Liverpool Banter 4

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.

14 Aug 2026 12:17:58
Random one but I was watching some of Crouchy’s best goals, and one of them was assisted by Finnan. Got me wondering what happened to him. I also rated him highly; he was very consistent and a great crosser.
Anyway, on reading I hear he killed an 81 year old man by speeding in 2005 for which he served no sentence.

After leaving Liverpool he didn’t play much for his next two teams. He then worked as a property developer and was sued by his brother and last year filed for bankruptcy.
What a fall from grace and I cannot believe he went unpunished for killing that man, shocking really, though sounds like karma got him in the end.

14 Aug 2026 13:03:00
"We've gorra a right back called Steve Finnan"...

14 Aug 2026 13:38:50
It is a shame, MoT.

From other posts here a few years back, I'm sure he was pretty much a recluse who shunned the limelight and didn't enjoy fame.

I do, however, have a rare original signature of his (along with most of the rest of the team in 2006)!

14 Aug 2026 15:03:56
Indeed Zed, he was always one of my favourites from that era.
Pretty call to have all those signatures.

14 Aug 2026 13:36:43
What a bizarre and truly ignorant malicious comment. You know nothing about the incident or how it affected finnan and you're on here spewing like you're god.
Go find the man himself since you're super interested in a 20 year old incident and say it to his face.

14 Aug 2026 16:31:58
An underrated and reliable player, imo. Did not know about the controversy in his personal life, that's wild considering he always seemed like the quiet type who never got in any sort of trouble.

Was reading up on the incident; he was doing 58 in a 30. He avoided sentencing because expert crash analysis determined his speed wasn't the causing factor, and had he been travelling at the speed limit, the incident would have still occurred.

Witnesses also testified that the victim stepped out in the road unexpectedly, at a place he shouldn't have. Finnan swerved immediately and managed to avoid hitting the victim head on, but the gentleman was clipped by Finnan's wing mirror, which knocked him to the ground, causing fractures to his legs and head trauma. The gentleman passed away 5 weeks later due to complications from his injuries, pneumonia being the eventual cause, with his age seeming to be a considerable factor in his inability to recover.



A very unfortunate incident indeed.

He wasn't sued by his brother; it was the other way around. Steve and his brother Sean had a joint venture in property management. Steve provided a lot of the funding through personal loans and Sean managed the operation. By 2016, Steve noticed the companies had no money, despite significant investment.

Sean was found to be mismanaging the funds, and so Steve took him to court, eventually settling for £4m in damages, but Sean never paid, instead filing for bankruptcy. Steve, of course, was left with massive loans and legal fees, which he couldn't afford to pay, that on top of several failed lawsuits for negligence against 2 soliciting firms that formerly represented him, resulted in him eventually having to file for bankruptcy.

Seems Finnan should have stayed in Spain.

14 Aug 2026 16:37:59
Inconclusive evidence he was at fault for it.

14 Aug 2026 17:37:52
Doing twice the speed limit and yet that wasn't a factor. If he managed to swerve at 60, imagine his reaction time at 30mph.

14 Aug 2026 17:44:58
He was Mr consistent, Finnan, good player.

14 Aug 2026 10:56:20
I must admit, I do find it kinda funny, that many of us thought that once the World Cup concluded that Liverpool would be more active in the transfer market. And, what do we have to show for it, a loanee centre back with an injury history similar to Joe Gomez.

After an entire month, that is all we have managed to accomplish. Life as Hughes must be swell. Spend weeks negotiating, trying to draw the fee down, only to pay what the other club wanted at the very beginning (ala Wirtz, Isak and every other signing). Master negotiator.

Hughes on that Brock Lesnar contract, you know. Turns up occasionally and puts in the minimum work required.

{Ed025's Note - dont forget Munoz..

14 Aug 2026 11:15:46
Hughes should've gone with Arne.

14 Aug 2026 11:18:11
I personally think the quicker they finalise things, the more time the manager has with the players, and to carry out his ideas.

I wonder if LFC are delaying till the end of the window, when there's a mad scramble.

14 Aug 2026 11:30:36
You're probably right, PostKlopp. Negotiations are mostly about who blinks first in the face of demands; even if it comes down to the last minute.

14 Aug 2026 11:37:56
Postklopp, can't imagine why we'd be delaying, it's definitely PSG holding things up, and LFC holding out for fear of losing their man, likely unwilling to commit to any significant other purchases before the biggest one is concluded, if we even have any more definitely planned.

Also, remember, the club doesn't have the same targets many of the fanbase does. I did say at the start of the window I'd be happy enough with, and wouldn't be surprised if we only moved for 2x wingers and a RB, and it's starting to look like that's all we're getting.

14 Aug 2026 11:49:18
I do agree with ya.

Also it's clear we really don't know who they are targeting, as Munoz and Araujo were both out of the blue.

I think 2 will come in late just by their behaviour.

14 Aug 2026 11:52:13
But we're not the only ones who have been negotiating for a play for a while. Barca for Rodri, City for Enzo.

Big transfers take a lot of time, we just need to be patient.

14 Aug 2026 12:06:29
Postklopp, For sure, I think between attempts to plug the leaks and a likely last-minute reshuffling of targets under the guise of Iraola, it was always going to be a bit difficult to predict this summer's targets. 2 wouldn't surprise me, depending on how quickly we can get Barcola done.

14 Aug 2026 12:16:37
That's so not true, Mango, you're making stuff up to suit your agenda against Hughes.

Newcastle spent all summer either saying Isak was not for sale or they wanted £150m. We ended up paying £125m.

Leverkusen were quoting £135m for Wirtz to all bidders. We paid £116m.

On top of that is the payment structures. You can agree a deal, but you also need to agree a payment structure that suits your club. Not many clubs can pay those sums of money all in one go.

I actually admire Hughes' ambition. He is trying to sign the very best players available and going up against the biggest clubs in the world in the process.

It's exactly what Liverpool FC should be doing.

We will always get a smattering of players from the next tier down like Munoz, Frimpong, Kerkez, who we will try to improve but we are identifying a priority position (winger this year) and going after the very best players we can.

That's to be applauded if you ask me. Sure it means we can't address all areas in one window but I'd rather build the squad by signing the very best players over 3 or 4 summers than sign a lot of average players all in one summer.

14 Aug 2026 12:35:56
What's your suggestion Lfcs_Mango? Pay what price the selling team states straight away? So 'fans' like you can then complain why we spent so much money when the player has one bad game.



Most people spend their lives trying to knock off pennies off the price of potatoes and beans, you can't comprehend knocking off 'few million' for a player the other team has no need to sell.

14 Aug 2026 12:50:58
I like that we don't take a scattergun approach to the market.

14 Aug 2026 16:37:50
"The very best players" is subjective tho, isn't it? At the minute, they are the dearest players, that's for sure. They certainly haven't pulled up any trees for Liverpool yet.

Also, without being in negotiations with Newcastle or Leverkusen, you are not going to actually know what's being quoted for the players. What you've done is read an article and took it as gospel.

14 Aug 2026 10:30:50
Long term reader but first time post. Are Arsenal trying to buy Quansah? If he's available, do you think we should get him back now?
Love this site, keep up all the good work. Hopefully we can get some signings done this week.

14 Aug 2026 11:10:16
See the Rumours page, especially to see your twin's welcome message, lol!