Personally I still see Darwin going. He really didn’t work well in Slots system from last year and Diaz was ahead of him for center forward.
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I suppose they do have us over a barrel, assuming that Slot is keen to be rid of Nunez. So, take the money and … stroll. The money would help pay for Ekitike after all.
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It became crystal clear towards end of season his days were over.
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Yeah, I don’t know why people can’t accept that. He seems like a good guy, if a bit dim, and he has this crazy energy about him and, very occasionally he does something great, but it’s just not enough.
He’s had plenty of chances and he just hasn’t taken them.
Time to move on.
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Diaz is making noises wishing to move.
Nunez is close to moving.
This could become complicated.
Is he? I’ve only seen Spanish sources trying to stir the shit.
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The Colombian journo that has reported it has closed ties to Diaz, first to report a lot of the details of his transfer and the situation with Diaz’s dad. If he’s saying it he’s being told by either Diaz or someone on his camp.
How much of it is agitating for a move vs trying to get a new contract is up for debate. Tbh, I think Diaz doesn’t really mind which of those two happen. The extra noise around the transfer will be because it seems we’re comfortable with letting him run down his contract and he’d rather get his new contract boost, here or elsewhere, as soon as
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You can’t blame him for maximising his leverage on the last major contract of his career, but I don’t see why he’d go to Bayern unless they offered a lot more than us, which seems unlikely. Of course, it’s a way of trying to put pressure on LFC’s negotiating team.
There’s no way we’re going to let him go for 50 million quid in the current circumstances. Frankfurt want 80 million for Etikete as a yardstick.
PS Sorry, off topic!
I’m not taking the noise about Diaz as definitely true yet. Could easily be journalists making stories up to fill pages or two clubs trying to cause enough trouble that we will sell to them but whatever is going on there, he is still the one I’d be looking to keep over Darwin.
I don’t think the Jota situation will change matters on Darwin leaving, but I do think it is going to prompt a rethink on what we bring in up front
I had previously been of the opinion that we sell Darwin, keep Diogo around as a back up option, and I was backing Diogo for a bigger impact as I thought he was clearly carrying an injury last year.
I think the market for wide forwards is a lot more attractive than strikers, so I think we might look for a striker and then go for another winger, using Diaz through the middle if needed.
If Diaz goes, we’re looking at replacing three players and I think that becomes a struggle.
Anyway, a bid of 50m should see Darwin go. That is a more than fair price for a player who clearly has no future here.
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It also could be the fact that Bayern are pissy about us beating them to Wirtz as it was just after that deal the rumors of them wanting Gakpo or Diaz started.
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It doesnt even have to be viewed as nefarious or shit stirring. They had an interest in a player. Once they lost out on him they need to look elsewhere and it’s reasonable for them to ask the same questions many of our fans have asked about what Wirtz’s arrival means for some of our players who were already here and test the waters a bit.
I get that Bayern don’t tend to do decorum, and so even a polite inquiry can be like a bull in a china shop but i see no problem with them applying a bit of pressure on players perceived to be squeezed out by Wirtz’s arrival and seeing what happens.
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Exactly, because its most likely business. I can’t imagine a higher level conversation at Bayern about windong up Liverpool.
They have named targets, as we have.
Their interest is genuine I reckon.
Jaoa Pedro would have been a perfect fit if you ask me for his age, transfer fee and PL experience. He could have played as a Striker or False 9 - would have been an ideal replacement for Nunez. But disappointed we didn’t go for him.
I’ve been watching the way they operate for over thirty years and I can very well imagine it.
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I think this is one where you have to trust the recruitment team.We clearly know all about him. There were stories linking us. When he moved he did so at a pretty reasonable price for a young forward supposedly good enough to play at our level. The fact we seemingly were not actually interested in going any further than monitoring suggests we dont think he’s a fit
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Do we even have the whole amount to spend if we sell? Are we assuming that we don’t have to recover some of our previous spending?
Prior to recent events, it might have been the case where we sold Nunez and then maybe if we sold Elliott as well for a good price we could maybe buy add more. I’m not sure where the coffers stand at the moment.
I still think Nunez will be sold, to Napoli. Probably 50M maybe another 5 add ons comprised of appearances, goals, and if they win the league again.
If the Napoli deal collapses and nobody else comes in, there’s no need to panic. Nunez has 3 years left on his deal. A one year loan, score some goals in a new place as he will want to show what he can do, and there will be options again next summer for a player with 2 years left on his deal.
If Napoli or another big European team does not come in for him, and the loan didn’t materialize, I still think the Saudis will come in later in the window. Nunez could see that move as some sort of rehabilitation for a couple of years, bang in the goals, and there will be another European move afterwards.
I don’t think we are at the stage where it is Napoli or nothing, especially with 3 years left on his deal. Mind you, I still think the Napoli deal will be completed at 50 + 5.
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If he doesnt get sold he starts for us with Wirtz behind. Salah anyway loves to play with Nunez. I dont mind if he stays. He might be the dark horse who cant stop scoring for us this season 
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