23 Jul 2025 09:21:34
Hugo should be all done today and fly out with the lads to Asia.
Diaz has apparently asked LFC to accept Bayerns next offer.
Madrid have supposedly asked for the fee to sign IK this summer.
23 Jul 2025 10:26:57
Forgot about Istvan Kozma.
23 Jul 2025 10:30:36
The Rodrygo news is also gathering pace, Diaz and Konate out, Rodrygo and Guehi in?
23 Jul 2025 10:40:37
I can't see why we need Rodrygo now we have Hugo and still have Gakpo. Please enlighten me if im wrong.
23 Jul 2025 10:52:03
If Jota (RIP), Nunez and Diaz are not here, Rodrygo, Palindrome and Isak make sense.
23 Jul 2025 11:01:33
Is there a reason Liverpool should listen to Diaz? Shouldn’t the decision depend on Liverpool finding the offer acceptable?
23 Jul 2025 11:06:46
Diogo has gone, Diaz is very probably going, Nunez is hopefully going and maybe Chiesa. That leaves Gakpo and Salah from the 6 we had last season. We have Wirtz, Ekitike (almost definitely) so we’re potentially going from 6 to 4. Isak and Rodrygo, would bring us back nicely to 6 and we’d be a hell of a sight stronger than last season when we actually scored more goals than everybody.
23 Jul 2025 11:08:11
If Diaz leaves we get cover across the front three with Rodrygo I guess.
23 Jul 2025 11:09:52
Sukhyrai, I think it’s a case of making up the numbers in attack. If Diaz, chiesa and Nunez are to be moved on as reported, then we are left with salah, Gakpo and ekitike as our true senior forward options. Of course wirtz and Elliot can cover (Elliot might be on his way as well) but we’ve just had a season where our forward options consisted of salah, Nunez, jota (god rest his soul), chiesa, Diaz and Gakpo. It would be a significant downgrade if we didn’t bring in at least another wide forward as well as ekitike. We would be one or two injuries away from a very deficient attack, especially with afcon this year. I could even see us going for someone else in attack or keeping chiesa or Elliot as well as bringing in another forward.
23 Jul 2025 11:10:07
Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike leaves us far too light up top if Diaz, Nunez and Chiesa all leave as expected. We’d need a winger and a striker. Rodrygo can play either side and up front.
23 Jul 2025 11:16:42
Because we have lost Jota, Diaz, Nunez and Chiesa are all likely to leave, and Salah is going to AFCON for 2 months. We probably need two more forwards.
23 Jul 2025 11:18:27
When Chiesa, Diaz and Nunez leave we're down 4 from last season on the front line. Hugo is just 1 man. Maybe Ngumoha gets some game time, maybe Danns gets some gane time, maybe even Doak, but at least 1 more in would be a good idea, probably even 2.
23 Jul 2025 11:26:54
Only Gakpo plays left sided attacker and he can’t play every min of every game.
I know Wirtz can do bits there but I believe he been brought in to play that attacking midfielder position and that’s what he was sold on when he joined.
23 Jul 2025 11:29:45
@Sukhyrai: I believe the outgoings of Diaz and Chiesa will create room for Rodrygo and Ekitike. Ekitike could also cover for Salah on the right. Slot wants fast and dynamic attackers that can carry the ball. If he can help it I don't think he wants Wirtz to be filling in anywhere across the front line, he doesn't have the attributes that Slot wants in his forwards.
23 Jul 2025 11:53:42
Wirtz and Mo are the world’s best in their respective positions so it doesn’t make any sense to play them as left winger, and striker (in Salah’s case)
23 Jul 2025 11:56:19
We ideally need 5 senior bodies in attack across front 3.
Salah, Gapko and Hugo are 3.
If Diaz leaves we will go for Rodrygo or Fofana.
If Nunez leaves we will try Isak or another stiker or maybe Danns to cover his minutes.
I don't think Chiesa needs replacement as
Slobs will also want to play. so I accept few games Witz will play in fwd line.
Salah, Gapko, Hugo, Rodrygo, Witrz and Danns as our frontline.
If you add Isak it becomes even better.
Diaz doak nunez and chiesa maybe Elliot to leave.
Rodrygo Hugo and isak to replace them.
23 Jul 2025 11:56:32
Frimpong was bought partly because he can cover for salah. So salah ekitike gakpo Isak (maybe) with frimpong wirtz jones and youngsters to cover in a pinch. I just can’t see a world where we pay rodrygo 200+k to act as cover (destroying our wage system in the process) .
Mind you I’m very uncertain that rio is anywhere near ready to step up to the first team.
23 Jul 2025 12:06:59
Underrated comment from Takeabowson. Lovely stuff.
23 Jul 2025 12:19:59
WDW4, there are a lot of instances where disgruntled players have stayed and gone off the boil - most recently Gordon at Newcastle last season.
We're not going to sell Diaz for a fee we don't find acceptable, just like the clubs we have bought from play hardball too. However, I think reports of us wanting €100m and not taking a penny less were probably wide of the mark, just like Leverkusen wanting €150m+ for Wirtz was all part of the negotiation.
Our team must have been talking to Bayern's team in the last few weeks so I'm sure we'll find a price that is acceptable, probably around €75-€80m, which will get us most of the way to Rodrygo, if that's where we end up.
To those looking at our 6 front men from last season, don't forget that Rio and Ben Doak have impressed in the preseason so they could also play a part in 25-26. They wouldn't be a direct swap (although even one of them could cover Chiesa's minutes! ) but certainly shouldn't be forgotten about.
I definitely see Isak coming in, but I'm not convinced anymore, having bought Ekitike and seen glimpses of Rio and Ben, that we will go as big as Rodrygo. I could see someone like Fofana coming in to provide a cheaper option with a high ceiling and also not taking up a non-HG space as he is U21. However, the team may equally see Fofana as blocking our youngsters?
Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike, Isak - pretty mouth-watering, whoever else gets added!
23 Jul 2025 12:25:59
WDW - I'd say most clubs would work in good faith with their players.
23 Jul 2025 12:33:35
@Faith, I disagree - look at Chelsea who harvest kiddies for cash, or Citeh or United. Modern football clubs at the elite level are almost always driven by generating revenue. I think there is very little altruism in the modern game.
23 Jul 2025 13:37:10
So we will not buy anyone for the next 3 years given the way we are spending?
23 Jul 2025 13:42:41
We will try to buy Wharton at some stage, I believe.
23 Jul 2025 14:19:27
Loyalty, in all guises is an over rated commodity in football. If a club, or player decides they want to part ways, it is pointless trying hard to prevent it. Better for all concerned if efforts are made to find the cleanest way out for all concerned. If Diaz/ Kon want out, it’s no different from the club wanting Darwin to move on. It’s just business.
23 Jul 2025 14:24:57
Possibly a Mac replacement next summer Keira?
23 Jul 2025 14:43:11
Takeabowson, takeabowson.
23 Jul 2025 15:14:59
Very true.
23 Jul 2025 15:41:57
What a hit son, WHAT A HIT!
23 Jul 2025 16:20:22
I'd think it has to be Rodrygo OR Isak?
Happy to be wrong.
Can't see Elliot staying if this happens. Sad, I think he's quality.
23 Jul 2025 17:19:43
Isak any day of the week.
23 Jul 2025 17:31:50
If it was up to me I would keep Nunes to cover both Cody (i think left is his best position) and Ecky Thump as it doesn't look like we are going to get our money back at the moment.