22 Jul 2026 15:13:05
Liverpool have made an approach for Maghnes Akliouche of Monaco.
22 Jul 2026 15:47:09
This just gets curiouser and curiouser. ?
22 Jul 2026 15:53:13
I actually prefer this as a signing.
I like Diomande, but not actually seen much.
I like Barcola, having seen a lot more.
I have seen almost none of this guy or Munoz, really, but I just think profile wise, and price bracket wise, this is the type of market I actually prefer us buying.
Like if Diomande or Barcola get 3 games in without a hattrick, the media narrative gathers. With both of Akilouche and Munoz, if they come in and help the team be better, that's all that matters.
Like most teams, you really only want 2 or 3 stars and then players willing to work for the collective. This is usually the best formula for actual team success.
And arguably we have our stars or people who could / should be stars in Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz.
Even Wirtz, I don't think he fits a star role and is more like what can be the most effective cog in the wheel.
22 Jul 2026 15:58:15
This article out today was referring to a much earlier approach on that player. It's not recent news. He is off to PSG.
22 Jul 2026 15:58:34
Thought he went to PSG?
22 Jul 2026 15:58:54
Doesn't look any better than Gakpo from what I've seen - would be a disappointing signing but the market is very poor.
22 Jul 2026 16:01:19
I just want whoever the best players are. Don't care about media narrative and rival fans been able to have a pop. That's all part of the game.
22 Jul 2026 16:19:33
PSG want to hoard all the available wingers, and they have this arrogant approach to the market, low-balling the selling clubs and thinking the players will wait for them under any circumstances.
Imagine if we end up snatching both Maghnes Akliouche and Diomande off their hands.
22 Jul 2026 16:26:01
@Be Kind, - various ITKs and our Carra (below) say differently.
Seems we have at least enquired.
I'd say Barcola is the better player but Alilouche plays predominantly on the right wing where we desperately need someone. Barcola plays mostly on the left.
22 Jul 2026 16:43:05
Would be happy with this.
22 Jul 2026 16:59:41
It's strange that PSG would be genuinely interested in Akliouche if he plays on the right side, given they have Doue and Dembele.
You can slightly understand their interest in Diomande, given his bigger profile. He plays left and right, and they seem willing to offload Barcola, so they will have a need for a left sided player.
From our point of view, getting a deal over the line for a player who's PSG linked, or Barcola, will need a lot of pieces to fall into place. A lot of deals are complicated at the best of times, but all of these seem difficult because of the parties involved, which makes you wonder about our strategy.
22 Jul 2026 17:06:06
But having the best players mostly does not work. If you have an 11 of the best players in the world, egos almost always get involved and cause issues. Plus, we have even had issues when we had our amazing front 3 of actually getting any decent back up, because they know they have almost 0 chance of breaking into the team.
Like it or not, it is now more than ever a team and systems game, so I want the best players to fit our system and tactics.
This is not always as easy as the best player available, in my opinion, anyway.
Look at the 3 best 9s in the world currently, Haaland, Mbappe and Kane, arguably none of these are directly interchangeable without changing style of play.
22 Jul 2026 17:17:10
Akliouche interest has legs for possible reasons:
It's in the Liverpool Echo! The Liverpool Echo sports reporter Paul Gorst was at the Chicago press conference yesterday. He was also on the flight from JLA airport with the LFC squad. Would he disrespect those very kind LFC invitations to cast malicious rumours? One says not!
22 Jul 2026 17:31:26
I don't mean the best players in the world. I just mean the best players from the ones we are targeting. Just happens, the better ones usually cost more money.
22 Jul 2026 17:35:39
Is right, Pickle. It's not worth rocking the boat too much, and there's less risk. It could be argued that a significant signing might take the attention away from others, but the PL, its media and fans are ruthless, and, with fans being fickle, leads to failure.
I still like the bargain finds - the "steals" brought in on intense scouting, faith and justification. I'm never comfortable with these City or Chelsea size signings as it doesn't feel right.
22 Jul 2026 17:44:13
I think we play 3 behind the striker. Wirtz, Szobo and a new winger. If it's a LW we sign, then Szobo plays on the right with Wirtz as the 10, but if it's a RW we sign, then Wirtz plays on the left and Szobo as the 10 (better setup I think). Then you have Rio, Gakpo, Munoz forward cover.
22 Jul 2026 18:03:07
Other than a bit more height, he offers nothing more than Harvey Elliott does. He's pretty slow too. More of an inside forward.
22 Jul 2026 18:10:51
@Overkill, They're all flexible. Dembele mainly plays through the middle for PSG, but can play either side as well. Doue can play either side, but I've heard PSG see his future in the midfield 3. Diomande can play either side. Akliouche can play on the right, or more centrally as a 10.
Then you have Kvara and Barcola, who are both predominantly left wingers, but in reality could fill in anywhere across the front line, tbh.
So to me it just looks like they want 6 extremely high quality forward options who are pretty flexible.
22 Jul 2026 20:20:50
Fair enough, Flo! You were the inspiration of my post but not necessarily the target as I do think there are a lot of people who do just think if we had Mbappe, Haaland and Kane up front we would obviously win every game ever!
But, yeah, obviously for the most part better players equal more money, but I also think more than ever there is almost no signing that is no risk.
Especially at 100 mill plus range! At this level even one injury of any significance arguably makes it too risky. But also not my money and just insane numbers to begin with.