Isak/Ekitike would be taking both Nunez and Jotas minutes, so 2000 according to your figures.
Wirtz is an attacking midfielder rather than an out and out forward.
I would buy a CB.
The problem is that our first two are so established that anyone coming in would have to accept a hard struggle for minutes. I think this rules out Guehi, who would expect to be first choice and who will want to be on display with a WC coming up.
It would have to be someone who would be prepared to play second fiddle this season with the prospect of replacing IK next year.
Any ideas of players whoâd fit the bill?
I feel like we might be turning Guehiâs head this summer, so that he joins us for free next year to replace Konate as he leaves on a free.
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Weâd still need someone this season though.
VVD
Konate
Gomez
is thin considering the chance of injuries.
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Yeah we definitely need someone this season but Iâve no idea who would be a good option.
Itâs possible that if Konate doesnât commit to a contract, then weâll guarantee Guehi the gametime this season anyway, phasing Ibou out of the side.
Lukeba and Hato are the obvious choices to go for as alternatives, especially Hato, who I hope weâre laying the groundwork for a transfer at some point, but for right now, Guehi is homegrown, has the league and international experience, and is captain for Palace, so leadership qualities right there.
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The bigger problem with getting Guehi this season, will be the price that Palace demand for him. Thatâs why I feel like we might be positioning ourselves for him next season on a free. Although maybe Palace will get less insistent on their price as the window continues and Guehi doesnât sign a new contract.
You might be right. I still think weâll bring someone in, and if itâs not Guehi, we may try and convince him to see out his contract and join in 2026.
The risk with that is it opens up the possibility of other teams in the league taking a look. If Newcastle get UCL football again, and show improvements this season, theyâre likely to be in the conversation. Then thereâs Spurs in the UCL, and how much they improve in the league. Arsenal, City, all possibilities.
Youâre going round in circles lads.
We need someone this season, whether itâs Guehi, Brother Louie or Hong Kong Phooey, two and a half CBs are not enough.
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I agree, we definitely need another centre-back this summer, and the club see it that way too, hence the interest in Guehi for this summer.
Sign him up! 
If it is not Guehi this summer, and essentially it is a one out one in on a free with Konate next summer, I think the club has mentioned the idea of a young prospect to shape?
So they might not play all the minutes now - Virg and Konate are a great partnership, but we can train them up and help them fulfill their potential.
If the player is someone like Hato or Lukeba, both very good, I would be happy with that. BUT⌠We may be leaving ourselves with too little height at the back next summer.
Arguably we might sign that young Italian kid from Parma, Giovani Leoni, if we think the potential is very high?
However it pans out we definitely need a central defender this summer, since Quansah departed.
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Competition is definitely needed.
When we bought Konate (early in the summer of 2021, after that horrible CB season), we couldnât guarantee him that he would immediately be a regular starter. Though you didnât have to be a stupid person to see that Matip (and Gomez) with his injuries leaves a door open. He actually played 43 games that season, the most in a Liverpool season, but in 4 of Matipâs last 5 seasons, his average per season apart from 21/22 was a grand total of 15 games per season.
Konate was patient, grew with time and bloody won himself a place in Paris ahead of Matip. Then established himself. Thatâs also a way how to do it. We donât have to buy players and then immediately tell them âyes youâre a starter immediatelyâ. Itâs Liverpool, the kind of Liverpool thatâs at the top of the game right now. Come in and prove yourself. If you have to wait a bit, wait. The best players will play. Meritocracy.
And not only competition, as the situation with Konate is still very much in the air, what will happen with his contract.
We have to sign a CB, itâs not even in question. Canât allow the squad to suddenly become a bit too short in defence and attack.
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With Quansah going , we need an incoming CB this year.
We can think about the Konate replacement if and when he actually does leave.
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I actually dismissed the idea of him staying for the community shield but I wonder if thatâs the idea. After Quansah go we really need one. Then again perhaps it all happens once this deal on Ekitite is done.
Who would you buy?
After Ekitike, nobody anymore. All these changes in the dressing room are already more than enough imo. Stop now, and concentrate on retaining our remaining players. Our champions, letâs not forget that.
(I know, by letting Quansah go, we are one CB shortâŚ)
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If Joe and Ibou were never injured we might get away with it, but we know they will be out for longer or shorter periods and VVD will need a rest from time to time.
We need a CB.
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Absolutely need a CB!
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Central defender and we should be finished with buying⌠apart from responding if Diaz leaves, and at that point Iâd probably do the young winger, Fofana, rather than the circus with Rodrygo.
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