Liverpool Rumours Archive June 05 2020

05 Jun 2020 18:58:43
Hi Eds,

Realistically speaking, do you see us attempting to sign any "Big name' players, or any at all? I understand in this economic climate, it may be difficult to justify large fees, but considering all the progress we've made over the last 2 years, and the amount of revenue brought into the club, it would be a shame to see us fail to improve the squad even more for the second consecutive summer.

{Ed002's Note - The trouble is that I am not sure we could all agree on what "big name" means. The fans maybe need to get out of the "marquee" mind set and think about players who could improve the squad. I said previously that the club are seemingly looking to a first choice centre back and as an AM or F player as a priority. I also said I thought the big buy would be Diego Carlos who the club are very keen on and then the expectation would be Werner - but really the gap was an upgrade on Shaqiri as an AM. If a player could be found who could cover the left that would also help. Don't lose sight of the Home Grown situation at Liverpool either with the club right on the cusp having let ICD leave in January on loan and adding Minamino to the squad. Diego Llorente might provide an option to DC if Lovren leaves - and that would be another starter the club are looking at. I was uncomfortable with Werner for a number of reasons as I have explained and someone asked a few days ago about Zaniola - he would be a great fit at AM and could be integrated with the side. The situation at Lyon has shifted considerably with Houssem Aouar becoming available. Everybody is in a bitching mood right now so it passes the supports by - but his availability could tempt others to look at him - perhaps Liverpool who have a need for an AM player.}

05 Jun 2020 20:40:16
Would Sokratis Papastathopoulos count as a "Big Name Player"

05 Jun 2020 21:13:25
Is Johannes Vennegoor of Hesselink still kicking around, as he’s a proper big name signing.

05 Jun 2020 21:17:17
I can see Aouar going to City, they need to replace Silva and Aulas ain’t going to want to negotiate with us. Zaniolo hasn’t recovered from his ACL yet has he? Good player, but it never makes sense buying an injured player to me.

{Ed002's Note - Houssem Aouar (CM/AM) Manchester City approached Lyon about Aouar and Ndombele last summer and it was made clear that only one of those two key players would be allowed to leave then - Manchester City maintain an interest but he is not first choice, as do Juventus but the interest of Barcelona and Chelsea will have gone unless other targets are not available or too expensive for them. If Juventus can sell Pjanic and Bernardeschi, they may look to Aouar as an option to the very expensive Kai Havertz but might want to include a player in any deal. Arsenal also maintain an interest but have a financial issue due to stupidity and will need to sell to bring in funds - they are also less attractive without Champions League football and I would strike Aouar from the list. PSG are interested as an alternative to Lucas Paqueta but might want to wait to their managerial situation is resolved first. I would have expected the player to stay another season at Lyon and that he would be the last of the assets to be sold - but the curtailment of the French season and no European football means Lyon will make him available with the likes of Dembele and Depay. And his availability could tempt others to look at him - perhaps Real Madrid if Asensio or Isco were to leave and perhaps Liverpool who have a need for an AM player or even Napoli is Fabian Ruiz were to leave.}

05 Jun 2020 21:37:05
Good posts tonight Eds2.

05 Jun 2020 21:40:44
Ed002.
Bitching mode is an understatement.
I had a look on my twitter account and the abuse Peter Moore was getting was terrible, I felt embarrassed to be a liverpool fan. I actually engaged with one particular individual, eventually putting him in his place after his slagging off of FSG.

Anyway, why were you uncomfortable with the Werner signing? To be honest it’s not something I’ll be losing sleep over, just interested in your thoughts. I’m with you regarding the home grown talent coming through,

{Ed002's Note - Moores has fixed his issue. The uncomfort with Werner was largely game time. Liverpol has a great squad, limited funds so they need to focus - what makes the side better.}

06 Jun 2020 02:51:26
I am so over "big name", "marguee" types of slogans being flung around.

It's like no one takes notice of the work the club has done with recruiting over Klopp's time. It is amazing to me that we still have a large group of people calling for these 'big names' and then falling over themselves when it looks like we haven't signed said player. It is embarrassing.

I love what we have done and will back FSG to keep doing their job. I'll always be on the side of signing the right player not the most expensive. And I think FSG have proved for the most part that they have got it right.

06 Jun 2020 07:50:32
Thing is, I don’t think Werner was in the category of being a “big name” player, and by today’s standards his price wasn’t ridiculous (particularly if reports about the fee that Chelsea have agreed are correct), it’s also clear (and has been for a while) that both Salah and Mane are both looking at moving on (to Madrid or Barca) and given the fact they’re both 28, they’re not getting any younger, so with that in mind someone like Werner makes sense, as he’s clearly capable of replacing either of them in the team when they do go.

We are also faced with being without both of them for just over a month next season and looking at the squad, I’m not confident that we have the players who can step up and consistently score, as we don’t really register many from midfield, and neither Origi or Firmino are what you’d call regular prolific goalscorers in the same way that Mane and Salah are and there’s no young players looking likely to break through to fill that gap, it is going to be a very long month without them (looking at the calendar it affects five weekend games and potentially four midweek games) and it could be enough to see us out of contention for the league very quickly.

Whatever the answer is though, taking rejects from the Barcelona or Real Madrid reject bin isn’t the way forward.

06 Jun 2020 10:29:54
6 times, why do u just assume Salah and Mane will move on to Real or Barca?
Those two clubs are looking to the future (Harland, Mbappe, Lautaro) and will have no money or place for Salah or Mane. Both will be at LFC for a long long time.
Maybe the club is also waiting to see if the AFCON gets postponed or what the status of next season will be before committing big money for new players.
It's called being smart and prudent. Not to mention we need to finish this season first and lift our first league title in 3 decades before worrying about next season.

06 Jun 2020 11:21:31
For the money wolves would want for traore he wouldn’t be worth it, I’m still not told on him, he’s rapid and built Like a brick crap house but he’s not as great as people seem to think.

06 Jun 2020 12:18:34
Actually Jerry, we’d be better off looking at Jota than Traore. He looks a really good player.

05 Jun 2020 11:17:07
Hi Eds, do you think Liverpool will look at the possibility of loan signings this summer?
Such as Dembele, Coutinho, Rodrygo.
Or is it more likely we'll stick to what we have at the club now and give Jones, Elliott and maybe Brewster more minutes?
Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - It is certainly a possibility - but as I have explained that whilst Ousmane Dembele is available to be sold or perhaps loaned, he does not want to leave Barcelona which is a real headache for them. Klopp does like the player. Coutinho will have been discussed and would, rather oddly, be filling the gap that he left. Rodrygo is not available for a loan. There have also been a number of very talented youngsters who Liverpool have been looking at - perhaps now is the time to bring one or two of those in.}

05 Jun 2020 12:19:02
Hi Ed002,

Those talented youngsters you are referring to, who are they?

There have been rumours about Talles Magno, Jeremy Doku, Ben White etc. But is there anybody else than them?

And if you should recommend one or two for Liverpool to bring in (of those looked at), who would you pick?

{Ed002's Note - I would discount Talles Magno and Ben White but I would not discount an approach for Jeremie Doku again. Liverpool were also scouting Ricky-Jade Jones (AM/CM) and Filip Stevanovic (AM/LW) who has been getting better and better but looks to be heading elsewhere this summer. Viktor Tsyhankov (RW) was looked at but not HG and expensive will kill interest in him. Interest in Mohammed Daramy (RW/F) and Bilel Hassaini (RW) probably went with Minamino joining. Joe Gelhardt (S) has been watched by and had trials with Liverpool but there are a whole bunch of clubs fighting over him. So the scouts have been doing their job.

Ricky-Jade Jones (AM/CM) and Filip Stevanovic (AM/LW) would be the pick for me.}

05 Jun 2020 12:25:06
May i ask who those youngsters are, Ed?

{Ed002's Note - I have noted a few - but all have a lot of talent. I do fear for Bilel Hassaini (RW) who was looked at several times last season by Liverpool but is in a state of toxic flux right now due to his contract situation. PSG, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Barcelona and St Etienne also took a look and one of his “representatives” opened discussions with West Ham. He desperately needs better representation else he needs to look for a job as a postman or whatever.}

05 Jun 2020 13:11:21
Why is Dembele so desperate to stay at Barcelona Ed? Doesn’t seem to be working out for him sadly and a move might be good for him.

{Ed002's Note - I don't know but he will realise that if he were to make a permanent move elsewhere his €250k plus bonuses wages would not be matched. Barcelona will press him to leave, they have FFP issues, they have major wage issues and they have an appetite for buying that they cannot afford.}

05 Jun 2020 13:14:53
Why do people still talk about 'filling the Coutinho gap'? That was a while ago now that he left and we have done very well without him. We may need an AM but i think we no longer need to talk in terms of replacing Coutinho. You might as well say we are filling the Gerrard gap, or the Dalgleish gap. Move on.

05 Jun 2020 13:45:26
Agree Ed that it is odd that Coutinho is even being mentioned. He made his bed, he can lie in it.

Dembele needs to be avoided at all costs for too many reasons. And whereas it’s good to look at bringing in these youth players, it doesn’t deal with the impending problems in January that the AFCON poses us as Salah and Mane not being here are a huge blow.

That’s pretty much our goalscoring potential decimated given they score the bulk of our goals and I really can’t see anyone in the squad with the ability to step up and fill that role. Add to that the sales of Shaqiri and Wilson that are likely to happen. We’re going to be thinner up top than Prince William.

05 Jun 2020 15:09:53
Hi Ed002, hope you are ok. Thanks for the update. I'm abit surprised that we are still thinking about Coutinho and really thought we had moved on. I recall or read that he was being considered by a club in the PL and noted things had gone quiet there. I was just wondering if it is because he is holding out on interest from Liverpool? Many thanks.

{Ed002's Note - I don't expect Liverpool to look to making an offer for Coutinho, but he will have been discussed.}

05 Jun 2020 18:52:22
Dembele is talented but the guy is more injury prone than Sturridge. For the sort of wages and transfer fee, it makes no sense to buy him.

05 Jun 2020 20:58:09
Thanks ED002, that clarifies.

05 Jun 2020 23:57:35
Brocko, I am also one of those who believe we still need to fill Coutinhos role. Although we have improved and don’t miss him (well believe it or not, I do xD) we lack the creativity in the middle of the park. That is what still needs filling.

As good as trent, robbo and our front 3 are at making chances, we still need a creative avenue through the middle of the park. It’s an extra dimension that would make us entirely unpredictable.

05 Jun 2020 09:31:20
Ed02
This one for you mate. Now that Werner saga is over I want to know why did not Bayern sign him? Was it down to cost?

Cheers
Harish.

{Ed002's Note - Because they can wait another year with Thomas Muller joining Robert Lewandowski in signing a new contract. With a well respected youngster already at the club they have also promoted a player internally so they can focus on other positions.}

05 Jun 2020 10:09:24
Makes sense! Do you have any new notes on Milot Rashica?

Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Nothing has changed from what I have previously said. Milot Rashica (LW/RW) another possible Jadon Sancho replacement or indeed a Leroy Sane option and there is interest from Borussia Dortmund, RBL and indeed Bayern Munich. Werder Bremen don't want to sell (but could be relegated). Rashica plays predominently on the left, like several of the many Sancho replacements, but is seen as versatile. Dortmund are looking at a number of possible Sancho replacements that they have identified and others also play predominently on the left. I am not aware of any formal approach from Liverpool to Werder Bremen nor any declaration of interest from his agent or lawyer but, as I have said before, I would not discount it - he would certainly provide good cover for Mane and work as a replacement for Shaquiri. Game time might be of concern to the player. Wolves may offer some options to Rashica but the initial push will come from RBL.}

05 Jun 2020 12:05:42
Thanks Ed. ☺️.

05 Jun 2020 17:26:54
Harish or Harry?