14 Jul 2026 09:19:25
Any update on Szob's contract, word was it was all agreed before the season ended and just waiting to be signed? I have not read anywhere that it's been signed or did I miss the announcement?
14 Jul 2026 10:55:50
Honestly think he's another one who isn't going to sign. I think he should be moved on.
14 Jul 2026 11:11:01
How are we supposed to 'move him on' if he is happy to stay until the end of his contract?
14 Jul 2026 11:13:40
Don't think he is signing this year, mate. He is waiting to see out how it goes with the new manager.
14 Jul 2026 11:38:35
Future Real, Bosman bench-warmer.
14 Jul 2026 12:06:18
Bring his replacement in now, make it clear to Szoboszlai he's no longer an automatic first choice and that he is a squad rotation option and that the club will listen to offers.
He can either accept a reduced role in the side and leave on a free, or take the hint and move on. A little bit of ruthlessness is needed as he's another one who wants Madrid.
14 Jul 2026 12:40:17
I agree with your sentiment to an extent, VV. I'd like to think we're in a position to do that, but he's actually one of our good ones. We have other priorities for outs and replacements.
14 Jul 2026 12:49:15
Crazy how people get their knickers in a twist and demand we move a player on (our best player by far last season I might add) because he hasn't signed a new contract yet - when they know absolutely zero about the situation!
You're just guessing and it's quite embarrassing to read actually. All very negative
14 Jul 2026 13:37:42
Easier said than done, Vik, that's a DOF type of decision, but the manager's going to play his best 11 regardless.
14 Jul 2026 13:54:03
Victor, don't you we can move players on, it's not morally correct, well according to the posters on here.
14 Jul 2026 14:46:01
If we benched Trent since he didn't sign a contract, I don't think we would've won the league. Fell off a cliff when he got injured that season.
14 Jul 2026 15:22:25
There is not a midfielder at the club who can't be improved upon. What the club should do is have each player on a 2 month window when doing contracts, it has to be sorted in that time or it's a no deal (obviously some mitigating circumstances). Let's not mess each other around, grow some balls and come clean, easy.
14 Jul 2026 14:47:19
Things don't (and never had) happened in an insta way, so unfortunately, despite the fact we all want news NOW THIS MINUTE, it might take a bit longer.
Szob was our best player last season and he deserves a bit of respect.
I feel like I've said this so often, but to echo the words of the late, great Ed002, players are transient employees. Most of them these days will play for multiple clubs, and that's fine. They don't all need to join us in their early 20s and stay for the rest of their careers.
As long as they give their all whilst they wear the liver bird, then they should rightfully be sung about and supported. Crouch only stayed a few seasons, so did Alonso, and yet they are still regarded fondly for their contributions. Given Szobs performances, especially last season, he deserves the same.
Let's wait and see what happens and not jump to conclusions.
Peace and love ✌️
14 Jul 2026 15:47:08
"I don't think we would've won the league. Fell off a cliff when he got injured that season"
Not entirely true, mate.
Trent had an ankle injury for 3 league games.
We won 2 and lost 1.
Form fell off a cliff after clinching the league at home to Spurs but that was because the manager was still in Ibiza mode and the players were still p##sed.
14 Jul 2026 16:05:39
And what do you propose we do after the 2 month window ends, Scouse John?
And whatever you plan on doing, do you think fully grown men are going to be spooked into making a decision? And even if they are, do you think it's going to be the decision we want? Will they view the deadline positively, or will they see it as a complete lack of respect?
14 Jul 2026 16:06:45
Jk23, Exactly, the title season wasn't Trent's best seasons. He is still walking after the United defence.
14 Jul 2026 16:16:47
I think Real Madrid gave Sboz a ring long time ago.
Like Trent, there is not much the club can do when a player's intent is to run down his contract.
14 Jul 2026 16:33:15
Didn't Szob just get back to training today?
Put yourself in his shoes.
Why would he sign a contract last season when the head coach's position looked in doubt and he'd been played out of position for half the season?
Then he's been on holiday with his family, so probably didn't want to think about it.
Now we've got a new manager, he'll obviously want to see what the plans are for him before committing.
That's just common sense.
14 Jul 2026 17:22:50
Szob might want to see things are under the new head coach and/or new bosses.
There's some naivety on here. If Szob is determined to see his contact and leave on a free to go to Madrid, with the money that bring him, why on earth would he forsake that and agree to be transferred to a club and country, maybe, that he doesn't fancy?
And putting someone on the bench because they won't sign a new contract or agree to be transferred is cutting your nose off to spite your face.
If you sign a player for five years, you should be prepared to play and pay them for five years.
14 Jul 2026 18:25:17
@ chewy: It's not a lack of respect, is it? Any player who wants to leave for free is showing no respect. Show commitment; if they are not prepared to do that, bench them. Put them up for sale,
And blood a new player. How can you build a team or have a strong mentality when your players are counting down the days til they leave? Alls they doing is giving other players ideas.
Let the club be strong: "You're not doing that to us with no consequences." Not arsed if they don't agree to leave. Maybe the clubs should structure the wages differently, and, as I said earlier, maybe limit clubs to signing one Bosman every 5 years.
14 Jul 2026 19:28:05
As the rules stand, there is nothing we can do to prevent it. Iraola is not going to bench him because he won't sign a new contract.
Even if he did, that would only hurt the team, the dressing room, and the manager.
Plus, some players would shrug their shoulders, keep fit and take a year on the bench for huge wages and not get injured.
It's like some think the club has a right to hold players to ransom. It doesn't, but only for the duration of their contract.
15 Jul 2026 00:17:47
Scouse John, you might have been able to do that back in the day, but it won't fly now. No manager who backs himself is going to bench his best players if they don't sign contracts. They're putting results and their reputation on the line. The manager expects the club to secure extensions and not to have to shoulder the shortcomings of the sporting director if talks stall.
If the extensions can't be secured, any manager with an ounce of self-respect or professionalism is still going to pick his best players and won't allow himself to be used as a pawn by the club in some sort of bully tactic. Those days, for the most part, are long gone. The players have the power now, and they know it.