Gakpo. Yes he was bad last season but similar to saying Darwin was exceptionally badly suited to Slot, Gakpo and the whole team struggled under Slot last season and should be able to do better this season.
The benefit of Gakpo is that he is already here and we’d save one of the limited spaces in our squad for non-homegrown players for someone that isn’t just a stop gap backup and has the potential to be with us for longer.
Morocco is mine! (I did ask for Spain or France …… )
https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2066933228011741561
Scratch that one then.
Remember when Spuds agreed a price for Diaz and then we nipped in there…
Yes, but I also remember the times Spuds agreed prices for Simons and Solanke and then we thought…you’re welcome to them.
Yeah, but he was already falling out of favour when Jurgen was here. I’m sure it was being said that he was doing Jurgen’s head in because he wasnt able to follow instructions. That doesnt bode particularly well for playing under Andoni.
He definitely was, but his fall under Slot was far more precipitous. It may be an attitude issue or a football IQ issue (the red card he took in his home debut certainly sticks out in that respect) but I also think there was a clear language barrier between him and Klopp/Slot that contributed to his difficulties bedding in here.
I remember a video of Klopp having Thiago translate for him, and Klopp spoke for what seemed to be a couple of minutes before Thiago translated in like five words. Klopp looked puzzled by that. I think being unable to communicate directly with your manager makes things a lot harder. With Iraola, he wouldn’t have that issue.
But I am, admittedly, only speculating. My thought is if Iraola rates him, why not? It’s a low risk-high reward signing. If he doesn’t, then don’t bother and look elsewhere.
The homegrown issue is worth considering, though I struggle to consider how much that should factor in. It limits our squad size, but we can still field up to 17 non-HG players and it’s not clear how big of a squad Iraola plans to use otherwise.
In any event, I don’t think Gakpo’s struggles under Slot will be mitigated by putting him in a position he rarely plays and isn’t especially suited to. Especially with Iraola’s pressing - I don’t think Gakpo is suited to being the tip of the pressing spear.
Hell of an overpay that is. Over £200m on Van Hecke, Savinho and Tonali would be laughable.
We already couldn’t register everyone for the Champions league last season because of homegrown rules being stricter there then in the prem. It’s why Chiesa was out until Leoni got injured and he could take his place.
We have Robertson, Konate and Salah gone from the non-homegrown part of the squad but Jacquet is taking Konate’s spot and Kostas is taking Robertsons. So even signing a Salah replacement means leaving someone out of the Champions league squad again. We need to move on bit part players to be able to replace positions in the squad.
Ngumoah counts as homegrown next season, so that’s one more available spot. Had to register him as non-homegrown this season for the CL.
A truly stupid interpretation of the rule that a player is too young to be homegrown so has to be included in the senior ranks with one of the other 17 spots. Rio isnt a fluke to be hit with this either.
Maybe Jayden Danns if he comes back healthy or Kieran Morrison as a false 9.
Both of them really deserve a shot at the squad and I think Danns would have gotten it this year if not for injuries. I’d hate to loan Morrison out without giving him a shot, only for him to discover he likes to start and not want to come back.
Danns is a good shout, but he needs to stay healthy and earn the spot. Let’s see how much Iraola rates him.
I like Morisson a lot, but he’s only 19 and still has yet to make his league debut. It’s too much to ask to start him anywhere, let alone in a very challenging position as a false 9.
Wonder if Morrison will have a loan this year.
Have to say this bad news has left me distraught.
Manchester United have valued Marcus Rashford at £40m but ruled out the possibility of the England forward, 28, joining Liverpoolor Manchester City. (ESPN)
Meanwhile in things that actually may happen and not just fevered dreams of someone at Old Trafford.
Liverpool are continuing their efforts to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig , with the Reds’ new manager Andoni Iraola having sanctioned a move for the Ivory Coast winger, 19. (Teamtalk)
Someone on Reddit mentioned we are apparently looking at Oscar Mingueza. Might be bollocks but he’d be on a free and can play RB, CB and LB.
Never heard of Oscar before but a player that can do a similar job to Gomez in playing across the back line to a decent level, sounds ideal for giving us more depth at center back and covering for the many injury problems at right back.
Mingueza is Spanish, plays for Celta Vigo and spent two years in Barca’s first team squad making 46 appearances. Unsuprisingly, Arsenal are said to be interested. We’re not mentioned.
He never impressed me at Barca. He was one of that generation who broke through offering them potential ready made relief from the financial mismanagement but then was sold to make room for some high priced signing, but was one of the few fro generation that it never looked like a mistake.
However it’s been a few years and I don’t know I’ve seen him play once since he left so maybe he’s developed nicely 