09 Jul 2026 12:33:38
Rumours now appearing that Barcola not for sale, I think it's a ploy for him to get a better deal. I would put money on why Gapko has not gone is because there is no confidence that Barcola would join. The Diomande debacle still makes no sense to me to be fair.
09 Jul 2026 13:42:23
If Barcola stays and they sign Akhilouche. Diomade is ours.
09 Jul 2026 13:52:14
Has anyone actually watched Diomande, by the way, he's absolutely bang average.
09 Jul 2026 13:53:33
Sorry, what was the 'Diomande debacle'? I must have nodded off for that one.
09 Jul 2026 13:59:19
Or, hear me out, we just keep Gakpo. I'm not convinced Diomande is better than him having now seen him playing outside the Bundesliga. He was diabolical at the World Cup after the first game.
09 Jul 2026 14:03:05
Origi83, thanks for your expert assessment after watching 3 World Cup games.
West Derby, you must have been out cold for the last 3 weeks so.
09 Jul 2026 14:07:22
Never base your opinion off the World Cup.
09 Jul 2026 14:08:00
Do we really want Diomande now? I would be concerned his agents would already be thinking of his next move after us. His agents have made this a major doubt imo.
09 Jul 2026 14:15:36
Quo Vadis, I'm not basing my opinion solely off the World Cup, but it's definitely influenced it, though. Gakpo actually looked pretty good in his first 2 full seasons, despite being dreadful last season, so there is reason to believe he could rediscover his form, as there is literal evidence he can be effective in the Premier League.
Don't get me wrong, Diomande is a great talent with huge potential, but he still only managed 13 goals in a very bad league (defensively) and then looked lost in the World Cup for 3 of the 4 games.
I was all in when it seemed like he'd cost about £80m. Now the price is climbing, and he's allegedly said he prefers PSG. I'd rather we keep Gakpo, if I'm honest. That's not me saying I don't want Diomande anymore; I'm just not as keen as I was.
09 Jul 2026 14:27:44
The Bundesliga: where Quansah gets compared to VVD or Harry Cain looks like a 25 year old, not to mention Wirtz, German Messi. Keep Diomande, I'd rather be proven wrong for missing out than proven right for buying a turd.
09 Jul 2026 14:32:35
I'm surprised by all the bashing of Diamonde. He's not the finished article yet or even close to it, but he has a lot going for him even now. Maybe, as there's doubt if we end up getting him or not. But to me, only going off the World Cup, he's quick but doesn't rely on pace; he looks to pick someone out in the box rather than just hitting an aimless cross. Compare him to Ngomoha, who I do rate, but how people go overboard on his performances in comparison makes no sense.
He has a lot to work on. His end product needs a massive improvement; very rarely does he have an end product, and he doesn't work hard enough in his defensive side, although he's exciting to watch running at people. But unless he can knuckle down and work on his all round game, he'll end up just like Madueke, looks good (somehow to some) but does absolutely nothing of note with the ball. How he ever got picked for England baffles me, never any end product.
09 Jul 2026 15:11:50
But don't we need someone on the right? Talk of moving Rio is fine, is he expected to play 60+ games?
09 Jul 2026 15:20:54
Diomande is the perfect example of shiny toy syndrome. Don't think anyone in here would have suggested making him our starting RW a few months ago. But now, because his price is high and he's had some decent moments, everyone just assumes he will be a guaranteed success.
There's a very realistic possibility where we pay that exorbitant fee for him, and he massively struggles.
Then, we would be forced to play him irrespective of his performances because we lack reliable options. We are then back to square one where we need to enter the market and find another RW despite previously spending >100m.
I think the comparison to Madueke is accurate and, quite frankly, I don't want a Madueke type player at my club.
09 Jul 2026 15:28:21
I'd rather we not get Diomande as his agents will just bring trouble down the line.
Rayan seems more worth it.
09 Jul 2026 15:34:42
Problem being if you spend over 100m on a player they should be close to the finished article and by the looks of it Diomande is just a hot prospect with loads of potential. Agree on ignoring the World Cup performances and never buying off the back of it - Diouf ffs, I like the look of the lad and if he were 50m -sold but 100+m is way too high, even in today's inflated prices.
I think we're just a little desperate to fill Mo's boots and clubs know this. Hopefully AI can unearth a gem no one's thought about as I've not been watching too much non- UK footie in last few years for fear of a divorce ? so don't actually know what's out there. Now I've said it he'll probably be the next Messi so apologies in advance.
09 Jul 2026 15:47:26
Only 13 goals in a poor league defensively, at 19 from the wing. Diomande is very good. Because it looks like we might not get him now, people are downplaying his talent. People who were raving about him a month back. We have to remember how good he is off the ball as well as on it. He is a beast. Hugely important in a team who are gonna have Isak and Wirtz in the side.
I'd still want Diomande. It is Barcola I would not go near with a barge pole. For me I'm not convinced he's a better all round player than Gakpo. He plays in an even worse league than Diomande for by far the most dominant side and his numbers are nothing to write home about.
09 Jul 2026 15:50:57
Comparing Diomande and Gakpo is irrelevant. Gakpo is for the left and Diomande is coming in for the right. Ideally, we have both come start of the season.
09 Jul 2026 16:03:46
Concerning Diomande, they're asking too much for a player who has shown so little in a league a few notches below the EPL.
09 Jul 2026 16:04:25
100% with you, Taurus01.
09 Jul 2026 16:06:40
I'm with Mk on this one. Keep Gakpo. Add another speedy winger option for the right. I'm pretty convinced that Munoz can do a great job on the right. We need another option though. I could get on board with someone like Summerville. I think Iraola can get him playing consistently well.
Or Savinho. Another I think Iraola could get firing.
These players, I think, are on the cusp of an upturn under the right guidance, but only for the right price. Equally, I think there are probably many options out there I can't think of like Munoz.
09 Jul 2026 17:01:07
Bundesliga are experts at making average players look like world beaters.
Sancho is my goto example when we're talking wingers.
No to Olise, no to an expensive Diomande.
09 Jul 2026 17:14:37
So is that maybe what has happened with Wirtz? Same thing. Shone in Germany, but struggled here. Did he only look good because he was playing in a poor league?
09 Jul 2026 17:30:49
Anyone assessing Diomande on his World Cup performance needs to give their head a wobble. It's literally the single worst competition you could judge a player at. You'd be better off entering all your potential targets into the Cheese-Rolling on Cooper's Hill and signing the winner.
I've lost interest in him myself, but for the fact that we've been played, and he's chopped and changed his story about who his father supports and what club he dreams of playing for multiple times now. No time for that sort of carry on.
09 Jul 2026 20:35:54
Agree that rating a player off any international games is meaningless in terms of club football. Complete waste of time.
That said, I'm not really too keen on the lad for £115m (or whatever) but got to start accepting that's the going rate now for potentially elite talent, ridiculous as it sounds.
So either pay up or start shopping in the bracket or two below, something I wouldn't mind tbh.
I do reckon Roc Nation would be a massive problem further down the line if Diomande hits it off and I'm not sure that's something anyone can be f***ed with.
09 Jul 2026 21:50:26
No to Olise and no to Diomande but yes to Harvey Elliott. ?
10 Jul 2026 02:04:05
A 19 year old playing in an average team didn't shine in a couple of games. Liverpool were / are interested in him based on his performance last season and the potential the lad has. Due to his agents playing both ends against the middle, we may have cooled our interest.
I've actually been watching it, @Chewy. So I ask again, how is that a debacle? As I say, did I nod off when we paid the £ 130m to Leipzig?
10 Jul 2026 04:31:00
To be honest, I'd only buy Diomande if he agreed to sack his agency after the big fee they get from his signing.
They'd be an absolute nightmare to deal with... probably constantly in his ear while trying to court the likes of Real Madrid etc. We don't need that type of toxicity, get someone else.
10 Jul 2026 06:38:03
Harvey Elliott is a good left-footed, quick player, already Premier League and Champions League proven, and wants to play for the club.
I don't understand what Diomande and Olise have over him (except height) in other people's eyes.
10 Jul 2026 13:44:35
Harvey Elliott is a decent player, obviously, but if we want to compete for the big trophies, he certainly isn't LFC first 11 material. If he is that good, he'd have played regular games for Villa, regardless of the cost implications for them. If he can't get into AV's first 11, then he should not be anywhere near ours. That's the reality of it.