14 Aug 2026 18:59:15.
Hi all,
I know I said I was on hiatus - but I am going to make a quick exception just this once.
There has been a major breakthrough in talks with Mbaye this afternoon. It is very possible, and likely, that he is a Liverpool player by this time next week.
14 Aug 2026 19:52:50
Thanks Vic, great news.
Sounds like it's Mbaye and Barcola.
Would that be enough to sanction a Gakpo sale or would that depend on someone else coming in?
14 Aug 2026 20:03:06
Appreciate the update, the kid has a lot of potential.
14 Aug 2026 20:03:35
Thank you, Vic.
14 Aug 2026 20:04:22
Thanks, VG!! Anything shared is always appreciated, let's hope we get this one over the line.
14 Aug 2026 20:05:31
Yes, if the two signings get completed, I expect Gakpo to depart.
14 Aug 2026 20:08:46
Thanks very much, VG.
14 Aug 2026 20:09:23
So appreciate you god damn!
14 Aug 2026 20:19:14
Cheers, VG.
14 Aug 2026 20:20:25
Keep the hiatuses coming, VG. (Or is that hiati ?). Thanks for thinking of us.
14 Aug 2026 20:21:13
Please come ho-oh-ome!
14 Aug 2026 20:22:20
Mbaye is so young he can actually become a homegrown player.
The talent is there for sure. Hopefully, he has the humility and also the belief to fulfill his potential in the coming years.
14 Aug 2026 20:23:59
Hey Vic, cheers for posting. You're a top man.
14 Aug 2026 20:30:06
Good man, Vic, breaks are overrated, chief! Keep them coming!
14 Aug 2026 20:33:37
Thanks VG. I don't see us buying Barcola and Mbaye. For starters, the cost and game-time don't really fit.
Barcola 60-65%. 23, 11 league goals in roughly 1,750 minutes and ready to start immediately. He fits the big-money FSG profile.
If Barcola falls through, I'd actually have El Mala 30% ahead of Mbaye. 19, 13 goals and 4 assists in under 2,000 Bundesliga minutes, with Dortmund already establishing the EUR50m-ish price.
Fernandez-Pardo 20%. 21, 8 goals and 5 assists, covers LW/RW/CF and Atletico have already tested Lille at EUR35m.
Mbaye 15%. 18, only around 1,000 Ligue 1 minutes with 3 goals and 2 assists, while PSG want EUR40-50m. At that price the other two make more sense statistically and financially.
And after Munoz and Araujo, I wouldn't assume Liverpool's real alternative has even leaked yet.
14 Aug 2026 20:38:33
I was busy in work today and took a break from the site. I only checked it 100 times instead of 500 times.
Thanks for update, Vic.
14 Aug 2026 20:39:40
We had to break the PL transfer record for Isak circa £125 million. It would not surprise me at all if it follows, time wise, the Isak deal right to the wire also. My own thoughts: Rayan is a £130 million release clause, and if solely down to Andoni he will make the right decision for him and, more importantly, the LFC first team. The later the ultimate decision swings it towards Rayan, as he knows the manager and also his formation and tactics and is PL proven.
The ideal scenario would be both BB and Rayan. If that is the case, I would expect the Rayan deal first, as it says to PSG accept our BB bid or we can walk away?
As always, as in life, money (the transfer fee) is always the decider at the end of the day, and the sole reason for the current "impasse" between LFC and PSG.
14 Aug 2026 20:41:18
Thank VG for the info. Love reading your posts.
Here's hoping for more 'quick exceptions.'
14 Aug 2026 20:41:27
If Liverpool has an alternative to Barcola/Mbaye, I haven't a clue who it is. Not anything I've heard anyways.
But, regardless, I can't see why we would even be targeting a Barcola alternative. That deal is gonna be completed.
Trying to be extra careful with what way I word it.
14 Aug 2026 20:44:28
@inbeta1989. ???
14 Aug 2026 20:51:53
Maybe I shouldn't say alternative, VG. We need depth. We are going very young at the moment, which I think you and I both know is the rebuild strategy.
They've got a lot of faith in this from the early talks with AA... and his track record.
With all the team not joining, I expect a rough road...
I'm just excited to see what comes of the prem for us this year. We've got some surprises up our sleeve with Rio, Munoz and Nyoni, and I'm confident of top 4. But we are going to be 3-2 wins for first ten games and some 3-3s. ?
14 Aug 2026 20:53:50
Thanks, Victorgd.
14 Aug 2026 21:00:31
Thanks, VG. Wonder if we are looking at a 9, or we content with Chiesa as Barcola, Mbaye and Munoz can all play 9.
14 Aug 2026 21:01:29
I am more excited about Mbaye than Barcolla, to be honest. Covers for the rw. I wish we only signed Mbaye and invested more time and energy in making at least one addition to midfield. Looks like LFC is so focused on Barcolla that they are not pursuing anything else at this moment.
Thanks though, Vic!
14 Aug 2026 21:06:03
Thanks for coming back to let us know, VG. Could be great news. ??
. ?
14 Aug 2026 21:10:44
Cheers VG, just watching him on YouTube, looks quick.
14 Aug 2026 21:15:09
I got beans and balone-eyey!
14 Aug 2026 21:16:23
Nice one, VG, thanks.
14 Aug 2026 21:22:09
Cheers Vic. Hopefully you're back now.
14 Aug 2026 21:23:20
Thanks VG. Sounds promising.
14 Aug 2026 21:31:37
Don't leave again, VG, it's been chaos since you left! We've had ITK's coming out of every orifice!
Don't worry though, Chewy was fighting your corner.
14 Aug 2026 21:34:33
Thanks VG, I think that would be a great double scoop. M'Baye has huge potential and makes real sense to me.
14 Aug 2026 22:00:52
Good to hear from you again VG, appreciate all info mate.
14 Aug 2026 22:17:59
Thanks VG,.
14 Aug 2026 22:43:36
Cheers, Victor.
Glad to hear we've made a breakthrough with Mbaye because he looks a real talent. More importantly, it's good to see you back posting again.
14 Aug 2026 22:45:18
To answer my opinion, your question, Zedd.
If we have Munoz, Barcola, Gakpo, Rio and Mbaye as winger options, my starting wingers would be Gakpo and Barcola on Rw.
I genuinely think Gakpo is far far better than what he showed last season and the season prior is the true Gakpo. He just lost some confidence in tactics that didn't suit him. I think Iraola's tactics would suit him.
If we are getting rid of Gakpo and bringing in Mbaye and Munoz to compete with Rio for starting position, I'll be a little concerned any would be an upgrade on what Gakpo is capable of. I fancy Munoz to win out. And then there's the question if Isak gets injured. Perhaps Munoz goes there.
My main point is, while we have options, they are very inexperienced options. Particularly if Isak goes down.
I'll back Iraola still to get the best out of young players.
But I don't think the profile of Gakpo is replaced either. He brings good size and power to the forward line. I think the player who would fit a Gakpo profile better would be someone like Rayan who could play up top.
Or we could do the easy thing and just keep Gakpo.
Gakpo, Barcola, Mbaye, Munoz, Koumas, Rio, Isak and eventually Ekitike seems like a good set of options to me up top of we can pull it off.
Chiesa would obviously need to make room in non homegrown players.
14 Aug 2026 22:50:28
Thanks for the quickie, VG.
{Ed001's Note - ooer missus.}
14 Aug 2026 22:58:03
Top man, VG! Always welcome your updates!
14 Aug 2026 23:12:43
As always, this is top info. Accurate stuff. Don't like the thought of Gakpo going myself tbh.