20 Aug 2026 11:24:52
Hi all,
Figured I'd give another update, as I can absolutely understand why impatience is beginning to fester regarding the Barcola deal.
I absolutely thought it'd have been wrapped up by now with a medical completed - as did the player and his camp. However, negotiating the structure of the payments has proved to take a lot longer than expected and is what's causing it to drag out. But there's absolutely zero part of me that doesn't think this deal happens. He will be a Liverpool player, it's just taking its sweet time. It might be closer to deadline day than we previously wanted. Any concern of a hijacking or a collapse is wide of the mark.
Despite reports, I am still very confident about Mbaye. As I mentioned last week, a meeting with his representatives took place with ourselves that ended up being extremely positive. PSG are happy to move him on for the right price and now it's just about negotiating a fee. Similar to Barcola, all parties want it done.
There are rumours of other wide forwards being looked at but I haven't a clue who they are.
As for Wharton, I'm hearing less now than I was earlier in the summer. There's been whispers about a deal being discussed but I am not sure if it has any legs.
Barca are not looking to sell Gavi.
My prediction? Barcola in, Mbaye in, Gakpo out. All reasonably close to deadline day.
20 Aug 2026 11:56:53
Super! Thanks, VG!
20 Aug 2026 11:57:08
Cheers Vic, fingers crossed. I would still be slightly concerned with Gakpo leaving even though he's not amazing through the middle, unfortunately he's the best back up option we have currently to Isak until Ekitike is fit, and let's face it we might not see the best version of him this season after that injury.
Maybe he sees Wirtz as an option playing the false 9 (Bobby role), but then I'd worried, do we have wingers who can hit Salah numbers.
Interesting to see how it all plays out anyway. I don't know enough about Mbaye to be honest, maybe he's an option through the middle. Or maybe Koumas has done enough to warrant a chance.
Exciting times anyway! Looking forward to it all!
20 Aug 2026 12:02:48
Thanks VG... Just want it all wrapped up now.
20 Aug 2026 12:10:01
Cheers VG, agree it's taking its sweet time, but I have total faith in you... Would've just been nice for him to get in a little earlier to help in bed in a bit!
20 Aug 2026 12:11:21
Respect VG. ?
20 Aug 2026 12:11:27
Munoz must be considered an option through the middle in that case. With his pace, it could work well. Thanks, VG.
20 Aug 2026 12:15:13
Crazy if we go into another season with Endo as our only CDM. We badly need a proper destroyer in midfield, someone who can win the ball without killing our build-up.
20 Aug 2026 12:21:30
Thanks Vic.
I can't see how letting Gakpo go makes us better squads weaker now then it was last season when we struggled for 5th.
Ornstein also saying CPFC told City Wharton going nowhere so pretty much like VG says scratch that off.
It interweb is blowing up with bullcrap every 3 hours there's a new Barcola update and personally, I don't think anyone has a clue what's going on there if we are near or far.
Season starts in 2 days, my only hope is we get good health and no injuries to through it.
I'll take top 4 spot now as I don't see anything else as it is with that squad I don't mean to be a neg Nancy but I don't see how any of our problems have been rectified. We are 2/3 injuries from a cluster F***.
20 Aug 2026 12:02:19
Have you heard anything about the possibility of Ireola trying to bring Alex Scott in??
Plus I understand Brighton have dropped their asking price for Carlos Baleba as
Man Un-United are said to want him and are looking at a figure closer to £65-£70m than the £100m plus fee previously wanted! Are we interested at all?? YNWA
20 Aug 2026 12:24:04
Cheers, VG.
Richard Hughes might as well have had the whole of June, July and half of August off. One release clause and one loan to date.
I hope Amit Bhatia is getting ready to make Campos an offer he can't refuse to be our next SD.
20 Aug 2026 12:24:23
Did you miss the bit where we won the league with Grav as DCM?
The lad has proved that he can play the role and play the role very well. His form was poor last season, but that may have been largely due to there being no real plan for the side to follow.
20 Aug 2026 12:28:24
We won't bring Alex Scott in, I don't think anyways. I imagine the club are weary of signing Bournemouth players as they often bring inflated prices and can be a gamble. However, there is huge interest in Rayan.
20 Aug 2026 12:34:36
Didn't Hughes mess up the Zubimendi transfer by spending weeks trying to negotiate better terms, only for the player to change his mind?
20 Aug 2026 12:35:10
Thanks VG.
20 Aug 2026 12:37:11
Thanks VG, hope we still get a DM, dare I say, it's more important than an attacker at the moment.
20 Aug 2026 12:37:35
WDW, hope that is gaslighting.
20 Aug 2026 12:49:40
Thanks VG.
Top post.
20 Aug 2026 13:00:07
Thanks, VG, this makes perfect sense regards Barcola. Like many fans, I worry about squad depth. I know we have players coming back soon, but some are coming back from long term injuries. I do worry that all the changes behind the scenes have affected our ability to bring in new players.
Do you think this is the case? Will Iraola be backed further in the final days of the transfer window? Do you think the young players who have been brought into the squad (Nyoni, Ngumoha, McConnell etc) are good enough to step into the first team?
20 Aug 2026 13:07:54
Apparently Palace aren't interested in selling Wharton this summer. According to various media sites today.
20 Aug 2026 13:15:23
Thank you, VG.
If so, Barcola, Mbaye in.
Jones, Gakpo out.
Will there be no other midfield signings?
20 Aug 2026 13:16:37
Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world and financially we are very secure. This means that no matter what, we are a top draw for any player even if we are going through a bit of a rough patch.
Despite the echoes of some internet content creators who like to anger the fan base for clicks, the club are doing a lot of work behind the scenes and I expect a busy end to the window.
As for the youngsters, they're all trusted by the coaching staff and therefore I trust they will perform when needed. Ngumoha, in particular, doesn't need any extra approval. Kid's a superstar in the making, but his minutes will need to be managed of course.
20 Aug 2026 13:22:36
Brighton in for Camara apparently.
Does this mean we'll pay Brighton double for him in January? ?
20 Aug 2026 13:27:54
Good man Vic, cheers for info.
20 Aug 2026 13:29:19
Thanks VG, I needed reassurance! I don't want us to lose momentum despite last season's snore fest! I'm excited for Iraola's brand of football...
20 Aug 2026 13:34:38
Thanks, VG, I really appreciate your input.
20 Aug 2026 13:36:43
I'd say Rayan would be a bigger risk and come with a more inflated fee than Scott.
20 Aug 2026 13:26:50
VG,
There's been one or two whispers of Solanke on loan as part of the Gakpo deal with Spurs. Would make a lot of sense as striker cover for a season while Ekitike gets back fit without taking up a foreign player spot in the squad, given he's seemingly falling down the pecking order at Spurs. Don't suppose you've heard anything?
Cheers
20 Aug 2026 13:43:48
Keep her lit, VG. I pay absolutely zero attention to the clowns on here selling snake oil. They know who they are. We all know who they are. I know who to trust.
20 Aug 2026 14:44:52
Nice one, VG.
20 Aug 2026 14:55:42
I've not heard anything regarding Solanke, no.
I can see a move abroad on the cards for him. Spurs want a straight deal for Gakpo but a player + cash has also been discussed.
20 Aug 2026 15:08:11
Ok, the obvious question - which player.
20 Aug 2026 15:14:26
Not sure what player. I just heard of a player being involved in discussions. Likely some deadwood they're trying to offload.
20 Aug 2026 16:28:46
Nice one VG.
20 Aug 2026 18:10:30
Nice one, VG, very much appreciated.
Didn't Camara turn down Palace? Hope we are looking at him.
20 Aug 2026 19:42:39
VG, you always brighten my day. ?
20 Aug 2026 19:53:15
Seems our position on Barcola is aligning, VG. I was told, end of last week, we were double dealing for Barcola and Mbaye, but it seems PSG are a nightmare to deal with, and when you think it's done, they change something.
I also understood we've walked away from Mbaye because of the request for ridiculous bonuses and buy back/sell on clauses.
Perhaps the Minteh link is to get PSG to back down.
My worry now is, we're getting desperate, and PSG will know that and will have our pants down the longer it drags on. Barcola may need to force the issue.
Cheers.
DjimiT.