I expect we will have Kostas back from Roma and with a year left on his contract if he returns, he’d be an okay backup for a year. It would let us focus on reinforcements elsewhere.
I don’t see us buying another LB after Robertson leaves. I could see Gomez will be our LB backup. Buying someone just for backup isn’t really necessary, especially while we have many other urgent needs.
I could see our squad next season like this:
- Allison, Mama, Woodman
- Frimpong, Bradley
- Vvd / Konate / Leoni / JJ / Gomez
- Kerkez
- Gravenberch / New DM
- Mac / Jones
- Wirtz / Szobo
- Gakpo / Rio
- Ekitike / Isak
- New Winger
I think Robertson, Endo, Salah, Chiesa will leave. Konate is 50-50 imo. If he leaves, we definitely need another CB because we can’t trust Gomez anymore, but I think he could be a valuable backup because he could play anywhere in the backline. If Gomez leaves, some similar profile is needed like Guiderda.
A new DM is also a must imo. We lack both a destroyer and someone who could make plays. I had high hopes for Mac that he could become our playmaker, but I don’t see that now. Both Gravenberch and Szobo are more roaming 8s, so we need more balanced midfielders. If we cash out Mac to get a more suitable profile, it’s not unexpected imo.
A new winger is also a must. Salah is a luxury player without any high-end service. Maybe we could switch more to 4-1-2-1-2, but we do need more pace and someone who could take on defenders.
One position that I think we will consider is RB. Both Bradley and Frimpong are injury-prone, especially Bradley. While Frimpong maybe more suitable as a winger than an RB, and with both Frimpong and Kerkez, I feel our defense is too open. Then a new defensive RB to allow Frimpong to step up as an attacker is also an option that needs to be considered imo, especially if we play 2 strikers next season. Buying two new wingers might be too much, but 1 is maybe not enough.
1 Like
I think Konate is more closer to leave than stay, we’re 5 months away and just signed someone for an important fee in his position. I know normally it could mean competition, but I think he’s closer than 50-50 to leave.
Gomez as direct backup/competition to Kerkez, nah, no thanks.
I certainly don’t want us to be left with 1 left footed player (and a pretty limited one on the ball) on the left side (or in that list, apart from Mamardashvili!), especially if you talk about continuing having Gakpo and Ngumoha as LW’s. That would just be too weak and limited. Even Kerkez has still some proving to do and if we want to compete on all fronts, I want two competent players at LB. Whether that’s two natural LB’s or a LB and a hybrid left footed player, I don’t care that much. But no, I don’t want us to rely on Gomez to be that.
We’ll see what else we do at CB and in defence in general, whether keeping one of Robbo/Tsimi, having anothe LB or perhaps signing a hybrid left footed defender who can be both Virgil’s backup (so that means someone who normally won’t see a lot of game time at LCB, at least for a season, if 2027 is the end for us and Virgil) and be backup/competition to Kerkez at LB.
What can happen sometimes is that you end up with a player to spare, so it’s not impossible if we start the next season with 9 defenders instead of 8. A number of factors can lead to that, injuries (we’ll see what’s Leoni like and if we can seriously count on him for the start of next season), inability to sell a player for the conditions we want (Gomez), etc.
The dynamics I could see continuing to happen and evolve, especially if Slot is still in charge (but not impossible that a new potential head coach follows the same), is that whoever our RB is on the day, plays somewhat more offensive than our LB. In that structure, we might think Jacquet has more ability or a higher ceiling than Konate to defend that RCB zone (in a shape of 4 and 3) like a monster and also play better out from the back.
In midfield, if we make a next signing (providing all the current ones bar Endo remain), I would bet it would be more of a progressive passer type of midfielder than a destroyer. Those days are long behind us, signing the likes of (talking about styles here) Salif Diao or Momo Sissoko (quality to a certain point in the context of that time), because we apparently lack aggression and shield to our defence.
Even if you do sign a player who can provide you a bit of that, he will first and foremost have to be able to play well enough in possession.
It will be interesting what happens there because we might have bigger priorities this summer, but also potentially judge that Gravenberch, Mac and Jones as the main trio for the double-pivot roles aren’t enough. We haven’t seen enough of Szobo there and I have my skepticism whether long term he could or that would be his best role. I don’t want him too high nor too deep.
Talking about Mac’s potential sale, that’s also easier said/imagined than done. I mean he remains a quality player, but would we even attract a big fee for him this summer? I don’t know. That’s not even getting into the discussion about new contracts, where so far there’s no announcement on the likes of Szoboszlai and Gravenberch, neither with Jones (end of contract in 2027). We’ll see if the club finds something interesting on the market as an opportunity.
If Salah leaves, what type of player for the right side we sign will also have to be done in mind with what do they even plan to do with that attack. Wirtz and Szobo, Ekitike and Isak.
2 Likes
It’s probably a long shot, but it would be nice if Chambers or Stevenson could end this year well enough (and stay healthy) to be considered a depth option. You dont want them wasting their career sitting around not playing, but given the loss of some of the local/academy lads we’ve had recently I think it would do the club some good to have one or two more of them around the first team in a Phil Neville sort of capacity for a year or two
1 Like
Stephenson is right footed and from what I saw (occasionally looking at their starting team) he’s been used at RB, RWB and in midfield for Dundee United so far this season.
But of course, before talking about which foot, sides and positions, that player would have to be of the right quality to play here.
Real Madrid have just very publicly withdrawn their interest, but I imagine his agents are currently looking around at what kind of deal they could get from the likes of Barca, PSG, Bayern.
I have a funny feeling he’ll stay at this point.
Great insight. Thanks for pointing it out
5 Likes
We’ll see, I have no idea where he’ll end up.
Wouldn’t exclude Real, no matter what was apparently reported. I don’t take that as guarantee that they will not move for him. But I’d say there’s more than half a chance he’s gone. Where next, that’s not my worry.
PSG look settled enough with Pacho, Zabarnyi, Marquinhos (who has become 3rd choice behind Zabarnyi) and Beraldo.
Bayern have apparently agreed a new deal with Upamecano, but Romano reported that Kim could leave.
Barca are building with Cubarsi as their first choice and whoever fits best as his partner. Araujo is realistically on paper their ‘physical’ CB and club captain. Christensen’s contract is expiring this summer. In general it’s hard to see what they’re planning ahead because of the whole weeling and deeling they have to do.
Maybe some other sides might also be interested, like Inter for example.
Arguably the chance of forming a partnership with Jacquet might convince Konate to sign a new deal. It’s hard to know what might happen. Maybe the future will be Leoni and Jacquet, but another year of Van Dijk helping to bed them in?
Not sure if Jacquet in will be such a big factor in Konate’s decision, I don’t think he cares too much who his partner would be post-Virgil, if he was to stay. It’s possible that they don’t know each other.
1 Like
General consensus about Chambers is that he’s been very unlucky with injuries and that he might have been at least a great squad option had it not been the case. It’s a damn shame as he could have probably been a decent back-up for Kerkez from the next season at least, given that neither Robertson, nor Tsimikas look to be staying.
I’d like @Sweeting to step in with his opinion but it looks like there’s a serious gap in options that youth team can provide at the moment, mainly because of very serious fitness issues these kids keep having (and that club should be looking into, at least that’s my opinion from a layman’s perspective). Imagine Bajčetić and Danns having only half of the injuries they’ve had so far…
2 Likes
Injury history is always a bit of a red light with me. We have had some fantastic players in the past who just haven’t been reliable because of injuries (Daniel Sturridge was a marvellous player - when fit).
That said, I thought Frimpong was a no-brainer given his near perfect injury history, but he seems to have suffered from the Curse of Kirkby.
There are also many things we don’t know.
Sturridge for example, there’s a player who I don’t think was ever 100% fit. And then especially for Klopp’s on the limit demands. He had his “100%” he could reach in best possible scenario. Somehow wasn’t surprised when he was loaned out to WBA (battling for survival) and he injured himself (though I have no idea what happened) very quickly.
Injury histories on fan sites like transfermarkt (in this case a quality one for us) is one thing, more detailed data for the medical team about who we’re signing is another thing and then also, coming to a big club in the PL can be a new thing as well. Someone like Keita perhaps never truly adapted to how we trained, played and what was needed to compete as an individual and as a team in this league.
When we signed Ramsay, Klopp admitted they realized after the medical and confirmation that he has a back issue they didn’t know about.
Then you have the factor of pre-season, how good was it colectivelly or for some players individually. And then luck always plays a part, too.
2 Likes
Konate seems to have mad up his mind. Weird as he seems to love the club and be a huge part of the dressing room. I guess money and agents talk.
Of course money talks. You work for free? You do not aspire for more salary at your work? Oh how about loyalty? Loyalty seems to one way with some fans. Oh they should be grateful and stay with the club but the moment they hit 30, oh let’s just sell them.
I feel disappointed when players walk away from us but let’s not be disingenuous, as long they showed respect for the club while they are here, they have every right to choose money if that is important to them
6 Likes
Many of us do volunteer work, so yes we work for free. Also re salary, there are diminishing returns at some point. A lower sum to spend on extra cars/fifth homes etc may be more than offset playing with a team you like and living somewhere you enjoy. If course we can’t know what Ibou’s motives are one way or the other, but I’m merely making the point that it’s not inconceivable nor would it be surprising if money is not the primary factor.
I was actually wondering whether he was a bit homesick, particularly as his father may have been unwell.
1 Like
I reckon b9th Mo and Virg could have gone elsewhere and got paid more.
Ibou may have not been his best this year,but his big smile and amiable demeanour will be missed.
Such a gentle giant.
1 Like
Has Konate ‘made up his mind’? Can’t see anything other than RM renewing their interest, which could well be manoeuvring on their part. I doubt he’ll remain though. He probably would have signed by now if he was going to stay.
3 Likes
Unlike yourself 
2 Likes