Liverpool Banter 4

05 Jun 2026 13:57:32
I think it’s clear we need to improve our squad as a whole not just starting 11 as we’ve been light on that for years. Obviously all costs money.

Do we know if we are looking at any out of contract players such as Wilson or Senesi (I know heavily linked with Spurs)? Sure there’s plenty of others around Europe available aswell?
Also do we know what the future holds for Elliott? Do you think his Anfield days are still over or would he have a chance with new manager?

05 Jun 2026 14:31:56
Senesi is off to Spurs. That's been done to death.
I assume you mean Harry Wilson. That won't happen either. He's just come off the back of his best season yet in the prem, and will want to be a starter, and that's never going to be the case at Liverpool. He will probably replace Gordon at Newcastle or something like that.

05 Jun 2026 14:44:10
Senesi off to Spurs - that hasn't been confirmed yet.

I think he means Callum, not Harry, to provide striker cover (and someone who has played with Isak recently) until Ekitike recovers.

I'm not so keen on that myself, instead, would rather we use youth like Koumas or Wright to provide cover, alongside Fede, Wirtz etc.

05 Jun 2026 15:25:23
Rabrizio, Senesi to Spurs has not been confirmed, and from my understanding, won't happen.

05 Jun 2026 15:26:00
Zed, I was giving credit with Harry, my God, Callum Wilson, really? Is that what we're reduced to?
We all know too well, sometimes there's some good free signings on offer, but that's not even scraping the bottom of the barrel, it's even worse.
Should be nowhere near Liverpool.

05 Jun 2026 16:24:31
Iraola will bring through 2/3 young players and improve some already in the squad, who will be 'like new signings'.

This is how any good coach should operate.

The energy he will generate will cause players to buy in and get excited again, and that will provide something more.



I can see a spend this window not unlike before, although we have far less saleable assets this time around.

05 Jun 2026 16:44:46
Sensei to Spurs has been reported by multiple sources who have all reported Robertson to Spurs, and they've been spot on. He's had a verbal agreement in place with them for a while by all accounts. No reason to think it won't go through.

05 Jun 2026 14:20:42
I agree, but I would look inward first.

Rio and Trey are already in first team squads, and given Iraola has an opportunity to work with the younger players whilst many senior guys are at the WC.

In defence, we have the younger 17-19 year olds that we have bought in the last 6-12m, along with Jacquet and Leoni coming back. I'd say central defence isn't essential to strengthen further, but someone like Senesi would be a no brainer to me, especially as the gaffer knows and has played him regularly. However, some folks do doubt his defensive awareness, including Ed001, and I haven't seen him play enough to argue with that. However, given his history with Iraola, if the gaffer thinks he can do a job to cover injuries and whilst Leoni and Jacquet play themselves into form, then it makes a lot of sense.

In midfield, we do need first team ready players, especially if Macca and/or Jones depart. Looks like we are linked with Wharton and Scott, along with Camara and a few others. For further depth we have Nyoni, McConnell, Bajcetic, Elliot who should either provide that dept or be sold on.

Up front, hopefully we get Diomande and other LW who can play up front. I would also be interested in Bowen, depending on how much he would cost. Left footed right winger with pace (although a bit slower now) who scores goals. Could be a decent option for 3 years whilst the newer players and academy prospects come through.

So out of the cheaper options, I would go with Senesi and Bowen

05 Jun 2026 17:16:00
Senesi makes no sense as a signing. He's left footed and weak in the air. I'd rather we looked at Zabarnyi from PSG on loan, as there's rumours he might be available, he's a very good centre back and right footed.

Honestly, don't see Bowen as an option, he's too old for starters and he's on big wages at West Ham, plus given who his father in law is, does anyone seriously think he's going to intentionally give himself domestic issues?

05 Jun 2026 18:22:09
Even Mac could outrun and outfight Danny Doughball, VV.

05 Jun 2026 19:35:40
Senesi is not at the level.

05 Jun 2026 13:10:52
Some of the players Iraola will probably be able to work with straight away in pre-season.

Goalkeepers:
Mamardashvili, Pecsi, Mrozek, Davies

Defenders:
Frimpong, Ramsay, Mabaya, Ndiaye, Ndukwe, Gomez, Jacquet, Leoni, Nallo, Kerkez, Beck, Chambers, Tsimikas

Midfielders:
Szoboszlai, Jones, Elliott, McConnell, Bajcetic, Nyoni, Koumas, Morrison

Forwards:
Chiesa, Wright, Abe, Rio, Gordon, Danns, Figueroa

Injured:
Jaros, Bradley, Ekitike

It's a pretty decent number of players. Might allay any fears people have about a delayed start. If we were to sign Wharton, you could add him to the list of midfielders as well, because he's not in the England squad. There's a chance Woodman might re-sign and be added as well.

Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Jacquet, Leoni, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Jones, Nyoni, Elliott, Chiesa and Rio in particular should all have their sights on catching Iraola's eye and earning regular minutes going into next season. That's a full starting eleven.

05 Jun 2026 15:36:12
Frimpong, Elliott and Chiesa simply aren't good enough, and Nyoni's not ready.

05 Jun 2026 15:55:34
Add Rio to your list too, Rome.

05 Jun 2026 16:09:53
Agree with you on Frimpong, Rome, but would be willing to give Elliot & Chiesa a chance.

05 Jun 2026 16:42:33
So Rome, do you not believe players can improve under a better coach?

I do, I'm not writing any of our players off under this new coach.

05 Jun 2026 16:46:43
MK,
At least 12 of those players probably won't be there to see pre-season. Definitely won't be there by the end of the window.

05 Jun 2026 16:51:14
Rome, Klopp said at the end of his final season that his biggest regret was not giving Elliott more game time. He's also still only 23. He may not have suited Slot's style, but Elliott is actually a number 10 who is best playing ahead of 2 DM's. Exactly how Iraola plays, and nobody can convince me that Kluivert is a better footballer than Elliott. I think Iraola joining gives Elliott a slim lifeline. Still only slim because Szoboszlai is also best as a 10, and Wirtz can cover there.

Frimpong looked very good when he had a license to go forward at speed. Chiesa has also looked best throughout his career in similar fast attacking sides. This is something Slot curbed, though, especially in his second season. It is a clean slate for players like this.

Nyoni and Rio, I just totally disagree. They are ready to play senior football and will not continue to develop if they're reduced to playing u21 football, which they're far too good for.

They should be getting more minutes off the bench next as part of their development.

Every single one of those players I listed has a fresh chance to fight for their place. The most exciting thing about a new manager for me, is how the squad will get re-assessed. I remember when Klopp came in and everybody thought Firmino was no good and we'd wasted £35m. Then Klopp built a whole system around him in the false 9. Mainoo looked like a bum under Amorim, then Carrick turned it around for him to such an extent he's now in the England squad and nominated for YPOTY.

I'm not saying these players will all of a sudden all come good, but many of them will get a chance to prove themselves in Iraola's first few weeks on the training ground. That is only a good thing and we certainly shouldn't totally write anyone off, from my experience of managerial changes.

05 Jun 2026 18:36:03
Some right negative blends on here despite Arne leaving.

05 Jun 2026 18:43:29
MK, I hope you're right and I'm wrong. Regards to Frimpong, I just think it was a mistake to buy him, which is obviously on Hughes. He's a wing-back in a side that doesn't play wing-backs. Regards to Chiesa, I just can't see it happening with us. Again, hope you're right. Regards to Elliott, prior to his injury he looked like he had a future with us.

Like it's been said on here, many times, I'm not sure what his best position is. As you say, he's got Wirtz and Szoboszlai ahead of him, and he certainly doesn't have the pace to play wide.

Ron, you are right regards to coaches being able to improve players. However, silk purse and sow's ears come to mind. Again, I hope you're right and I'm wrong.

05 Jun 2026 19:36:20
Chiesa is outta here, mate.

05 Jun 2026 19:52:01
I'd imagine Lucky will also be in that list, seeing as he made the bench a fair few times.

05 Jun 2026 13:05:24
There are some great clips of Iraola's first interview as our new manager. He seems to be very aware of the scale of the task before him and seems excited for the challenge.
I get some good vibes from him. Hopefully success is back on the menu.

05 Jun 2026 15:41:47
Also nice to see a manager with a smile on his face, he comes across very well.

05 Jun 2026 13:04:05
Am I the only one that likes Gakpo?
I think he could really flourish under Iraola.
If he stays, I think a lot of you are going to be pleasantly surprised.

05 Jun 2026 14:05:10
I also don't get the Gakpo hate. Most players looked bad under Slot last season. I'd rather keep Gakpo than spend big on Barcola.

05 Jun 2026 14:07:09
I like Gakpo but I can't pretend that he didn't just have an awful season.

That said, I wouldn't sell any players based on performances from last season and I would give them all a second chance to show what they can do under Iraola.

05 Jun 2026 14:12:17
It's a tricky one, and an issue set up by ourselves by giving him such a bumper contract last year.

On his previous contract of £120k/week, I think he offers a lot, and provides cover and continuity whilst we integrate yet more players into the squad and while Hugo is injured and Rio continues to learn and develop.

However, by giving him £250k (rather than, say, £160k-ish), we have made a rod for our own back as other players like Dom, Konate (albeit I sense he had a plan anyway), etc. will want to earn the same wages.

On ability and familiarity with the team, I would keep him, at least until January, to see whether he can cope with the Iraola intensity.

It's not like he's old, he should be coming into his prime now, and although he had a stinker last season, so did almost everyone.

However, if a £50-£60m+ offer comes in, it may be worthwhile cashing in and picking up a talent in the 20-24 age group to help Rio and provide a decent service - Barcola could be one, but maybe Malick Fofana may be of interest again. We also have Wirtz, who can play off the left (and arguably excels there for his country).

05 Jun 2026 14:43:32
He excels there (LW for Germany) because it's more of a free role LW, he spends 70,
-80% of the time centrally, so a flying LB like Kerkez should help if Wirtz starts there for us next season.

05 Jun 2026 14:56:34
Not many had a good season, Shipley.

05 Jun 2026 14:58:50
I liked Gakpo, but this season he was horrible, but I think a lot of it was down to poor coaching as the whole team was horrible last season.

05 Jun 2026 15:46:33
That's exactly my point, @Irish. It can't be coincidence that so many performances dropped at the same time, hence the clean slate with Iraola this season.

05 Jun 2026 15:58:10
Gakpo is a good player. Poor season but good player. He'll be back.

05 Jun 2026 17:20:44
Everyone had a poor season. Rather keep Gakpo than go for Barcola personally, but on the condition that he plays Kerkez in more when he overlaps!

05 Jun 2026 12:38:39
Completely away from anything Liverpool. As Carra, Fields, Robbo seem to know a lot and get most if not all right.

I'm intrigued, do you know who this £150m non prem champs league young player is that Perez is promising to buy at Madrid if reelected?

Or, is it a ploy to just get back in the seat...

05 Jun 2026 13:17:45
I reckon it's 1 of the PSG boys.

05 Jun 2026 13:29:20
Kk, Vitinha or Neves.

05 Jun 2026 13:32:09
Sounded like it could be Musiala. I'd expect, at that fee, it'll be a Bayern or a PSG player.

05 Jun 2026 13:39:56
I'd love for us to sign Van Hecke from Brighton. Excellent defender.

05 Jun 2026 13:49:18
He said it's a striker, so imo it's Alvarez.

05 Jun 2026 13:53:42
I think it'll be Olise.

Vini Jr, Mbappe and Olise as a Galactico front 3 is the sort of stuff Madrid fans get off on. Even though that has absolutely zero work rate, and will leave Madrid short defensively.

05 Jun 2026 14:35:57
He said it was someone who drives forward from midfield into attack, and also said it definitely wasn't Olise.

I don't see PSG parting with anyone who would potentially cost that much, i.e. Kvart, Doue, Vitinha or Neves.

05 Jun 2026 14:59:04
Liver-La, I didn't think I would read the words Van Hecke and excellent defender in the same sentence.

05 Jun 2026 15:44:10
Mk, how will they be weaker defensively? They have just signed the French Hansen big Ibou.

05 Jun 2026 16:52:14
Fatwallet, Alright you don't have to convince me further!

05 Jun 2026 19:14:15
Liver La
Van Hecke is bang average. Tarkovski level.

05 Jun 2026 10:25:13
Hi. Something Iraola said in his interview with the WC and senior players away, it’s a great opportunity to work with the young academy and fringe players to assess and ready them for the season. Some other managers would see the WC as a negative. He sees the positive. This is a fundamental core concept way of thinking.
Reminds me of the shoe salesman who is sent to a country.

He phones his boss and says boss “you’re not going to believe this nobody is wearing any shoes what am I gonna do? it’s a disaster I can’t sell shoes to anybody! “
A second shoe salesman goes to the same country and phones his boss and says “ Hi boss you won’t believe this but nobody is wearing any shoes it’s great I can sell to Everybody!”
This could be the difference in mindset we need imo

05 Jun 2026 11:53:30
Sounds like something Arteta would say in a press conference. 😂

05 Jun 2026 12:34:13
More like one of Arteta's training exercises. 😆

05 Jun 2026 12:58:27
Navy Keith, 🤣 Arteta to a T mate.

05 Jun 2026 13:22:09
The third salesman opens a sock making factory as well.

05 Jun 2026 10:48:53
{Ed's Note - Seano_ has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool Squad Assessment and Summer Priorities

05 Jun 2026 12:22:26
Filling that CF position is going to be tough. With Isak's fitness, they should get some games, but then be limited to sub appearances when Hugo is back.
Hard to find someone willing to want to play that role, and we won't want to spend the sort of cash it'll take to bring a player better than we've already got.

05 Jun 2026 12:35:31
Nice read, Seano. I agree with probably 20+ of the player assessments you made. Only 4 things I'd differ with you on.

1. Selling Tsimikas. I see no point in that. He's a proven back up LB who's won the FA Cup, League Cup x2 and Premier League with us. As back-up he is fine.

2. Gravenberch and Jones being as un-athletic as Mac Allister. Jones and Grav aren't lightening fast, but they're nowhere near as slow or immobile as you've made out.

3. Gakpo lacking pace. He does not lack pace at all. I reckon over a 50 yard dash he's probably one of our quickest players.

He just looks slower because at 6ft4 he takes longer strides.


4. Wanting to sell Isak if we had another option. I just cannot see the logic in that. He's got bags of ability and also if we sold him we'd never recoup what we paid so it'd just be writing off a minimum of £50m. We need him to come good and I think as a goalscorer, Iraola will get the best out of him. He might not press very well, but he'll score goals.

Overall though, I enjoyed the read and found myself agreeing on most things.

05 Jun 2026 12:37:27
Bowen. Can cover the wing, but can play CF.

05 Jun 2026 12:53:41
Nice one, Seano. Broadly agree with what we need to do in the market.

The difficult part might be some big decisions on players some of us would want to keep (Szobo, Macca, Cody, even Nyoni) but need to sell to generate enough money to fund what is now a squad overhaul.

05 Jun 2026 13:06:13
Bowen? What the hell, am I reading here? We are not a retirement home. Rather keep Salah.

05 Jun 2026 13:13:47
Bowens is basically the same age Milner was when he signed. Not sure what your gripe is, RobRed. He'd be a very good signing. He can play RW and CF, which are two positions we look very light in right now.

05 Jun 2026 13:29:38
Centre back also a clear area of concern.
Need one more.
RB, RW and centre mid also urgently needed and I'd argue a back up left back too.

05 Jun 2026 13:45:59
Tsimikas with Beck/Chambers is enough cover at LB, agreed on the other positions.

06 Jun 2026 03:25:31
Cheers MK, my logic for those things we see differently is:

1) Tsimikas cannot challenge for a spot as first choice, Kerkez is a shoe in. Kerkez needs genuine competition to push him on to a higher level.

2) They’re certainly not as cumbersome as MacAllister, but I was thinking more about Iraola’s system, and the demands he placed on his midfielders within it. For that system they’re perhaps a bit slow.

3) Gakpo may be fast, but he doesn’t have that elite level acceleration. He is also a player who cannot take a man on.

I don’t think he offers enough threat in his position.

4) Isak’s talent isn’t my issue, it’s his fitness. I don’t think he will be able to keep up with the rigors of Iraola’s system. The off the ball work, the pressing, is incredibly important for it to work - if he cannot do that then he will undermine the system. I hope I am proven wrong, but I think he is a great player, but not great for us at this moment.

P.S. Bowen would be a shrewd signing in my opinion.

05 Jun 2026 09:12:07
Do you think we will get both Diomande and Barcola? Personally would be delighted if Gakpo went, think he's been a waste of getting young Rio into the team. But we are needing numbers.

05 Jun 2026 09:29:01
I think we will need Gakpo this season, he can cover lw and cf, and whilst he was shocking last year, he is a goal threat and a decent option.

05 Jun 2026 09:38:18
Gakpo is a good player, I think he will flourish under Iraloa!!

05 Jun 2026 10:48:36
I’ve seen Iraola spelled loads of different ways, Jay Dub, but that’s a new one and probably the best!

Rocky Iraloa! Love it.

05 Jun 2026 11:55:50
I think we need to be careful not to have too much upheaval again.

The benefit of Gakpo is he can cover wing and striker positions, which could be invaluable while Ekitike is injured.



Based on what I've read, those wide players are gonna be doing a hell of a lot of running, so having depth in wide areas to allow rotation, fresh substitutions, and covering injuries will be important.

05 Jun 2026 12:38:29
Navy mate, the horse has already bolted regarding the upheaval. The directors appear to have planned this massive transition.

05 Jun 2026 12:40:05
Gakpo needs to go, he's poor and lacks fight for me personally. Much better out there, if we get an offer, he should be sold.

05 Jun 2026 14:21:05
Pelican, I think you got it right. With Gordon flying in, and making a decision the 2 clowns couldn't make, has rocked the boat. It feels like they've realized their positions are in danger if they don't get the team back in the state and direction, they had probably promised, it would be in.

But it won't be easy for them because I don't see FSG giving them "carte blanche" (spending 400-500 Million last summer) so easily again.

05 Jun 2026 10:19:56
Ed78 has said that we are not getting both.

And I agree with Jay. Gakpo is a very good player when played to his strengths and we have evidence of that in the two seasons prior to the one just gone by.

Imo, I propose people not pay too much attention to whatever happened last season with majority of the players' performances because we have seen them play a lot better than last season esp. in the high press, high intensity system.

{Ed078's Note - I wouldn't read my words as gospel, just going off what others have stated. I can't see FSG spending that type of cash after last summer's spend, particularly with the lack of big money exits.

05 Jun 2026 09:00:12
Ed001 can I just say after 15 years of being on this site I finally listened to a podcast last week .I loved it and will be listening more. Also great to out a face to your name

{Ed001's Note - wow, really glad you enjoyed mate. Though after 15 years you should really have had more sense!}

05 Jun 2026 11:11:09
Does Bobby mispronounce every name on purpose? Biesla & Irola. 🤣

{Ed001's Note - Bobby? Do you mean Blobby? I mean I have heard Abid called that before but never Bobby.}

05 Jun 2026 10:19:39
Morning Ed1
Long time reader and I post now and again. But like man of todd I've not listened to any podcasts, where do I find them?
Thanks to you and all of the Eds for such amazing work.

{Ed001's Note - the link to the latest one should show up any time now.}

05 Jun 2026 10:21:00
I enjoyed it as well, Ed but you already know I love the pods, man. So informative and well, hilarious.

05 Jun 2026 11:51:00
I mean Abid aha. My memory isn't what it used to be with the years. I remember a few pods ago him getting confused with Areola and Iraola too. 🤣

{Ed001's Note - he is just not very bright, years in America have rotted his brain.}

05 Jun 2026 12:12:22
It's ok, Taurus. Abid is getting old and can't remember stuff he done an hour ago! I'm sure he thinks we are signing the pink bit around the nipple area!

05 Jun 2026 12:13:15
Abid is hilarious on the pod, btw.

05 Jun 2026 12:14:25
Ed001 I see loads people saying how long they have been using the site.
I actually have no idea how long I've been using it but how long has it been going.

{Ed001's Note - since 2001.}

05 Jun 2026 14:46:11
Which Ed is Abid? Is he Ed078?

{Ed001's Note - 666.}

05 Jun 2026 17:07:02
Abid from now on will be known as 'Bobby'. 😁

05 Jun 2026 14:44:13
Ed001, any idea when you stopped asking for posts to be signed by poster's usernames? It would help me figure out how long I have been here. Thanks. 🙏

{Ed033's Note - For people who don't know, The liverpool-rumours.co.uk site [created in 2010], was started as an offshoot from football-rumours.co.uk [created in 2001]. The sites moved to usernames in 2013.