Liverpool Banter 4

14 Aug 2026 16:35:16
Why are we linked with an £80 Gusto, when Spence is better, half the price and home grown! The guy who says he's dreadful has clearly never watched him. His last ditch well timed tackles are superb, and he's an absolute greyhound. AI would love him!

{Ed001's Note - I have watched him and he is dreadful. His last ditch tackles are because he is hopelessly out of position constantly and too lazy to bother looking around him.}

14 Aug 2026 17:51:36
Pedro Porro would be rb. I'd be trying for out of Prem League teams. Spurs, after their spending spree, may have to sell a couple.

14 Aug 2026 20:07:06
I have those reservations of most fast players. They rely far too heavily on being quick and don't learn how to read the game.

People get very easily seduced by speed of feet when speed of thought is much better.

14 Aug 2026 16:32:23
Spurs allegedly making a £60m bid for Gakpo. Some people on the site would like him gone because of his form last season. Me personally, I believe his loss of form was due to the tactical masterclass implemented by The Goonie.

Anyway, my main point being, if they do decide to move Gakpo on they must at least have his replacement signed or at least on the way. Our squad is so thin, we can't move players on in the hope we get like for like in.

14 Aug 2026 16:58:00
I'd happily see what he can do under Iraola, Baz. He's looked sharp in training and decent for Holland too. He can also step in if needed, if Isak needs a rest. Not ideal, but better than what we'd have if he went and wasn't replaced!

14 Aug 2026 16:59:25
No way Gakpo is only worth £60m. He had a solid World Cup and is generally under appreciated.

Slot damage has a lot to answer for. Ruined Gakpo's game last season, considering he ousted Diaz the season before.

14 Aug 2026 17:15:36
Lads, I would absolutely love to see Gakpo with Iraola in charge.

14 Aug 2026 17:15:42
We should most definitely keep Gakpo. It makes zero sense in selling him. A replacement will not be easy to find. He's a very very good player and pro and has a good attitude, never injured, is disciplined on the pitch, takes instructions, can play various roles, will provide CF position whilst he recovers or Ai gets injured (God forbid!), and will more than prove his worth with Ai at the helm.

It will be a stupid decision by the club to sell him. Very stupid indeed. That's my tuppence worth, anyway, like it or not.

14 Aug 2026 17:21:21
Agreed, Bazza. He'll do well under his tutelage without doubt.

14 Aug 2026 17:27:19
He's too limited and we should seek to cash in.

14 Aug 2026 17:31:14
I'd keep Gakpo unless we received an offer we couldn't refuse. i.e. 90m. Now I'm not for 1 minute saying he's worth that, but in current market clubs paying similar prices for similar quality players.
I've always liked Gakpo as a player, good attitude, works hard and scores goals, bit 1 dimensional at times but still a v good player for me and he on long term contract so not that he going to be leaving for nothing soon.

14 Aug 2026 17:37:48
He didn't oust Diaz. He only got the spot because we needed Diaz up front. It wasn't as if Diaz was dropped for him.

14 Aug 2026 17:38:40
Maybe it's Gakpo who wants out?
His club dad has gone and sees Barcola as being the first choice lw.

14 Aug 2026 17:40:24
I'm with you, Barry. Gakpo and Mac Allister's form was down to Slot. Both looked different players in the World Cup.

14 Aug 2026 17:42:39
Gakpo can be improved upon. It depends if we sign someone who's superior.

14 Aug 2026 17:42:59
Selling Gakpo only makes sense if we have two more forwards coming in, with at least one of them to be able to cover CF.

I like Gakpo and would keep him, but with Bb coming in, maybe he doesn't want to play second fiddle.

14 Aug 2026 17:50:11
Iraola clearly isn't going to stockpile 4 left-wing options.

(That's Ngumoha, Munoz, Gakpo + Barcola).

As soon as Barcola is confirmed, then Gakpo is very clearly off.

And I am 100% sure that they will bring in a decent right-wing option, and hopefully another CM option better than Grav, Mac etc.



While the Slot-Hughes-Edwards clusterfudge has clearly caused issues this summer, we should probably thank our lucky stars, that 7 of the first 8 fixtures are winnable, and it needn't necessarily hurt us.

14 Aug 2026 18:31:04
Keep Gakpo unless we get silly money for him. He's backup if Isak gets injured. In that scenario, can shift Barcola to the top and play Gakpo on the left. Rio and Munoz can play on the right.



There is no way we should be selling him for anything below £90m in this market. The competition for places will also hopefully spur him on (no pun intended).

14 Aug 2026 19:09:17
If we sign the overpriced fella from PSG, I think Gakpo goes. We've never really had a big squad, a great first team, couple of decent subs, then kids.

14 Aug 2026 19:15:00
Being right footed, could Cody Gakpo not switch to the right wing?

14 Aug 2026 19:37:18
It's increasingly looking like Gakpo will go to be replaced by Barcola. Rio and Munoz will play more off the right. That'll probably end our incomings this window unless there's.

14 Aug 2026 16:28:34.
Adama Traore on a free, anyone?

Before you slate me for this I want to say I know he’s crap but I have to admit it’s a strange dream of mine to see him squeeze on that Liverpool shirt and run around Anfield bundling people over like a battering ram.



Problem is I know every cross goes into row Z and every shot would end up on Southport Beach but I just think it would be fun to watch.

14 Aug 2026 16:40:32
No. And just so my post reaches the minimum character limit - no.

14 Aug 2026 16:47:36
Come on, Lowe. Just imagine him steaming around Anfield like a massive headless chicken booting players and balls into the stratosphere.

Maybe he's just my guilty pleasure. 🤣

14 Aug 2026 17:12:58
I'd keep your fantasies about Traore running around in a skin tight shirt to yourself, mate. ;)

14 Aug 2026 17:16:21
"I know he's crap," kinda says it all really.

14 Aug 2026 17:17:40
Rios, as a famous Chinese man, once said, "Are you nuts 😳"

14 Aug 2026 17:23:23
Sign Nunez as well for Captain Chaos and Corporal Crap.

14 Aug 2026 17:23:08
Chinaman in Dundalk Town by Jinx Lennon Bazza. Know that one???

14 Aug 2026 17:38:20
Rio, I'm sure you could get some other burly bloke to squeeze into a 2-3 sizes too small Liverpool shirt, if that's your poison?

14 Aug 2026 18:05:18
Indeed I do, SG. 😂 Jinx is well known round da town. 👍

14 Aug 2026 18:25:20
I'll have a pint of water Rios is drinking, please.

15 Aug 2026 00:57:34
Just to be clear, there's nothing sexual in my fantasies about Traore although I knew some of you would go there. 🤣

There's just a certain entertainment value in a wrestler who clearly can't play football just steaming around a football pitch with other players just bouncing off him.

Reminds me of the late, great Jonah Lomu running down the field with Jeremy Guscott hanging off his shorts for 50 yards.

It's just damn good to watch.

15 Aug 2026 08:47:23
I know Jinx Bazza. Met him a few times at gigs! He's mighty craic. A porter in the hospital, apparently his day job! Hope all is well in Old El Paso, and you are looking forward to the season ahead! It's going to be a good one!!! Keep safe and smiling. 😊

14 Aug 2026 16:03:41
Does anyone buy this Enzo Fernandes deadline nonsense?

Sky are trying to make a drama out of it and have a countdown going until the 5pm deadline. It’s laughable. Are you telling me if City come in next week with a £120m offer and the player wants to go they wouldn’t listen?

The media does my head in. They think we are all idiots.

14 Aug 2026 16:30:28
I never watch Sky. It's totally fake.

14 Aug 2026 16:34:10
The only time I watch Sky is to find matches.

14 Aug 2026 16:18:48
Sky. That says it all. All their so called expert football journalists know nothing about transfers. All made up, click bait, plucked from thin air fantasy rubbish. I rate sky as the worst, most unreliable gibberish pro manu junk fairytale source for sports in general.

Teamtalk is a very very close second. 99.9 % of what they report never happens. Honestly, it's truly this site, the eds and some respected posters on here are the only accurate, honorable, honest sources for football. Keep up the good work everyone.

14 Aug 2026 16:55:01
I'm not on any social media platforms because well, they are all a cesspit with some of the worst individuals ever created spewing hate and nonsense on a secondly basis.

I will watch Sky because if they confirm a deal is done, it is.



The rest of what they go on about is absolute waffle, I agree. I mean, whose idea was it to get Jamie O'Hara's 'expert' opinion? Don't even get me started on Carragher and Neville! Painful stuff. 🤦🏼‍♂️

14 Aug 2026 17:03:28
They have a 24hr sports news channel that has to fill the time with about the same amount of information that I absorb during my morning ablution, so of course 99% is gonna be absolute garbage.

14 Aug 2026 14:48:05
Hi ed001, I wanted to get your opinion on Nwaneri?
Rumours that Arsenal are happy to move him on. Looked a real talent when he broke through, but regressed a bit last season. Also apparently had some issues at Marseille due to not being the best trainer.

Do you think he is worth a punt? His long term position seems to be as a 10 maybe, but he can definitely play as an RW too, even though he lacks express pace.

{Ed001's Note - never go near players who don't train well.}

14 Aug 2026 15:55:42
The fact he was at Marseille and they've made no attempt to keep him tells you all you need to know.

14 Aug 2026 17:23:51
That's a very good rule ED01.

14 Aug 2026 18:36:26
To Ed001s point, see also managers who don't bother with training.

14 Aug 2026 14:47:22
We know we need to bring in some quality for the starting 11 on the right and perhaps another RB also, but for me we also need to get a load out the door.

I would sell:

Mama - 30ish
Endo - 10 maybe
Jones - 30ish
Mac - should get 50
Elliott - decent fee 20+
Chiesa only for a fee
Gakpo (if replaced)

Keep Woodman as backup keeper.

Harvey Davies
Calum Scanlon
Jacob Poytress
Owen Beck
McLaughlin-Miles
Michael Laffey
Kaide Gordon
Oakley Cannonier

All don't look like they will make it. Sell for what we can and insert sell-on clauses and buy-backs in case they do come good.

Hope that.

Nyoni
Figeroa
Wright
Morrison
McConnell
Lucky
Ramsey

Can all step up to squad roles.


Bring in:

Rayan with the Gakpo monies

Two Senior CMs Gavi? Sadiki? Camara?

RB Kayode, Kunde

I know that's a huge turnover and limited time, but it's what we should have been doing since day one of the window if not before.

The kids are not going to make it, so we are just stockpiling them and paying wages, albeit low.

We need first team depth and quality and some of the ones ready to step up to be given the shot.

The first 11 is not a million miles away from being the best in the league when all fit and well. With the glaring RW to fill.

14 Aug 2026 15:10:57
Poytress, Miles and Cannonier left the club on 1st July.

14 Aug 2026 15:22:31
Mac Allister is staying. His Dad came out today and said they're not even discussing the possibility of him leaving.

14 Aug 2026 16:34:47
It's cute you think FIFA is how football works.

14 Aug 2026 16:48:03
Wonder whether Macca is running down his contract like TAA, stays this season then cheap to Real next summer with only a year left on his contract?

14 Aug 2026 17:01:08
Far too old for FIFA, Rawblack. Not my bag, I'm afraid, but thanks for showing up, buddy. Have a great day.

14 Aug 2026 18:18:16
Of the senior players you've listed, doubtful Mama, Macca leave at all, as there's very little noise about interest, Endo will likely see out his contract as low level cover, Jones looks a cert to go, Elliott may leave, but the fee isn't likely to be that high, Chiesa likely a deadline day loan to somewhere like Lazio or one of the middling Serie A teams.

Woodman signed a new contract earlier in the summer, so is staying, might end up as our cup keeper this season.

-Beck is injured so will stay to rehabilitate/play as an overage U21, the others may well be sold, Davies and Scanlon might be loans.



Nyoni and Morrison might be integrated into the first team squad, the others are likely to either be U21 or loans, McConnell and Ramsey may be sold, Lucky seems to be behind Ndiaye and will definately be behind Ndukwe wlonce he gets the points for a work permit.

It's looking likely that it's Barcola +1 for the forward line, likely a younger player, with Macca staying, we'll likely stay with what's in the middle, as Iraola doesn't seem to play with 3 midfielders, as Slot and Klopp did and Araujo is likely to be the rotational RB/CB option with Frimpong and Jacquet.

However, we shall see.

14 Aug 2026 18:37:22
Can't see how anyone pays £10m for 33-year-old Endo, who has played 4 games in 2 seasons.

14 Aug 2026 14:22:25
{Ed's Note - phil_LFC has posted a new article entitled, My Thoughts on Ronald Aroujo to Liverpool

14 Aug 2026 15:22:35
Good post, Phil.

I seem to remember Aroujo playing as a central midfielder on occasions. Do you think this might be an option with VvD and Jacquet behind him as central defenders?

14 Aug 2026 12:59:36
I think LFC are now exploring plan B if they have any for Barcola as PSG are not agreeing on the transfer fee.
Plan B seems to be kubo from sociedad about 45mill euros?

14 Aug 2026 13:13:35
Zero chance we're going from Barcola, to Kubo. If we're looking at Kubo it's in addition to Barcola, not in place of.

14 Aug 2026 13:36:09
Left footed RW being plan B to a right footed LW?

I don't think so. I think Chewy has hit the nail on the head.

14 Aug 2026 14:19:12
The drop off from Barcola to Kubo isn't just steep. It's effing vertical. At that point I'd rather just not sign anyone if that's the best we can do.

14 Aug 2026 14:27:57
Absolutely. The drop off in quality would reek of desperation. Plus, I don't believe any of it; just more click-bait nonsense.

14 Aug 2026 14:41:01
Kubo might be plan B for Mbaye once we have wrapped up Barcola.

14 Aug 2026 15:12:40
Agree with Chewy, Kubo would be a squad player, not our starting rw - that said we currently don't have one lol.

14 Aug 2026 16:28:50
Nice Bottom quote, Vic!

14 Aug 2026 12:36:06
PSG agreed Godts transfer. Maybe now see movement on Barcola.