13 Aug 2026 07:37:55
VG’s last post about Bellingham and now Carra’s about Gavi suggests we’re we have a big budget for centre mid.
It also suggests we’re looking for a top tier player that can progress things from mid.
Maybe explains the rumours around Wharton appearing again yesterday.
Issue with Wharton is it could be like Guehi all over again. Leave it too late and Palace tell us to do one despite player wanting to join.
Issue with Jude is he’ll be v difficult to get although clearly would be an amazing addition.
Issue with Gavi is stylistically he’s perfect for Iraola.
Pressing monster and progresses ball forward quickly but he’s lightweight and injury prone.
I still wonder if we’ll end up going in for Scott.
Re Barcola I just can’t help feeling I’d prefer M’Baye and Rayan. I know wages don’t make the maths that simple and wages of those 2 players may cost more than Barcola but I really feel as though our starting XI will be strong but squad depth needs work both to compete on all fronts but also to ensure bench is extremely strong to change games whilst maintaining a high intensity style.
13 Aug 2026 08:11:04
There's no way on God's green earth that Madrid will let Bellingham go.
13 Aug 2026 08:41:18
If we did that, we'd have 4x wingers with a combined G/A of just 24 in top-flight football, and hardly any experience whatsoever - a recipe for complete disaster that. If there's one thing we've learned from pre-season, it's that experience is key. Any time we chucked the young lads on we got hammered.
13 Aug 2026 08:43:26
No, Ashy? You do know who the manager is at Madrid now, don't you? Mourinho has a history of selling very good players if they don't fit his plans.
I'm not saying I think he'll sign for us, but I could certainly see him leaving Madrid.
13 Aug 2026 08:50:50
I love reading VG's posts and really hope he returns. I genuinely don't care if none of the In the knows predictions come true or not, as they all contribute really good reading material.
The only thing I couldn't understand was it was said that Bellingham's time was potentially up at Real but the deal was unlikely as Macca was staying.
Just can't see why Macca staying at Liverpool would have any meaning on Bellingham's time at Real, then being more secure, or does it just mean he'll be off to someone else?
13 Aug 2026 09:05:13
Gavi seems a lot more realistic. I can see Barcelona being willing to cash in.
Hell of a risk though. He had serious knee issues for nearly 2 years. I know he came back in the 2nd half of last season and looked fully fit again at last, but it's got to have taken its toll on his body. At 22 he probably will still have 4-5 years of elite level football in him but I think he'll be pretty similar to Thiago or Chiesa and be effectively done as a key player at an elite level by 28-30 years old.
I already have a worry about this same thing happening with Wirtz and Leoni. Serious knee injuries in that 18-21 age range normally come back to haunt you later in your career.
Hell of a player though and if we get Gavi at his best even for only 5 years it'll be a joy to watch.
13 Aug 2026 09:09:28
Jk, the way I took it was that if Macca stays we don't have the space/funds to go all out for Jude, but I don't know if that's me making things up. I think if there's a chance to get Jude you throw everything at it and then offload after. A midfield of Jude, Szobo and Wirtz would be very exciting indeed.
Perhaps not the most balanced, but they all have the legs to get about if they could be convinced to be disciplined positionally. Can't see it happening, it's fantasy stuff, but I'd be happy to watch us win games 4-3 with no defensive midfielder.
13 Aug 2026 09:09:50
So where is this big budget player going to start at? Macca is already on the outer with Wirtz, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch making up a great midfield. Bellingham is not going to leave Real Madrid for Liverpool where he competes with Wirtz. I reckon it has to be a lower priced player, someone almost exactly like Camara.
13 Aug 2026 09:16:10
Red Willis, 100% agree, mate. I've probably waffled and not explained myself very well in my first comment.
What I meant was specifically the Jude time up at Real part. Surely what a Liverpool midfielder is doing or isn't doing shouldn't have any reflection on Jude's time being up at Real.
It just reflects on whether Liverpool are in for him.
It's too hot, mate, I'm confusing myself and everyone else.
Bring back Ceefax.
13 Aug 2026 09:18:04
Stradarosso, not every midfielder can play every minute of every game and be at their best.
We need at least 5 high quality in that area and currently have 3 (4 if you include Macca at his best).
So, in my opinion, we defo need at least one addition in there, possibly 2 if Macca goes and we seem Nyoni not quite ready.
13 Aug 2026 09:38:32
JK23, the only sense I could make out of that comment was that Macca was doing to RM, with Jude coming the other way.
The link to the Barca midfielders - Gavi or Pedri - could be equally linked with Macca going the other way.
Jude confuses me in where he could play. Someone like Gavi or Pedri, who play more as a CDM primarily, would make a bit more sense given the current make up of our team.
13 Aug 2026 09:49:04
Ahhhh Zed. That's the one way I didn't look at it and can see the sense in it.
13 Aug 2026 10:10:05
Aside from the fact, it's pie in the sky that Bellingham would be joining us (Mourinho likes that kind of midfielder who arrives in the box to score; he always wanted Gerrard & had to settle for Lampard), I can't see that either Bellingham or Gavi would remotely fix the issues we have in midfield.
Gavi is too small, weak & lightweight, and Bellingham is too indisciplined tactically. We lack physicality and defensive nous; neither of those players fix that, we're soft and weak in midfield and that's a huge problem.
13 Aug 2026 10:50:22
No Riossy, you do know who the president is at Madrid now, don't you? Perez has a history of babying his marquee signings and undermining his head coaches. There are no managers in Madrid.
Anyway, Mourinho's a big fan of Bellingham, he's definitely part of his plans.