "Who's the longest in the shower?" Luis: (thinks a while) "Probably me with my creams and lotions."

Totally missed the brief. Absolutely love him.

08 Aug 2026 21:36:32
Outside of losing big players in Robbo/Salah, their places in the first team needed replacing anyway, I think the thing that could and already appears to be having the more significant impact is their leadership and their standard setting.

It appears with players like Jones, who is nothing more than a squad player, but now without anyone in that midfield really pulling up any trees or being a particular leader/standard setter. It’s giving him a sense of entitlement, as in I’m as good as those around me so I deserve to be in the first team.

Losing that mindset of I’ve got to be fighting to reach the levels of the likes of a Robbo/Salah turns you into what we are seeing now. Players meandering, lack of drive or fight, putting more effort into their TicToks than their performances.

Feeling as though you should have a captain's armband when in reality Jones being anywhere near captain tells us exactly where we are as a squad, barebones.

I have no real opinion on Araujo, of the little bits I’ve seen, he gives me Romero/Porro vibes, but for me, having a slightly older head could be a positive dependant on his personality. We’ve not had a real dog (fighter) in defence for a while, hopefully he has a bit of that in him.

Don’t get the whole ‘Marquee signing’ nonsense, we don’t need marquees, we need damn hard workers, players who fill the obvious gaps in our squad. I’d bet a high % of our fans would say they would prefer a lesser name we could turn into a superstar than a ‘marquee signing.’

08 Aug 2026 22:06:13
" A team can pull one man, one man can't pull a team."

08 Aug 2026 22:16:12
Unless it's Maradona.

08 Aug 2026 22:18:49
Maradona and Messi have made good efforts for Argentina.

08 Aug 2026 22:25:52
It's funny, when Jones scored that lovely goal against Everton all them years ago and said afterwards he wants to force his way into the starting team and be an important player for us, he was applauded for that bit of ambition and arrogance, almost.
I can't blame the lad for still wanting to be the first name on the team sheet for the club he supports. I totally get that he wants to be captain, of course he does.

I'd be disappointed if he didn't.
His ability doesn't match his ambition, though, sadly. He's never going to be that player. He's always gonna be a squad player for us. So I think he needs to make his mind up now what he wants, first name in a mid table team or bit part player for us.
I really want the lad to do well and just hope he puts in 100% and gets better under Iraola.

08 Aug 2026 22:41:56
1. I don't think Jones ever had the "fighting to reach Salah level" attitude you mention to begin with.
2. He isn't anywhere near the captaincy, so no, it doesn't tell us anything about the squad being 'barebones'.

Not only is he nowhere near it, but his recent antics just proved without doubt that he never should be, and you can bet your bottom dollar everyone now knows it, including Iraola.


007. Tell that to Gerrard.

09 Aug 2026 03:19:06
Are we talking about football, @007. Put me in mind of a funny story Rodney Marsh used to tell.

09 Aug 2026 03:22:42
I think we are all overdoing this on the captain piece. Since the time of Klopp, after captain and vice captain, the philosophy used to be that the player who has been at the club longest wears the armband.

Jones may have felt entitled because of that and not because of some entitlement that he is the best player in the team.

I agree he is nowhere near captain level, but we don't have to take two and two to make it 5 :).

09 Aug 2026 05:15:33
Yeah, I get the exact same sense with Jones.

It's almost like he has a sense that by virtue of being there longer than others that they should naturally look to him.

Whereas Milner, Hendo, Robbo were leaders because of who they were and how they led.

08 Aug 2026 21:08:57
Well, 2 weeks before the season starts, we are certainly leaving it late to bring in the needed numbers? Bar cola must surely be announced soon as it was done, but PSG didn't want it announced yet?

08 Aug 2026 22:10:26.
Interesting to see Araola's team selection and subs tomorrow.

180 mins of football left before the season starts.

Last season we started well, (results wise), winning the first 5 games, and collected 25% of the season's total points tally, and we still only ended up 5th.

Can the club afford a slow start this season?

09 Aug 2026 05:16:56
JK23, looking forward to the season!! It'd be really interesting to get people's thoughts or just see the reactions. Like if we play really well for 5 games but don't win any or come away with something like 7 points.

Iraola needs results from day 1.

09 Aug 2026 06:02:38
Think it's 270 minutes, JK23, mate, we're playing Como twice (once behind closed doors!).

I'm off to Anfield today for the Monaco game and can't wait. Should really start to see a semblance of the real 11 from here on in.

09 Aug 2026 06:14:58
Changing, you managed to sort the membership account then for the tickets today 💪. Going with the old man if I remember correctly.

Didn't realise they were playing Como twice, but if I wanted to be pretentious and argumentative (which I never am 😉), one could argue that players will unlikely play in both, so technically all players have max 180 mins of pre season football left to impress Araola.

09 Aug 2026 06:28:41
Impressed with the memory on that JK!

Yes, mate, taking my Dad today and sat in the Kop.

Buzzing.

09 Aug 2026 07:04:10
Quality mate.

Hope you both have a class day and it's a good game to watch. 🤜

08 Aug 2026 20:41:39
Ferran Torres to PSG gives Barca the funds now to get Rodri, which then means one of their midfielders will most likely be out the door for some first team football (Thinking of VD’s mystery marquee midfielder).

With Ferran at PSG, Barcola is more likely leaving as well due to the front line minutes, along with Mbaye most likely departing too.

Could be the one transfer to unlock us getting a few deals over the line.

08 Aug 2026 22:11:37
City close to signing the young Moroccan kid Bouaddi apparently.