17 Aug 2026 13:42:52
After a few days of sound baths, meditation and weird chanting/drum circles. It's safe to say I'm not letting my wife pick anymore retreats. ?
CJ is more out than in. He doesn't expect to be a LFC player come the window's end, the only way he stays is if we don't sign a midfielder. By all accounts we will see at least one signing in this area.
Despite all the noise, Macca still wants to leave but is in no rush.
People thinking Barcola and Mbaye will be announced as a double deal are wide of the mark. I know nothing of Mbaye but I do believe VG when he says it's a possibility.
Barcola may be announced this week as negotations are going well.
If Gakpo does leave, it won't be before this weekend and if he does then we will move for another wide player as I said earlier this summer, Rayan is the first choice to replace him. Whilst I was away, we have been back in contact with Bournemouth. I suspect Mbaye is the back up option to Rayan. Minteh and Prado are not of interest. El Mala is someone the club has been keeping an eye on.
As expected, a load of the youngsters will go out on loan with the exceptions being Nyoni and Koumas, as both have majorly impressed Iraola.
{Ed025's Note - cheers TheFields..
17 Aug 2026 14:04:29
Cheers Fields, hope the break was peaceful.
Do you think we will get more than one midfielder if Elliot, Endo and Bajectic leave?
17 Aug 2026 14:05:45
Cheers, Fields. ?? ?
17 Aug 2026 14:11:34
Fields,
What profile of midfielder are we looking at?
17 Aug 2026 14:12:17
Thanks for the info.
According to other itks, Barcola was already done but just waiting for PSG to let us announce it?
17 Aug 2026 14:13:14
Haha, maybe your choice of retreat next time, The Fields. Jorge Mendes is Mbaye's agent, so tough to deal with. Romano says it's the fee for him, which is a snag. Hopefully Barcola announced this week.
17 Aug 2026 14:19:35
Nmaste.
17 Aug 2026 14:29:16
Rayan makes a lot of sense as he knows the Iraola way and that should speed up adapting to the changes. Rayan might get better numbers too with better players around him. I think for IA it's all about the team rather than individuals.
17 Aug 2026 14:30:17
Nice one, Fields! Bali was it?
17 Aug 2026 14:31:05
All very encouraging. Nice to see Fields back on the page.
Too many chancers posting on here lately.
17 Aug 2026 14:31:19
I don't want Gakpo to leave, feel we need his experience.
But I don't get Barcola coming in and Gakpo staying as both want the same role, and we ain't buying Barcola for £120m for him to play out of position.
Ideal world we sign Barcola and a right sided player, keep Gakpo as cover for left side and striker cover for one more season.
I was hoping with the new manager to see a bit more from Chiesa in preseason, but he has been overtaken by some of the youth players. So I think he needs to go, and I know it's not happening, but I would love Rio to get a loan to a Premier League team or a very top Championship side like West Ham or someone, to then come back next season to take Gakpo's place.
Harvey Elliott has not done himself any favours in preseason, I would have thought the same with him, new manager, new chance to prove himself, but seems way off it. His loan was dreadful last season, really poor choice buy Hughes to send him to Villa, a season in Germany would have increased his value, but god knows what last season did to it.
17 Aug 2026 14:34:59
Nothing worse than weird chanting Tf I've been there. Thanks for the information, brother. ?
17 Aug 2026 14:37:35
@RD, The lads with contacts pass on information as they get it. The information is usually valid when they get it, but that doesn't mean that things won't change. What might be valid on Monday morning may not be valid on Monday afternoon, and vice versa.
As ever, nothing can be taken for granted until the club releases a formal announcement that a player has signed or a player has left the club.
17 Aug 2026 15:11:33
Thank you, fields, always.
If it's the latest information.
CJ out.
Another Mid in.
Gakpo out.
Should we finish with Barcola in + Rayan or Mbaye?
17 Aug 2026 15:17:50
Of course, MacAllister is not in a hurry to leave - he has seen the play book and will likely sign a pre-contract agreement with one of the Madrid sides in less than 18 months.
Not ITK, just my opinion. Honestly, I've never known a club to allow so much value just walk out the door as we have over the last 5/6 seasons.
17 Aug 2026 15:17:57
RD, everything is agreed in principle. The negotiations are around how the fee will be paid. Nothing more.
Az, I wish. It was up by Glenfeshie in the Caledonia Forest. Amazing place.
Bazza, I'm sure they stuck something in the tea as well. ?
Nice one Digger.
Grino, I think Elliot will be out the door before the end of the window. As for Gakpo, I agree his experience will be invaluable. It seems the offer may be too good to turn down.
Ron, a Kone or Camarra type, but I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with Wharton tho.
17 Aug 2026 15:34:00
Thanks, The Fields, great to have some clarity on things! And also, great to know Rayan is still very much in our thinking, much, much better option than Mbaye, I'd be a lot more comfortable letting Gakpo go if we bring Barcola and Rayan rather than Barcola and Mbaye!
Nice one, mate.
17 Aug 2026 15:37:47
Cheers, Thefields.
Hope your chakras are still intact.
So Barcola, Rayan and Wharton then :).
Re Macca - he's into the last two years of his deal which is inviting another contract situation. Or perhaps the outgoing directors are leaving that "turd" (the contract not the player before you all reach for your pearls) for the next guy?
17 Aug 2026 15:40:15
Great to have you back, Fields, and as per my post last week, from what I heard on the Bournemouth front, Rayan conversations have definitely happened.
As you say (and as I said last week), dependent on Gakpo.
17 Aug 2026 16:13:52
Choosing to believe this 100% just because it aligns with what I want haha. Getting Barcola to replace Gakpo seems like a good deal, but the massive hole on the right continues, and although Mbaye is a good prospect, I believe Rayan could improve us day one.
It's all good to prepare for the future, but we are seriously putting in jeopardy our present with the current squad. Ideally, we would have an even more experienced RW, but between Mbaye and Rayan, the latter is a better fit for now, and could also work as an CF when needed.
17 Aug 2026 16:59:32
Glad you enjoyed your break, TF. As previous, I think Rayan would be an excellent signing. Rayan and Barcola with a fit Isak/Ekiteke as CF is a mighty front 3. We require a midfield battler like Milner, though, for us to thrive. We'll see soon enough anyway.
17 Aug 2026 17:02:44
Cheers, The Fields, great post as always, and your holiday sounds very interesting.
17 Aug 2026 17:08:59
BobbyF, it's not as simple as just offering a player a contract. Sometimes there's nothing you can do. If the player decides they want to go, there's very little you can do. Trent for one.
New contracts aren't just free to renew, the club is also committing to paying the player, usually a lot more money, for years, and sometimes a club might not want that player.
Possibly Konate, definitely Salah.
17 Aug 2026 17:12:24
I believe Fields, Carra, Robbo. However, starting to doubt we'll sign a single player from now. Semenyo should have been bought 100% to replace Salah... better than all other suggested so far.
17 Aug 2026 17:14:17
Good info, no6.
Also add, good to have Fields back, more info the better for cross referencing etc, what's happened to Carra? He came back then gone again? If reading these posts, what's your thoughts on any of these rumours!!
17 Aug 2026 17:14:45
Thanks, TF.
Was there any nudity involved or was it all about the mental well being only?
17 Aug 2026 17:51:40
Cheers, the Fields welcome back.
Jonny, no.6, cheers.
17 Aug 2026 17:54:06
Haha. Hope you (or your missus) at least found your 3rd eye, mate.
17 Aug 2026 19:18:34
@Kloppdog, Yeah, I get it, which is why this summer is the one to tell his agent to find a club, or sign a new deal. This is on the club as much as the player and his agent.
We have allowed ourselves too often to be in a situation where players get to 18 months from the end of their contract, only to reject new deals and sit on the last year of their contract.
We are in a world where 2 years left on a contract is when it has to be renewed or the player sold.
How many other clubs have lost key personnel/first XI players to the same degree as LFC in recent years?
17 Aug 2026 19:33:19
Sound baths?
I grew up in Wallasey - the Derby Pool; Leasowe Leisure Centre; Guinea Gap and, of course, New Brighton, were all sound baths.