Bit tongue in check and he is a decent prospect, but basically he generates a ton a offensive actions for the team, but is unable to get himself shots. Maybe that changes as he develops, but if 20M-30M is on the table, I'd be inclined to include buy back and let him go see if can develop that elsewhere.
Something occurred to me that should have been obvious. We are currently the favorites to win the Champions League. There should be no transfer target that we should think of as being unrealistic. Who wouldn’t want to play for us? It’s also why at least 2 of the 3 contracts should turn out okay. Where could they go that’s better? It’s a position we didn’t expect to be in when Klopp left, but it’s a great position to be in.
And one that seems to underscore the importance of getting any deals we really want, done quickly while that particular iron is still hot.
I think the club would be off their rocker to move Doak on, even with a buy-back. Picking at his stats and concluding there's holes in his game .... my god, of course there are. Messi and Zidane and Gerrard weren't the finished article at his age either. What player ever has been?
If we sell it might be because we intend to sign an experienced top rw to replace Mo ie a player closer to Mo's quality than Doak.
Given Doak is only 19, there is possibly still 4+ years before Doak is approaching his peak. Plenty of time for another player in the interim.
Arsenal has been able to do well on sales lately too - Iwobi, Smith Rowe, the US player to France, etc.
I'm not saying it's a terrible return. Just curious if any other loanees have had similar impacts at that age or were they ahead of the program and Doak is the 'norm?' What was Sterling doing at 19? Kent? Ibe? Sturridge? Mane?
Different times. Sterling at 19: 11 years ago Kent at 19: 9 years ago Ibe at 19: 10 years ago Sturridge at 19: 16 years ago Mane at 19: 13 years ago. Ryan Kent is the only one of the above who was 19 when Jurgen Klopp came to Liverpool and even then only just about. That’s how far back we’re going. Since then, stats, metrics, fitness everything has changed beyond belief. You can no more compare Sterling and Doak at 19 than you can compare Mane and Keegan.
Sterling also was able to break into a pretty in progress team under Brendan Rogers. Not saying that it would've been impossible under Klopp - because after all Trent did the same - but it might have been harder. Sterling was an immense talent during his teen years so he was going to make it one way or the other.
There is a pretty major difference between the talent necessary to have a solid PL career vs what it takes to play for Liverpool. Even if a young player shows they have talent to play in the PL, very few will make it at Liverpool so not sure its the worst thing in the world if players get moved on, especially if you can get a fee that basically covers academy cost/transfers for a season.
Yup - mentality as well. I’ve always used the Henderson vs Shelvy comparison. Jonjo had all the physical talent with a $.05 brain, while Hendo had a world class mentality despite lesser physical talent.
Absolutely. Danns and Nyoni seem to have that and I'd much rather put first team development minutes in to them. Not at all phased by stepping up a level, pretty much always make good decisions with the ball, and have the confidence to execute.
I'm still unsure about Danns - but IME Nyoni is going to be one of the top midfielders in the league. I can honestly see a baby Gravenberch, and Gravey is still young.
Al-Hilal ‘wants to sign’ Nunez from Liverpool ‘for 100 million euros (£84m)’ and the Reds ‘could be willing to listen to offers for their striker’. BITE THEIR FRIGGIN HANDS OFF. That price would give us a sound profit on the boy given he's been here a few years and that kind of cash would get us a new attacker and LB.
my guess is he wouldn't be interested in moving to Saudi. at his age he doesn't want to be off the radar for the Uruguay NT and other potential moves to Euro clubs. in general, the crazy-money Saudi bids don't seem to be working these days do they.