09 Jul 2026 06:52:33
Hi Ed's,
Any ideas if we are still looking to sign Diomande and Wharton?
{Ed001's Note - I have no idea regarding Wharton, I believe we are still interested in Diomande, the issue is all from his agents. I am sure we will look to sign alternatives in the meantime, so it will be up to them to revive the deal or face a summer without making big money. I am told PSG are not interested in paying the big money to buy him, unless they sell someone, even then they also are looking at alternatives. I think his agents might ned up messing up his career if they are not careful.}
09 Jul 2026 07:56:13
It's a shame that people like this are supposedly looking after the interests of their 19yp client. Somewhere along the line he has taken on some bad advice, and, as a 19yp, that is perfectly understandable. What he does from here on though will be key. If either move fails to materialise, then he should be looking for a new agency.
I also think, if we were to get this move done this summer, that these seem agents would possibly cause problems in a year or two when PSG and Madrid come sniffing. Maybe this one is best left alone and we move on.
09 Jul 2026 08:09:43
I'd move on, if his agents are like this now, imagine them looking to move the player on if they get a sniff of a bigger contract or say Madrid show interest, I feel we could have another player faking injuries to force a move.
09 Jul 2026 08:25:42
PSG will sign Maghnes Akliouche. He is a right sided attacking forward. Once he is signed, that will put an end to any speculation he is signing for PSG. As Ed has said, and myself from day dot, PSG were never spending big on him.
For PSG, Akliouche was plan B originally, until they knew what fee RBL were asking. This signing settles any questions on whether he will move to PSG. He is literally Liverpools for the taking if the agents can get their finger out of their arse.
09 Jul 2026 08:34:23
Regarding Diomande. A few people on here who are usually quite reliable have stated that we have reached personal terms with the player and that we just need to strike a deal with Leipzig. Until we do this, the player is never going to move to us, regardless of how much his representatives are being tools.
09 Jul 2026 08:47:32
John Barnes, you are so certain that PSG don't want him, which seems utterly bizarre and extremely far fetched to me. PSG have already sold one forward for £65m this window, with at least two others to follow shortly (Kang-in Lee & Muani).
That's before we even mention the possibility of Barcola and/or Mbaye leaving. So PSG have plenty of scope and money to bring in 2 new forwards (Akliouche & Diomande).
09 Jul 2026 08:40:39
Is Wharton what we need Ed001?
{Ed001's Note - not in my opinion.}
09 Jul 2026 09:24:01
Wirtz Nightmare 7, regardless of how much PSG has in their transfer budget or whether or not they can generate more money from the sale of players, I don't think they are going to be ripped off and pay whatever RB wants or what Diomande's agent wants. If they feel the deal is not reasonable, and if they are not desperate, I think they will just walk away. PSG can still survive without Diaomonde in their team.
Same thing, if RB wants ridiculous money, let's say they want 200mil for him, do you think Liverpool won't walk away? So, it really depends on how the clubs play their cards.
I don't blame RB for wanting more out of the deal, but there has to be a willing buyer at hand. Clubs can slap whatever transfer fee they like on a player, but at the end of the day, if they are willing to do business, they have to be reasonable at some point.
09 Jul 2026 09:28:01
If his agents are causing this much of an issue before he signs, imagine when his contract is up for renewal in a few years' time.
09 Jul 2026 09:35:00
@Wirtz, I have always been certain PSG wouldn't want him. And I have yet to be proven wrong. What seems bizzare is that once they sign Akliouche, you actually believe they will then go and spend another 100mill on Diomande, who will certainly play second fiddle to Doue and possibly lower in the pecking order than Aklouche - so you must also believe Diomande wants his world class potential to stall due to lack of game time, before it's even started.
Interesting analysis.
Barcola isn't relevant in this conversation. Different position entirely and certainly not going to Liverpool if he were to leave.
09 Jul 2026 09:14:53
It does make you wonder. Ed do you have knowledge on how Diomande (as example but any player really) end up with the agency they have.
Like I would like to think as a young player whatever club you are at (although you could argue bias with this so maybe even each FA having their own non partial resource) would have some sort of resource to guide young players and help them make better decisions.
But I can also see how its very hard if you are talking to a 16 year old and 1 of them is talking about long term stability and grounded decision making while the other is waving lamborghini keys in your face I can see why it is a tough thing to navigate.
Especially coming from an impoverished background, I feel bad for a lot of the players honestly
{Ed001's Note - that particular bunch of leeches made a huge push to get footballers, they are promising a lot of stuff plus a lot of the young lads are influenced by the rappers on the books already being heroes. They are very good at looking after their requests etc, providing for their entourage and other little things to pander to them. They are pampered little pooches, so think they are being taken care of, not realising that they are actually missing out on a large income for themselves if they had a better agent. It was the same with Tupac, for example, who actually had very little when he passed, despite earning huge sums for Death Row. This lot are coming in using a similar model of loaning, rather than giving, and will look to take it out of future earnings. So they give the lifestyle to these impressionable teenagers before they have earnt it, but they then own a larger chunk of future earnings, which they will recoup multiple times over. But you try telling a young kid to go with an agent that treats them fairly, rather than makes them feel like stars and you are going to struggle to make them understand that they would be better off.}
09 Jul 2026 09:52:38
IMO Wharton would be a good signing for us as long as he is not our only midfield signing. We need a hard as nails btard in there.
09 Jul 2026 10:20:31
@John Barnes, ofc PSG want him, to suggest they don't is completely untrue IMO. Whether the deal gets done is another matter, although I highly suspect it will.
Diomande isn't solely a RW anyway, he's flexible and can play either side, same as Doue. Akliouche isn't just a RW either, again, he's flexible and plays centrally too.
If PSG were to get both Diomande & Akliouche, that would leave them with the following forward options...
Dembele
Kvara
Doue
Diomande
Akliouche
Barcola
Mbaye
And in all likelihood at least one of Barcola or Mbaye goes. Perfectly feasible and most of those forwards are capable of playing multiple positions with perhaps the exception of Kvara.
09 Jul 2026 10:32:45
@Wirtz, we have different opinions, about different things. That's perfectly fine, it's a gossip site. Until anything is confirmed, it is just that gossip.
I'm perfectly content with my statements, and believe what I've claimed will happen.
I'm sure it won't be long until we find out.
09 Jul 2026 10:46:40
I can see both sides imo. I don't think PSG can't afford Dio. I just think they don't want to pay what RBL are asking because the fee is massive. They could always include someone like Ibrahim Mbaye or let Dio stay at RBL for another season to make the deal work. At the same time, I understand why RBL want to maximize the fee so they can fund a desired replacement.
The only thing keeping a tiny bit of hope alive for me is that Paul Joyce hasn't said anything yet, at least not that I've seen. He's usually the one who puts the final nail in the coffin for me.
I think Ornstein, Fab, and Ben Jacobs are mostly getting their information from agents or the player's camp.
What I find interesting is how quiet everything has gone all of a sudden. Maybe Liverpool are still talking to RBL, or maybe the club is waiting because some alternative targets are still at the Club World Cup. Barcola, Fernandez-Pardo, Nusa... who knows.
Just my thoughts. I could be completely wrong. We'll see how the rest of the window plays out.
09 Jul 2026 10:53:41
I meant the World Cup, not the Club World Cup lol.
09 Jul 2026 11:01:33
I thought RBL wanted to retain him for one more year. They are under no obligation to sell, no matter what the agents and LFC have agreed.
09 Jul 2026 11:09:24
Always wonder who advises these kids to get into bed with agencies like that. I'm pretty sure as a plus 50 year old commercially astute father of two, I would make a sensible agent for 19 year old kids.
Plus side is, I don't need loads of money to be happy or feel important, so could do it for a normal wage. Anything else they gave me I could give away to good causes and homeless people.
09 Jul 2026 10:46:57
It's disgusting the way they're allowed to basically exploit these young lads and ladies and their careers isn't it ED, shocking behaviour, surprised Liverpool haven't walked away altogether because of them.
{Ed001's Note - they have been doing it for many years to music artists, no one stopped them there, so now they are spreading to other areas.}
09 Jul 2026 10:55:58
Ed, do you know who are the alternatives we are looking at? Might as well walk away from Diomande if that's the case. It is best to stay away from problematic agents.
{Ed001's Note - I only know of Akliouche, but he looks to be going to PSG.}
09 Jul 2026 10:56:13
Thanks for sharing, Ed.
I still have a quiet hope that we get Diomande over the line. He's exactly what we we need right now, whereas Barcola, Minteh etc come with compromises.
I would bring in Wharton, ONLY if we are also signing a Sangare, Camara or Bouaddi too. If it is only Wharton, then I think we'll have the same off the ball midfield issues as last season.
09 Jul 2026 13:26:09
@ John Barnes, Agreed, everyone's entitled to their own opinion. But you did say PSG don't want Diomande (or words to that effect), which is definitely incorrect, they do want him, just perhaps not for the money RBL want for him.
Personally, I reckon a compromise will be reached between PSG & RBL where either the player stays an extra season or a PSG player is thrown in as a sweetener such as Mbaye.
Obviously I'd love for you to be right and he ends up at Liverpool, just think that ship's already sailed.
09 Jul 2026 13:46:30
Ed, would you be fine with going after more unknown player as Salah replacement instead of the likes of Diomande or Rayan that will cost close to 100mill with the hope that Wirtz and Isak under Iraola can replace Salah output?
{Ed001's Note - yes.}
09 Jul 2026 14:52:47
You're right ED some of the stories I've read from the music industry over the years have literally baffled me as to how it was allowed to happen and so easily too!
09 Jul 2026 17:51:03
Absolutely, mfahmee2, I'd be 100% all for that as well, mate. ?
09 Jul 2026 18:52:34
Would Britney Spears mum and dad be good agents for Diomande? They looked after their daughter well. ?