19 Apr 2023 10:57:09
Question for Ed001 and fellow reds. Would you go all in for Bellingham knowing that's our budget gone or buy 2/ 3 other players? Personally I'm a quality over quantity and say Bellingham in and start pushing the academy's players like Morton etc
Up the pool.

{Ed001's Note - I would go for Bellingham.}

1.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 11:12:20
I'm with Ed here, Bellingham and maybe a few freebies, like Ndicka, as we must be saving some wage money this summer.

2.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 11:27:16
I’m with you Ed001, would rather buy the right player over a few prospects, then fill in any gaps with freebies and kids.
You only have to look at the last 20 years to see buying quantity over quality doesn’t work for us. Whereas buying genuine quality more often than not pays off really well.
I remember the squad padding days of Houlier and Rafa.
It was only when Klopp started buying the absolute best available did the revolution start.
I’m find his recent “Ferrari” comments a little confusing, when we wanted a rolls Royce in defence, we went out and bought one, you could argue Alisson was the Ferrari of goalkeepers and we needed one and we bought one.
Now we need the Ferrari of midfielders, he’s available with the keys in the ignition and with a LFC4eva personalised number plate, let’s go and buy him.
I don’t see the squad needing as much of an overhaul as it’s been made out, we have some bright talents waiting to break through, there are some great players who will be available on frees. I just don’t see the need in buying several players for 30-40m each to be honest.
Especially when a few of them will be squad players anyway, like I see everyone saying we need a defender and to get rid of Matip and Gomez, well why spend money on that? Whoever comes in is going to be behind VVD and Konate anyway so either look at the acedemy or a freebie and save the £30m to go towards Jude.
And like you say, the tactics are what needs changing first and foremost, if this group of players were playing to their potential not many would be saying they all need replacing.

3.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 11:39:31
I'm reminded of a poster from a few days back when the Bellingham news dropped - we have form with ruling ourselves out of the running with players before actually getting them anyway - from memory, VVD and Alisson were both in that category.

I am hoping that's what this is, or that Bellingham is staying at Dortmund for 1 more year.

I agree with Aldo, Bellingham linking up with Haaland and De Bruyne at City is a frightening and extremely depressing prospect!

4.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 11:39:33
Isn’t Bellingham extremely low risk. Spread the cost over a few years and he has the resale value to recoup the fee or even more in a future sale.

5.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 12:04:53
What do you say to Jude Bellingham when he asks what the long-term project is and who he is going to be playing with?

"Well, given you'll cost us so much money we'll have no choice but to pair you up with Elliott, Curtis, freebie Rabiot and Morton. But because you are so good, I am confident we will challenge for everything".

Honestly, we live in fantasy land with these strange scenarios.

6.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 12:30:51
I honestly think Bellingham now too.

If you offered me Caicedo and Kephren Thuram then I'd think about it but the Gravenberch rumours have me a touch concerned. He s a massive step down in quality.

7.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 12:42:57
That is a very valid scenario, FlyPelicanFly. Jude is awesome BUT we have too much to address right now for the money being touted for him. That is a reality that needs not be ignored, IMO. Had we been in a much better position then, maybe you can sell the benefits of going all in on Jude cos the bodies around him would already be there, like City did with Grealish BUT that's not the case so cut your coat according to your cloth.

8.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 12:52:12
Bellingham all the way and a few out of contract players on a free.
But if you offered barrella, mac allister, mount and ndikia I'd be happy too.
But Bellingham is future captain and England captain.

9.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 12:56:49
Assuming we want to challenge for the big honours again, we need 3 quality midfielders on the basis that we think Henderson, Thiago and Fabinho cannot be relied upon.

Elliot and Bajcetic are projects and need time and shouldn't become key dependencies. Elliott is a 10 anyway.

Curtis is a good squad player and will help the HG quota. Morton can add to the HG quota too if needed but again, only as a squad player.

If we had serious interest in Tchouameni last summer, then there should be enough money to correct that failure by signing Caicedo for a similar fee and still purchase another two midfielders this summer.

We would have known what Bellingham's price was going to be a year ago. So that is not new information.

This either/ or stuff is madness.

10.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 12:58:23
Or on the other side of the coin pelican, you can say he will get to play with Alisson, VVD, Trent, Salah, Thiago (sometimes) and Nunez etc and that he will grow up being tutored by the best coach in the world and working along some of the best young talent in the world as well in Elliot, bajetic, doak etc.
He seems very much open to the move already so he’s obviously a bit more impressed with things than yourself.

11.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 13:01:16
I agree with Zed's thinking, and I've posted comments saying "let's just wait and see". Everything that is happening is behind closed doors. I don't care who they may be (so-called "in-the-knows") but if they're not inside those rooms, they simply don't know. The most they can do is guess. And history doesn't lie.

We made 3 failed offers for Naby Keita, then pulled out. He joined. We pulled out from Van Dijk ("officially" as per the club), he joined. We pulled out from buying Alisson (our reliable friend Paul Joyce confirming it) and then he joined. And we even pulled out from buying Thiago (our ever present friend Paul Joyce writing "LFC were unlikely to target Thiago") and he too joined.

So there's a tactic there, somewhere. And then also, maybe there isn't.

12.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 13:21:27
Two years ago, when I used to watch Gravenberch for Ajax, he looked like a player with lots of promise. Playing that combined 6/ 8 role that Klopp seems to like a lot (see Keita) . But I haven't seen him play since then, and it looks like he's lost his way a bit. Watched some recent videos of him and Kephren Thuram. The difference is massive. Yes, it's only videos but it's something rudimentary and basic and gives you a general idea. Thuram is electric, better with the ball at his feet and gets by players through sheer energy and effort. Gravenberch is more languid, slower and, to my mind, à taller version of Keita with the ball at his feet. I imagine there's a big difference in the price between the two too, and maybe that is what is dictating preference.

13.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 13:30:43
1985mikey1985 - I do believe he's very interested in playing Liverpool. However, you'd be mad to think he wouldn't want to be convinced that the project is going somewhere - and that means evidence that we'll compete in the market and on the pitch for the big prizes.

As for the best coach in the world - jury is out on whether he is actually doing any coaching at all at the moment.

14.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 13:54:45
Agree with the above, personally I'm quality over quantity anyway. Signing too many players all at once has never and will never work.

Personally I think we need about 6/ 7. But I hope we don't sign more than 4 and integrate them properly, then do the rest of the business the following year. Rather have 4 guarantees who will improve us than 7 players who are a gamble and risk us being back at square one.

15.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 14:15:09
Fly if we spread the cost like we have done in the past and like every other club does over a number of years say 30 mill a season then surely there’s other money available and plenty more income to come in.

Or do we buy 3 midfielders for 130 mill and then 24/ 25 season we say oh Christ we don’t have any money to now replace Salah and Virg.

Some posters have gone from FSG will back Klopp with whoever he wants the last few years to cut your coat with the cloth. Absolute 180 in narrative there to suit their agenda.

16.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 14:19:25
The reality is no matter who we sign this summer, the first choice back 5 and front 3 will probably not change.

Alisson, Trent, Konate, Virgil, Robbo will probably be the first choice defence and Mo, Darwin, Diaz and Gakpo will probably be vying for the front positions.

Perhaps with the 3-box-3 system we are experimenting with at the moment, it would be Robbo's role at risk with a left-footed CB coming in.

It is the midfield that needs a total overhaul while the centreback depth needs review given the form and fitness of Matip and Gomez.

I would say that isn't too much disruption but rather a significant and necessary upgrade in the middle of the pitch.

17.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 14:32:04
I think signing the most in demand midfielder in the world, plus showing what’s happened in our recent history when we’ve done similar would convince anyone of our ambitions.
And as for Klopp, if he left us he would have his choice of clubs and countries to manage, I think he’s pretty much seen as the best in the business world wide despite a dodgy season.

18.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 15:16:03
JK23 - we do not speak of finances here remember :)

Seriously though, deal terms and payment structures are way beyond the comprehension of us fans.

Of course any potential Jude-sized outlay would be spread out over a number of years.

19.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 15:20:24
1985mikey1985 - so we're convincing Jude of our project by virtue of us buying him? I think he might want a tad more than that. :)

As for Klopp - two dodgy seasons in three btw. He's got credit in the bank and I wish him to stay but he needs to pull his finger out.

Having one season on and one season off is not good enough for Liverpool FC, no matter how much he is loved or coveted.

20.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 17:09:27
I would buy Bellingham no question.
I would move trent to hendos position. Gomez to right back.
Sell Fabinho and buy a replacement Dm with Baj pushing for a place there.
Bellingham and Trent either side of an energetic Dm would be frightening.
N.

21.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 17:40:27
I agree with Redwills. If we can afford Jude and even just keep the money from player sales, we should be able to afford a DM on top.
We talk about the money obtained from reaching finals, winning trophies etc. If we’re not in a position to capitalise on those extra funds, then we never will be.

22.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 19:17:37
JK

The issue is BVB would definitely wants a huge cash upfront which is a problem at LFC as we don’t have cash in hand. Gone are those days when clubs accepts 100 year installment payments. And that is exactly why we overpay for players!

And to your question FLy, where has the money gone which was kept aside to sigh Touchemani?
Well that went to benfica!

23.) 19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023 23:37:39
If Liverpool even have a sniff of getting Bellingham ahead of City or Madrid then they need to make It happen. Opportunities like that do not come around often. Hell, players like him don’t come around often and when they do we’re not usually in the frame. City are miles ahead of us. Imagine what that gap might be if they now swoop for JB and we get Mount and Gravenberch or Macallister.

The midfield needs sorting and JB solves that almost single-handedly. At 19 years old he could do 5yrs and we’d still likely get most of that money back. Alternatively, spank massive wages on players that haven’t made it and big clubs and won’t be easy to get rid of if and when they don’t get us closer to City and now even Arsenal (excuse me whilst I’m sick)!

24.) 20 Apr 2023
20 Apr 2023 07:19:12
How do you convince Bellingham there is a project? We’ve an ageing injury prone squad, we’ve fallen off massively, we’ve no money to buy Bellingham and fix all the problems in the squad, we prob won’t have champions league football next season, we’re not overflowing with quality young players coming through. I don’t see what we have to offer?

{Ed025's Note - you are still one of the biggest draws in world football VV, your history and success determines that mate, form is temporary and all that...yes you may not be the biggest club on merseyside but never the less are a massive club.. :)

25.) 20 Apr 2023
20 Apr 2023 08:45:17
We may be the only club from Merseyside who will be playing in the PL from next season onwards, Ed. Although, give a few years and maybe Tranmere can just us here too ;)

{Ed025's Note - that may be true drac, but the city is still blue and always will be mate, we are born not manufactured and whether its the premiership or the zingari league that is never likely to change..

26.) 20 Apr 2023
20 Apr 2023 11:03:41
Redwillis, I posted something like that on another thread

Trent as lcm Bellingham as rcm and a new holding midfielder would be a great midfield

Hell, there are free transfers out there we could go for as well - Rabiot an option Ndicka would be a great option - could sell Matip and Phillips

I'd suggested signing the rb from Leverkusen, but Gomez could cover rb - might be good to give him a run of games, maybe help fully recover from the long layoff?