07 Jul 2017 13:03:17
Lots of people are upset about our transfer activity so far this summer and I have to extend my sympathies to the Eds for what they have to put up with. I thought I’d try and read between the lines a bit to try and understand what's happened so far this season and what's going on now. This is, of course, complete guess work but it may help some understand why we haven’t finished our transfer activity yet.

Ahead of the this summer Klopp had a couple of main priorities, a second top class wide player and fixing the left back position. We needed a wide man because of an over-reliance on Mane and at LB, despite Milner doing a decent job, Klopp wanted more pace and a left foot there. CB was a concern but not the priority (hence Lovren’s new contract and the assurances that were given to Gomez early on) . Two things have changed since the early planning, the (apparent) availability of VVD and the potential need for CM if Coutinho or Can leave.

The wide man is easiest to deal with as Salah’s already here. Klopp wanted Brandt but Brandt wasn’t sure so we moved on to another target who wanted to come to us and who’s club were content to sell to us, this was completed in fairly good order. LB has been far more problematic. Kolasinac chose Arsenal, Mendy appears to have chosen City and Tierney is content where he is so none of the players Klopp wanted were available (Sessegnon was one for the future not the first team) . Klopp will go for Robertson if he has to but the fact that he’s not a Liverpool player yet suggests we’re exploring other options. If it gets to August and no other option has become available I expect Robertson to come in then.

The VVD saga has caused problems. I expect when Lovren signed his contract he was expecting to be first choice but this that changed when VVD expressed an interest in joining us. Lovren now knows that Klopp is not satisfied with him and I expect Klopp doesn’t want to rely on an unsettled CB, therefore, by circumstance, CB has become a priority. I understand there is still a hope that a deal with Saints can be made whilst Saints will be hoping they can sell to someone else but, if there are no other takers, they may be prepared to speak to Liverpool again. Therefore Liverpool are biding their time, they are looking at other options if VVD doesn’t come but they are hoping that they get another chance and are prepared to wait.

The CM story is different again. With the danger of Can not signing a contract or Coutinho leaving for mega-bucks it was prudent to start looking at replacements and Keita was identified as an option. My suspicion is that something has happened behind the scene and it is now expected that either Can or Coutinho will be elsewhere next season and Keita went from an option to a primary target. I doubt Liverpool will let Coutinho leave without a replacement being identified so that deal will depend on RBL agreeing to sell Keita (and may also explain their high asking price) or an alternative of similar quality becoming available. This saga will likely rumble on for the rest of the summer.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is separate to all this. I expect this is another unexpected opportunity. On paper O-C seems to be a good fit for Klopp and Klopp would be happy to bring in a player who can cover any position across the midfield. Right now the ball is with O-C and his agent, they are waiting to see who offers them the best deal, Arsenal, Liverpool or maybe someone else. With the player due back in training shortly I expect he’ll want to make a decision soon.

In summary I expect O-C to make a decision on his future shortly, Liverpool will look to bring in a LB to join pre-season as soon as possible with Robertson being the player they go for if no better option presents itself. Meanwhile Klopp is prepared to wait on VVD’s availability and Leipzig will hold out for as much of the Coutinho money as they can get.


1.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 13:09:26
I don't think Robertson will wait till August 31 to move clubs. Two clubs are taking to hull and a decision has to be made soon, not haggle around!
Keita and Coutinho are completely unrelated! The club and the manager will face riot from supporters if Coutinho is sold!


2.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 13:51:20
I agree with if you know me. Coutinho is staying, I have no doubt.

I agree with Putneyred on VVD. Liverpool will wait to see if anyone else approaches and if not, I'd expect an offer and acceptance in late August.

As for left backs, I don't know what to expect.

I hope we get Keita, VVD and a proper LB because if we do, I genuinely believe we would have the squad to challenge on all fronts.

YNWA.


3.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 14:02:05
What if coutinho wants to leave and tries to give it through, would the riot still go ahead. It tickles me that we moan if players want to go even if we don't want to sell, but if we want a player who the other club don't want to sell we want them to force the move! We will get deals done if a player and club are happy with the move and we pay the money required, simples😉.


4.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 14:19:17
Don't worry Putney Red, the Eds don't do this at the point of a gun.

{Ed001's Note - it is mild torture I use to force them, no guns involved.}


5.) 07 Jul 2017
07 Jul 2017 14:32:00
I find it highly unlikely that coutinho will be leaving. Not only have the club shown no sign that we would be willing to sell but more importantly phil himself has given no indication that he wants to leave. In fact he has gone the opposite way and not even sounded vague about it. Also the fact that Barcelona aren't interested is even better for us. There is no way he is leaving us for PSG before playing in champions league which he continues to say how excited he is for.


6.) 08 Jul 2017
08 Jul 2017 00:26:18
I doubt Coutinho would leave for any club other than Barcelona. He definitely wouldn't go to another EPL club and it makes little sense for him to go to PSG, unless they offered him a crazy amount of money and he was money-hungry, but he doesn't seem to be like that. Mu gut feeling and reson tell me Coutinho is quite happy to stay with us for another season and reassess his options later. playing for a great club, under a great coach y now with the opportunity of CL, which is what he wanted. JK needs to continue to build a strong squad with the likes of the players we're being linked with (VVD, Keita etc) and our top players will have even less of a reason to leave. Plus LFC is a family and there will always be players that appreciate that and want to stay. Coutinho looks like that type of player in my opinion.


7.) 08 Jul 2017
08 Jul 2017 20:33:16
Vvd is worth pushing for. Kieta isn't worth the money and our current midfielders are just as good if not better. Keep hearing people say he helped his team qualify for champions league, well so did lallana Hendo can wijnaldum and coutinio. In a much much tougher league. Kieta is not half the player pogba is and would cost almost as much. We would be ridiculed. He is not the player everyone here thinks he is.