I think that might be the route we go. Realistically Origi and Minamino rarely play outside of domestic cup games and late cameos. A front four of Salah, Firmino, Jota and Diaz is pretty flexible in terms of central attacking options. Add Carvalho and with Gordon breaking through you’ve young under study types with Ox, Jones or Elliott capable of filling in up top out wide if needs be. That’s a pretty good blend of very exciting youth and world class experience.
I’d certainly expect any other major purchase in the summer to be in centre of midfield rather than another addition up top. Then next summer we possibly look at replacements for Bobby and perhaps Ox.
I’d think Fabio Carvalho would be repurposed as a midfielder if he was to sign for Liverpool.
We’d still be one midfielder short though. Milner is gone after this season for all intents and Thiago/Hendo/Ox/Keita are all injury prone. Elliot is still green as is Curtis.
Liverpool have moved late for Porto winger Luis Diaz because of the prospect of missing out on him altogether and signing the 25-year-old Colombia forward is far from straightforward.
Diaz is currently with his national team for World Cup qualifying matches as Colombia play Peru on Friday before an away game against Argentina on Tuesday, 1 February.
Liverpool will send a delegation to Argentina to conduct a medical as they try to get the move over the line before the January transfer window closes at 23:00 GMT on 31 January.
The deal, if completed, is expected to be worth €45m (£37.4m) plus a maximum of €15m (£12.5m) in potential bonuses.
Why set a minimum, particularly that high? His role isn’t only to score goals, so his performance shouldn’t be judged solely on that criteria. Jota may score more but doesn’t play the same way as Mane does.
Well was expecting a quiet few days and then I saw Joyce tweet amongst the stuff on Twitter now I’m hooked.
I expected we would spend more than most expect this summer with Covid unlikely to lead to major disruption I can see us making a couple of purchases this summer and it seems this is one.
We may sell a major player this summer but we will need to replace him on the bench as Diaz steps up.
Anyhow the club have been following him for some years and would likely have explored the option in the summer, this isn’t just a name plucked out from Ward’s book to make him look great.
Wouldn’t surprise me if say Mane or Firmino go and we spend A bit.
These arbitrary targets/stats lose focus of what’s important - winning games.
Remember when there was a big deal made over Firmino not scoring at Anfield almost all season in the league? The same season we won the league with 99 points that was.
Excellent post Matty, start to finish. I highlighted this passage as it aligns completely with my own perspective.
I’m backing the club 100% on this one, I’ve only seen Diaz play when we’ve played Porto in CL. With that level investment I’d find it difficult to believe this was a player that just came on their radar in the last months. They’ve done their proper scouting and research. That transfer sum could likely sign different types of players the world over, so I’d find it difficult to believe JK (and staff) didn’t sign off on it. Also the timing of the deal suggests to me they really love Diaz.
To that end, while it’s a sizable (and respectable) financial commitment, I’m 100% backing the club they’re signing exactly who they want and need.
100%. Ward might have recommended some howlers back under Rodgers, but the whole recruitment set up was a shambles. And I still think had we had a manager who wasn’t a prick when it came to recruitment, some of them might have been decent.
Nowadays, our recruitment department is second to none, and any signing we make is going to be the product of deep analysis across a range of factors by multiple people.
Again, your time frame for reference is too narrow. Let’s see what happens with comings and goings this window and next, and what the club have to say about how far back this deal was planned.
Under Klopp there has been a consistent effort to improve the quality not just of the starting 11 but also deepening the cover of the squad.
This has been achieved by cash the club generates through its usual business but also player sales.
I see no different here, whether or not he comes in as a replacement or understudy for/to Mane (for example).
We’ve clearly been tracking Portuguese players for a while, we’ve been linked to several at Wolves in the past as well as others in Portugal, and Pep has it appears had some input with the club in this area.
I don’t think you’ve been following my points and arguments properly this is what I’ve been arguing for, not some owner led investment but to make recruitment with our own money more of a priority and utilise credit facilities (which LFC then pay off) IF there are issues with cashflow due to covid or any other reasons.
