Liverpool FC - Talk /Gossip/Rumours 25/25

Fitz* · 05-06-2026 06:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124526976#Comment_124526976

My first thoughts on this is.

His agent saw the talk yesterday about Abe being offered 50k a week, and now he wants coin for his client.

No easier method than tell a journo that there is interest elsewhere. Doesn't even have to be true.

TitianGerm · 05-06-2026 06:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527096#Comment_124527096

Or he didn't want to stay if Slot was here next year because he wasn't happy with something. He left Chelsea because he wanted a path to first team football so maybe he wasn't as happy with the limited minutes this season given how poor we were at LW.

(I think lads his age shouldn't be playing much at all though)

Appletart Upsetter · 05-06-2026 06:32PM

If he was happy to ditch Chelsea for Liverpool, you can be sure he won't hesitate to ditch Liverpool for a better offer elsewhere.

And that's modern football. Footballers are now independent business entities looking to maximise their earning potential.

Agents can earn 7 figures helping to orchestrate these moves also.

Dr Robert · 05-06-2026 06:37PM

Give them Gakpo instead.

~Rebel~ · 05-06-2026 07:43PM

As with many of our players, there's so much more to Gakpo than he showed this season though. Was very good the previous season, and is consistently excellent for the Netherlands. Exited to see how Iraola uses him.

Dr Robert · 05-06-2026 07:49PM

I'd happily move him on, or at the very most have him on the bench,ideally down the pecking order.

He was a starter most of last season. He's infuriating to watch. Loses the ball so much and is pretty one dimensional.

I'd wish him well!

TitianGerm · 05-06-2026 07:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527324#Comment_124527324

We can't afford to lose any wide forwards this summer.

Enzokk · 05-06-2026 08:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527324#Comment_124527324

We talking about Gakpo or Diaz? I am sure there was similar posts about Diaz this time last year as well. He was infuriating to watch, ran into players and played with his head down.

Appletart Upsetter · 05-06-2026 08:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527303#Comment_124527303

Everyone starts with a clean slate.

Iraola's approach is so different from Slot, we might be surprised by which players are going to shine.

noodler · 05-06-2026 08:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527326#Comment_124527326

100% we need about 3 in, let's not make it 4.

Dr Robert · 05-06-2026 08:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527374#Comment_124527374

Diaz had 17 goals and 5 assists in his final season with us.

Gakpo had 9 goals and 6 assists this season gone by having played two more games.

Diaz was definitely more unpredictable than Gakpo. At least he'd beat a player.

Dr Robert · 05-06-2026 08:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527385#Comment_124527385

Well, that's true too I guess. Will Gakpo shine and deliver more? I'm not so sure.

~Rebel~ · 05-06-2026 08:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527324#Comment_124527324

He's one dimensional in a one dimensional team where there was no-one doing anything for him to link with. He bares plenty of the brunt for that too - but we've literally watched him be far more dynamic in a more dynamic team. I mean, one of the main reasons he was bought is because he's so flexible! But if you leave a fella out on the left wing with nothing inside them and no one moving, then you're gonna get what we got (and incidentally, we got exactly the same stuff from Rio - he's just more suited to being completely isolated with his pace and quick feet, so it worked better).

Slot's well publicised approach to wingers is for them to have to do something, which then frees others and unbalances the opposition. So for him, wingers were fed the ball wide and then left to have to beat someone. Iraola's more of a guy for having fullbacks work with wingers to have the system and patterns unlock the space, rather than a moment of winger magic. (hence why Kerkez found it tougher going under Slot than Iraola too, without those patterns to play into)

Appletart Upsetter · 05-06-2026 08:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527398#Comment_124527398

It's probably worth finding out before spending £60 million on someone else.

He has some much needed height and physicality that's needed too. I think he can press better than the other forwards currently at the club.

~Rebel~ · 05-06-2026 08:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527393#Comment_124527393

Ah in fairness, let's compare like with like. Sure we literally had them at the same time so we can make a more direct comparison, rather than looking at one in a league winning season and one in a disaster of a season.

In 24/25, playing in the same team, Diaz had 17 goals and 5 assists, while Gakpo had 18 goals and 7 assists — and Diaz played 640 MORE minutes. Gakpo also outscored him the previous season, again in 600 fewer minutes.

That also shows very clearly that Gakpo CAN be more effective in a functional team. Memories are just very short in this game. He's a far better player than we saw this season (which goes for most of the squad obviously)

Charlie19 · 05-06-2026 11:09PM

The more I see about this new manager makes me excited that he could be a good fit.

Still feeling a bit disappointed for Slot because of what he achieved in such a short time but I'm sure he'll be financially sound and will find a new club.

So yeah a new manager, let's back him for a couple of seasons to get us back on track.

Girly Gal · 06-06-2026 08:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124527446#Comment_124527446

Weird for anyone to compare Gakpo this season to Diaz last season when they literally played in the same team the last few seasons, so much easier to compare directly, I suppose it didn't suit their argument! Gakpo gets some amount of hate, he's a decent player and always tries his best, definitely worth holding onto to see how he performs under Iraola.

Dick phelan · 06-06-2026 08:42AM

Gakpo has shown for both Liverpool and the Netherlands that he can be an excellent player. Same with MacAliatar, these lads don't become bad players overnight, we should absolutely give both of them a chance next season under a new coach and system.

jones · 06-06-2026 08:53AM

As someone said above I think all the players should start with a clean slate under Iraola. The season just gone was a **** show in every regard so very hard to make definitive claims on players.

Gakpo wasn't great last season but he certainly wasn't alone, he almost suffered more because Slot seemed to pick him regardless of form etc. let's see how he gets on his season.

Plus we can't afford to lost any other squad members at this stage 🤣

8-10 · 06-06-2026 09:03AM

Gakpo is a great squad player, covers multiple positions and rarely injured

Appletart Upsetter · 06-06-2026 09:31AM

I might be wrong but the one player I really see struggling under Iraola is Curtis Jones. I have always liked Jones and he has a lot of excellent qualities but moving the ball quickly is not one of them.

Fitz* · 06-06-2026 09:35AM

Yeah I think Gakpo is a great option as the 4th forward who play in a front 3.

Coming on as the first sub against tired legs where there is a bit more space to play into and/or the counter attack. Starting the game midweek in-between 2 games at the weekends, or else starting the 3rd game of 3 in 7 days. The rotation option. 29-80-30 type job.

The difference is when he is starting all 3 games in a week, starting every game in general and playing 80+ mins in all of those games. He doesn't have the same quality to break through those fresher legs consistently.

Appletart Upsetter · 06-06-2026 09:49AM

For me, and I will tell them, [they] are all new signings. For me, you are all new signings and I think we have a lot of quality in our squad, and [I'm] really looking forward to working with them.

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/andoni-iraola-qa-leadership-style-lfc-squad-pre-season-and-more

40 new signings, what a start to the window!

TheCitizen · 06-06-2026 10:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124515188#Comment_124515188

You wouldn’t? He got off to a good start at Spurs they fell away but still qualified for Europe. The following season he did adapt his tactics and they won their first trophy in decades. This season after he left they almost got relegated. That could be the last trophy Spurs win for several decades to come so I think he’ll be remembered at Spurs for that alone.

theoneeyedman · 06-06-2026 10:53AM

I can't think of one player who improved over Slots reign. Grav maybe,but his form has petered out. I've had huge questions about the levels at training and coaching over the last couple of years,by the whole backroom team .

With that in mind,I wouldn't be writing off any player on that basis.

Ottoman_1000 · 06-06-2026 10:57AM

It would be madness to consider selling Gakpo unless we get a stupid offer for him. The guy is a Premier League winner and can be excellent on his day. He's obviously not the Mo Salah type where you'd want him starting week in week out, but he's still got plenty to offer.

His main issue last season was he had to be played week in week out for large spells when his confidence was shot. But the reality is, were not going to get much better 4th choice/ back up forward players.

SodiumCooled · 06-06-2026 11:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124528341#Comment_124528341

They also almost got relegated with him a point you have left out.

Osmosis Jones · 06-06-2026 01:47PM

In Gakpo's first full PL season with us he started 17 games, up to 23 in his second and then way up to 32 in his third.

I think he's a good player and I don't see why we'd actively try to offload him, but I also don't think we should be relying so heavily on him.

SodiumCooled · 06-06-2026 02:06PM

Gakpo is well worth keeping, while he frustrated last season he still got some important goals and overall he has been very good in his time at Liverpool. I feel he gets a bit too much stick from some fans.

giveitholly · 06-06-2026 02:08PM

I think this is fair enough from Chiesa,wants to play more,will go on the pre season to America and see what Iraola's plans are for him. Hopefully there is a role for him,but can understand why he will leave if he won't see much game time.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2063043484160815601

Liverpool FC - Talk /Gossip/Rumours 25/25

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