Liverpool banter 10

05 Aug 2026 13:34:04
@robbo @VG Do you know if Barcola is meant to be Gakpo's replacement?

05 Aug 2026 14:21:19
Macca implied that was the case.

'Barcola in, Gakpo out' was more or less what he said.

05 Aug 2026 14:39:22
Blimey, MK.
Did Macca predict this all those years ago??
What a legend he was/is! :-D

05 Aug 2026 15:28:48
Let's hope we get Barcola before we let Gakpo go....

Imagine if Gakpo leaves, and we end up in the same situation as Guehi and Semenyo...

05 Aug 2026 15:13:44
Clay, the original Macca posted it on July 26th, 2026. The Eds confirmed it was him.

05 Aug 2026 15:32:20
Macca posted the other day, Clay. It must be buried in the Rumours archives now but it was there and it caused quite a stir. :)

05 Aug 2026 16:14:51
OK, my (light hearted) bad !!

05 Aug 2026 16:50:27
Ah, Macca pulled up. Hope he's doing well.

05 Aug 2026 13:06:21
To clarify on behalf of the ITKs with money in the bank when it comes to rumours.

Barcola - more or less done, just a timing now.

Mbaye - seperate deal not linked to BB.

Martinez - new noise today.


As the greats once signed off.

Ta.

05 Aug 2026 14:11:27
Carra, I firmly believe that you should TM TA like it is your signature.

Ta. 😉

05 Aug 2026 16:29:07
I agree, Bazza.

05 Aug 2026 13:00:35
Morning Ed's and Reds,

I have a couple of questions about some concerns I have regarding the transfers and the players we're being linked with. I'm hoping the Ed's can share their expertise, and any posters here can offer their own insights too.

Right wing: A lot of the players we're being linked with for this position are right-footed. Is having left-footed players on the right (and vice versa) no longer as important, or is the "inverted winger" trend starting to fade? Over the last 10 years it almost felt unusual to see a naturally right-footed player on the right. Has football moved away from that now, with players being more adaptable and capable of playing either side?

British core: We seem to have moved on several British players who could have formed the backbone of the squad (Morton, Quansah, Trent etc.). I'm not sure whether that's more down to Slot, Hughes or Edwards, but with the discussions around Jones potentially leaving and Gomez seemingly nearing the end of his Liverpool career, do you think we should be actively looking to bring in more British players to maintain that core within the squad? I saw someone post on here the other day that we technically only have 1 spot for non-HG players.

Interested to hear everyone's thoughts

05 Aug 2026 14:19:52
I don't think there is a notable trend on winger profiles. However, there is a change in full-back profiles, with some clubs preferring fullbacks that are a) taller and b) able to invert into midfield. Maybe that trend has a knock-on effect on the types of wingers you might want in your squad.

In addition, with press resistance and press baiting being the anti-pattern to the gegenpress, you will get teams that are naturally set up a bit deeper at rest. You would then want to ensure your wingers have the ability to take on their defenders from a standing start, rather than running at speed into space in behind.

As for the British core - I think that is a big challenge for the elite teams. The best English players are extremely expensive to buy - Elliott Anderson and Morgan Rodgers are the latest cases in point.

Ultimately, the best way to solve this is through the academy. But we also know the gap between academy league football and the senior game is not trivial. Loans, sales, sales with options or having a multi-club model are some solutions. Rio and Trey are at a crucial moment in their careers. They need to take their chances.

The big question you then have to ask is whether you are producing enough good young players that are good enough to regularly play for Liverpool Football Club, a club that expects to challenge for honours every season. And if not, are you able to continue to buy the best ones at the inflated prices?

05 Aug 2026 14:32:45
If you look at how many very good left footed RW players there are under the age of 28, it's very few and far between. You basically have Yamal, Olise, Saka, Mbeumo, Neto and Adeyemi. Only Neto is realistic of those options.

If you're prepared to take a hit on age, you could include Mahrez, Salah or Bowen.

Or you could look at the up and coming options who're potentially very good such as Minteh, Estevao, Conceicao or Savinho.

Personally I'd sign Neto, but I don't really care what preferred foot the new RW is. Mbaye is a top talent who Iraola can mold into the kind of winger he wants. A bit like he did with Semenyo, I suppose.

05 Aug 2026 15:18:39
Some coaches gravitate to a style which is more linked to a nationality. So the Dutch definitely play a certain way, Arne believed in it, and the team was being constructed that way with more Dutch players.

England have a certain style which has evolved, but is still fairly direct at times and physical. That wasn't his style at all, really, so, legacy-wise, there's not much homegrown talent for Iraola to pick up on. There's the English premium as well, on top of the style point, which has made it difficult to get the English or British core.

For whatever reason locally, we're not producing any top drawer players recently.

Trent was the last real local talent at Everton or Liverpool, I think. We used to have a couple in both teams who were there on merit, although that equally applied to Scottish, Welsh and Irish, which have almost disappeared completely from the picture.

It's partly due to it being a global game where the clubs are almost like franchises which could be based anywhere, tactical set ups tend to follow the flavour of the year, and coaches and players are very transient.

Who thought long throws would come back around, so maybe we're due a winger revolution as well.

05 Aug 2026 16:52:36
Mks, I would sign Mbaye before I touch any of the Estevao's, Savinho's, and most defo the absolutely awful Neto and Minteh.

05 Aug 2026 20:07:39
MKS, forgot about Rayan.

05 Aug 2026 11:56:16
If Miles Lewis Skelly is possibly available, we need to be doing our best there. Young, English. Flexible position wise. I'd probably have him as our starting LB to begin with.

We need more HG players of his talent level to beef up the squad depth.

05 Aug 2026 15:07:22
He's not as good as people make out in my opinion. He is positionally poor, rash in the tackle, takes too many risks, is weak in the air, lacks balance, takes heavy touches etc.

In the interest of balance, he is very brave with the ball and tries to go forward with his passing or carries every time, which can unsettle opposition sides.

I do not think Arsenal would ask for a reasonable fee, though, even if we did think something could be done with him.

Watching him in the Champions League final, though, he was all over the place and looked like someone who'd won a competition to play for Arsenal.

05 Aug 2026 15:24:19
So did all our MF's against PSG in fairness. Couldn't pass the ball 5 yards.

05 Aug 2026 15:30:20
I'm not a fan of Skelly...

Seems like he has the required attitude of an Arteta signing... Arsenal is the best place for him.

05 Aug 2026 15:35:54
I think he was trying too hard to impress, MK. I've not watched much of him but I thought he usually looks technically good and very assured. But I'm not sure what his best position is now. He could be an LB or a DM, but considering how Arteta prefers to play CBs at the wing and how Rice has the DM position tied down, I'm not sure where else he can play.

Maybe in CM? This shifting around isn't good for his development, though, and I can see him being like Jones. A Jack of all trades but master of none type of player.

05 Aug 2026 15:45:57
He's really good at buying fouls.

05 Aug 2026 16:53:49
"So did all our MF's against PSG in fairness. Couldn't pass the ball 5 yards."

Florian, well, you know who to thank for that, right?

05 Aug 2026 16:56:48
FPF, you've misunderstood.

He was a contestant on a kids version of the Wheel of Fortune.

He was really good at buying vowels.

05 Aug 2026 17:39:56
I think he would suit our squad and direct quick style. Get the attacks going quickly. Plus, he is a very good athlete. I'd be all over it personally. Plus, the homegrown factor is big for me. We need a bigger squad and we need more homegrown options to build that. He would be one of my first options. And Nmencha.

05 Aug 2026 17:44:04
It's Arne Slot's fault that our midfielders couldn't pass the ball five yards last season?
Did he tell them that they couldn't? Did he coach it out of them? Did they forget how to do it because of Slot?
But, we know that it wasn't really Slot to thank for that, right?

05 Aug 2026 20:39:29
Kerkez needs to show up consistently this season or he will be replaced, but right now replacing him isn't a priority for us.

05 Aug 2026 11:56:00
Ed's what are you thoughts to our interest in Ibrahim Mbaye please. He is just 18yo with very little experience in the French league I'm assuming he like Rio would be used sparingly because of his age?

Do you this impacting anything possible with Barcola or not linked?

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea, I know nothing of Mbaye to have any kind of opinion on him.}

05 Aug 2026 11:45:40
Obviously we try to avoid talking about money, but looking at the 2 "young" wingers that we have been heavily linked with this year, Diomande and now Mbaye (I'm treating Barcola as more of an established senior player), to me the choice between the 2 of them is an easy one.

Diomande is 19, has made 42 senior appearances and Rbl are wanting over 100mill.

Mbaye is 18, has made 47 senior appearances, and PSG are apparently after 50mill.

Both of them have apparently got nightmare agents/parents hanging around them, but I think that is just a given now for these young starlets.



But when you realise that Mbaye has been getting his appearances in a team that also included Kvara, Barcola, Doue, Ramos, Muani, Lee, Dembele across the front line, to me he is definitely the stand out player of the 2, and for half the price, it's a bit of no brainer to me.

I genuinely think both of them will be superstars, but for me there is much much less risk with Mbaye and as a potential long term replacement for Salah, he would really excite me.

05 Aug 2026 12:21:07
Interesting when you put it like that, RD.

I had no idea Mbaye wanted out. He looks an exciting player and crazy strong.

05 Aug 2026 12:22:45
You talk a lot of sense, Red Dawn. I was certain Mbaye was a LW, so I couldn't see the point, but if, as Drac/ASB says, he plays RW and is two footed (kinda like Diomande), then I'm all for it.

05 Aug 2026 12:31:58
Mbaye is an exciting prospect if we get Barcola too for LW and keep Gakpo until at least Ekitike is fit to return, however, I would also be looking at Endrick, plays predominantly on RW and up top, better option if Cody is going to be sold as covers both positions well!

05 Aug 2026 12:37:39
I think if Mbaye is doable, then him and Barcola cover our up front needs for now.

Isak through the middle by himself for now.

In case of unavailability, we have options include Munoz, Barcola, Wirtz, Danns, Koumas, if needs be.

RW being Mbaye, with options of Barcola, Munoz, Szoboszlai, Frimpong, Koumas, Elliot.



LW being Barcola, with options of Rio, Munoz and Wirtz.

Some of our options are a step down and/or academy, but we're not going to be able to go 3-4 deep in all positions, we're not Chelsea!

Of course, if everyone except, say, Munoz gets injured, we're in the sheep, but that would be the case for any team!

05 Aug 2026 12:51:21
I think AI has no intention of using Szob on the wings. He will be an 8, and, if needs must or for tactical changes, a 10.

05 Aug 2026 13:02:11
MoT, I completely agree.

I am merely pointing out the options we have should, for example, we have an injury crisis up front like we had in 2020-21 in defence.

I'm sure Klopp didn't plan to use Fab or Hendo in defence, but that's what was needed.



I'm 99% certain we won't have a crisis (i.e. 5-6 of our forward line injured at the same time), but we don't need to have 5/6 layers of depth in specialist players in each position.

05 Aug 2026 13:18:56
Zed, Isak, Chiesa and Ekitike all being out at some point at the same point in the first half of the season is quite probable.

Just those 3 stretches the current depth.

05 Aug 2026 13:45:26
Fair enough, Zed. Otherwise, I tend to agree, though lack of cover for Isak makes me nervous. Such a shame Ekitike is injured.

05 Aug 2026 13:51:20
True, JK, but I already haven't included Ekitike as it will be Jan at the earliest.

Chiesa, I've excluded too, as I don't think he'll be with us.

Isak, therefore, needs someone more robust who can do the job, and I'd expect that to be Barcola or Munoz (who I see as a Jota type player) with further depth from Danns or Koumas.

05 Aug 2026 15:19:41
Whilst Barcola and Munoz can do a job up front, we need to be honest and ask, is that a title contention squad or are we just aiming for top 4. If we are serious about a title push, then we can’t go until Jan/Feb, relying on Isak up top and the rest filling gaps.

Not convinced on Gakpo through the middle, but he is better suited in the league to playing back up No 9 than Barcola and Munoz etc. I’ve watched quite a bit of Barcola over the past year, and he needs to stay wide and cut in or run from deep - in my opinion he would be swallowed up by a decent physical CB in the Premier League.



For me, keeping Gakpo is essential along with bringing in Barcola and a RW like Mbaye. Alternatively, we need our RW to also be more suited to covering that striker position such as Endrick? Not an obvious or easy solution out there, and I guess that’s why we seem to be taking our time, either way, it will be interesting to see where we land.

05 Aug 2026 10:54:02
I think we need to be calm and just wait to see what happens in the transfer market. I'm confident we sign another RB, one who perhaps can also cover CB and an outright CB as well as another who can play deeper roles in midfield and an out and out wide attacker. That's what we need and that's what we shall get. Let's also consider that Isak, Wirtz and Kerkez may well spark into life this season. We will be fine. Once we have Leoni and Jacquet back as well as Bradley, we shall be set with VvD, Kerkez, Timi and a few new additions.

It will be grand. Just need to let it happen and not panic.

I would worry if I was a Newcastle fan. Tonali, Gordon and Bruno gone for around 250 million and replaced with less than a third of that so far. The rest of the money seemingly gone to keep the rule enforcers happy. I think Newcastle are in bother and one team who are in real danger of being relegated. And on another note still no word of 115 charges FC getting a verdict. We may well just accept nothing is going to happen.

05 Aug 2026 11:30:31
How did this post slip paste birth control?

{Ed001's Note - ??}

05 Aug 2026 11:44:18
Not sure telling fans to be calm will help.

The recruitment strategy and squad planning have been shambolic. There's no two ways about that.

The new coach will be an improvement. But even the very best, i.e.

Jurgen Klopp, suffered with poor squad planning in 20/21 and 22/23 seasons.

There's still time, but we have been here before. The probability of Endo/Gravy at CB and Szobo at RB is currently higher than us closing the squad gaps.

05 Aug 2026 11:49:00
I'd go with Chambers ahead of Tsimikas.

05 Aug 2026 11:52:41
Think the question should be how did you slip past birth control with a post like that.

05 Aug 2026 11:55:57
How would the club sell the move to the hybrid RB/CB?

Would they be coming in as first choice for either position, because if they are, then they can't cover the other position, and if they aren't, then is it a case of come and join the club and you will play every time the RB or CB are injured?

05 Aug 2026 11:57:43
Have the recruitment strategy and squad planning been completed then, Pelican?

05 Aug 2026 12:25:52
Oh Kloppers, that was brutal. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

05 Aug 2026 12:55:21
Of course not, Rigsby. But we have been here before, haven't we?

History is a pretty good indicator that we are willing to let windows close with one or two significant gaps.

It then comes down to luck to see if it bites us on the arse.

05 Aug 2026 11:43:29
Be very, very careful with Viva Redspana, Ed001.

From his words he seems to be evolving into the next generation of life form.

He is extremely volatile at the moment, so one false step could spark a world wide armageddon.

Take it nice and easy, fella, nice and easy.

05 Aug 2026 14:23:33
So it could be shambolic but it's not yet, Pelican? Yeah, I'll agree with that.
I don't know whether we are willing to let the window close with one or two significant gaps, though. I might see a significant gap or two that the club doesn't or is unable to fill in this window.


I saw gaps in the 2019 and 2024 summer windows. We signed one player on the cheap, and we won the League easily in the following seasons on both occasions.
Hindsight, eh?

05 Aug 2026 14:43:32
Birth control paste? Get the snip instead.

05 Aug 2026 15:25:10
FPF assessment is a fair one, Rigs, you're being too kind to the guys at the club. It's not as hard as we make it look to assemble a squad, some companies have thousands of employees and do their recruitment, planning and execution better than we do, and they have the same issues in terms of resource constraints, talent pool and competition.

05 Aug 2026 15:31:26
Thats like telling any angry wife to calm down.

05 Aug 2026 17:55:00
I'm not being kind, Overkill. I just don't see how it can be shambolic when it isn't finished.

05 Aug 2026 10:27:19
With all this talk of marquee signings, it's getting a bit in-tents on these boards.

I'm here all week!

05 Aug 2026 10:42:15
It'll probably go over most people's heads, Zedd.

That's the point of a marquee after all.

05 Aug 2026 10:48:41
That was hilarious, mate.

05 Aug 2026 10:51:01
Alright, keep your wig (wam) on.

05 Aug 2026 10:52:34
Superb Zed.

05 Aug 2026 10:53:13
It's making me want to go outdoors.

05 Aug 2026 11:10:56
Ditto, Zed. I've been camping out on this site waiting for an update.

05 Aug 2026 11:20:53
So many people canvassing opinion on who it might be!

05 Aug 2026 11:22:47
Nice one, you're a funny 'guy', but you're driving me up the 'pole'.

05 Aug 2026 11:43:36
Me:
Doctor, sometimes I think I'm a wigwam, and other times I think I'm a marquee.

Dr:
I think you're two tents.

Sorry, I'll get my bivouac.

05 Aug 2026 11:52:50
I thought Bivouac left our coaching set up years ago, Clay?

05 Aug 2026 11:59:14
All our new signings will be kept under wraps.

05 Aug 2026 12:03:47
He did, Zed, but I have one of him spare.

05 Aug 2026 14:24:45
I think you should zip it and lie low for a bit, Zed?

05 Aug 2026 16:07:49
Forgot all about the brain Buvac, the secret to Klopp's success. ;)

05 Aug 2026 10:26:10
I have watched Ibrahim Mbaye several times for Senegal and the kid has incredible potential, if we pull this one off I would say our Salah replacement is done because with the right guidence he can be as good as Salah I think in a couple of seasons! If you watched any Senegal games he's the kid that always wears very long tights under his shorts, a very unique look! Hope we pull this one off!

05 Aug 2026 10:34:13
Other than the fact that he is another right footed left winger.

05 Aug 2026 10:38:49
If he's wearing tights in Africa he probably be wearing ski pants here.

05 Aug 2026 10:45:31
He is not, he is a right winger with a very good left foot too, I also love the fact that people who never watched him play want another player they never watched play more (Rayan).

It's hilarious (not talking about you, Zeddicus). Almost comical, Mbaye's ceiling is twice that of Rayan. He is known to be the biggest Senegalese talent for 30 years (and they have had some).

05 Aug 2026 10:57:49
He's right footed. Seems we are cornering the market on right footed forwards. 🤔 Seriously tho, are there any actual left footed wingers out there worth looking at?

05 Aug 2026 11:04:22
Fair enough, ASB. I haven't watched him, just looked at his stats.

Is it more likely he or Barcola play RW if we get both?

05 Aug 2026 11:11:02
The way we're going, we'll have Ali in goal, VVD in defence, and 9 wingers for them to ping it to!

05 Aug 2026 11:26:49
I know you meant it as a joke, but it is an educational moment too, and I just couldn't resist. The tights thing could be a religious decision. Muslim men also do need to cover up, albeit not as much as women, and for us, the areas we need to cover up are from our navel to below our knees. Mbaye is Muslim too, so he could be practicing this.



Have to say that, with all things, not all Muslims do or practice this. Similar to how not all Muslim women wear the hijab. But if you come over to places like Malaysia, Singapore, or Indonesia, it's not uncommon to see people play football or do sports in tights or long pants even though it's scorching hot outside just because they are Muslim.

05 Aug 2026 11:34:16
If you don't count social media, how many people have actually seen the kid play?

As for Salah's replacement, there is no such thing. The only likeness is that they both play in the same position. Mo was just about the best on the planet in his position for, arguably 5 or 6 years. Mbaye is, seemingly, a kid with massive potential.

05 Aug 2026 11:46:54
WDV agreed, only time I've seen him play was twice. Once, while I was in France on holiday last year in December, they played Metz and it was on TV. He bagged two assists and looked great, fast, quick feet, very intelligent with dragging his defender in and out, then in the World Cup when he had that really short cameo against France and scored a really good goal.



He looks to be a very talented player, and if the club can get him and Barcola it's top business and sorts the wings out for 5+ years.

05 Aug 2026 11:53:54
Dracred, so is your alt account ArneSlotsBarber then, mate?

05 Aug 2026 11:58:23
WDW, no doubts some have seen him play every game since leaving his mother's womb or so they would have you believe.

05 Aug 2026 12:02:26
My navel is below my knees, Dracred.

05 Aug 2026 12:45:05
What's the obsession with having a left-footed RW?

Mbaye is a RW, which everyone's been asking for. Who cares if he's left or right-footed.

05 Aug 2026 12:58:17
I guess, Greg, that most folks are expecting Iraola to have a similar style to Klopp, who liked his wingers to cut inside hence a left footed RW and right footed LW.

However, for the majority of Klopp's tenure, Salah was the main goal scorer, whereas that is no longer the case, instead focusing goal threats through the middle given we spent over £200m last year on strikers.



Will be interesting to see how wingers play under Iraola.

05 Aug 2026 13:13:19
I have my doubts that he can be as good as Salah, because I don't think we'll see a winger that good in the Premier League for many years.

However, I've watched Mbaye a few times now for Senegal and PSG, and he looks a fantastic prospect. Having pace and power is one thing, but how direct he is, that's what really makes him exciting.

Lots of players will run and check back, or run horizontally into the midfield to evade challenges, etc. Mbaye just goes forward and rides challenges to almost bulldoze his way through. It feels like a really lazy comparison, but there are shades of Mane about him.

05 Aug 2026 13:25:14
Now I'm confused, Zed mate. How did you come to the conclusion that ASB is me when we posted about different things? I've never watched Mbaye play, much less know what foot he favours. 😅

05 Aug 2026 12:37:20
Eds can comfirm me & Dracred are not the same person!

{Ed001's Note - can't be sure of that....I think every one on here is just another of Harry's personas.}

05 Aug 2026 15:13:31
I think ASB is having a pop at me because I favour Rayan over Mbaye.

Talk of "ceilings" is just fallacious. We need players who can play in the Premier League now. Not in 4 years time when they have an eye on leaving for Madrid, but now.

ASB, I have actually watched Rayan play live, for Bournemouth, in the Premier League, but I doubt you've watched Mbaye play live.


Rayan is Premier League ready, Mbaye is a risk but you think he has a higher ceiling.

PSG seem willing to sell an 18 yr old French born prospect leave. Bit weird, don't you think?

Maybe wind your neck in.

05 Aug 2026 14:26:37
Absolutely Brilliant ed001. 🤣🤣🤣

05 Aug 2026 20:29:20
Ron, PSG can't give him the minutes he wants with so many players in front of him in the pecking order, and by all accounts he's kicking up a bit of a fuss about it. They also can't charge the earth for an 18 year old with not many games under his belt, so if they get the same amount for him as they spend on Alkhouich (sp) then that's a pretty good deal for them.