I have my doubts (more like concerns, in all honesty) but for the sake of discussion, you wouldn’t think that Barcola, Ngumoha, Minteh and Munoz would be enough in terms of numbers? Yes, they are young but since we’re in the transition period between Klopp’s old team and what should now be Iraola’s, I think this would be OK in terms of age and potential. Minteh and Barcola already have plenty of playing experience, too, if we’re going by Inglethorpe’s comments from a few years ago about players having to play more than 100 matches in order to be considered for Liverpool’s first team.
That said, it’s the Ekitike-shaped hole that concerns me more if Gakpo leaves (provided he will leave only if two wingers arrive).
I’m happy with that set of four wingers if we can get Barcola and Minteh over the line. However to then let Gakpo go this summer leaves us short of cover with both Ekitike and Minteh currently injured. If it was just the latter I’d be more ok with it, but both leaves us potentially very light up top. Added to that, Isak isn’t exactly knocking it out of the park as it is.
I’m not against Gakpo going, I don’t think he’s a brilliant fit for what Iraola is looking to do, but for me it would have to be a January departure at the earliest.
I’m pretty sure we will prioritize having 4 wingers and picking from different alternatives when Isak needs a backup or competition while Ekitike is out.
Could be one of those wingers (like Barcola or Munoz, who were both used there in the past… I mean, Slot had the great idea of moving Diaz up top for a while) or playing double false #9’s.
I don’t think the club will worry that much that with Gakpo’s departure we lose so much in terms of backing up Isak while Ekitike is out. Gakpo up top is something that is pretty subjective, depends from coach to coach, in which structure (when he did it for Holland and in a good way, it was basically with another forward), in which way, etc.
I think in a pure numbers terms it might be seen as “four for two spots” but three of them would never have played for us before and the fourth would be a teenager who needs careful management and development.
And that’s before you get to the question of injuries/form and what happens when one of them isn’t available and Iraola turns to his bench on 60 minutes to swap both wingers, as he likes to do, and sees who as options? Elliott? Chiesa? Koumas? Josh Abe? Or is it now square pegs in round holes and Szoboslai or Wirtz are filling in.
Then there’s the question of just how we manage Isak, the need to rest him from time to time and his inevitable injury niggles.
Right now we shouldn’t be letting any forward options leave. If that means we can’t stretch to Barcola and need to cut our cloth accordingly then so be it. There’s a balance that needs to be struck between quality and depth and my concern is we’re too focussed on one side of that at the expense of the other.
I’d keep Gakpo and bring in Barcola if that means giving us more minutes to Koumas and Rio so be it. He’s evidently the only one who can fill in centrally.
Wouldn´t be bothered if we had already brought in some good quality wide players but I have doubts we can get one, never mind the two we need, and they would take time to settle.
At this stage probably best to stick with him for this season. Even if we get Barcola, it would be a little risky to straight swap and we don´t know if Barcola would be better than Gakpo in his first season in a new league.
