Liverpool banter 8

27 Mar 2026 00:21:22
Strange how the DM position again appears to be being overlooked. For me that’s the one glaring position that’s needed addressing since Fab left. Grav is OK at best, an absolute passenger more often than not and definitely doesn’t give you any confidence as a 'shield.' Even in the title-winning season, he was good rather than anything stand out. Anderson is definitely what we need, or a South American leg-breaker type. Someone with a bit of bite and presence.

Our need for actual wingers with pace is obviously evident, but the DM position is just as important if not more for me. Olise is decent, but definitely no Mo replacement. I see him more on the level of Eze rather than a game-changing superstar. A Rb required, 2 wingers, an experienced defender, potentially back up lb.

Will be interesting to see how the money is spent, I’ve got a feeling Mo's position and Wharton will be our budget, then whatever we can get dependant on outgoings.

I know everything is just rumours and largely nonsense at the moment, but who we are being linked with isn’t giving me much excitement or confidence that we will be challenging for the title next season. I think Anderson and someone like Joao Gomes as a minimum would just start building towards what we actually need. I don’t mind McAllister as much as people seem to on here, but his mobility is definitely an issue. Any two of Mac, Jones and Grav I’d have no problem in leaving.

I’d be more excited by hungry lesser knowns coming in, Valverde is probably the only big name I’d be excited about, 0 chance of that though.

27 Mar 2026 07:12:50
Well, Grav was exceptional last season, and like many of his peers, he's been that passenger you've described. Let's wait until we get a real manager in, aye.

27 Mar 2026 07:30:15
Definitely agree as regards a physical defensive minded midfielder with legs. Would solve a good portion of our many problems, I reckon.

27 Mar 2026 07:45:41
I think we need to go back to working class midfield.
With someone like Dom who can sprinkle magic dust over the game, we'd be covered by having another Gini/Hendo/Milner in the engine room.

I think that player is Anderson. I'd bring in him and Wharton.

Midfield group of Dom, Grav, Anderson, Wharton, Jones and Nyoni would do for me.

27 Mar 2026 08:18:40
We should get Ederson of Atlanta and/or Baleba from Brighton.

LB get Tsimi back as backup in place of Robbo.

Replace Gapko and Salah with Diomande and Bowen.
Chiesa with Elliot.

Guetrida also to cover across defence and DM.

N.Willams as RB cover.

27 Mar 2026 08:19:40
Unfortunate thing (also great cuz he is a brilliant player) is Grav's new contract which essentially means he has to start. 280,000 a week is not sitting on the bench. He was the one area I felt we could have improved in midfield with someone like Anderson, Baleba or Ederson. Grav to rotate then. He is a very good player, just not what we need.

Not a specialist at anything really. That's what we need now.

Then again,
I think if it was Xabi to come in, I reckon he'd go to the 3-4-2-1 we saw at Leverkusen.
The profile of player we have is absolutely tailor made for it. Ironically, there would not be as much of a need for a specialist 6 as a double pivot with 3cbs should suffice.

27 Mar 2026 08:25:41
Mac & Jones would be first out the door for me, Mac has fallen off massively and Jones is a nothing footballer. Both can be easily improved upon.

27 Mar 2026 08:46:31
Grav doesn't have enough strings to his bow to be a top class midfielder. He can occasionally turn a man and drive through midfield, but he doesn't even do that consistently.

27 Mar 2026 09:27:54
Gomes and Andre from Wolves would be ideal, although both going elsewhere. Alonso wanted Stiller at Madrid, so he may want him with us as well. Ederson, I agree, is good, and only one year left on his deal come the summer. I also like Alex Scott from Bournemouth.

27 Mar 2026 09:31:41
Just get Grav to play in the role he played last season.
It's Mac you want to replace with someone less top heavy.

27 Mar 2026 09:39:52
I think asking him to go forward has made him and the team look worse. Sure, he's not the type of 6 some people want, but I think going back to that could still make the team far better overall. I'm not against another 6, but some games I'd like last season Grav in that position.

27 Mar 2026 09:46:12
I don't think Grav will ever be the long term solution for DM, as I don't think he has the mentality for the position. He has the physical and technical attributes, but he's not got the desire or aggression to be the DM we clearly need.

27 Mar 2026 09:54:09
Looking at the posts above, all of the names people want replacing all won the title last season but are now crap. Don't buy it. Macca is not a 6, Grav is not an 8, we saw both like that under Klopp. Last season Grav 6, Macca 8, worked well, so why change it????? Maybe someone trying to prove a point??? Mo should've been played closer to the box, yes his legs are going so use him to get the best of what's left, but no.

For me, terrible management. Fitness levels down, tactics completely wrong for the players available, refusing to change, then when we do and play better/win, change back again. What a cock up.

26 Mar 2026 18:29:09.
I've just replied to LFC Hospitality email.
They asked me if I'm still interested in some packages.

I told the that I can hardly watch games on TV without feeling sick to my stomach with the way we are playing.
Told them not to come back to me until Mr Slot leaves our club.

26 Mar 2026 19:17:35
Legend, sir.

26 Mar 2026 19:20:50
Bit dramatic that, Chrisy. Sick to your stomach? Really?!

26 Mar 2026 19:41:41
Guess you can stomach the garbage we've endured this season, many can't.

26 Mar 2026 19:56:00
I don't think the hospital department makes decisions on the manager mate.

26 Mar 2026 20:06:38
Shows how deep they must be getting though.
I've not been able to go to the matches after my disabled son was left with a poisonous substance in his classroom at a special needs college and he ate it and ended up in the ICU 2 years ago. He now has seizures every week.


But when I was going then, it was a nightmare to get tickets. Always got Champions League ones as I was in the auto ticket scheme every year. But league games were like rocking horse s***. Unless you could afford the high level hospitality.

26 Mar 2026 20:36:59
It's not been good, Frode, but I haven't felt physically sick up till now. I bet you'll be at the Fulham game, no matter how it makes you feel. Or I may be wrong.

Really sorry to hear your story, Grino.

26 Mar 2026 21:05:29
Bless you and your son, Grino. You'll be in my prayers tonight. 👍

26 Mar 2026 22:36:38
I think a hospital and hospitality are two separate things....

26 Mar 2026 22:48:24
Holy Jesus, Grino, that sounds horrendous and hugely concerning!!! My best wishes to you and your son. I truly hope all is ok and will further improve. YNWA.

27 Mar 2026 05:43:15
Best wishes to you and your son, Grino.

27 Mar 2026 07:15:08
I'll be at the Fulham game supporting the players, because I really want CL football at the club, as I want us to thrive. I don't want that pre-Klopp period where we're consistently stuttering. If we don't make it, I think I'd throw up then, as I've been nauseous all season.

Sorry to hear about your situation, Grino.

27 Mar 2026 08:13:51
We both want the same thing, Frode. I'm fortunate that I'm escaping the nausea.

27 Mar 2026 09:12:56
Grino... that sounds terrible, hope your boy makes a full recovery. 👍

{Ed025's Note - best of luck to you and your son Grino mate..

26 Mar 2026 15:22:09
This probably isn’t a popular opinion, but with Flo, Dom, Isak and Hugo, I don’t think it’s a necessary to buy a box office replacement for Mo!?

I would prefer that LFC go back to being shrew and clever in the market, meaning the squad is deeper and balanced for next season.



Kerkez, Frimpong and Bradley can all thrive as wingbacks. Either Robbo stays or he is replaced by someone competent at left Wing Back to compete with Milos.

That is where the width comes from next season.

26 Mar 2026 15:53:19
Will all depend on the manager, I suppose.

26 Mar 2026 15:56:41
All I want is for Liverpool to buy some athletic, high energy, high work rate players. They actually don't even have to be that good at football, just good at running as we have plenty of good ball playing players already, but no work horse.

26 Mar 2026 17:10:15
I would probably disagree, but not wholeheartedly. 99% of the time I would much rather be shrewd, find a young hungry up and comer with promise. But I feel like we've left it too late to risk that, we knew this day was coming for a long time, and we could have had somebody in by now, an understudy for Mo, I mean. We've had opportunities, I wanted Olise 2 years ago, could have got him for a fraction of what he's worth now, but the stat men these days, seem to like to wait for ever more stats before making a move.



Anyway, I think taking a punt on somebody with less experience now is a risk not worth taking considering everything that went wrong this season. We really have to hit the ground running come August, with the amount of new faces in between this coming window and the last, that's not going to be easy, and the more proven quality & experience we have in the side, the easier that should be. You wanna replace Gakpo, Macca, Konate with some promising up and comers, go for it, 100%, but not Mo, not right now.

26 Mar 2026 18:06:48
If we get Alonso, and if he goes with a 3-4-2-1, assuming using wingbacks, of the rumoured incomings I can see Whalton fitting in central midfield alongside Grav or Sobbo, maybe Sobbo in the AMC 2 with Wirtz, but not sure how rumoured Olise, Diamode etc players fit in that. Interesting to get people's opinions, "if" it is 3-4-2-1, what players we should be looking to bring in, or do we think Alonso would set up differently, Leoni and the new French lad, with VVD, look right for a back 3, good on the ball, what do people think the potential formation will be and who we should be getting in, and where existing players would fit in.

26 Mar 2026 18:29:32
Grimaldo for LWB.

26 Mar 2026 18:30:32
Van Dijk flanked by 2 young athletic centre halves, Frimpong and Kerkez, wingbacks.
An athletic, mobile and physical centre midfielder signed to play alongside Gravenberch.
Wirtz and Szoboszlai as the attacking midfielders, almost like a right-sided and left-sided pair of No 10s.
Ekitike and Isak to fight it out/rotate as the striker.

26 Mar 2026 18:30:32
Minteh and Diomande for me.

Not a fan of wing back system. Skews your squad profile in the long term.

Not a fan of two strikers up front either. Ekitike has baby bird lungs and Isak is a 35 game a season player. More likely they rotate between two wide forwards/wingers.

26 Mar 2026 18:34:51
It's just coz we went big and Slot fluffed it.

Most important thing is, if it's a new manager, we go into the season with a complete squad that can play his formation.

Last thing we want is a repeat of this season, a squad set up for one formation, forced to play another.

26 Mar 2026 20:01:23
I tend to agree. We have a history of signing guys like Mo and turning them into Mo. So I would back that rather than look to spend big again.

26 Mar 2026 20:34:42
It was easier then. We were ahead in the data game. Diomande wouldn't have coets as much back then. Now, every club are looking at their dribbles per 90, progressive carries stats etc. It's driven up the prices.
The Salah from Roma would cost a lot more now.
I actually think we actually could be ahead of the curve again if we can balance the squad this window.

Hughes has made some elite signings, but the balance of the squad is all wrong. If we can somehow get a ballplaying midfielder with legs in for Macca, and pace on the flanks in place of Mo/Gakpo, I think we will see the best of Wirtz and Isak and I think we will be equal or better than City/Arsenal again.

26 Mar 2026 20:50:38
Minteh is absolutely terrible. Couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo if it was stood in front of him. You can't turn that level of incompetence into a Salah or a Mane any more than you could with the similarly goal shy Adama Traore.



For the record, both of Salah & Mane were hitting double figures in the two seasons before they arrived here, so let's not make out that they were undiscovered diamonds.

26 Mar 2026 20:58:44
Agree that the market has shifted and perhaps signing a Mo 9 years ago is closer to spending 60m as opposed to 30m.

But the point remains. We have been at our best in the market when we've signed players who are ready to bust through to the next level in their career.

26 Mar 2026 22:08:20
@ funky061,

I agree with you, I think all our summer signings are quality and we just need a few more players to gel it together.

26 Mar 2026 22:54:57
If Minteh is our target signing, then we're in a mid table expectation team. I'm sure we'll do much, much better than him. Average player. If even.

26 Mar 2026 23:03:00
Victor, with Isak/Ekitike and Wirtz in our team, we need flying wingers that can press - Minteh can do that. His off the ball work is incredible. He doesn't need to be scoring 20 goals a season.

As good as Olise is, he can't press enough to compensate for the silk of Ekitike, Isak, Wirtz.

We need balance.

26 Mar 2026 23:28:11
FPF, I completely agree. I'd take Minteh. He's also only 21. We have goal scorers and creators. What we're lacking in work rate and aggression. Where are the Mane, Milner, Henderson, and Fabinho's of our team!

26 Mar 2026 23:58:32
Minteh is one I'm on the fence with. Anytime I watch him, he's a threat, but the return doesn't seem to be there. Can he spam take ons? If so, I'm sure his output would increase playing with an elite finisher like Isak.


And he certainly has the workrate, pace, and age on his side.
Has anyone seen much of him? Is his dribbling enough to consistently disrupt a low block?

26 Mar 2026 15:15:45
Debate
So now Salah confirmed to be leaving and looking likely Robertson to follow. Konate also I’d say, probably got to be 70% likely to leave on a free. Gomez, Endo and Chiesa also could be moved on, so before transfer business coming in our squad would look like this.
Goalkeepers:-
Alisson
Mamardashvili
Woodman
Right Back/ Wing Back:-
Bradley
Frimpong
Left Back/ Wing Back:-
Kerkez
Centre Back:-
Van Dijk
Leoni
Jacquet
Midfield:-
Gravenberch
McAllister
Szoboszlai
Jones
Nyoni
Forwards:-
Wirtz
Isak
Ekitike
Gakpo
Ngumoha
So that’s 19 players not including the likes of Ramsey, McConnell, Bajetic and Danns. Analysing that squad, some big gaps to fill. Also noticeable is that Alisson, Van Dijk and Jones' deals end in 27.

Also of those 19, Leoni and Jacquet have 0 Premier League minutes of experience. Nyoni again under 90 minutes of Premier League experience and Ngumoha also not much more. So regardless of who is manager next season, there’s a lot of potential arriving players for next season. Do we need experience? Or more young players eg Diomande? A lot depends upon Champions League qualification I guess. Are we likely to spend £400m again? Doubt it. So are we going to be at the beginning of a completely new cycle next season? Are we looking to build again maybe not to challenge next season, but maybe 2,3,4 years from now. Who would get the best out of this squad? Slot, Alonso or another? Would we have the patience to let the inexperienced group develop over a few years?

26 Mar 2026 15:56:06
If you're talking about having a squad as strong and deep as Arsenal you're looking at another spend like last summer for me.

26 Mar 2026 18:07:03
Another big summer on the cards, if the club has any sense, lots of boots to fill and money isn't getting any cheaper. Personally, I'd get Diomande on the left, Olise on the right and the rest doesn't bother me too much. We definitely need options going forward, we've lost serious energy on the wings, but I think a new manager could get a much better tune out of the midfield and backline.

A RB would be nice, an actual RB, who plays at RB, week in, week out, reliably. Whether he plays second fiddle to Frimpong or not, I don't care, but if I see Dom playing RB again next season I might have to check meself in. I love Bradley but he's too injury prone, Frimpong's spent half the season on the physio table too, so reliability is key.

Somebody who can actually put a tackle in the midfield would be a very nice bonus, but with Grav signing a new deal I'm not sure that's gonna happen, unless Mac Allister is on his way out, which I wouldn't mind. If Endo goes we might get a promising young DM in, could be something to keep an eye on, would much rather get in somebody for the future rather than another Endo, nothing against the lad, did well when needed but we need to build towards the future keeping squad depth in mind, no point in having a bunch of backups the manager doesn't want to use.

Grav definitely deserves a shot at redemption for now considering he was so good last season, but a little competition wouldn't be a bad idea.

A lot will depend on the next manager, his vision and preferred setup, and how willing the club are with funds, considering it's his first season, remember all Slot got was Chiesa when he first arrived, I can understand why but that sort of nonsense will be the death of us, quite literally. We could very likely be replacing Virgil and Alisson come '27, so holding off on investment in transfers now for the sake of assessing a new manager will seriously bite us in the backside in 14 months time.

If Alonso's coming, I'd nearly write him a blank cheque, and make sure Edwards was long gone before doing so.

26 Mar 2026 20:04:07
It really comes down to how we build the squad to play the way the manager wants them to play.

For instance, signing Frimpong and Kerkez to play in Slot's inverted fullback system feels dull.

We have to keep building, but I do have worries about the size of the task, and whether the transfer team are connected with the manager.

26 Mar 2026 23:41:43
We need a right back, another centre back, and 2 pacy wingers. Job done.

27 Mar 2026 08:04:17
We don't know if Alonso will play 3 at the back? Did he at Madrid?
If and when he comes in, surely he evaluates it?
And don't call me Shirley.

26 Mar 2026 15:05:48
ED 001, do you think salah can still play at this top level in the Premier League. He is a player on the decline naturally but I would have thought that the way he looks after himself could help him elongate his spell. I know it's difficult to find one answer to this but what is your opinion on why his form this season has been this poor.

His drop off seems almost impossible to explain as he is not even receiving the ball in the same scenarios as last season.

{Ed001's Note - his sharpness has dropped off, hence the loose touches etc, but he is still very capable at the top level in the right set up.}

26 Mar 2026 15:59:54
If I was him, I'd go to Saudi now. He has nothing left to prove at the top level, so take the crazy money while it's available. He will be 34 by the time he starts playing at a new club, which is old for a winger.

26 Mar 2026 16:58:07
I would play Salah in the middle, up front. He is still quick and not expected to cover much ground. He knows how to put the ball in the net.
Keep him at a reasonable salary and he rotates with Ekitike.

{Ed025's Note - i suspect you are not a football manager mate.. :)

26 Mar 2026 17:44:40
Judging by the name,
He's just the Kit-man.

{Ed025's Note - nice one mate..

26 Mar 2026 21:19:43
Babbity, Salah isn't interested in Saudi.

26 Mar 2026 13:51:50
PSG are cheating again.

I hope Liverpool say sth about this because I don’t think taking the high road works here
The squad is depleted enough as it is
We need serious help.
So any small advantage is worth it.

26 Mar 2026 14:15:14
How is it cheating? PSG asked their national football federation if they could postpone the game. And their football federation agreed. That is not cheating, that is wholly sensible. The question should be why will the Premier League not be as accommodating to the English teams.

26 Mar 2026 14:29:16
They wouldn't have asked to have it moved if they weren't concerned about playing us over two legs.

Isak is back in the squad for the PSG games too.

I can't wait.

26 Mar 2026 14:32:05
PSG had Lens in the cancelled game, who are 2nd in Ligue 1, I bet they're not very happy about it. Now Lens have 10 days without a game & a heavy fixture list to finish the season.



You can't call it cheating, but imo it isn't on the right side of the moral line. However it is the French FA's call & they've made it, so who am I to tell them what is right & wrong.

26 Mar 2026 14:52:10
Their owner sits on the board of the French Federation - it was always going to be postponed....

26 Mar 2026 15:12:11
The Premier League will not be as accommodating because they don't call the shots. The TV companies do.

26 Mar 2026 15:22:32
Concerned about playing us?

They did the same thing against Chelsea... I think it's more of hoping for the same outcome as opposed to being concerned about playing us.

I personally don't think it's fair, given that it clearly gives them an advantage, and yes, UEFA should do something about it.



I remember a time when no league could play league games on a night where CL games were being played... So UEFA used to have some say about leagues could do, but I think since COVID, that specific rule was changed.

26 Mar 2026 16:22:12
The PSG chairman abstained from the vote. The Lens chairman agreed to the postponement. Another excuse for a whine? When did we become like this?

Surely, your anger should be directed at the EPL for not supporting English efforts in Europe?

26 Mar 2026 20:10:30
Hardly cheating. Bit of an unfair advantage for them, but it seems they have a process and a willingness in their league to have this flexibility upon request.

Whereas in England it feels like the various competitions are in competition with each other lol.

26 Mar 2026 21:08:25
Since when did Lens agree? Not sure this statement is agreement: "While expressing its disagreement with the unanimous decision of the LFP board of directors to postpone the match against Paris St-Germain, RC Lens acknowledges it responsibly and reaffirms its determination to pursue its sporting objectives."

26 Mar 2026 12:57:25
Isak,
I see no genuine pages online saying he wants to leave but the rumours are there.
Personally I'm hoping it is just that, rumours.
Thoughts? A different discussion to Mo and Slot on a Thursday afternoon ;)

26 Mar 2026 14:18:43
He's done nothing this season, due to his awful fitness level when brought, and his long term injury. We won't miss what we never had. If Barca or whoever want him, they can have him for what we paid, plus a little more. Not fussed either way if he stays or goes.

26 Mar 2026 14:33:30
I can't wait to see Isak at full tilt in a Liverpool shirt next season.

26 Mar 2026 15:17:12
A fit firing Isak with Wirtz providing the bullets.

Where do I sign?

Has the potential to be record breaking imo.

26 Mar 2026 15:21:11
I wouldn't be bothered if he left. Let's get used to not being able to count on him.

26 Mar 2026 15:23:46
And who exactly is going to pay that sort of money given that he has been injured and so unfit?

I hope we don't sell him as he is going to be immense for us.

26 Mar 2026 15:59:28
Barcelona's not buying Isak, not a hope! Blokes gonna get 40 goals for us next season.

26 Mar 2026 16:55:08
I wouldn't be surprised if his agent is doing a little window shopping. The club's a shambles right now, he thought he was making a move to a more stable club, a dominant side, but we're a complete mess, he thought he was going to win trophies and currently there's no chance of that, with another rebuild season in the works, it's entirely possible that we may not become serious title contenders for another season or two.

If he's thinking along those lines, why wouldn't he consider a move, especially if the likes of Barca were interested.

Not saying I believe the rumours at all, just rationalising the possibility, I don't know where the story originated and only saw it in passing on Football365, which is a dog s*** site, they will literally print anything, so if that's the source the story is complete and utter nonsense.

26 Mar 2026 18:31:29
Maybe they forgot to finish the sentence. He wants to leave the rehab room.

26 Mar 2026 19:44:00
John, you're writing him off already. Ludicrous given his world class ability. Peak Messi, Suarez and Neymar would be crap under Slot.

26 Mar 2026 20:12:49
No idea about the rumours, but well before he got injured, I made the call that we should sell one of him or Ekitike.

That has nothing to do with his value or anything. It's to do with the idea that him and Ekitike are competing pieces, not complimentary.



I just struggle to see how we will fit them both together to play enough minutes where they will return G/As to the value of the $200-odd million we paid for.

26 Mar 2026 21:24:39
Kimuraking.tdeh, and who was responsible for playing Isak when every man and his dog knew he didn't have a preseason hence, he would be off the pace from the off and susceptible to injury low or high impact ones at that? Man, give over.

And no, we will not be selling Isak this season nor the next either, IMO. This season is a write of hence, he will have a full preseason under a new manager (perhaps) and then, we can make a full judgement of him provided we have the right players around him in a suitable setup, IMO.

Again, chill out.

27 Mar 2026 01:01:30
Oli, do you rekon a new manager would play a system where Ekitike and Isak can thrive together?

26 Mar 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - BlueNose1878 has posted a new article entitled, Everton Still Need a New Starting Centre-Back

26 Mar 2026 00:17:04
ED 001, I know you have answered part of the question but I wanted to get your thoughts on whether or not Salah should have at least waited to see the managerial change before making a decision, yes I get that he wants to play every game but surely that can't be the only factor.

Hypothetically could he not have played a role under say Alonso next year in a style that is suited to him.

{Ed001's Note - I doubt the option would have been there then to do this.}

26 Mar 2026 06:14:11
What if there are no plans for a managerial change?

26 Mar 2026 06:55:20
Then the end is here.

26 Mar 2026 07:27:15
Imagine if Slot were to stay...

Gakpo, Macca, Grav, Konate, VVD, Alison would get improved contracts.

Hugo, Jones, Robbo, Chiesa, Gomez, Ramsey would most likely leave with Salah.

Szobo would be our new RB.


Grav would replace Hugo as our number 9.

We'd buy a new RB to challenge Szobo for the spot.
Rio would go on loan, along with Nyoni.

Then Slot would have a further 450m to buy his own players?

That seems possible? 🫣🫣🫣🫣

26 Mar 2026 09:05:47
Regretfully I'd stop watching this assgas and just follow the results. Dire football.

26 Mar 2026 09:13:56
I knew Salah wouldn't stay the moment the whole Salah outburst happened and the fact (cos no one from the club has denied it till this day) that they wanted to sell him in Jan.

As soon as that happened, I knew something had broken. When you acknowledge that in addition to his form this season (part of it is on him and the other part is on the manager's tactics), no one should be surprised about this news.



As to when Mo should have announced it, there is Never a good time hence, not bothered.

26 Mar 2026 10:52:58
I'd rather just know now. Now he can be given the send off he deserves over the next coupla months. And, knowing him, he'll be determined to go out on as big a high as possible.

26 Mar 2026 11:15:27
My theory is the new manager wants it dealt with before they officially take over.

No new manager wants to be the one to let Salah go, and no new manager wants to be in a position where they have to drop Salah and deal with the dressing room drama.

Werner has come over. Had final discussions with new manager, this is a condition of his appointment and Werner has had to deal with such a huge financial decision.

I'm certain it was a condition of a new manager, Salah would announce he's leaving before new manager is appointed.

New manager can start the rebuild afresh.

That's my reading of it.

26 Mar 2026 11:32:34
That's exactly how I see it, Ron. Been telling my customers that for months. Alonso doesn't want to come in and be the one to have to drop Salah. Hopefully, Alonso is thinking he can come in now, in the break, now it's been dealt with.

26 Mar 2026 12:21:11
Ron, Letstalk, are you lads really trying to suggest that the new (completely unconfirmed) manager has a say over the club's contract negotiations with current players, and the decisions they make over what to do about the situation between the current manager and one of the greatest players to ever play for the club? Even when it was already looking like Mo was gonna leave long before Xabi even got the sack from Real?

.

26 Mar 2026 12:26:58
Agree with you both. New Manager, not Head Coach, to come in with new tactics and formation and not have to deal with the problems of dropping Salah.

26 Mar 2026 12:29:53
I hope your theory is sound, Ron. Maybe Werner came over to try to persuade Salah to see out his contract. Who knows?

Letstalkabout6baby - I don't see a new manager coming in during the break.

26 Mar 2026 12:34:07
And if Salah had decided he didn't want to go?

26 Mar 2026 13:04:33
If that's the case, FM, then he would have to be happy to sit on the bench for a season and lose some condition. He gets paid the same either way, better to leave and get a new club.

26 Mar 2026 13:28:12
Scrutiny would be huge though, Ron, especially if the manager didn't get off to the best of starts. You're talking about a player on £480k a week. 3rd highest scorer in our history, who a lot of people think has only struggled this season because of the manager, and that he would once again thrive under a new guy.

26 Mar 2026 13:47:05
I think people are reading way too much into Salah leaving. Salah has looked like he wanted out for months now. He's leaving because he wants to go, and the club have no issue with that because he's pushing 35 and massively underperforming. It's mutual.

He wants out asap and doesn't need the hassle of lengthy contract negotiations come the summer, he'd rather get it done with sooner rather than later and give himself time to settle in wherever he's going, the club obviously aren't bothered by this given the fact that his age and massive drop in form this season means he'll be worth sweet f all come June, not to mention the fact that they save £20 million on wages by letting him walk.

So they essentially have their transfer fee. Nobody outside of Saudi would have been willing to pay more than that, and let's be honest, he's not moving his family to a country involved in a war right now.

Throw in the fact that he's one of the greatest players to ever play for the club and you have more than enough reasons for this to play out exactly as it did. We all saw this coming months ago, we all predicted it, no idea why people are overcomplicating it now that it's actually happening.

26 Mar 2026 14:10:10
I did mention he wanted to leave last summer on a free but ended up signing a new contract because of all the noise around El Rato.

26 Mar 2026 15:26:18
Must have been a hard decision, Thefields, to get 400k a week...

26 Mar 2026 16:36:52
Helped cushion the blow whilst he floated through a season, JLC. 😂

26 Mar 2026 17:10:18
You use the term floated quite lightly there, TheFields. 🤣🤣🤣🤣