Don’t want to look too far into the future, but in case we sign a new, serious #6 player…
Endo might either remain as a backup for maybe two seasons (including this one) or we might try to recuperate as much money as we can, even if it’s a certain loss (likely). He’ll be 31 next summer with 3 years left on his deal. Not much resale value. And I’m not sure if he will prove to be this valuable and highly versatile squad player like Millie to merit us keeping him for almost the whole of his contract.
Other than that, it’s not a big deal if we have, say, 7 midfielders on paper for 3 positions. Trent can also be used in midfield, Elliott can cover a few positions while he’s here, Szobo and Jones both can, etc.
Things can change, I’m all open for Endo to prove me wrong and prove he can not only be part of the squad for a few years, but even a starter. But as things stand, I still see the need of a #6 of higher quality. The rest, it’s up to the players to prove they can be here for as long as possible.
Isn’t this all stuff for the central midfield thread?
My OCD is kicking in.
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Nah; there’s an unreliable rumour that someone here knows what they’re talking about.
I don’t believe it, personally.
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Yeah doesn’t seem like a great value signing for ‘only’ 16m - we’ve been here before where ‘cheap’ signings have been disappointing value.
Milly was a one in a million signing. Model pro (too few of those about). But Endo looks OK so far (for me). It’s early days yet. Let’s give him a few games or weeks. In the games I’ve seen him play, he’s been at worst competent. That’s excluding the Sandcastle game. I think he even alluded to that in an interview? I like his work ethic and his eye for a pass. He might not make incisive passes or Hollywood passes but from what I’ve seen he’ll ‘find feet’ with most of his passes. 
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Whoops. Forgot about Endo. Gomen nasai Wataru-kun.
The guy in the photo, shave his beard and that’s Alcantara right there. That’s where he’s been this whole time, and people thought he was on the treatment table!
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We had nine midfielders last season. Yes, most of them were injured or massively out of form but I don’t think there’s room for sentiment any more with Klopp. If he feels a player like Andre will improve us then he’ll bring him in. Survival of the fittest!
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Thoughts on the El Nouri stories? I know nothing about him other than he seems to play Mo impressively well whenever we play wolves
Not every player needs resale value and as cover to me he is fine.
You’re probably referring to Ait-Nouri, why? Have we been linked with him? One-on-one, he’s usually amazing against Salah but I think he’s a sound player otherwise. I don’t watch Wolves that often, though, but whenever I do, I keep an eye out on him and Neto because they usually impress me the most.
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Very good talent.
Not sure how his traditional full back play in a back 4 is but he’s amazing at running with the ball. Not quite Neto good but he seems to beat players for fun.
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Some talks on twitter but mostly from the blag merchants so in retrospect likely not enough in it to call it even an unreliable rumor so maybe better for the who would you buy thread, but it’s a weekend and I get a bit loose with the rules once Friday 5pm hits
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Ait-Nouri is hit and miss but he can be very good on his day. He’s one of those players though that when he is bad he is terrible.
Fast, great technique and loves getting forward. When he’s focused he can do a good job defensively (seems to like the challenge of playing Salah but falls asleep against less interesting players).
Inconsistency is something Klopp doesn’t mind in a player, seems able to work that out of them.
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A few rumblings in Argentina that we’re looking at Valentín Barco and Equi Fernández.
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Buying direct from South America seems to be some of the best value available at the moment. Definitely a market we should be looking to exploit.
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Still a good number of bombs. Maybe it’s a better choice if like Alvarez was for City that you can cope with it not working out, but if he comes good then you’ve been strengthened relatively cheaply.
Seems a reasonable description of where we are in CM right now.
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It’s possibly Mbappening! Although we would have to convert him to being a CF.
Chelsea , Liverpool , Manchester United and Newcastle United could all offer contract proposals to France forward Kylian Mbappe, who will enter the final six months of his Paris St-Germain contract in January, after reports Real Madrid will not move for the 24-year-old. (FourFourTwo)
Real Madrid do not plan to sign France forward Kylian Mbappe, 24, even if he decides not to extend his contract with Paris St-Germain and leave for free next summer. (Cadena SER - in Spanish)
Shite source etc etc but interesting how confident this article reads.
(Summer bid for Archie Gray, a young lad from Leeds)
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