Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

I hear you, and I agree, the whole thing was a shìtshow for everyone involved, especially the fact it wasn't just Joe Soap fans getting herded like cattle, the corporate lads got treated like dirt also...

I would have hoped after what happened in France at the Eagles Of Death Metal gig in the Bataclan a few years ago, the fact someone can enter France and go to a CL Final without a ticket after firing rockets on Monday in Syria is a bit wrong...

Or maybe I'm just a bit wet behind the ears...

Right so I've reposted the French version of J*stin B*yd B*rr*tt's Tweet, I genuinely didn't know who the chap was at all...

I'm hardly up on french politics myself so no idea who he was but won't be reposting him again now I do know...

PSG linked with Keita for €50M. Where do we sign.

Probably one of our worst signings under Klopp, I don't now how he gets him game.

I think we're probably a year late on trying to sign Bowen. After the season he's had and with the English player tax, they'll be asking for silly money.

Yeah, same.

But it just shows that the recruitment model in use is working. He's another example of a player having a big 'breakout' season either just after signing for Liverpool or not getting the transfer. There are a few examples that go the other way - Lewis that didn't sign from Norwich for example but the majority follow the trend.

Because of this trend, I'm confident in whichever player is targeted. Edwards might have left and replaced by Ward, but the model still sticks. Well, I assume so anyways. Even in January, I wasn't convinced by Diaz but then he comes in and is electric and proves me wrong. Needs to add more goals, but you can see the promise. Like that, I wasn't convinced by Bowen last summer but then he goes and tears up the Premier League this season. Maybe the scouts & recruitment team really do know more than us!! 😂

Our 10% owners RedBird now own AC Milan after buying it for €1.3b

It will be interesting to see what option the club takes with replacing Mane.

Jeremy Doku (Rennes) was actively pursued for a few years and he was allegedly told by Klopp that he was seen as Mane's replacement. He turned down the opportunity to join Liverpool last summer and was repeatedly injured which limited his time on the pitch during the season. He looks a handful as a wide attacking player but he hasn't had a break out season yet in terms of contributing goals and assists.

Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) was a supposed target in a loan with option to buy deal last summer. The Spanish media reported that Ancelotti prevented the deal from happening because he wanted to evaluate the player for himself.

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) was strongly linked with Liverpool before the European Championships and those rumours continue.

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) was the subject of two transfer bids from Liverpool last summer.

All four of those players play out wide and there's no chance of reviving a deal for Vinicius Junior but one of the other three should be possible. If Firmino's legs are gone then we will need a viable alternative to Jota or Salah that can play through the centre. Personally I'd like to see the club sign Darwin Nunez, he caused us problems in both games against Benfica and he did similar against Bayern and Barcelona. He has the quality and Klopp would most certainly improve him as a player.

I presume these transfers will be a chain reaction. Mane can leave Liverpool when a replacement is secured. That replacement can be secured only when their respective replacement has been secured etc. which could lead to a drawn out summer of speculation.

With the arrival of Diaz and how good Mane has been at CF, we aren't looking for a wide forward now. CF is whats needed

mane and mo have 5 yrs or more at the top left in them

I don't agree that he is shot, not as good as he was but definitely good enough for him and Jota to be our CF's next season. Neither are Mane's level but I think an out and out CF makes us top heavy for that position and light on the wings.

I don't think we'll see loads of players in. It's a very short gap between now and the start of the season so not a lot of time to bed in lots of new players. I think a lot of our activity will be based around whether we get significant bids for valuable squad players that we then need to replace.

Keepers

No movement here unless we get a bid for Kelleher and need to replace him

Defenders 

Neco Williams back as cover at RB until after the WC and re-evaluate. We'll only need ins if we get bids for Gomez or Tsimikas that can't be turned down or the players would like more game time.

Midfield

I'd sell Ox, re-sign Milner, let Keita run down his deal. Get in at least one CM, two if Keita is sold.

Forwards

Mane replacement to go along with Carvalho. Maybe a Salah future replacement to bed in if he is going to leave on a free (I still think he stays). Maybe Minamino will be sold and if he is a replacement would be needed. 

That leaves us a 25 man squad of

Alisson, Kelleher

TAA, Neco W, VVD, Matip, Konate, Gomez, Robbo, Tsimikas

Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, New, Keita (or new), Elliott, Milner, Jones

Salah, Diaz, New, Jota, Firmino, Minamino (or new), Carvalho 

Could be as I do expect us to get decent sized bids for Neco Williams at some point based on his Championship and Wales performances.

He's quite versatile too, was playing LWB for Wales recently and was one of their better players behind Bale. I expect we'll get decent offers, possibly as high as 15-20m so it may be a tough decision for the club if an offer like that comes in of whether to keep him or let him go. He definitely has qualities that teams would look for, quick, can pass it very well and as you say has goals in him.

Watching Bellingham's interview on CNN today I really want him now more than ever.

Danjuma name dropping Liverpool being interested in him.

Anyone speak Dutch

Nunez would fulfill the CF requirement and can also fill in on the left as can Danjuma. But I think that it would be naive of the club to go into next season without Salah's replacement in place.

If Mane leaves, I expect any offers for Keita will be considered. Carvalho and Elliott are the next generation attacking midfielder/link up players and between them they are more than capable of covering the contribution of his 2086 minutes on the pitch this season. They are not understudies for Salah's position.

Salah hasnt been the same since AFCON

I really hope we don't draw a French team in the champions League anytime soon... The potential for trouble is huge now.

For now they won't break that wage structure but that won't be long changing.

As for Salah if that is what he wants I would sell him this summer,if he is leaving on a free next summer he will be "minding" himself so he doesn't get injured so he can get his big pay day. No player is bigger than the club

No it does not. The article says he is happily settled in the area and wants a two year deal.

To me it sounds like they want a contract of the value offered by Liverpool, but over a two year period rather than four.

Eventually they will but at present they intend to make incremental improvements to the quality of the team. The club is being rebuilt in a controlled manner and they are not following the "throw money at them" model of Abramovich's Chelsea and subsequently Sheikh Mansour's Man City.

Amazed at people jumping to Newcastle conclusions and people criticising Salah.

He's been amazing for us and will be again and he deserves a lot of credit.

I'm sure a deal will be reached and this "going to rival" could just be a ploy.