Where do all of Salah, Mane, Firmino and Jota fit in our 3 man front line? Or all of VvD, Matip, Gomez and Konate in our CB partnership? Or what’s the point in buying a good CM when we have Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago already? We need a much better squad than just a starting 11. Considering Jota, Mane and Sterling could play any of our three roles in attack I don’t think it’d be an issue.
However;
1; I don’t expect it to happen.
2; If a top player comes in I think it’s because one of the older “starter” attackers are going to move on not in addition (even though we could fit them in as an addition if we wanted to).
And 3; … I completely forgot what the third point was going to be, possibly something about tactics. Knew it at start of the post but it’s been a long day.
So, we bring Sterling back to Anfield. How much will that cost? As far as I’m aware, he’s on a big contract, so it’s not happening, the rumour is bollocks.
I’m a bit worried about so little movements (ins and outs) so far into the window. Ideally, I would have liked to have all incomings sorted by now; so that Klopp would have the full preseason to blood them in.
That’s cool and all, but at the time I posted, Sterling had only come up via @Flobs mentioning him in passing and then a collective re-litigating of his legacy. This following a digression down memory lane with Diouf and Diao. Yours is the first unreliable link to him to be posted!
So discuss away, but there’s no harm keeping in mind that we have sections for former players and Who Would You Buy? style speculation.
(I also think there’s a difference between “unreliable” rumors and “totally lacking in substance” rumors, but that’s by the by.)
I haven’t a clue as to whether any of these are reliable, but thought I would post it anyway just to make a change from the the tumbleweeds blowing through.
Seems quite possible that Dortmund would be in as a Sancho replacement. If we are keeping all our starters him and Jota to challenge and rotate with Elliott developing could make a lot of sense.
In fairness nothing much has happened across the league.
Arsenal - no new signings
Chelsea - no new signings
Everton - no new signings
Leicester - Daka and Soumare
Liverpool - Konate
Man City - No new signings
Man Utd - Heaton (and a deal agreed for Sancho)
Tottenham - No new signings
Always like this tournament years, players and clubs wait to see how plans change due to injuries and performances. Also many clubs know their players will likely be sold but haven’t been sold yet so can’t commit to buying replacements who aren’t at the tournaments.
International tournaments always slow activity down in the summer transfer window, that’s just the way it is. Improved player reputations through positive world cup/Nations cup performances mean higher transfer fees demanded by selling clubs, so negotiations are put on hold.
It is a gamble of course, as garbage performances mean less interest in signing players, but there it is.
@Sweeting@AnfieldRdDreamer@FadeToBlack I wouldn’t mind (that much) if there’s no incomings this window. But if we are going to sign anyone, I hope it’s done before July 12 so the new player (and Klopp) has the whole preseason to get settle down.
As for outgoings, I don’t mind how long it takes as long as the lot is cleared.
I’d have nothing against Sterling coming back, but we don’t need him, as we have an outstanding starter in Mane in his position and it’s also Jota’s best position. We’ll see if Jota ever becomes good enough to produce at the top level starting for us, but we don’t need Sterling. IF he goes, then he goes elsewhere. Maybe Arsenal?
That’s kind of unrealistic and unreasonable for a summer with tournaments and also not as much of a benefit or hindrance as you’re making out. Players can come in plenty early enough and flop or last minute and shine. Its not a deal breaker one way or the other. Maybe just try and be a bit calmer about it? Jota was the signing last year that had the most immediate impact and wasn’t he last through the door?
Sterling, Mane and Jota can all play any of the front 3 roles with very little (arguable) differences in quality for them between the positions. I’m not expecting Sterling or similar to come in unless there is a high profile departure but that’s mostly because Klopp doesn’t like bigger squads not because it couldn’t work. I expect Salah, Mane, Firmino as they are with Jota and a CF type competing for playing time/challenging for starts and the CF offering a quality Plan B option. Along with Elliott developing and providing more depth on the wide positions I think that’d be enough for Klopp. If any big signing comes in it’d be because Firmino, Mane or Salah were leaving. The CF likely to be more of a Jota level signing. That’s my prediction.
Arsenal seems like a level below him, kind of like going back to the situation he had at Liverpool. However, his options seem pretty limited, so maybe it’s not impossible.
Anyway, sounds like Guardiola wants to keep him, so I guess it depends how badly he wants out. If he’s back in the team again, I expect he stays. But there’s probably some uncertainty for him despite starting the CL final, given he was out of the XI for large parts of the run-in last season.
I didn’t even think about options outside of England. But yeah, somehow I still don’t think he’ll go. I think a few months ago there were even reports that City are preparing a new deal for him. Don’t know if something happened since then. Strange situation. Might also depend on other City’s dealings; IF they get both Kane and Grealish. A striker is the priority of course.
He will stay with City. He’s probably just fishing for a bumper deal. He’s not interested in dropping wages or having bonus clauses. He’s shown before and will again. He’s after the money. Leopards don’t change their spots.
