Ian Doyle Sport: "Unless one of Liverpool's main players agitates to leave and a huge offer comes in for them, Liverpool as it stands are almost certain not to sign any marquee players such as Mbappe, Haaland and, given what Dortmund want for him, Sancho." With insight like that, he should become a journalist!
Keita to atletico madrid? If the offer is any way decent I'd snap the hand off. 40mil would be about twice his worth.
If he could stay fit and on form, then no, but he can't, so yes. I don't know if there's much in this though. I wasn't really expecting any takers for him. He would need replacing though, so that's another player to add to the list.
What we looking at? Definiate outs: Adrian and Gini Clear out of the injury prone? Matip, Ox, Keita and Shaq? Finally sell Origi? So we'd need: 2 CBs (needng one already) Kabak and Konate? 2 mid-forward types, Minamino and Elliott? 2 CMs (at least) That'd be 4-5 players. Can't see that happening. Think we're stuck with some high earners who barely play for at least another season. Not to mention the general age of the team is reaching a tipping point, looks like we're heading for a messy situation in a couple of years.
yeah, its most likely nonsense. In the end where's the real value in the squad? a lot of those are warm bodies for 10-15 games of various types and right now keita falls into that camp. I see it like this: Alisson, kelleher, porbabaly adrian as its easy have him as that warm body. Trent, williams (warm body) gomez Matip, Gomez. (new signing), williams (probably to go on loan) VVD.... ermm... struggling here. Robertson, tsimikas (people are far too harsh here) Fabinho (big issue here), grujic? henderson (old) Jones Thiago ?? ?? This is the issue Ox, kieta, milner. none really work do they? Jota, mane (now second choice and needs a head wobble) Firmino, origi - this is a big issue. Salah, elliott, - shaqirir is another who should go. Its time for a freshening up not a fire sale. theres quite a few who can just go without us noticing: grujic, phillips, davies, wilson. then theres a few who need to just move on like ox, keita, origi, minamino and origi. The question is how to freshen this up and who will want the players to go? We need a midfielder who can do a few different roles, a CB and a forward. a proper no 9. this won't be easy. When we look at the U23s theres 2 or 3 max who might play a couple koumetio, quansah, musialowski (but this year might be too soon). Really theres proabably not another jones or trent or williams just yet but anyone can surprise.
Can’t see us splashing much cash even if we manage to shift on player tbh. Think jones will have a far bigger role next year. Tsimikas will hopefully be able to ease the burden on Robbo after a year around the squad (remember Robbo and fab took time). I can imagine Elliott getting game time in the squad. Are there any other young players than can step up? Minamino to come back and offer an option as well. We def need to freshen things up but this summer is going to be difficult by looks of things
Young players stepping up - Koumetio looks a real talent. He was on the bench last week so that's the first step.
Can't see it happening either, which is why I think we'll keep players like Matip and Ox. Keita only goes if someone makes a reasonable bid for him. Players like Origi, Shaqiri, Minamino, Grujic, Philips could fetch plus/minus 10 million each and are more likely imo, as they're not part of our plans but could make sense for someone else. We wouldn't really miss them either. I think it'll be one defender, or at most Kabak plus A.N. Other (Konate?) One forward (two if someone leaves). Raphinha? St. Maximan? Sarr? And one midfielder (No idea)
Hasn’t had any real football yet has he? Given our CB issues and the fact he hasn’t made an appearance would suggest he’s quite a way off first team level at the moment.
Wouldn’t mind Bissouma from Brighton. Only 24, can do a bit of everything in that midfield, very much box to box. Think he’ll move somewhere this summer if a bid is made. Rumours he’s told Brighton he would like to go if an offer is made as well. Price may be only real issue, looking at £40m plus
My gut feeling is that Elliott will go on loan again, unless we're desperately short. Minamino wasn't really an option before he went on loan and he's not set the world on fire down there, so I'm not sure how much game time he'd get if he stays. Can see him being sold or loaned.
Didn't he get a sub appearance a while back? I know he was being talked about before the season but didn't he get injured. I agree that he's a way off the first team though. Maybe nearly as far as Davies.
He's just 18 mate and only joined the academy a couple years ago. These guys need time being ready is a tough ask given where we expect them to slot in. He was also injured as well earlier in the season Van den berg is off on loan and is expect to go back out on loan again. is he "ready" no i wouldn't say so either. but we are talking 5th and 6th choices here. Btw I agree with nozzer on minamino. he is toast. he's not good enough and doesn't play in the way klopp needs. he will be sold eventually. he did just alight at Southampton and only cos they had a deal forcing them to play him or pay.
he's "alright" but I don't think he's that great on the ball. He is an english league dream of a strong lad who can run and run.
Defence, particularly CB, is the hardest area for youngsters to break into imo because experience is so important when defending.
Put it this way. 83 prem games 2 goals. Now i know its brighton but he is a no 6 more than a box to box player. I dont see him spraying passes about for us. Good experience, energetic player, would add to us in terms of a defensive base. But where are the goals coming from? Can we go 343 for example with him and fabinho in the middle and release Robertson and taa more?
Fair enough, but how many goals have Fabinho, Henderson, Milner (excluding penalties), Thiago etc. got for us? Wijnaldum and Keita score occasionally but they're hardly prolific. I'm not saying I agree with it, but I get the impression it's not Klopp's main concern.
Its our way of playing. Since klopp came in and moved coutinho on for a more all rounded midfield 3 who can be solid and offer protection to the defence it allows TAA and Robbo to push on and relies on the front 3 to score the goals and full backs to assist. If you suddenly put someone like coutinho back into midfield then you’re relying on 2 midfielders to protect the defence and wide areas when the full backs push on. It can’t be done. With 3 in there 1 can push wide to cover and still have 2 in middle. As you say, someone who can press, cover ground, put a foot in and keep the ball and tactically aware are far more important in our team than someone who can split the needle with a pass. Now if they can do all that fine, but gerrard retired years ago and not come across many since then that can do everything!!