31 Aug 2026 10:35:58
Luca Brugmans is having an early medical for Liverpool.
Belgian goal keeper 6.7 tall, to replace Marmaduke who appears to be in negotiations with Nottingham.
Personally I would be surprised to see Marma move there.
Source is Sacha Tavolieri.
31 Aug 2026 11:01:51
Well, Marma was brought in as a medium term 1st choice, but has not proved good enough. If they can cash in then it's best for all and he gets to prove himself without waiting for opportunities to play.
31 Aug 2026 11:06:06
Sounds like it's a money back deal on Mamar (obligation to buy at around £30m, which is roughly what we paid for him - our purchase price included add ons so we may make a small profit). Good business all round, his lack of distribution was never going to work for us.
31 Aug 2026 11:07:52
From his point of view, he would get more game time staying with us than he will at Forest. Sels is a good keeper, I can't see him replacing him. Odd move, in my opinion.
31 Aug 2026 11:07:58
Woodman is my 2nd choice. Better, more vocal, and, though he may lack the height, he makes up for sheer effort and cat-like reflexes.
31 Aug 2026 11:14:56
With Freddy having signed a 3-year extension, it is clear he is happy to be the No.2 or No.3 choice goalkeeper, and gives a level of security that Mamardashvili did not provide. Bringing in the hugely talented Lucca Brughmans (who is still growing - frightening) will provide talent for post-Alli while giving him time to bed in to the side.
Mamardashvili recently informed his representatives that he wanted a move, as his move to us had not worked out the way he envisaged. It'd be best to cash in on him while there is a need elsewhere.
31 Aug 2026 11:18:32
Marma just wasn't it for us. Not suited to how we play.
If he does move this window, best of luck to him in his career.
31 Aug 2026 11:20:59
We need a replacement for Becker at some point, for some reason he always seems to be on the verge of a move.
Marmadashvilli is not a replacement.
31 Aug 2026 11:30:30
Brughmans is staying at Genk for this season though. Mamadashvilli leaves and that leaves us with Woodman, I don't know if he is good enough to cover Allison for an 8 game run of CL & Prem games though.
Ali is prone to injury more lately.
31 Aug 2026 11:35:41
I would be looking at Verbruggen next year to replace Alisson. He will have one year left on his contract.
{Ed001's Note - he is not even close to good enough!
31 Aug 2026 11:42:20
I thought Zion Suzuki could be a decent option, Babbity, but he's already gone to Villa.
31 Aug 2026 11:42:26
Jaros is due back around December, Red, we'd be sorted then. Hopefully our No.1 won't have his annual winter injury this season. ?
31 Aug 2026 11:52:38
When it's time to lose the great Alisson. We should look at that Uni Simon.
Keeps Raya out of the Spain national team, and only let in one goal in a full World Cup winning campaign. Not the youngest but defo gettable from Bilbao.
I dread the day when we lose VVD and AB1. Especially when you see the dross being lined up to replace Salah.
{Ed001's Note - when you say gettable, you have to factor in that they have no need of money, they can't spend it due to their Basques-only signing policy. The only way players leave is if they want to go. So he is only gettable if he wants to join us, in which case, yes, he is very gettable as they will not stand in his way.}
31 Aug 2026 12:01:45
I'm.
With you on Unai Simon. Top.
Top keeper.
31 Aug 2026 12:02:01
Bilbao players aren't the easiest to obtain, LiverpoolFC8. Bilbao don't sign non-Basque players, so they are reluctant to sell top talent and can end up demanding release fees. Also they want a lot of the payments in cash (according to a quick Google) so they can use the money to invest in infrastructure.
{Ed001's Note - that is spot on. They have no real need of money at all, their infrastructure is incredible and they have amongst the best youth systems in the game.}
31 Aug 2026 12:06:08
How about Pecsi or Jaros or the giant Belgian 18-year-old rather than taking the easy option of shelling out tens of millions? What's the point of bringing on top young talent if you have no intention of ever promoting them to the starting team?
31 Aug 2026 12:07:49
Diogo Costa all the way. Will cost a lot, but should sort that position for 5+ years. Great distribution and kicking.
31 Aug 2026 12:34:22
Wasn't Pecsi meant to be the next big thing, is Brughmans rated higher?
31 Aug 2026 12:32:45
Curious Ed001, would the Athletic Bilbao approach to running a club, work in England for one of the lower Premier League sides? To be a top league side and constantly in Europe is a testament to their youth system given the geographic restriction they self imposed.
{Ed001's Note - probably not, we don't have the catchment areas to use. You have to remember the Basque region is a large area of Spain and France.}
31 Aug 2026 12:39:01
This kid looks like a bonafide wonderkid tbf.
31 Aug 2026 12:44:17
Ahh, very interesting. I did not know that, cheers guys. ??
If we wanted him, we'd just have to turn his head, then I suppose.
Great goalkeeper either way.
31 Aug 2026 13:10:53
Leoni, Lucca, and Iffy - three certified giants.
31 Aug 2026 13:34:01
I'd have Kelleher back in a heart beat myself.
31 Aug 2026 12:47:19
I wrote my question wrong Ed001. What i mean is by shifting the focus to developing an academy system like Bilbaos instead of focusing on the transfer market. So they can still sign players from anywhere, but youth development is the focus. Bilbao are not in financial trouble at all and I think a lot clubs should look to be run like them.
{Ed001's Note - totally agree.