It’s coming out from Sky Sports that we aren’t looking to get a centre back in. Yes, it’s Sky Sports but there will be some reliability to that. Quotes from their recent discussion.
“Well, no is the answer we are being told. My understanding is that Liverpool will not go into the market to sign a player for the next 4-6 weeks. They’re just gonna have to ride through the storm and then wait for their players to come back and then they will be at full strength at the back.”
I’m sorry but so many people seem to just be letting it all slide by. The squad is deeply lacking in depth and first 11 quality all over the place. Selling Cody would be insanity.
145m euros is 124m pounds. 100m euros is only 85m pounds. Liverpool is going to need to up their offer considerably if they are serious about Barcola. I’m guessing 120m euros could get it done that would be 102m pounds roughly.
I just don’t have a lot of confidence in the transfer team at the minute. Edwards resigned and this is Hughes last year. The only deal we have done is the release clause for Munoz. Jacquet was already agreed before this offseason started.
Sky reporter: will you tell us if you are signing a player in the next 4-6 weeks.
Liverpool rep: No.
I can see the logic, though. We have 4 senior centre backs on our books: Gomez, VVD, Jacquet, Leoni.
Two are recovering from long term injuries and are expected to come back in the next couple of months. One doesn’t exactly have a stellar fitness record. The only reason to bring a permanent CB would be to replace Gomez. I suspect that they will make do and mend.
I think if Sky’s quote is accurate, it doesn’t necessarily rule out a signing, it just means that any player the club will consider has to be there on merit and not just a body to fill a gap that is viewed to be short term in nature.
Exactly this. Haven’t we always been told that LFC works from a list of players, choices, 1, 2, 3, etc, and that if 1 became untenable, then we move to 2, and on down the line? It appears that we keep getting stuck on 1, to our own detriment.
The issue, which I understand is that going past numbers 1 and 2 of potentially available players, there isn’t much choice especially statistically wise.
Our Number 1 was Diomande, and we quickly moved on once we learned that Diomande wanted to go elsewhere.
The question is whether we’ve determined if Barcola is possible. The fact that we haven’t dropped our approach implies that we think it is.
Liverpool has never been afraid to fixate on its primary targets when it suits them, even waiting where necessary. Van Dijk, Alisson, Isak were all protracted negotiations that we stood by because we were convinced that they were our best option.
Guehi was a market opportunity because of his contract situation. I don’t think they were targeting alternatives at the time.
The only examples I can think of recently are at CDM - Zubimendi and Caicedo. Caicedo was a last minute bid that they won until Caicedo chose Chelsea. Zubimendi was similar, though not nearly as high profile, and he backed out after initially agreeing. And I think our choice not to pivot where was driven by our lack of interest in the alternatives, not because we were caught out. In both cases, the window was wide open for weeks after those deals fell through.
There are many different dimensions to a transfer - how much do you need the spot filled? How obtainable is your first choice? How comparable is the next choice? The options open to you as a buying side depend on all of those answers. The Virgil and Guehi moves might have looked similar in approach - them or no one - but we arrived there very differently each time.
Virgil: we need a CB, Southampton are going to sell, this guy is so much better than anyone else we could get
Guehi: We dont need a CB but if we get him cheaply it probably makes our life easier next year, we’re sure Palace are going to eventually cave and realize they have to get some money for him now, there are comparable or better players, but not for the sort of deal we think we can push through here.
My guess is it means we push for Barcola as he is better than anyone else we can get. The price will sting, but I suspect it will be done for around the amount we paid for Isak.
Worst case scenario, we tread water with Rio, Munoz, Isak, Chiesa, and Gakpo and try to get Rayan in January for a reasonable fee in light of his upcoming release clause. Ekitike returns around then, too.
