goodrobotusses

If Robbo does go this summer, I don't think that means Tsimikas stays. I think we'll try to do a two-birds-with-one-stone job by signing a CB/LB hybrid, whether that's Hato or any of the number we've been linked with over the last couple of years (Hincapie, Inacio etc).

Would somewhat explain the discrepancy in German and UK reporting on the Wirtz price though.

Madrid derby could be spicy.

Of course, but that makes him more a Bayer Leverkusen legend than an Arsenal one.

(raises eyebrow)

Ahh no idea where I got the idea he did his ACL at Saints from.

Just the one I think. It's Van Dijk who has had two ACLs, one at Southampton, the other at the hands of Jordan f***ing Pickford. Edit: Did I imagine the injury at Southampton? He was defo out for a long time at some point, but now I can find nothing about it online.

Ha, wasn't his to give up.

I can never look at Edwards without thinking about Mick McCarthy blurting out, "f*** me, it's Jedward!" at him while he was at Spurs.

Don't think Mac should give up his number. He's a senior player in the squad, was key to us winning the league. No.10 was his number at Brighton too IIRC, so obviously a number he likes. I can see Wirtz being given No.7 if Diaz goes though. Wore it for the German U21s and that number is basically the LFC equivalent of No.10 (not that this might mean much to Wirtz).

Oh god, are lads on the internet now gonna try to make the Puskas award a thing? I'm only just beginning to get used to reading the words "Ballon d'Or" 500 times a year.

Haha Ekitike sees other clubs only as abstract concepts.

Translation: "Can we take him on loan?"

Strange concept of low-balling, given the numbers being discussed, even if they're not exactly what Leverkusen want.

Napoli played silly buggers thinking they could get someone to pay a massive fee for him after they'd already pissed him off to the point of making him want to leave. No one did, so a supposedly €100m-rated striker ended up on loan in Turkey. In fairness, Fürth isn't that far from Munich.

Someone needs to tell that fella that there are other footballers out there, not just the ones he's met.

I think Diaz wants Barca and not Saudi, so Barca think they can get the player for below what a Saudi club would pay, knowing the player will dig his heels in. This planted story from the club seems to be their way of saying to both Barca and Diaz that we're willing to dig our heels in too: "If you want him and if he wants only you, the price is the Saudi price. Otherwise you can try to lowball again next summer or he can join for free in two years."

This is what I think. Horses for courses when we need Szobo's energy off the ball.

Exactly where I am with it. He's a very good player, would gladly keep him, but if the club thinks there's someone younger and potentially better out there, whose purchase could be funded by a sale, then great. Maybe we were spoilt by having peak Mane and Salah, but that should be the benchmark.

Not least Barcelona, who were desperate to sell him so they could register Olmo.

The catch here could be if Diaz only wants Barca or simply doesn't want Saudi. Barca can't pay with the offer of a sweet Spotify playlist, so nothing ends up happening.

Translation: LFC would sell him but don't want to make it too obvious because they don't want to drive his price down. Think if he stays he will be a mix of first-choice LW and back-up striker, yeah.

Think we need far more pace in the team so happy with both Frimpong and Kerkez. Ait Nouri is a good player but never had the impression he's especially quick (could simply have missed this, however).

Correct, although I wonder if they'd sniff at money for Barcola or Zaire Emery.

It is, but I think they're intelligent enough players to make it work. Not that we're signing Alvarez, sadly. I'm sure I've only been seeing the wrong games, but I'm convinced this lad is a massive fraud.