Liverpool Transfer Rumours

04 Jul 2024 15:49:40
Afternoon Ed002. Hope this finds you keeping well? Been a while since my last post.

Appreciate you've commented recently on this subject, and apologies if I've missed this in one of the posts but just wondering if you could provide some clarity on the Gordon situation. I see you've said we've not necessarily backed down, however is that in terms of he's a long term target for future windows or is it the case that despite Newcastle's PSR deadline passing we're still actively perusing the deal this summer (as you say dependent on whether we can include a player, outgoings etc) and is the player looking to force the move? Do you think there's a reasonable chance we get this one wrapped up ahead of the new season?

Think this'll be our saga of the summer personally.

As always, a big thanks for all the information during the silly season that's the summer transfer window. All the best.

{Ed002's Note - Anthony Gordon (LW/F) I find it very surprising that Liverpool have indeed enquired after Gordon as an option ahead of others they have been considering as a Luiz replacement including Federico Chiesa. Newcastle are open to a sale as the player is pushing for the move - in a similar way when he left Everton. After an initial offer was rejected, Liverpool have returned for further discussion but want the price to drom and to include a player in the deal. Although Kelleher as been mentioned, Newcastle have signed Vlachodimos. Newcastle would likely accept a £70M cash deal, or lesser cash if agreement could be reached with a player and both sides. Liverpool would be willing to include any fringe player or any player they are willing to sell. It is possible. It is unrelated to PSR. I have no idea if it can be completed - that would be a question for Liverpool.}

04 Jul 2024 16:45:12
£70m seems a little bit on the pricey side but I can see why they would ask it.
What’s the going rate on Chiesa ed002? He Seems like the better option to me as well, although Gordon’s done it in the prem.

{Ed002's Note - Crysencio Summervilleerhaps £30M but it would make more sense to me to talk to Leeds about Crysencio Summerville who is younger and on an upwards trajectory. Liverpool seem to be flip-floping a bit and need to clarify targets better.}

04 Jul 2024 17:26:56
He has 2 years left on his deal I think it could be one for next year. We get a better idea of how good he is as he’s only really had one very good season. If he keeps getting better then with 12 months left on his deal we could get him for under 70 I reckon. I still think we can do better though. Musiala, Kvaratshkelia, Rodrygo, Leao etc.

04 Jul 2024 18:04:29
Great insight, thanks as always Ed002. Enjoy your evening mate.

{Ed002's Note - And you.}

04 Jul 2024 18:31:15
I think Gordon is better than Leao, OneKiss. Leao is a bit too raw. Just puts his head down, pushes the ball 6 yards in front of him and hopes he can catch it. Agree on the others though. Especially Kvaratskhelia. He’s one of the most talented and exciting players I’ve seen since Ronaldinho.

04 Jul 2024 19:19:25
Hi Ed. Hope this finds you well
Going on Liverpool need to clarify targets a bit better
Is this from the new regime within Liverpool now, if so. Could it be a settling in period or is it bad practice that it’s happening?

04 Jul 2024 21:44:13
I like Summerville. I think he'd be an excellent choice.

{Ed025's Note - just a small time boy for me, and he makes me feel that he wont leave leeds that way.. :)

05 Jul 2024 09:21:34
Gordon would be an average signing at best in my opinion. Has pace but lacks trickery and creativity which is needed to be world class. Would strongly give a miss - he is fast though 🤣.

05 Jul 2024 09:35:27
I've never seen Summerville play but he went missing in the promotion playoffs, didn't he? I'm not a big fan of Gordon and I don't think his game is that varied but the fact that he's desperate to play for Liverpool is a plus for me, it might sound silly but that little bit of motivation is always welcome in my book, and he's young enough to improve in other aspects of his game. Also appreciate that he's a black belt in the art of rubbishhousery, that's always nice in big games where the opposition wants to intimidate you, him and Robbo down that left hand side can get under people's skin with the best of them.

04 Jul 2024 19:32:19
Evening ed002 - what was the original offer?

Cheers
Drogie.

05 Jul 2024 12:24:32
Gordon would be a top signing, straight swap Diaz i would take all day, love Diaz as a player but doesn't produce enough, think Gordon would produce more.

05 Jul 2024 15:51:05
Fair point that PB - him and Robertson on the left would fairly wind the players up in the big games 😂😂.

05 Jul 2024 15:59:46
I don't have concerns over the sudden Anthony Gordon focus. Opportunities sometimes arise quickly, and you have to be nimble enough to move on them before the competition can (similar to MacAllister and Szoboszlai last summer) . He could be a stellar Diaz replacement, and if that bridge has been burned this appears to have been a lifeline that has come LFC's way. I feel things will be much more secure with Gordon as the first choice left wing. Gakpo is still finding himself in the PL and Jota gets a lot of random injuries.

04 Jul 2024 11:13:49
Hi Ed002, I see there have been some changes at clubs behind the scenes, with Paul Mitchell joining NUFC as Sporting Director. I always remember you speaking highly of him so will be interesting to see how that goes.
Secondly, it seems the two Academy Directors at Chelsea are leaving somewhat unexpectedly. They seem to have extremely good reputations and since LFC only seems to go for ex Chelsea academy, I wonder if you had heard if there was interest in Bath and Fraser from Liverpool?

{Ed002's Note - Yes Paul will be moving to Newcastle now the Ashford situation has been resolved - he really should have been first pick at Manchester United. Neil Bath and Jim Fraser are not leaving suddenly - they informed Chelsea of their decisions after the season finished on May 11.}

04 Jul 2024 12:04:48
Ok thanks Ed, the info I read made it their leaving was a 'shock'.

{Ed002's Note - Well the club have made every effort to have them stay. Perhaps a surprise rather than a shock.}

04 Jul 2024 18:32:49
Huge step up from selling cars and running pubs on Albert Square, Walford.

04 Jul 2024 18:43:48
It's Mr Mitchell to you, stuie_boy.

04 Jul 2024 21:23:14
Yes I’ve heard good things about Paul Mitchell.

03 Jul 2024 23:42:00
Hi Eds

Is it true Rabiot's agent is hawking him around prem clubs on a cut price sign on fee and (relatively) low wages? Are Liverpool interested at all?

{Ed002's Note - Adrian Rabiot (CM/DM) Juventus are looking to replace their midfield misfits. They are looking to sell and move off the wage bill players they no longer want to fund replacements they have already identified. As a free agent, Rabiot will, like every other player, be offered to Newcastle. A third party has been instructed to find him a new home and whilst he could have been used in part exchanges previously he has let his contract run down and will leave as a Free Agent in the summer. Liverpool offer an unlikely, at least to me, solution but they have declared an interest and know what the financial implications are. I suspect Manchester United interest has gone. Milan and Real Madrid offer wildcard options. Wage demands are excessive.}

04 Jul 2024 09:10:13
I’d hope have no interest in him, he’s a player whose opinion of his own ability far exceeds his actual ability. Also he’s not the kind of midfielder we’re missing. Players like him and Kimmich should be avoided like the last plague.

04 Jul 2024 09:30:29
completely agree VV - plus I doubt Edwards would see him as LFC quality off the pitch never mind on the pitch.

04 Jul 2024 10:40:10
I made it clear last summer I wanted us to sign Rabiot and my opinion hasn’t changed. He’s a very good aand very versatile midfielder. DM, CM, AM, LB, LM etc.

No brainer given he’s a free agent. On paper he suits Slots preferred tactics as well.

04 Jul 2024 11:01:48
Partially agree with MK. He looks top class for the national team but somehow he has had a very mixed club career.

04 Jul 2024 11:26:14
Why would we need Rabiot?

04 Jul 2024 12:40:07
I personally think he is a very capable player with an excellent engine, covers a lot of ground, presses decently well, is good in the air and has shown with France that he’s positionally disciplined and tactically smart, the problem is he’s good at a lot of things but not great at any, he’s not a creative player in the middle of the park, just a decent box to box option with good physical qualities, plus he comes with his infamous mom. I remember him saying before that he’s a Liverpool fan though….

04 Jul 2024 13:06:21
All I'm saying is he is quick, strong, good in the air, carries the ball well, is press resistant, scores goals, has a good passing range, screens the defence well, presses effectively and can play multiple positions. He might not be great at anything but there is literally no weakness to his game. He's a very good player and if he is a Liverpool fan as well then I'm even more sold.

He'd be a good fit for us sat in midfield either next to Endo with more freedom to get forward himself, or next to Macca allowing others to be more adventurous. Only my opinion of course, but I see him as an upgrade on pretty much every sitting/ box to box midfielder in our squad. Not because our players are poor, but because Rabiot is so well rounded.

04 Jul 2024 13:21:27
If he’s at the base of our midfield we aren’t winning the league and we’ll be just as soft through the middle. He’s nowhere near good enough as a defensive midfielder, he’s terrible defensively and switches off far too much. He’s certainly not quick, he is as quick and mobile as the Titanic. Never once seen him have a good game where he either stood out or dominated. Absolute nothing footballer.

04 Jul 2024 13:23:42
He’s a club football misfit. No thanks. He’s perfect for United though.

04 Jul 2024 13:50:58
VV, I honestly don’t believe you that you’ve watched him. He’s so blatantly not slow or immobile 😂

FPF, I’m not sure misfit is fair but I kind of get what you’re saying. He’s played about 200 games for both PSG and Juventus winning 6 league titles and 16 domestic cups. Scored nearly 50 goals despite being a relatively defensively minded midfielder as well. Fair enough if you think we can do better or already have better like, and I’m not saying you’re wrong for not wanting him as it’s totally subjective. But a club football misfit? Not sure that’s got much basis in fact. I sort of know what you mean, because of how he behaved in his last season at PSG would’ve been concerning if it was recent, but that was 5 or 6 years ago and nobody really knows what went on behind closed doors with his mum stirring the pot etc. On the pitch, he does his job well and he hasn’t really set a foot wrong off the pitch since his early 20’s.

It’s all about opinions and at least you’re not pretending you’ve watched him like other posters who’ve just googled his height and assumed he must be a lumbering brute.

04 Jul 2024 13:55:04
Rabiot - “Absolute nothing footballer”

You can always rely on VV for a rationale assessment of a player 😂.

04 Jul 2024 14:09:14
Leaving two big European clubs on a free. Misfit vibes.

04 Jul 2024 14:30:24
Depends how you spin it FPF. You could look at it another way. He clearly honours his contracts and his shortest stint at any of his permanent clubs is 5 years. I'd say only having 2 clubs by 29 years old points to the complete opposite of being a misfit. Surely a misfit is someone who bounces from club to club never quite settling or fitting in?

04 Jul 2024 16:05:19
Vv I have no idea where you get your evaluations of players from, or maybe you have him mixed up with another player? The whole basis of rabiot’s game and value on the pitch is getting around from box to box, you might not like him but he covers ground and presses, he hasn’t been known to be slow either.

04 Jul 2024 16:25:11
You should be his agent, MK. You may do even better than his dear mother.

I don't see the need for Adrien Rabiot at the club. The only midfield position we are currently lacking is a DM. In fact, we're overstocked with CMs after buying 3 last summer.

04 Jul 2024 16:13:50
VV passes his sentence on players in such a forthright way that you’d think he has to know what he’s talking about to be so vehement about it. Giving you the benefit of the doubt here VV, you must have seen so many players play that you might have got them mixed up a bit.

04 Jul 2024 18:51:00
FPF, maybe I’m over thinking it, but I think you are under thinking it. We are not going to be playing the same way next season, and those CM’s were Klopp style CM’s. Macca and Gravenberch would be more suited to AM in a 4-2-3-1. Szobo probably more suited to LW/ RW. I wouldn’t be surprised if Elliott is used more at RW or AM too. Slot has historically preferred a duo of CM/ DM players at the base of the midfield. He’s mainly used versatile all round midfielders there, probably because his system is so fluid and players have to adapt to certain scenarios. Listen to some of his ex players talking about his tactics and how they’re trained with videos exactly where to position themselves in each scenario. Players like Koopmeiners and Rabiot who many might not recognise as orthodox DM players are the exact types he likes in that infamous “double pivot”. He has also had CB’s and FB’s stepping into midfield a lot too so you don’t necessarily need a destroyer type DM in there if that carries over to Liverpool.

The only players we really have naturally suited to this are Endo, Morton and Bajcetic. Jones, Trent, Gravenberch and Macca can probably do it, but it’s just not the best use of their abilities in my opinion, though I wouldn’t be shocked if at least one of them is moulded into the role. So again, just my opinion, but I think we do need more players in that CM/ DM mould given Bajcetic is very raw, Morton is unlikely to stay and Endo can’t play 60+ games a season at his age. Time will tell mate but Slots whole system at Feyenoord was built on that 2 man midfield base so I will not be at all shocked to see him bring in his own men to play there. Most of the midfielders Klopp signed were attack minded and capable of being utilised further forward in the 3 behind a striker. If I’m wrong you can say I told you so in a few weeks time but I very much expect it will be a CM/ DM player like Rabiot, Kimmich, Koopmeiners or Ederson. I just don’t see players like Ugarte/ Paulinha getting on in a Slot team. They’re too technically deficient.

04 Jul 2024 21:51:40
Rabiot wage demands are excessive enough to put a variety of teams off him already, he's also looking for a long contract.

04 Jul 2024 23:13:15
Honestly MK, I’m only really looking at the squad mix as I have no idea whatsoever of what Arne Slot will want to do at Liverpool with the players he inherits. I just think we need another midfielder that is defensive minded in the 21/ 25 man squad.

I’d be pleased with any of Ederson, Varela or Ugarte. I still regret that we missed out on Gabriel Moscardo in January. He was an ideal profile to replace Fabinho. Archie Gray is a bit too young so can understand why we’ve passed on him.

05 Jul 2024 15:54:31
Very good player - hardworking and very versatile - would certainly be an asset to the midfield but the wage demands I've heard are high and apparently his agent/ mother is an absolute nightmare to deal with - to put it nicely lol.