05 Aug 2026 07:12:52
One for the ITKs, is there any update on when Barcola might be announced?
Also, is there any progress on a defender coming in? This is urgent now with the young lads (Leoni and Jacquet returning from injury and no PL experience), plus an aging VVD, not to mention the lack of a fit rb.
05 Aug 2026 08:08:47
This was posted on TIA
"Despite wider calls for Liverpool to sign a new defender - with a versatile option capable of playing centre-back and right-back the preferred route for many - Sky Sports' Mark McAdam claims there are no such plans at this stage".
I do hope this report is inaccurate!!!
PS: It's not from me as IKFA.
05 Aug 2026 08:15:35
As much as a defender seems to be a priority for the fans, the club have made it very clear that they believe the priority is wingers. Munoz was completed very quickly and now we seem to be pushing hardest for Barcola and Mbaye.
There is logical sense in it. We've lost Diaz, Jota and Salah in the last 12 months. Gakpo also looks set to depart, as does Chiesa. Yet Munoz is the only winger we've signed right now, and you could argue we've promoted Rio. That's still a net loss of 3 wingers.
Meanwhile at CB we've signed Leoni, Jacquet, Ndiaye and Ndukwe in the last 12 months, despite only Konate and Quansah leaving.
The fans might not like the players we've signed, but the way the club could arguably be looking at it, is that we've spent close to £100m on CB's and the manager now needs to get the best out of them.
All that being said, I do think we'll sign another defender who can play RB and CB. Kounde, Konsa, Quansah and Tomori have all been linked heavily over the last few days. Wingers are clearly the club's priority right now though.
05 Aug 2026 08:16:36
I've seen this. Somewhat disappointing if true.
05 Aug 2026 08:56:45
Our goal output was really poor last year, partly due to lack of supply from wide areas, so we do need a winger.
I don't see why it has to be one thing at a time though. We need a right back, and at some point need to replace VVD and Ali. A tighter defensive unit would make a massive difference as well, so why not buy a physical right back for starters who can also help us improve at set pieces.
We're going to have Connor in and out of the team throughout the season, unfortunately, which doesn't help our cause at all.
05 Aug 2026 09:57:35
Good post, Mk.
My money is on Gakpo staying.
Of the 4 centre halves signed.
One hasn’t played in almost a year.
One hasn’t played in 7 months.
One can’t actually play for a year.
I believe between the 4, they have 0 PL games and 0 CL appearances.
Huge ask for the 3 of them.
05 Aug 2026 10:32:22
2 of those defenders are for the Academy, and the 2 others are currently injured and haven't kicked a ball between them for 18 months!
05 Aug 2026 10:40:49
Agree with most of what you have said, Adam. And JK, I agree the defenders have had a long time out and are young.
Therefore, my gut feel is that we will sign a CB. I was thinking CB/RB, but the links to Martinez today seem to suggest he is more of a specialist RB. I’d love Zabarnyi on loan with an option. He’s potentially the ready made VVD replacement if he does well for us and is PL proven.
I can’t see the Mbaye fit, really, as he is Rio just a couple of seasons on. But I can see more wingers incoming, after Barcola. If we got a left footed RW, we’d have Munoz, Barcola, Rio, RW. Assuming Cody goes, we’d also have depth in Koumas. Plus the strikers as our forward options. Further depth in Szob RW and Wirtz LW.
05 Aug 2026 10:53:17
@Clay, I don't believe any of that cos we have seen that crap before. It happened when Szoboszlai got signed right after the same thing was said by some bozo journo on the Twatter, and the very next day, Szobo the Szobo news came out and boom, he got signed. Again, we will see.
@MKS, I agree with your overall points. Irrespective of the CBs that we have, the club still knows we need a CB and a RB, hence, we are looking for such defenders who are hybrids.
And know we may need another wide player, cos even if Cody stays, we need help there, cos we may transition him into the CF position, cos we ain't signing a CF.
So let's wait and see what comes of that, but at least, they realise that what we need regardless of the CBs we have, young or otherwise.
05 Aug 2026 11:56:49
With the signings of Leoni, Jacquet, Ndiaye, Mdukwe and I believe there was one other in the 18/19 year old range, I think the club has put in place its medium to long term (CB) plans in place and I can see that it may not be a priority position in this window.
That said, with Ndukwe's visa issue meaning he'll be loaned out for a season and the injuries to Joe and the YLFP and Jacquet just coming back to fitness and with Conor's injury, I can see the need for cover for (the first half of) this season and I'd say Zabarnyi would be my first choice on a loan with option to buy clause and failing that I'd go for Kounde, as both can cover CB and RB.