Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

brevity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803890#Comment_120803890

That's an unfortunate typo in the first paragraph noodler.

Fitz*

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120804422#Comment_120804422

And given that Fowler has played/managed in Australia, Thailand & India, I would think he would have been open to managing in a middle eastern league anyways irrespective of the new investment or not. He's not exactly a stranger to those minor, emerging footballing leagues.

LuckyLloyd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803648#Comment_120803648

No advantage to those two leaving. Still offering quality starts. Bringing in talented younger players is quite obviously needed, but if you jettison all your winners in the process you just go backwards. Presumably the intention is to win things next year, not just have a cool young side.

rob316

Where is this talk of Hendo going? I would be absolutely sick if that happened, he'll be taking on a reduced role now but what a player to have on the bench, his energy and experience at 60/70 mins into a game is a nice option. Thiago I don't mind leaving, you can't miss a player thats never on the pitch, missed 66 games in 3 seasons.

GiftofGab

Having Thiago and Firmino leaving in the same window is hard to take. My 2 favourite players along side Trent in the squad.

machiavellianme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120805168#Comment_120805168

It's mad how different folk have different favourites, mine are Jota and Darwin but I wouldn't care if Thiago or Jordan left.

SM01

Fab, Thiago and Henderson all have something to contribute this year, and their experience as winners is vital. One would expect with the reduction in sheer quantity of draining minutes should see an uptick in quality from all of them. We can't just go into the new season with an altogether new midfield. Evolution not revolution.

BorneTobyWilde

https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/striker-firmino-joins-al-ahli-free-agent-after-leaving-liverpool-2023-07-04/

..

BorneTobyWilde

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fXsANOpOEM

..

noodler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120804426#Comment_120804426

That was an informative google.

Every Days a school day

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120806481#Comment_120806481

Comes across as a particularly mature 22 year old. Near fluent English too. Interesting that all 3 midfield buys/links share that - wonder if that was a consideration after some of the issues they've had in the past with communication.

Also funny that when asked about choosing the number 8 there was no reference to Gerrard - I guess maybe that impact is lessening a bit already for young players, especially non-English ones.

dogbert27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120806649#Comment_120806649

He said in another interview he wanted number 8 because he has a Gerrard tattoo.

He didn't watch football as a kid growing up but did watch the CL and in that time Gerrard was his favourite player.

noodler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120806479#Comment_120806479

Disappointed but wouldn't begrudge him.

I just thought he'd have more big game moments left in him.

Will he ever again get a reaction like his equaliser against Arsenal a few months ago?

Ottoman_1000

For anyone interest, this is James Pearce take on the Szoboszlai transfer and where we are currently at.

After Liverpool met with Dominik Szoboszlai’s agent Matyas Esterhazy early last week, they weren’t initially optimistic that an agreement could be struck.Convincing the Hungary captain to make the move to Anfield wasn’t an issue. Szoboszlai was enthused about the possibility of continuing his development under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp. Agreeing personal terms on a five-year contract worth around £120,000 ($152,000) per week was relatively straightforward. However, the structure of the deal with RB Leipzig was problematic. His €70million (£60.1m; $76.3m) release clause not only needed to be triggered by the end of June but the vast majority of the fee had to be paid up front. The cost of transfers can usually be spread out in instalments over a number of years but this one would require a hefty and immediate cash outlay. It had deterred other suitors, including Newcastle United, given the implications in terms of meeting financial fair play (FFP) requirements. Waiting until July and attempting to negotiate a lower fee or payment plan with Leipzig after the clause had expired wasn’t an option for Liverpool. They knew the Bundesliga outfit were under no pressure to sell and the cost would only have risen. As Liverpool assessed whether they could make it work financially, the burning question was: how badly did Klopp want Szoboszlai?

The answer was emphatic. The manager viewed him as the ideal multi-functional attacking midfielder to complement the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton three weeks earlier. First-team ready but young, hungry and with the potential to hit much greater heights. Szoboszlai had impressed Klopp with his dynamic performances for Red Bull Salzburg against Liverpool in the group stage of the Champions League in 2019-20. The German coach continued to watch his progress with interest after he moved to Leipzig in January 2021. Such had been Leipzig’s confidence in Szoboszlai’s development, they renewed his contract that summer — only six months after his arrival and before he’d even played a game for them due to a long-term injury — increasing his release clause from €55million to €70m and pushing it back by a year. He went on to score 20 goals and provide 22 assists in 91 appearances.

Liverpool had targeted Mason Mount prior to the end of last season but they felt that the cost of the package for a player with one year left on his contract was going to be excessive. Manchester United, rivals for Mount’s signature, had the advantage of being able to offer Champions League football and went all out to get him. After protracted negotiations, United ultimately agreed to pay Chelsea £60million for the England international, who will earn around £250,000 per week at Old Trafford once his deal is finally completed. Regardless of Mount’s preference, Liverpool wouldn’t have matched those figures. As well as having significantly lower wage demands, Szoboszlai is younger and arguably more tactically flexible given his ability to play as a No 8, No 10 and out wide in a front three. Liverpool also view him as a decent option to deputise for Mohamed Salah during January’s Africa Cup of Nations, which could take the Egypt international away from the club for over a month.

Liverpool, the box midfield and where Szoboszlai fits in. The reports Klopp got back from friends and former colleagues who had worked with Szoboszlai in Germany were glowing. They referred to his work ethic and the leadership qualities of a man who was appointed captain of his international side at the age of just 22 following a vote by his team-mates. The Hungarian had flourished at Leipzig last season under the guidance of head coach Marco Rose, who played for Klopp at Mainz. Rose had been a mentor for the gifted midfielder when he initially broke through at Salzburg as a teenager. Leipzig’s analysts noted how Szoboszlai had a great feeling for starting the press with his run often acting as the trigger. Their Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager told staff he had never seen a No 10 work so hard “against the ball”. The Bundesliga club were first alerted to Liverpool’s interest around a month ago but at the time they felt that Newcastle might be his likelier destination. Leipzig’s preference was to keep him but knew if he left it would be for a club record fee given the clause. By the middle of last week, Liverpool were the sole contenders for his signature — something senior Anfield figures were surprised about given his talent and reputation. It was only on Friday morning – less than 24 hours before the release clause expired – that it became clear that Liverpool could proceed. With owners Fenway Sports Group giving the green light to the financial outlay, sporting director Jorg Schmadtke called his Leipzig counterpart Max Eberl later that day to inform him that the clause was being triggered. Szoboszlai, who is now the fourth most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history, had been a topic of conversation the previous day when the duo had sorted out the finer details of Fabio Carvalho’s season-long loan move to Leipzig.

It was the first incoming of Schmadtke’s tenure with his predecessor Julian Ward completing the transfer of Mac Allister last month before handing over the reins. Schmadtke’s input was sought given his wealth of Bundesliga experience, but this was very much a deal driven by Klopp, with Szoboszlai having been a player of serious interest long before the handover. On Saturday morning, Szoboszlai flew in to undergo his medical and on Sunday he was given a guided tour of both Anfield and Kirkby’s AXA Training Centre. He had opted for the iconic No 8 shirt previously worn by Steven Gerrard. Szoboszlai has been friends with Erling Haaland since their days together at Salzburg and the Manchester City striker was in contact to offer his congratulations on the move. Haaland has also been providing advice on where to live, with the midfielder spending time on Monday looking at properties in Cheshire before boarding a private plane with his father Zsolt and agent Esterhazy to fly home to Hungary. He intends to say his goodbyes at Leipzig before returning to Kirkby to meet his new team-mates next Tuesday.

Liverpool intend to take stock as they consider their next move in the transfer market. Klopp wanted to sign two multi-functional midfielders capable of providing more energy and creativity to refresh that department following the exits of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as free agents. That’s been achieved at a combined cost of around £95million before the start of pre-season, which gets under way with the first wave of returnees to Kirkby on Saturday. No sagas, no fuss; just two release clauses triggered. Nice’s Khephren Thuram is no longer viewed as a target with Liverpool having ultimately decided that Szoboszlai was the better option given his greater versatility, experience and skill set.

Liverpool could yet move for a young centre-back if the right option becomes available, but they won’t pursue a third midfielder unless one of the current crop leaves. If you include Trent Alexander-Arnold, who finished last season in a hybrid role, Klopp currently has nine senior midfield options with Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott. It remains to be seen if that situation changes. Thiago has attracted serious interest from Saudi Arabia and has already turned down one lucrative offer. However, he currently intends to stay put for the final year of his contract. Henderson has also been linked with a move to Saudi following the appointment of Gerrard at Al Ettifaq, but there’s been no approach so far and Liverpool do not expect to lose their long-serving skipper.

Since wrapping up the signing of Szoboszlai, there has been growing speculation had Liverpool turned their attention to Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. He is admired but as things stand they are not pursuing the Belgian defensive midfielder. They do not believe they have a gap to fill currently and they also feel that an asking price of £50million is far too high for a teenager who has only made 17 more senior appearances in his career than Bajcetic. Despite all the recent noise around Thuram, it is worth noting that Jones and Elliott have been two of the standout performers at the Under-21 European Championship as they prepare for England’s semi-final with Israel today (Wednesday).

Klopp has been delighted to see them showcase their talent on the international stage and expects them both to kick on again next season.

Robert2014

Hopefully just trying to dampen down media talk while they work in the background. I still think a new midfielder is required. They have lost 3 midfielders from the first team squad this summer in Keita, Ox, Milner and have seen a decline in Fabinho and Henderson last season. It's a lot of pressure on 2 new midfielders to come in and lift everything. Still think they need a successor to Fabinho as a more defensive option. Don't want to go into next season with Fabinho in further decline and only a young Bacjetic as back-up.

Tusky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120805611#Comment_120805611

This is a good example of a very, very bad take.

giveitholly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120807557#Comment_120807557

Also remember bacjetic actually struggled when played as a no 6 last season and started to shine when played as a no 8

robwen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120806649#Comment_120806649

https://twitter.com/Tom1000j/status/1675934491427106827?t=9CwcziQzRAkvsUPEVo62Wg&s=19

Colwill a big fan of Stevie G

noodler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120807715#Comment_120807715

I certainly love Jota. Our most clinical player I would say, but, without starting this all off too early in pre season, I'm not sure what Nunez has done to be loved just yet.

Thiago, Hendo, Fabinho, two new guys... yeah need another. I won't be happy if Jones or Elliott are two of our main 6 options (notwithstanding Jones finishing the season well)

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120807557#Comment_120807557

I agree, but I really hope we don’t spend €50m on Lavia as our Fabinho back up. The guy has only a few months and about 10 senior games more experience that Bajcetic, Klopp clearly rates Bajcetic too so I think it would be a crazy waste of money. I think someone like Kone would be a much better value buy than Lavia. 

mosstin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120807481#Comment_120807481

"They do not believe they have a gap to fill currently."

FFS In my opinion, it's the biggest gap we have to fill. This will bite us in the arse if we don't address our lack of aggression/mobility in front of our defence.

machiavellianme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120807771#Comment_120807771

Darwin offers a level of chaos not seen since Suarez left. Sure, he has a bit more to do on the pitch but he's young and has time. That and his dashing looks. It's just down to personal preference. I'd imagine most people probably have Mo or Trent as their favourite.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120807715#Comment_120807715

I posted my preferences, I'm not sure how that's a bad take? What is your great insight then? Keep everyone and let the squad grow old together (even though we've seen the issues with that all last season)?

How would we miss Thiago when he's available so little anyway? It'd be like missing Naby. If he's available and actively "on it", it's a bonus, but when the game doesn't suit him or he's once again out for treatment, then cest la vie. Silky skills aren't much use if you can't make the match day squad and that coupled with high wages plus advancing years makes it a lucrative slot to free up for his successor.

Jordan, I could take or leave. If he has the ability to do the Milner role, then great but somehow I think Jimmy was a fitter specimen than Henderson could hope to be. Maybe we will keep him because he's English and a leader but if a decent offer came in, he's one who is on the wane anyway and will need replacing sooner rather than later, likely in the next 2 years.

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120808073#Comment_120808073

I’d say it’s down to Klopp still viewing Fab as his No.1 in that position and he probably feels now with more movement and energy in front of him, Fab can maybe get back to doing what he does best. 

I’d love that to be the case, because to be honest, with what we have left in the budget we aren’t signing anyone who is going to be a close to what peak Fab was! 

Vicxas

Apparently we've made contact with Levi Colwill's people, but itll be hard to pry him from Chelsea i reckon

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120808314#Comment_120808314

I can't imagine why Chelsea would want to sell him, let alone to us! There center back options at the minute are Fofana, Chalobah, Badisahille and a 39 year old Thiago Silva... there's no reason why he can't force his way into that side!

Electric Nitwit

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuSFRu-Ijg8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Ripped!

mosstin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120808120#Comment_120808120

Here's the thing though: in the past two seasons we've clearly identified people to play that specific role. Tchouameni, Caicedo, Kone, Thuram (if reports are to believed) and others I can't recall. Then, we buy a player who clearly doesn't play that role - Szobo - and the word is that we no longer think there's a gap to filled there. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Up until about 2 seasons ago, I had full faith that our transfer strategy was peerless but that no longer seems to be the case.

It's all rumour/hearsay of course but given our purported pursuit of Fab-like players, we have clearly identified his form as an issue. I'm still hopeful/expectant that we'll do something in this window but we'll be building foundations on sand again if we don't.

Fitz*

There was some suggestions that Chelsea have a policy now of either selling players that have 2 years remaining on their contract, or getting them to sign a new one.

Colwill has 2 years remaining, and has a contract offer that remains unsigned.

Fitz*

Also Chelsea rejected a £40m bid from Brighton for Colwill, so that has to be factored in.

BorneTobyWilde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120807388#Comment_120807388

Im just wonder why all of a sudden no one is calling out anyone over taking blood and oil money

All the hysteria over the World Cup, and now players and clubs are happily taking the Saudi money, with no fear of a tainted reputation , embracing a nation who murdered Jamal Khashoggi, a nation who recently executed 81 men on one day, for participated in anti-government demonstrations calling for greater political participation. Great little country .

antimatterx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120808838#Comment_120808838

That can be their policy all they want, but players don't have to do either. They can happily remain there with 2 years left on the contract.

brevity

Some rumours that a bid for Fabinho might be on the way...

Talisman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120808757#Comment_120808757

I don't doubt that there is a gap to be filled and the club obviously has thought there is a need. However there is the issue of the price point at which the club is prepared to do business. Szoboszlai clearly wasn't an intended transfer target, they didn't think that he could be signed until a week before the deal happened. Now they've spent a huge chunk of the budget on a single player and Southampton are quoting £50M for Lavia.

The reason Southampton want such a high price is because next year Man City have a buy back clause for £40M but if he's sold to another club there's a 20% sell on clause. Southampton want their £40M and Man City would get £10M of a £50M fee. Persuading Southampton to take a hit on the £40M lottery ticket is where the work needs to be done. I don't think any club will be prepared to pay that premium for the player and any negotiations won't be conducted in public view.

mosstin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120809746#Comment_120809746

But this is exactly why I think our thinking in terms of transfers behind the scenes isn't what it needs to be. Did we really need a Szobo type player? Possibly. Was it as much a priority as a DM? Absolutely not. If, as you've suggested, we've spent the budget or most of it addressing an area of the pitch that we're reasonably well stocked, that's a second season in a row we'll be left short a vital area.

dogbert27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120808715#Comment_120808715

He'll never make it with that running style!

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120810341#Comment_120810341

And the third season in four… its becoming a wee bit of a trend alright. Klopp just trying to keep things interesting? 😅

i can only imagine the plan is to keep Trent in that hybrid role coming in beside Fab to help his lack of movement, but that brings more issues to covering the right side… seems a better idea to just get a proper DM instead of hamstringing multiple positions to try to cover for a declining one.

noodler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120809079#Comment_120809079

I suppose you can't stop a person going there but you would expect a country's authority and structures to be strong enough to prevent a massive influx of dodgey cash/ownership.

"Why arent we giving Bobby Firmino the same criticism as the premier league for letting City and Newcastle situations come about" I think the criticism is proportional

machiavellianme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120810610#Comment_120810610

Bobby sullied his reputation for going there, but what a free agent does in a league I'll never watch doesn't really affect me in the same way as two teams cheating their way to the top and getting plaudits for doing so.

The negative impact of City and their bottomless pit of cash on the game is immeasurable. The price of players has skyrocketed because it now costs 50M for a half decent bench warmer. This means that other clubs have to raise the price of their tickets, shirts, hospitality, you name it, in order to try and compete. Who loses out? - the fans!

Utopia Parkway

Curtis Jones has been very good for England in the U21 Euros. Has picked up a couple MOTM awards. Including in tonight's semi final win.

rob316

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120810735#Comment_120810735

He was like a new player in the run of games at the end of the season. He looked like the penny finally dropped to cut out the aimless shooting and endless touches of the ball.

Talisman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120810341#Comment_120810341

Mac Allister and Szoboszlai both address part of the midfield problem we faced last season. The #6 role is the third piece of the problem. Klopp is always likely to give his players the opportunity to prove themselves again, we've seen it several times before.

Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Elliott, Bajcetic and Morton have the legs to play in Klopp's midfield. Henderson, Thiago and Fabinho don't need to be as intense if they can rely upon the younger legs to compensate for them. Kone and Thuram did not deliver stand out performances at the Euros so the club may quite rightly feel that it was not worth following up on them at this time.

There's also the option of bringing TAA into the midfield. If Klopp is fully intent on evolving the way the team plays then we may see a lot of TAA sitting beside one of the older trio with two of the young players pressing in front of them. This of course would require a defender that could cover the right side and we don't have an adequate stand in for Konate that can do that. It may explain why the focus on finding a defender has switched from left sided options such as Evan N'Dicka and Micky van de Ven to making an offer for Perr Schuurs.

The two midfield players signed are definitely a step in the right direction but it was never likely that we could solve all of the team's issues with a limited budget if a large chunk of it went on a single player. Klopp will have to find a way to address the gap without resorting to James Milner, that in itself has me excited for the new season.

Girly Gal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120810554#Comment_120810554

Why go for the obvious solution, when a more complex option that causes more disruption to the team is available, Klopp has a history of unorthodox solutions, eg Fab and Henderson at CB!

SM01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120811177#Comment_120811177

Those were more born out of desperation.

x43r0

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120808715#Comment_120808715

I would love to see a renewed Jordan Henderson this year. The amount of apathy (in some cases outright disrespect) the man gets from some of the fanbase is ridiculous. I struggle to recall a player deliver so much for the club yet be so under appreciated.

Hopefully the competition provided by the new arrivals lights a fire under his arse and the midfield depth gives him enough rest and balance in terms of mins to recapture some of that 19-20 form

jones

Well going by Hendersons latest photos in pre season he certainly looks the part....RIPPED. I think more legs in midfield will definitely help both him and Fabinho.

In terms of transfers do we think anyone else will come in? We've had a brilliant start to transfer window but i still think we need another midfielder and a defender. Fab/Hen/Thiago are all too injury proine to be relied on IMO so while our midfield numbers look great i dont think its a fair reflection of our squad strength. Everyone being fit though we are looking good in midfield and forward wise.

I'd love to get Lavia as a long term replacement for Fab but he's a lot of money when we've Bal sitting on the sidelines already. Arsenal are doing some buying they certainly arent going to make the same mistake we did after pushing city "close" and rest of their laurels.

doc_17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120810554#Comment_120810554

There’s no way Trent, or anyone for that matter, can cover for a defensive midfielder and cover his own side of the pitch when we lose the ball. There’d be too much going on as you say.

Talisman

Somebody's looking to wind up Real Madrid with a claim that Liverpool have made an offer of €200M for Mbappe 🤣

https://twitter.com/elchiringuitotv/status/1676906163428835328?

Electric Nitwit

Ah, I do love a good Mbappe to Liverpool summer story 🤣

Fitz*

#Mbappe2023

martyos121

I Mbelieve.