I know Barcola seems to be the latest flavour of the month especially after what he did to us in the Champions League but, having watched France in the World Cup, he’s come across as speed merchant without much else if he’s not afforded time and space.
The reason(s) I think Stones might be worth a punt: 1. No matter how you add it up, we are short experience back there. Other than VVD, who we have no guarantee will play as many games next season, we’ve got an injured 19(?) yo, a new French kid who is not familiar with the PL and a veteran who would lose a bet on being available for 10 straight games. 2. It would simultaneously piss off City and the Blueshite. 3. We are short of old heads in the dressing room, old heads who are used to playing at the top end of the table. 4. We’re not asking him to play full time, maybe every 3rd/4th/5th game. 5. He probably has one, maybe 2 good seasons left in him at the top end of the game, I can’t see him wanting Mo or Konate (Madrid) type money. Sure, there are plenty of downsides, but as a Gary Mc type, he makes sense. To me anyway. Unless we have an Upemecano-type in mind for £75m+.
Where is the Stones story coming from? I’m afraid I’ve not been keeping up with the transfer rumours!
Both the goals he’s scored at the WC have been super composed. Look i didnt rate him much either but he’s grown on me this past wc month and i genuinely feel he’ll be a Weapon in the PL. Also he started the SF over Doue (whose looked avg for the last few months)
Liverpool are prepared to join Manchester United in the race for Roma's 25-year-old France midfielder Manu Kone. (Football Insider) Liverpool want to sign Sweden left-back Daniel Svensson from Borussia Dortmund, but may face competition from Arsenal for the 24-year-old's signature. (Caught Offside)
If we take anyone from Bournemouth we should take whoever it was that built their roster, which is evidently loaded with young talent that other teams are now after - Alex Scott, Rayan, Kroupi, and we signed Kerkez last year.
While waiting/working on the big deals, we must take care of the low hanging fruits. Grab players like Wolve's Mane. That boy is going to be worth three times more in 2 years or less. We have to improve our squad!
Calvin Ramsay and Luke Chambers are taking part in Liverpool’s pre-season tour but both are likely to be sold. Liverpool remain interested in Pedro Neto. Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal to sell local-born midfielder Tommy Pilling to Slovakian club MFK Zemplin Michalovce, ending a 16-year association. Tottenham will have to fork out €80 million if to beat Chelsea and Liverpool in the race to sign Andreas Schjelderup. Liverpool has been hit with a possible transfer blow in their pursuit of World Cup winner Ferran Torres this summer as he weighs up an improved contract from Barcelona. Liverpool youngster Armin Pecsi is on the verge of an Anfield loan exit to join Austrian side TSV Hartberg. Liverpool midfielder Kyle Kelly is close to agreeing a loan move to Forest Green Rovers as the Reds continue to assess their Academy options for the campaign. Liverpool has shown interest in Bournemouth winger Alex Scott this summer - and a path to sign the player has seemingly just opened up after he has rejected a new contract offer from Bournemouth. Liverpool have been credited with interest in Genk's Greek prodigy Konstantinos Karetsas.
Here is my concern - it's July 21st - season starts in 4 weeks. We need 4 players ... but minimum of 2 (attacker + something in the back line) Everyone has to adapt to a new manager - that includes new players. We really need to get a move on.
I read this as Henry and co. quietly getting their money back without the distracting big bang of a one m-off sale.
Yet he seemed to go on a mad dash for high fee targets. Why? Dazzled by the £££ suddenly in front of him?
Different markets. How would we, as Liverpool supporters, taken the signing of Alex Scott from Bristol City for 25m back in 2023? Probably would have said "WTF?!?!?!" Milos Kerkez from AZ? 22m for a 20 yr old backup LB? "Get TF outa here." Those buys are huge gambles for Bournemouth. For us they aren't even gambles, they'd be extremely expensive punts on two players who would likely be in our reserve/youth squads.
Liverpool have reportedly made an approach for highly-rated Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche. The Reds are set to rival Paris Saint-Germain for the 24-year-old with the French giants long-standing suitors for the attacker. Iraola has spoken about the squad and transfers (via liverpoolfc.com): “You have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations that we know where we need to sign players. A winger, for example – we definitely need to sign a winger. With the centre-back, with the right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, I think we are VERY THIN right now, so I think it's a solution that we are trying to find, yes." The Reds could see Alex Scott following in Iraola's footsteps in leaving the Cherries for Merseyside. The departure of Andrew Robertson, leaves Milos Kerkez as the only recognised left-back in the first team apart from Kostas Tsimikas, who the club hope to sell. That’s a situation which will have to be rectified, and a new report suggests that they might have a target lined up: Borussia Dortmund’s Daniel Svensson. Liverpool could now sign Lille midfield prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi without challenge after the news that PSG are no longer pursuing the Moroccan teenager. There's also the possibility of Trey Nyoni going out on loan to Swansea in the Championship with former Liverpool coach Vitor Matos, who is now leading the Swans, very interested in the 19-year-old. I asked AI to find me a centerback, aged 28-32, with a year left on their contract (or free), and a Transfermarkt value under 15m. I asked it to be a signing similar to our signing of Ragnar Klavan. Here are the names it brought me that I think could actually sense (it had ~8 names that made no sense whatsoever): -John Stones -Amir Rrahmani, Napoli -Gianluca Mancini, Roma -Timo Hubers, Koln