25 Aug 2026 20:11:33
Hi all,
I expect Barcola puts pen to paper at the AXA somewhere in the next 72 hours.
Mbaye likely isn’t happening. Initial talks were progressive and very positive, but Premier League tax is making it difficult to find an agreed fee.
Liverpool have enquired about Rodrygo, who is surplus to Madrid, but will not bid unless the price is similar to that of Yankuba Minteh. Again, another injured player.
25 Aug 2026 20:50:24
Cheers, VG.
What a strange window.
25 Aug 2026 20:52:21
Cheers, VG. Soon it's done, the better.
25 Aug 2026 20:53:46
Thank you.
They should play Munoz on the right and save their money.
25 Aug 2026 20:55:12
You're right Pelican, it is a strange window. Leaks have almost certainly been plugged on the club side.
25 Aug 2026 20:55:15
Do we not hold interest in Osorio or William Gomes from Porto?
25 Aug 2026 20:59:32
Nice one VG.
25 Aug 2026 21:03:00
Not sure about either of those two. If there is interest, I've not heard of it. I'm hearing less and less and less these days...
25 Aug 2026 21:09:56
What are you doing to us, Vic? 3 more days of this?
25 Aug 2026 21:14:08
I apologise, Shipley. Hopefully it's on the quicker end of the 72 hours. ?
25 Aug 2026 21:18:09
Rodrigo is another of Edwards' laptop finds and will not be joining under any circumstances - his name is being banded about to play poker face with PSG, as Mbaye was seen as the best player to encourage and compete with Rio without blocking him, which Minteh and Barcola absolutely will do.
As long as Rio signs his contract this week, he's secured although I don't believe he has a future under Andoni Ball.
25 Aug 2026 21:21:06
Sorry, but the Rodrygo link would be madder than the Minteh link, as am sure he is not expected back from the cruciate ligaments injury until Jan 2027 at the earliest.
Would make absolutely no sense, unless Hughes is just trying to f*** us over now that he is leaving.
25 Aug 2026 21:33:16
It makes "sense" when factoring in the club's long-term plan. They're not too fussed about injuries if it means the RW has a decent option in the long-term.
25 Aug 2026 21:35:28
Rodrygo is a woeful player, lightweight, one dimensional and just another Antony type winger. Also a complete knobhead too.
{Ed001's Note - he is a left winger anyway isn't he? I think he just gets punted to the right to make space for Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.}
25 Aug 2026 21:37:31
Thanks, VG.
25 Aug 2026 21:37:57
Cheers, Vic, looks like maybe PSG were angling for a larger upfront payment, and we were simply willing to wait it out, knowing full well PSG were keen to offload, now that they have 17 wingers.
25 Aug 2026 21:42:27
Victor,
Any word on a midfielder.
25 Aug 2026 21:44:43
You can have some confidence about a player returning from a 2 to 3 month injury, but with a year long injury like Rodrygo has, there are no guarantees what he will be like afterwards. Would be madness to sign him now.
25 Aug 2026 21:53:24
Am I alone in thinking that Rio is not as good as Ben Doak? Just lots of stepovers, and no ability to pass or track back?
{Ed001's Note - no, at least Doak drove forward.}
25 Aug 2026 21:53:45
I'm not sure if he's even a third choice option. I just know we enquired at one point recently.
And on a midfielder, last I heard we were still targeting one.
25 Aug 2026 21:09:19
Nice one VG
Have you heard of LFC having any interest in Lamine Camara
25 Aug 2026 22:02:30
Not heard anything about Camara but we could well be interested. There usually isn't smoke without fire.
I know for a fact we were interested in the past.
25 Aug 2026 22:06:29
Yes. I have had primary and newspaper sources suggesting Camara. He would make a lot of sense.
25 Aug 2026 22:14:08
It would be funny if Barcola stays with PSG and signs an extension.
25 Aug 2026 22:28:31
Aye, and that also Minteh is done subject to a medical. Funny how usage of the word "done" gets scrutinised when it's me, Ned or Fields?
25 Aug 2026 22:32:54
Another possible scenario: if Gakpo lw stays and Minteh comes in rw, that's possibly Barcola to replace Wirtz, to form a front two with Isak.
25 Aug 2026 22:35:44
Regarding a midfielder... could Varela from Porto be of interest? (sorry if prev covered this).
imo, Iraola's system appears to need a reliable, robust number 6 "destroyer"... with ability to disrupt fast attacks... and also thread attacking passes in transition from defense to rapid attack.
From my pov... We saw the problem in the Newcastle game and pre-season games too.
Grav was caught out of position, lost possession. Things improved a little wt Mac... but still not effective enough to disrupt fast attacker, to give more time for CBs to get back into more defensible positions.
Nyoni is great, but needs more muscle mass and time to develop for a PL season.
To me, we need a destroyer at no. 6. A Rodri type character. Was key to City's dominance and Spain's World Cup success. (Wharton, Scott, etc, are all too expensive, likely going elsewhere).
To me, Varela seems most doable (has release clause at EUR70mill). Only 25, has great potential to grow still.
Porto are a selling club. So, perhaps easier to get over line in short time?
I would prefer spending 70mill on no.6 like Varela than on another young winger.
25 Aug 2026 22:37:00
Rodrygo was available 15 months ago for EUR100m. Currently out injured in rehab after cruciate rebuild. Will not even be in training until late 2026.
I don't know if he is still available now, but I would imagine so.
Would make zero sense though, as he prefers to play on the left and has complained repeatedly about being forced onto the right, one of the primary reasons Madrid are open to a sale.
25 Aug 2026 22:40:27
Thanks, Victor. I'd be delighted with Wharton.
25 Aug 2026 22:19:19
Genuinely curious how Rodrygo is a knob head? Does he put the milk in before the tea bag?
25 Aug 2026 23:33:30
@Fifth Element, I'm not sure everyone keeps saying anyone from Madrid is a knobhead lol. In the case of Vinicius it's true but far as I know Rodrygo and Endrick are just average Joes. For Brazilians, they're pretty quiet, really.
26 Aug 2026 05:49:38
Thanks VG....
26 Aug 2026 07:13:21
Cheers, VG. At least we can say with Absolute certainty...
It won't be happening next week!!!
26 Aug 2026 07:27:21
You'd hope it would be the next 72 hours otherwise the window will be virtually shut. Given we don't work weekends.
26 Aug 2026 07:51:40
Monstersouness, I've been saying this for months, Rio won't make it at Liverpool imo he's not as good as people think, looks flash but there's no end product.
{Ed0666's Note - I think you’ve got an ally in Ed’s 001
26 Aug 2026 07:54:08
I read somewhere that Camara turned down Crystal Palace, to see if we bid for him, might be s*** but then I could be a surprise signing.
26 Aug 2026 08:29:28
For me, Rio is a kid who may or may not make it. He certainly isn't ready for regular starts if we want to compete.
I feel our recruiters may have stitched us up a bit with him by promising him unearned game time.
He did have some good games last season as a sub, where he added drive and energy to the team, but he had a very low bar.
I compare him to Sterling, and he's miles behind Sterling at a similar age.
{Ed0666's Note - I don’t have a problem with him coming on with 10-15 minutes to go. I think that’s his ceiling for now but I think k that ceiling can get higher. He might be a world beater in two or three years but we can’t heap all this pressure on the kid now and expect him to be a break out star like Fowler, Owen or Rooney et al they were generational Rio ain’t yet.
26 Aug 2026 09:38:38
VG, does it seem to you that the club have used this drawn out drama on Barcola to distract from other weaknesses on the team that obviously will not get addressed now?
26 Aug 2026 10:02:24
Zephi2, I'm not sure what you mean by calling Rodri a destroyer. He is pretty much the opposite of one. Can't remember the last time I saw him try to tackle someone let alone put a slide tackle in. He is way more likely to out a toe in to disrupt the ball or channel them.