Liverpool FC - Talk /Gossip/Rumours 25/25

giveitholly · 29-05-2026 10:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508011#Comment_124508011

If its 220k he is looking for and we won't give it to him then thats strange and not good enough.

I wonder why did he say after the Everton game that he was very close to signing? Did an offer come in from another club that blew our offer out of the water in the mean time?

Electric Nitwit · 29-05-2026 10:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508011#Comment_124508011

The problem is that one player's salary is never just one player's, it sets expectations across the squad. Giving Ibou, say, 20k a week more than we think he's worth probably isn't that big a deal, but do that across the squad and you're looking at about 25m a year increase in wages, suddenly the new squad cost ratios (or whatever the rules are) come into play...

Bandana boy · 29-05-2026 10:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508014#Comment_124508014

As has every man in the squad under Slot this season

I would argue Konate who also had a family death to deal with recovered as well if not better than most of the team this year

We have to see Konate and Mccalister , Virgil's performances and I would have argued Mo in the light of a completely misfiring team and tactics.

We know the heights they can get to , I suspect/hope Slots replacement , either in the summer of the Autumn, will get a tune from them.

brevity · 29-05-2026 10:11AM

there is no way on planet earth they are after giving Jacquet 300k a month.

I think the Gravenberch contract renewal has become the benchmark for some of the existing players. They want the 250k.

But a new signing, unless it’s barcola or something, is not getting that much

mayordenis · 29-05-2026 10:36AM

Squad management is currently in shambles.

GK and RB are ok on paper but Allisson, Bradley, and Frimpong are all injury concerns, Mamar so far not good enough with his feet, maybe a solid preseason can change that a wee bit. If we could get a utility defender in relatively cheaply, with the proper physical profile for the current game that would be worth doing I think - something like Timber, but obviously not likely to get his quality unless we get very lucky.

We need another CB if we're losing Konate for certain, Gomez a question mark, 2 very promising young defenders, one coming back from and ACL.

LB is just about ok, we need Kerkez to push on this season, I've seen enough to think he will do that, Kostas fine as a backup.

DCM is a problem assuming it's a double pivot for the most part, it's really only Grav that belongs in that role, all the other options would prefer and be more effective up the pitch (and some mightn't be at the club) Mac, Dom, Wirtz, Jones, and Harvey. The Bajcetic we saw briefly a few years ago looked like he might flourish there, but would be silly to bet anything on that now. Wharton and obvious and expensive answer.

CAM - covered for sure.

On the right side of the front three we now only have square pegs, Chiesa and Harvey, Slot doesn't seem to see the value in either of them, rightly or wrongly. Frimpong has flashed moments of quality there, but we surely need one there more than anywhere else. We are not going to unearth another Mo, but we can get someone who contributes in all phases and it can be better than this season. Barcola mentioned a lot, but I don't see it, Diomande too, high price for untested potential but does look like maybe a special player, and likely need a second player here maybe there's a punt that could be taken.

On the left side we have a problem, Gakpo needs to step up majorly if he's staying around, up until this season in fairness he had performed really well, even if quite one-dimensional, lets assume he's staying though, and we don't want to block the pathway for Rio, then there is nothing to be done here.

At centre forward we're somewhat stuck, Isak has had an awful season, but the context is bonkers, not necessarily worried that he won't kick on but if we went into next season as things stand then it's only him and Gakpo who could play there until early spring when Ekitike returns, and we probably can't expect huge things out of Ekitike even then. On the other hand if we sign another forward they will realistically be 3rd in the pecking order this time next year, and they have to have a very different profile to Isak and Eki.

Impatiently waiting on the first of the summer arrivals because the make up of this squad cannot give anyone any confidence. CB (Assuming now that Ibou is gone), DCM, Right side attacker (x2?) absolutely required, then arguments for RB/LB, and a centre forward, then any further outgoings absolutely need to be replaced.

noodler · 29-05-2026 10:38AM

It's a bit scary when you look at it like that.

Im sure we were all very nervous about the mass midfield overhaul but still managed to compete and win a trophy on 23/24.

It's just way bigger thi time around.

Ken Tucky · 29-05-2026 10:40AM

I would hope the club gets better at dealing with players who run their contracts down.

Between Trent and Konate its been a disaster not getting funds in for them.

Maybe the club need to be a bit more hardline. If the player refuses contract talks or has demands that dont suit the club from two years out they get sold. And yes, if that means selling a talent like Trent so be it!

Dont understand why we arent all over Senesi. He has had a very good season. Specially with the Richard Hughes connection!

Bacchus · 29-05-2026 10:47AM

The case for keeping Konate IMO is to not burn out the two new young lads too fast. They may need time to settle in and Konate is capable of pulling out great performance when asked of him. He's just able to do it week in week out. So keeping him provides the perfect platform (and safety net) in which to introduce the future CB lineup for Liverpool (hopefully). Keeping him means sorting out his contract so he doesn't leave on a free. Is he worth 220k a week? I couldn't tell you but if the idea is to just keep him one more year and then sell him, how does the math stack up? Cough up the extra 140k a week (he's on 80 now, yeah?) so… about £7m for the year and sell him for 10 times that next Summer or let him see out his current contact and go for free.

J Mysterio · 29-05-2026 10:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508014#Comment_124508014

Our whole squad is falling apart. We need to keep competent, experienced players, not let them go

J Mysterio · 29-05-2026 10:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508017#Comment_124508017

Similar situation to Diaz seems like

klose · 29-05-2026 10:49AM

Konate has been poor for quite a while, shades of Sakho off him at times. If we are getting able bodied replacements it’s fine, do I have any faith in the club to do so? Absolutely not.

Virgil is 33 now and past his peak if we are being honest, but still a class defender needless to say. Leoni is is 19 and is recovering from an ACL, Jaquet is young and will be new to the league. Gomez is completely unreliable.

Robertson is gone, Kerkez had a decidedly average 1st season with us, we are hardly bringing Tsimikas back? Bradley is not the most reliable but tbf to him a few of his injuries being impact ones. Frimpong, like Kerkez has had an average 1st season with us and he is no man’s land with what position is his best (it’s RWB which we don’t play)

Club needs huge investment in defence, and Slot is talking about wingers 🙄

We are teetering on the edge of being very mid table next season IMO, we are playing like one for a year now, only for the rest of the league being shite we finished where we did.

Osmosis Jones · 29-05-2026 10:53AM

We've had so much time to figure out some sort of succession plan for Van Dijk and we're now in a position where he's 35 years old coming off the back of a season where he played the equivalent to 54 full 90s and his only support is perennially injured Gomez and two kids who are both returning from their own injuries.

Currently going into 26/27 with CBs who will be aged 19, 21, 30, and 35.

Edit: VVD played more minutes across all comps this season than any other Premier League player (I haven't checked but I wouldn't be shocked if that extends to being the most minutes from all the top leagues).

We didn't even progress very far in the cups this year and he played more minutes than even the goalkeepers of teams who made multiple cup finals.

I'd be very concerned about relying on him even close to this heavily again, and worry about a significant drop off from him next season. Especially with a potentially lengthy World Cup campaign for him this summer.

noodler · 29-05-2026 12:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508147#Comment_124508147

Yeah VVD playing every minute cannot be a viable strategy next season.

If Konate goes, as looks likely, we need at least one senior first team ready CB in. Its absolutely non negotiable for me.

I'd say it's now the biggest summer priority.

redoctober · 29-05-2026 12:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508102#Comment_124508102

Very precarious right now. Biggest problem was we cleared out our squad to fund huge transfers last summer most of which haven't worked out.

I think it would be a big mistake to clear out more this summer. Jones and Gomez need to stay for example. We need to bring in low-price squad players who can come in for the last 20/30 minutes of games.

We also need big investment in the first team as you say:

CB/DM/RW

Also, some solid back-up for RB and LB. There's so much. Huge risk/mistake spending big on Isak with hindsight. Really hope he stays fit and has a good season. That could really help take pressure off. If we could even keep all our new signings fit that would be great start.

Electric Nitwit · 29-05-2026 01:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508409#Comment_124508409

I completely agree with you but (if Joe stays) I'll be surprised if it actually happens 😬

Bacchus · 29-05-2026 01:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508468#Comment_124508468

Agree that keeping Jones is a must. He's exactly the type of player you want in the squad. As for Gomez… what's the point of hanging on to him. He just gets hammered with injuries. It'd be a smokescreen for the true state of our defense including him in the list available defenders going into the season.

Fitz* · 29-05-2026 01:04PM

Personally I think it's madness to let Konate leave, on a number of levels.

He is already settled at the club, and has established a relationship with multiple different players in multiple different positions. The most important one being VVD. With Allison & VVD leaving next year, the continuity at the back will be completely removed now and every single relationship in the back 5 is going to be a new one re-built. We lost Trent this year and look how much that threw off the entire right hand side of the team, let alone Salah going now too. The reason why Diaz fitted in so smoothly the time he did is because Robbo, Fabinho, Thiago, Firmino, Mane etc had already established relationships on that left hand side of the pitch over time and he just fitted in on top.

Konate is strong in the air, has good recovery pace and is physical. All attributes which will dovetail very nicely with VVD as he grows older and the physical side to his game wanes. VVD will slow down, so that recovery pace from Konate is an asset. Konate is also able to cover more ground out towards the right hand side, which allows the RB to push up a bit higher up the pitch and take more risks.

Being frank about it, neither Leoni and Jacquet have displayed anything to show that they are ready to start 30 PL games next season. They might grow to show it, but they haven't shown it yet, and potential is hypothetical.

And also from an experience POV. He's 27 and about to start on the best 3/4/5 years of his career, in theory. He is at the perfect age of having time on his side but plenty of experience. We don't have experience outside of VVD at CB now really. Gomez/Leoni/Jacquet are not going to be the leader at the back, they are the 2nd guy.

It shouldn't be a money thing on Liverpool's side, because it's cheaper to give Konate a 300k a week deal than it is to buy an experienced defender at 30m and give them 150k a week. Someone must have jumped on the uncertainty over his deal and got word in his ear recently and gazumped the deal which was in place with the club.

brevity · 29-05-2026 01:09PM

I think some clever signings will definitely required this season. Looking at players that might not be going to the World Cup will be important so that Slot (or whoever) can get them all together early and build a rhythm earlier.

As it stands we definitely need:

CB, DM, LW, RW, CF

and if Jones or Maca leave another CM

so that could look like:

Van Hecke, Lamine Camara, Wharton, Summerville, Minteh, Diomande

Perhaps we might go for Mane from Wolves.

We absolutely have to be smart this window.

Electric Nitwit · 29-05-2026 01:12PM

Just noticed this in the BBC article on Ibou leaving...

Liverpool are confident they have sufficient depth at centre-half after recruiting Giovanni Leoni last summer and the arrival of £60m Jeremy Jacquet, 20, this summer.

But it does leave Van Dijk, 34, as their only experienced central defender alongside Joe Gomez, 29

🙈

brevity · 29-05-2026 01:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508536#Comment_124508536

that’s just lazy reporting imo.

giveitholly · 29-05-2026 01:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508536#Comment_124508536

A word of note to never believe everything that you read . Well having said that if the club are happy with just those 4 centre halfs,one injury ridden defender,two novices and an ageing legend then we truly are fooked....

Sappy404 · 29-05-2026 01:21PM

Considering the bumper deals Gakpo and Grav have gotten in the last year, you'd have to wonder what terms Ibou was after for him to be released for nothing.

giveitholly · 29-05-2026 01:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508134#Comment_124508134

In what way is it similar to the Diaz situation?

Dr Robert · 29-05-2026 01:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508558#Comment_124508558

Plus Gomez and Van Dyk are out of contract next summer and will probably be moved on.

Another CB is required ASAP.

J Mysterio · 29-05-2026 01:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508562#Comment_124508562

In that we don't seem to be paying him what he is after, would have thought that is obvious.

But now you say it, maybe he just wants to get out of a toxic environment and have a fresh start.

Fitz* · 29-05-2026 01:37PM

Konate's dad died this year too.

If it's a move to PSG, or somewhere closer to home to be with family, I understand it.

~Rebel~ · 29-05-2026 01:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508536#Comment_124508536

I think there's no way that's the actual opinion at the club… Both huge potential to be future stars, but both still very raw and inexperienced. And neither will have kicked a ball for at least 6 months (nearly a year in Leoni's case). They're gonna both take time on the pitch just to get up their own previous levels, never mind rising even further up to premier league level.

If Konate goes, it has to mean another senior player is coming in.

Electric Nitwit · 29-05-2026 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508558#Comment_124508558

I take everything with a pinch of salt, but the BBC only use that wording if someone within the club has said it. Of course, they might be keeping their cards close to the chest as part of negotiations. But we've seen this before, and trusting the current squad and ending up light is a pretty common situation for us. Hope I'm wrong, but I don't expect to see a new CB signed

Ottoman_1000 · 29-05-2026 01:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508586#Comment_124508586

Its only 5 weeks ago he was telling us that he was ready to sign on and this is exactly where he wants to be. Obviously he's gotten a better offer since I dont think its because of anything going on behind the scenes.

giveitholly · 29-05-2026 01:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124508586#Comment_124508586

But if we are not paying him what he is after,why did he come out about a month ago and say he was very close to agreeing a new contract? But surely if the environment was toxic then it was like that a month ago and he would have been having reservations then?

Its a strange one,maybe another club has come in since with a bumper contract offer that we definitely couldn't match. I'm sure we will find out at some stage.

On the Diaz situation it was always kinda known from the start that we wouldn't match the wages he was looking for,whereas with Konate there was always hope an agreement would happen,unfortunately it looks like that ship has sailed

Liverpool FC - Talk /Gossip/Rumours 25/25

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