Post COVID-19 priorities should be for a CB to replace Lovren and an AM to replace Shaqiri in addition to the LB and some kiddies who have already signed. There is then an argument whether or Lewis is trusted as a send choice CB if Larouci leaves, knowing there is also cover from elsewhere. Furthermore, Klopp wants to add Thiago (DM/CM) but Liverpool has not spoken with his club and it would really hit what little available transfer funds there are.

Home Grown quota is potentially going to be an issue next season with two players no longer under 21 and probably two HG players departing (now that Milner is staying) which means the club will only be able to add one non-HG player without others leaving from the first team squad.

Potential Outbound Players:

Shamal George (G) Gone
Loris Karius (G) Liverpool find him back on the doorstep and will need to find a solution - perhaps a reduced price and an early exit - CSKA and Hertha Berlin offer opportunities - does not wish to return to Turkey although there is interest from there. With Boeckx getting toward the end of his career and Roef's departure this summer already agreed Anderlecht would like him to challenge first choice Van Crombrugge but the asking price was too high and they have gone for cover in Timon Wellenreuther. Wolves needed cover, but Karius would not be first choice there as they have added a player - and regular playing time is what he will be after.
Andy Lonergan (G) out of contract - gone
Yasser Larouci (LWB) Reims look to now be losing Hassane Kamara and they are starting to look for options and that includes Larouci. Leeds enquired but have stepped back. Brentford are expecting to lose Benrahma and want a left-sided player capable of covering the LWB and LW positions - and Larouci is a LW who has been converted to LB - and their interest is no secret. As many youngsters are doing, Larouci wants opportunities in the first team and Liverpool cannot offer that, and given a little something else going on, he may well look to options but I don't think he has asked to leave.
Adam Lewis (LB) moved to Amiens - loan with an option to buy.
Devan Lovren (CB) Prior interest of Zenit won out over Roma.
Nathaniel Phillips (CB) if Liverpool add a first choice CB that Klopp wants then time may have come for Phillips - Stuttgart would like to keep him on loan and may be open to buying him at the right price.
Nathaniel Clyne (RB) Gone.
Pedro Chirivella (DM/CM) Moved to Nantes.
Anderson Arroyo (LB) likely get another loan or the club need to cut him loose.
Gini Wijnaldum (CM) was priced out of a move last summer but will be allowed to leave if a new contract is not agreed. Naby Keita has so far failed to step up to take his place consistently so the club could look to hold on to Wijnaldum if they cannot sign Thiago - perhaps until either Keita sorts his act out or until Curtis Jones is ready to step up as a first team regular – but his chances drop away with Thiago.
Marko Grujic (CM) Liverpool will most likely opt to take a good profit and run as there is no guarantee of a Work Permit being granted or a place in the team - and critically Grujic is not HG - but the player wants a chance. Hertha Berlin asked for a third year on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the loan but Liverpool want to sell the player now and Borussia Monchengladbach may offer a solution as they see Grujic as an ideal Denis Zakaria replacement, but will start discussions with the idea of a loan with an obligation to buy. Other options exist in Italy with Lazio who, like Borussia Monchengladbach, have been talking to his agent and Liverpool will likely get offers from both clubs. Napoli and Milan may just show an interest as well. Perhaps interest from the Premier League.
Ovie Ejaria (CM) expected to join Reading in the summer but they want the pre-agreed £3M fee halved.
Adam Lallana (LM, AM, CM) Moved to Brighton.
Xherdan Shaqiri (AM/RW) wants more game time and wishes to stay, and if he leaves it opens the door for HG player to ease an issue the club has - Seville interest has gone - Galatasaray want a loan with an option to buy. Interest of Lazio is possible as they have been unable to agree a price for their first-choice player.
Harry Wilson (RW) Minamino likely ends his Liverpool career – Leeds many offer an option, but Liverpool will not let him leave on loan.
Sadio Mane (LW/RW/F) one of three players identified Barcelona as a potential Messi replacement before the change of coach and now the have one Mane has worked with before. Two representatives of Mane's have spoken with Barcelona. One of the players identified by PSG as a possible Neymar replacement. A move this summer is unlikely, but it would provide the funding to allow Liverpool to recruit the likes of Sarr and Thiago.
Taiwo Awoniyi (F) no meaningful future - will sell in the summer if possible - loan to Mainz has not worked out well – a Celtic enquiry saw a large fee being requested.
Sheyi Ojo (W) interest from Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield.
Liam Millar (F) - a youngster who will suffer the same fate as many of the youngsters at Liverpool with opportunity not there – available.
Rhian Brewster (S) loan to Swansea again perhaps or keep him and integrate him into the team. A loan would be a great shame as he is good enough to take opportunities at Liverpool.

Possible Incoming Players:

Fabian Mrozek (GK) kiddie 16 from FC Wroclaw - very well thought of.
Javi Cendon (GK) free agent training with the squad – could be signed.
Konstantine Tsimkas (LWB) has signed instead of the preferred HG option of Jamal Lewis.
I suspect that a CB may well need to be added, assuming Lovren or someone else leaves. Liverpool may look to bolster the home-grown quota and have looked at Dael Fry (CB), Ben White (CB) and Ben Godfrey (CB) but are putting their efforts in to a high-end CB (Diego Carlos) first. Much will depend on youngsters developing and how Joe Gomez does - assuming Lovren is leaving – and that could drive whether the club look to using Gomez as first choice and buying a young HG player or moving for Diego Carlos or someone similar and leave Gomez as back up. Obviously, the club would also need to deal with any unexpected departures.
Diego Carlos (CB) Manchester City have dropped their interest and are looking at others. Real Madrid has a sustained interest, but their focus is on resolving financial issues. Barcelona have him on their list of CBs but they will look to horse trade using Ivan Rakitic. Liverpool has declared an interest in taking DC and he is the first choice for Klopp. If this happens, I would think it would be the big move for the club this summer and would leave Gomez picking up pieces across the defence. It may also need to be funded by a significant sale. Looks unlikely and no longer possible to include Xherdan Shaqiri in a deal.
Ben White (CB) potentially the pick of the younger home grown CBs - if Diego Carlos were to arrive or a CB were not to leave, he can also be scratched. Has a significant advantage over Carlos as he is home grown. Might well become the preferred choice over Carlos as a Lovren replacement - but it would push Joe Gomez down the pecking order. Manchester City have a growing interest in Ben White. Leeds are resigned to their interest going nowhere. Brighton don't want to sell and Liverpool don't have the money right now.
Lisandro Martinez (CB) watched by Liverpool and Real Madrid but he was not one of the players Ajax agreed to let leave this summer.
Edmond Tapsoba (CB) Moved to Germany in January 2020 and much is expected of him. They have no have no intention to sell and it would likely take an offer of perhaps €40M to tempt them. No known approach by Liverpool and if there were to be, they should perhaps think seriously about him having to play in AFCON.
Diego Llorente (CB) has been watched by Marseille, Spurs, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, West Ham, Everton, Wolves, Fulham and Sevilla since joining Real Sociedad. Everton interest went with a change of coach. Wolves had an offer accepted last summer but the player was adamant his family was settled and wanted to stay where he was. The player interested Spurs when they thought Toby Alderweireld was leaving but he signed a new contract. However, with Jan Vertonghen leaving they could be tempted again. With Ben White looking unlikely Diego Llorente would offer a reasonable option to Diego Carlos to Liverpool - so perhaps. Marseille and Atletico both have financial issues and lesser needs so can be discounted. Sevilla were considering Llorente as a Diego Carlos replacement but can be discounted as they have a preferred option in mind. Real Sociedad want €50M - price is high. West Ham can be discounted. Everton interest went when they changed coach. Liverpool won’t have that much available without a major sale.
Francisco Ferreira (CB) Benfica's "Ferro" was one of three young players the club were very keen on in 2017 - he has been watched again.
Dael Fry (CB) Liverpool had a declared interest in Fry but that will have gone.
Ben Godfrey (CB) - another HG option to Fry. But nothing is happening so I think he can also be scratched.
Ozan Kabak (CB) has been of past interest to both Manchester sides, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich but the asking price has always been see as high, although it seemed to be something between €35M and €40M it could have halved due to the pandemic and Schalke having financial issues. The interest of the Manchester sides when he left Galatasaray for Stuttgart and he hit an age where he could never qualify as Home Grown in England - and that is something Liverpool should concern themselves with as well. I am not so sure he is the starter Liverpool have been looking for, but he will be cheaper than both Llorente and Diego Carlos and would still push Joe Gomez in to the background. He is well thought of by Borussia Dortmund who wanted Tanguy Kouassi as a replacement for Toprak and Belardi but he moved to Bayern Munich resulting in their making an approach and being told he is not for sale - but they have declared an interest. Schalke say they have also been approached by Juventus and Leicester. A far better option for Liverpool than Mandi.
Aissa Mandi (CB) Real Betis CB who Newcastle have an interest in. West Ham were interested last summer but not convinced, and instead opted for young prospect Goncalo Cardoso. Real Betis would sell at the right price. For Liverpool he would be a Lovren replacement and financially perhaps using Nathanial Phillips makes more sense. Fenerbahce have had talks with Real Betis. Another who would be off the AFCON and no approach to his club by Liverpool.
Thiago Alcantara (CM) was expected to extend at Bayern Munich but looking at options - Juventus may be interested. Liverpool have not approached Bayern Munich and has no agreement regardless of what the Fat Kid from Bolton and his invisible friend says. Bayern Munich expected Thiago to extend at Bayern Munich but they do not want to pay more than the €12M a year he is currently earning. Klopp has been speaking directly with the player but seems to have heeded the warding from Bayern Munich. Klopp is certainly keen there are concerns from at least two people in the club that his age, injury issues and lack of a sell on value mean that the club should step back. His huge wages may also cause concern amongst the players at Liverpool. Now his head has been turned and wants to move it seems that Liverpool will not pay the asking price and will try and leverage a cheap move or leave Bayern Munich with a player who is unhappy and return for him in January when a Bosnam move can be arranged for next summer. PSG spoke with them during discussions they have been having over another player, but he is certainly no more than an option for them. Manchester City have concerns about the age/price/injury status as others at Liverpool have raised.
Ismaila Sarr (RW/LW/F) has had a disrupted season after moving from Rennes and has become available with Watford being relegated and Wolves have enquired after him - wanting to be kept informed just in case Adama Traore is sold. Crystal Palace have him on their list of potential Wilfried Zaha replacements, but he is not their first choice, although they could turn to him if their first choice heads elsewhere. It has been suggested that Liverpool are interested but whilst he would make a good replacement for Shaqiri but (a) would Sarr want to limit his playing time to that which Shaqiri gets, (b) he is not Home Grown, (c) he would block Harvey Elliott's progression, (d) he would cost £40M or thereabouts, and (e) like the last few players asked about, would depart for AFCON when it happens as he is Senegalese. I am not aware of any approach to Watford by Liverpool, but the club may have spoken with his agent. If Mane or Salah were to leave, it makes a great deal more sense and would provide the funding.
Mateusz Musialowski (RW) Polish kiddie who has signed.
Jeremy Doku (RW/LW) Liverpool attempted to strike a deal for Jeremie Doku but dropped their interest in the kid because of a misunderstanding about him going to see Chelsea (which turned out to be his sister not the club). There was a fear that Anderlecht would face further sanctions over past issues and an approach by Milan about the player saw them ask €20M. The situation has now changed and offers may be listened to after he has had a good season - but any deal is likely going to need a one- or two-year loan back to Anderlecht. This is where it gets difficult and would cut Milan out of a deal. Clubs are going to be less likely to want to tie funds up in such a way. I am not aware of another approach by Liverpool at this time but at the right price there could be well be interest.
Ousmane Dembele (RW/LW) Someone close to the situation tells me Liverpool has made a general enquiry as to the asking price - and have been told €100M – nothing more at this time and unless Salah or Sadio Mane were to leave it would be a very unlikely transfer. But I would not rule it out if the price halves and could be offered as part of a deal for Sadio Mane perhaps?


1.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 13:03:35
Thanks for the update Ed002, very informative as always!


2.) 27 Aug 2020
{Ed002's Note - It is very possible that Barcelona will make an offer for Sadio Mane.}


3.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 13:30:48
Hopefully we stand firm on mane not being for sale. Imo right now we are the better side.

Thanks for the update ed, hopefully we can get some good fees for the players mentioned (grujic, Wilson, shaqiri) if they are sold and keep hold of wijnaldum and mane.


4.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 13:46:50
Mane to Barcelona will never happen even if Barcelona offer stupid money. They ain't challenging for any major titles for the next few seasons anyways with the bang average squad they have got. Why would Mane want to be part of a rebuild project at 28? He has 4 seasons at the very top left in him and I'm sure he would rather be winning titles than jumping onto a battered ship in desperate need of repair top to bottom.


5.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 13:46:58
Accepting Dembele in P/ E for Mane is like swapping a Ferrari F40 for a clapped out Austin Allegro and fifty quid. If that’s put on the table it should be dismissed immediately.


6.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 13:14:38
Thanks a bunch ed02!


7.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 13:48:59
Ed002, if Barcelona came in for Mane is there any chance they might look to include Ansu Fati in a deal with cash? Both play as left wingers and he is a very special talent. Would be a direct swap and i'd just about grin and bare it as i cried myself to sleep.

{Ed002's Note - None.}


8.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 14:00:24
Playing devils advocate here but maybe Mane just wants to play for Barcelona? Maybe it's a dream he's had since he was a kid. We all approach transfers/ rumours as fans, understandably, like "why would he want to leave"? . "Why wouldn't he want to come"? . If Messi and Suarez leaves it frees up a lot of wages and Sadio could do a lot of even more good work back in Senegal with more money. That said I really really hope he stays with us for a long time to come.


9.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 14:00:46
Thank you for the update Ed. Only thing that scares me is Mane of interest to Barca. That would be very hard to accept and would be nearly impossible to replace what he brings to our team.

{Ed002's Note - He is playing well, he has been on their list for some time, and know they have a coach he knows well.}


10.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 14:27:18
Didn’t think mane got on with koeman whilst he was at Southampton. Things move on I guess. Would be gutted to lose him from the team.


11.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 14:37:40
Ultimately if Barcelona make an offer too good to resist, to my mind that’s anything north of £150m, we need to replace him with similar quality in terms of goals and assists. If he were to leave we should go all out for someone like Sancho.

{Ed002's Note - Nothing like that is going to happen.}


12.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 14:42:27
Imagine if you are salah today lol. I am loving it. all his life he wanted to move to Barca/ real and They want Mane instead.
If Mane goes, The fans will riot against FSG.


13.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 14:49:46
the question is ed02 can they afford him? i think not.

{Ed002's Note - They have players available for exchange and sale. They can afford him.}


14.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 16:00:25
Only 2 players could replace Mane and that's Son or Mbappe.


15.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 15:27:38
Ed002

As always, thank you very much for your insight. I am incredibly grateful for it.

FIngers crossed they don't press to hard for Mane. He would be incredibly difficult to replace.

Red Sandman.


16.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 15:53:42
Extensive, comprehensive and precise as always Ed002. Thanks very much.


17.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 15:59:25
Would Barcelona look to offer us players in exchange? And who would they likely be? Dembele plus cash?

{Ed002's Note - Yes and possibly.}


18.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 16:00:13
Ed is this assuming that Messi leaves?

{Ed002's Note - RTP.}


19.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 16:18:45
Mane is worth 30+ goals a season in assists and goals, with due respect to Sarr, Traore or Dembele they’ve barely got 30 in them added together (notwithstanding the fact Dembele is actually made out of crisps and is a big time Charlie) .

To sell Mane and replace with any of them is a huge downgrade, so if Mane does go, it is imperative to replace with another top quality player and not take a punt on someone because of apparent “potential”. Remember Markovic or the so called “French Gems”? That did not go well.

Whereas I’m confident we won’t sell Mane, I’m also a realist that money talks and he may harbour an ambition to play there, so if that happens the club need to get it right or forget about defending the title.


20.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 16:21:40
Is Dembele the only player of theirs we have interest in?

{Ed002's Note - Probably but they have plenty on offer.}


21.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 16:30:10
Griezmann, Fatu and £50 million is the only offer they could make, although i wouldn't be surprised if FSG left us with the only option being that we got Mane sold to get transfer funds.


22.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 16:41:17
Mane is going nowhere.


23.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 16:41:44
Don't know why this Barcelona interest in Mane is getting people wound up. He is not joining them any time soon. Barcelona won't pay what we would want for him and I very much doubt Klopp would be interested in any of the garbage players they offer us in part exchange anyways.


24.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 16:50:29
I mane leaves we can replace him with brewster but we shouldn't opt for any player in exchange. Full on cash 100 million +.


25.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 17:17:54
Btw Ed, thank you for the detailed information, really appreciate your time and effort!


26.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 17:39:30
Hopefully we don't sell our best players / need to sell tham anymore / they won't force a move. In your opinion Ed2 will Mane's head be turned by the opportnity to play for Barcelona or is he happy at Liverpool.

{Ed002's Note - Players are transient employees of the club - squad size is finite so space has to be made for additions.}


27.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 17:41:36
Thanks Ed.


28.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 18:25:10
Mane is going nowhere, he absolutely despises Koeman. Better chance of Werner moving to spurs!

{Ed002's Note - Mane has said extremely nice things about Ronald Koeman. Interesting that a Liverpool support, even if it is on f the least knowledgeable ones, is now calling Sadio Mane a liar.}


29.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 18:33:22
Thanks Ed002.

Out of interest, With you mentioning two of Manes representatives have spoken to Barcelona, has Mané shown any signs or made any noises regarding a possible transfer to Barcelona?

{Ed002's Note - Not that I am aware but they would not be talking without his knowledge.}


30.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 19:18:45
Ok, thanks.


31.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 19:39:32
Ed002. Thank you for the great update and for your time in doing it. The possibility of Mane going is somewhat frightening but we will have to deal with it the best we can. With your vast knowledge of players available this transfer window, who would you suggest as a sensible replacement. Unfortunately this time I don’t think we have a capable youngster to bring through let alone an established left sided forward bar Origi who in my opinion is miles behind Mane.
Thanks as always.

{Ed002's Note - Klopp has shown his public admiration of Sarr, Traore and for Dembele. If Mane were to leave - and keep in mind that his representatives knew he was one of three on the list of potential replacements for Messi and they have approached Barcelona - perhaps Klopp will opt for one of those if Mane were to leave.}


32.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 20:24:40
Is that adama traore and dembele of barcolona ed?
Oh god no please!

{Ed002's Note - Yes.}


33.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 20:40:34
I have to say, If the best we could come up with to replace one of the most effective creative goalscoring forward players in Europe is Sarr, Traore or Dembele, it’s underwhelming to put it mildly, as none of them have got anywhere near the kind of output that Mane gives us. And as for Dembele, aside from injury and poor attitude, he’s turned us down three times as I understand it, that should be enough for the club to give up on him as an option as he’s shown no interest in playing for us.


34.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 20:44:53
Thanks Ed002 for taking the time to share this really appreciate it.


35.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 21:45:48
Come on people relax. Before Mane came here not a lot of people were shouting his name.
We have won the CL and EPL in the last two seasons so if Mane wants to go and the right price or price and exchange is to JK and his teams acceptance then go for it.
All players get older and their performance drops and they are eventually replaced. The day will come soon when we have a new front three and the last thing we need is for this to happen when Jurgen is leaving.
If he starts rebuilding now SO BE IT. We have survived great players like Keegan and Rush leaving in the past and got stronger.
Long term it is for the good of the club.


36.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 22:04:03
I’d imagine that Liverpool would shy away from the sort of clause ridden agreement that saw Coutinho go to Barcelona given we’ve never seen quite a bit of that cash. If they want Mane then we’ll have it all upfront please and none of the ‘pay you more if we win something’ which would seem unlikely to deliver in the short term with the poor manager they have chosen.


37.) 27 Aug 2020
27 Aug 2020 22:21:03
I wonder how much Levy would let Son go for.
He would be my first choice above literally anyone else affordable.

{Ed0666's Note - you can forget about Daniel levy doing us any favors mate.


38.) 30 Aug 2020
30 Aug 2020 18:09:02
I really hope mane doesn't go anywhere.