04 Feb 2026 14:06:19
Alexis Mac Allister: Real Madrid 'asked for' transfer – got "positive feedback"
Hughes and Edwards have a LOT to live up this summer.
The contract situation is looking dangerous.
We need a figurehead who can relate to players as Jurgen did, and who has a distinct style of play that suits the league.
I can see Dom leaving unless he only plays MF. Alexis is gone as Ed 002 suggested ages ago. He's got one last big move in him, and fair play, he wants to play there.
CJ unhappy with the wage offer and not being a fixed starter.
Grav - rumours are that he is unlikely to sign a new contract.
Endo - His times up.
Ibou - leaving on a free.
Ali - 1 year left.
VVD / SALAH 1 year left, unlikely to renew either.
Chiesa - has to be sold next window.
The next few windows are Huge. As is the leadership required to see this rebuild through.
Our core players going into the next phase as i see it : Dom, Eki, Flo, Leoni, JJ, Kerkez, Grav, Jones.
Im unsure that Bradley can be replied upon, ditto frimpong. Gomez has to replaced with someone reliable.
Isak to be a bit part player who scores goals in spurts, but will not be super reliable (if i had to guess).
04 Feb 2026 15:23:32
FSW - Not sure why you have doubts on Isak
He's a top striker and will score a lot of goals for us.
The goal against Spurs was enough proof that when fit and & firing he's a class finisher.
04 Feb 2026 15:51:33
From believers to whingers. A top young squad is being built.
04 Feb 2026 15:55:44
Bristol_Red - All I'm saying is, in my opinion, Isak's transfer will not be deemed a success for a close. he will not have proved his value due to many factors. The whole thing stank from the off. Its just not the way to conduct yourself, if you want good outcomes.
there is a reason only 7/28 transfers over 80m have been a success.
If Hughes and Edwards stick with Slot when Alonso is available, they will prove that their ego's are more important than the health of the club.
04 Feb 2026 17:04:49
FSW. most of the players you mentioned apart from Dom n Alisson wouldn't be a big loss, im including Grav aswel because this year he is not the same player, I know his position has moved but his general play isn't that good, Salah n VVD are not getting any younger ( unfortunately), we've got some really good young players n I'm looking forward to see how this phase turns out.
04 Feb 2026 17:13:48
For me realistic departures
Macallister - Wharton in, based solely on previous noise
Endo - use one of the young lads
Konate - we have Leoni, Jaquet. Have a hunch he might end up signing though
Salah - Frimpong has done well there.
Chiesa - depends on a change of manager if he will be used
Elliot - same again
Robertson - use one of the young lads.
Gomez - maybe one of the new young CBs can step up if needed.
Leaves us short at RB and on the wings
I wouldn't be overly concerned if we sold Mamardashvili and used Jaros as back up.
I reckon VVD will see out is contract.
04 Feb 2026 18:28:26
I'm with Florian musiala here from believers to moaners in a matter of months. This squad is in a transitional period and are still near the top end of the league. Give over and support the team.
04 Feb 2026 19:32:31
Has there been any other team that have gone from Champions to a team in transition in consecutive seasons?
That just doesn't sound right to me.
04 Feb 2026 20:11:18
JLC - yes, Man City last season.
04 Feb 2026 21:09:39
OP, it's the nature of 5he game, squads change people leav3 and others come in.
04 Feb 2026 21:03:50
Currently 6th so yes, near the top of the table but we are in a 'transition season'. If we make all these changes then will it be another transition season next season that 'near the top of the table' again is acceptable?
So we wait for 27/ 28 season to be out of transition and then challenge again for the title?
04 Feb 2026 23:17:51
If that's what it takes Mcgoverb then yes. The aim has to be sustained success and you don't do that by signing stop gap players.
We won the title last season but we all knew that VVD, Salah, Robbo and Ali are nearing the end. We knew Diaz and Trent were leaving. Darwin, Elliott and Quansah were deemed not good enough by most.
All have gone or are showing their age and that makes continuity very difficult.
That's without taking into account the tragedy that befell Jota.
We are now building a new squad for the future and are trying to sign the very best young players available which in itself means that transfers will be more difficult as everyone else wants the best players too.
We therefore might not get all the pieces in place by next season and there might be a settling in period for some new players again. But if it means we build a team that's capable of winning titles and Champions Leagues for years to come it'll all be worth it.
I know we all want it now but it's not that easy. Patience will be a virtue.
05 Feb 2026 04:50:08
@Mcgov, I'm sure there was talk from within the club a while back that the 'transition' would take a number of transfer windows. I may be wrong - my short term memory is crap these days - but it suggested that it would take a couple of years. The likes of Ekitike, Wirtz, Kerkez, Leoni etc are young as are the players (CBs) bought in the window just closed.
I think you could make a case that we are a 'work in progress' and if it's the case that might explain to some degree why Slot is still here. I'm increasingly of the opinion (not based on anything concrete at all) that Slot may not be shown the door in the summer.
05 Feb 2026 05:14:41
Pure sick of hearing the transitionary season excuse. WE CHOSE to sell players, WE CHOSE to bring new players in. We did it off the back of a title winning season. WE DID NOT do that with the view of getting worse, we did not do it with the view of the season being transitionary, we spent big last Summer in an attempt to improve and become a more dominant force. We failed. Massively. That's the fact of the situation.
Florian Musala and crew - FatSpanishWaiter didn't whinge or moan once. He called it as he sees it, he was very mater of fact and didn't make one single complaint, so stop talking rubbish.
05 Feb 2026 09:37:03
During Klopp's reign there was no succession planning for when Virgil, Salah and Becker started to decline. Maybe Klopp's plan was to ride it out and then jump before the rot set in. We don't know, but we do know he left without a plan to deal with the loss of those 3 huge players.
That's why, sometimes, teams need a transition or a rebuild. Klopp saw it coming and decided he didn't want to oversee it. No criticism, I think he made a wise decision.
We're rebuilding. Stocking up on youth.
Mac Allister can be replaced by Nyoni or even Elliott for me, I don't think he's been a success overall. Gravenberch needs to be replaced by a ball winning midfielder which will be a new singing.
RB remains an issue
CB needs some experience
Who knows what will happen up front but we need a re-think.
For me a lot of our problems stem from a weak as p**s midfield. No steel in there, not enough creativity either. Makes us easy to stop and easy to attack.
05 Feb 2026 10:38:36
Ron, but we hear all the time that Slot doesn't want or play with tough DM type, so its hard to see him bringing in the type of mid we need.
05 Feb 2026 11:56:07
Chewy, I agree, we bought these players to make sure we retain our title not languishing in 6th, this transition year has been getting thrown about lately, not sure where it came from but i'm sure If you spend £400+ after being crowned champions, you'd expect to us to be challenging again at the very least.
05 Feb 2026 15:51:19
It's no different to when Fergusson left Moyes a title winning squad.
They were all ageing and Fergusson didn't plan for the future.
Man United had to have a rebuild having won the title. The fans/ board didn't appreciate that and they sacked Moyes before he had a chance to rebuild.
£400m spent doesn't necessarily mean an increase in quality.
I hope we don't follow suit.
05 Feb 2026 09:05:52
I have a crew now? ?the tide must be turning. Stop moaning chewy.
05 Feb 2026 09:10:38
It's just a word @Chewy. it just means some of the players from last season have been replaced.
05 Feb 2026 18:44:46
But our team was better than the united one. I think if Slot played the same system as the title winning one, i think the £400 mill new players would have integrated a lot better n faster and we would have been in the top 2 for most of the season, easier for the new players to fit into an already winning formula.