I think @Limiescouse put some figures in a discussion recently which indicated that his fitness record is fine. But I agree that the fee may make this deal harder for us given we wont be the only club probably interested in him.
1 Like
Iām not sure what qualifies as fine, but even the last three seasons alone has a number of worrying muscle and groin injuries, the latter causing him to miss nearly two months last season and which heās just gone down with again.
Huge risk to pay out what Newcastle will be looking for imho.
8 Likes
Heās largely been fine this season. A broken toe has been the cause for him missing 7 games. Thatās not a problem. His injury record in 2021 - 2023 is what i believe you are referring too. Nothing that suggests that those problems will recur. For what we know , This could be just SandUnited wanting to not risk Isak (for their final)
His previous, month-long groin injury was this time last year, ie 2024.
Youād think with players like Naby, Sturridge, Thiago and Jota in our recent history we might be a little more concerned with signing players with a history of injury.
2 Likes
If we pay 348k for Trent, then Konate, Szoboszlai, Mac all deserve 400k .
2 Likes
We may have greater opportunity for resting him than Newcastle do (depending on what other movement we have in the summer) so he may have lower risk of injury?
Also, following @rab 's lead, I wouldnāt be surprised to see someone like Cunha being our forward target this summer. Has a release clause in his contract, believed to be around Ā£60m so not stretching financially nor difficult to negotiate. Has played across the frontline so perhaps offers some versatility (I donāt know how good he is in those other positions though).
1 Like
Regardless of how this season ends, I doubt weāll be getting an established player like Isak from a mega-rich club like Newcastle. They are already quoting him at 150 million pounds. Time for Hughes and co. to earn their stripes and find their own Isak (minus the niggles).
3 Likes
Re our (alleged) new forwardā¦ and starting to gauge how LFC now operate, might be worth remembering, had anyone on here heard of a certain Arne Slot at this time last yearā¦!!
He seems to have turned out okay up to now doesnāt he :0)
If we do sign a forward, not sure it will be someone as costly as Isaakā¦
1 Like
Given a choice between Isak and Cunha. Iād prefer to say we want to have both.
That probably only becomes a possibility if we can get exhorbitantly good prices for Diaz and Nunez.
Predicting that we will end up with Joshua Kimmich on a free.
It just has been reported that Bayern have cancelled their final offer for him. Big news in Germany.
3 Likes
I think Cunha is probably more achievable at this point. But Isak seems likable from what Iāve observed him and his own pitch demeanour.
Letās see. The prices they are quoting for him are on the very high side.
Known entity. Can slot in at DM and do well in RB. Provided his salary expectations are moderate and he wants to join the best team in the world. Iāll be all for it.
We would still need another RB but he solves the problems in depth.
1 Like
Ā£150m is enough for us to get Cunha (Ā£62m release clause), Huijsen (Ā£50m release clause), and one of Hato/Kerkez. I know which one we prefer.
We also need one more midfielder and a new right-back. Getting five new players might be too ambitious.
2 Likes
I think Paris are going to offer KonatĆ© silly money and I think heās going to go.
1 Like
All the more reason that we need to smash PSG which will hopefully convince Konate to stay.
It will be a blow to lose Konate now especially after the marked improvement weāve seen this season with him. Couple seasons more of this improvement and weāll see him as the leading defender for the best club in the world.
4 Likes
Kerkez would be my pick.
Kimmich as a backup RB/DM regardless of whether Trent stays or goes.
Cunha is achievable provided we are able to move Nunez for a sizable amount.
Not convinced on Huijsen at this point. I think we should be doing better at that 50m outlay. But itās the transfer window and the prices do get crazy.
1 Like
I think Kimmichās had enough of RB, unless itās an emergency for Germany. I donāt think he goes to another club that will seriously look at him as also a RB option. Probably wants to avoid that. Shown this season that heās still a high quality midfielder and my guess is that he wants to remain there. Be it at Bayern or somewhere else.
1 Like
Canāt see him going to a club where heās not an automatic starter and I wouldnāt pick him over any of our midfield three.
3 Likes
He would still get very good gametime. And Iām sure if slot sees a use for him , heās pragmatic enough to use him where heās suited the most.
I donāt mind Grav going into a #8 role at times too. Kimmich at DM would allow that as well.
I donāt think Kimmich is a good choice. We need runners to cover ground to reduce Szoboszlaiās workload. Heās also too old with a big salary.
2 Likes