jimmylibel

Probably the best example of the internal tussle between Rodgers and the transfer committee was Mané. They wanted to sign him before he went to Southampton. Rodgers didn’t.

Can we just loan him out to Wales?

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/liverpool-transfer-news-latest-alberto-moreno-lazio-as-roma-a8832306.html Lazio are close to a pre-contract agreement with Alberto Moreno who will leave Liverpool this summer after five seasons at Anfield. The Serie A club’s city rivals AS Roma had also been interested in taking the left back to Italy before sporting director Monchi departed in the wake of Eusebio di Francesco’s sacking as manager. Monchi has since rejected an approach from Arsenal and opted instead to return to Spain with his former employers Sevilla – which happens to be Moreno’s last club as well. Sevilla are yet to make Moreno an offer to return to his home city, unlike Real Betis who Moreno had supported as a child, along with his brother. Moreno’s subsequent association with Sevilla meant this move was always unlikely though not impossible depending on interest from elsewhere. Lazio have a good track record of reigniting the careers of former Liverpool players, with Luis Alberto and Lucas Leiva both flourishing in midfield roles since transferring to the Stadio Olimpico. Moreno, 26, has started just two league games for Liverpool this season, the last at Burnley in December when he was the first player to be substituted. He has seen game time reduced due to the emergence of Andy Robertson as one of the Premier League’s most consistent full backs. Moreno’s position has been under threat since his mistake in the Europa League final in 2016, which allowed Sevilla to equalise in the first minute of the second half. He then endured an uncomfortable return to his boyhood club when Liverpool blew a 3-0 lead to draw in a Champions League group fixture in November 2017. He has been free to discuss terms with other clubs since the start of 2018. Though Robertson is suspended for the Champions League quarter final first leg tie with Porto, James Milner is expected to fill in at left back in spite of Moreno’s availability.

There was a story a few days ago (don’t think I read it here) that suggested we are looking to send Lewis out on loan next season. Suggests we will be bringing someone in at left back. Only recurring link seems to be that young lad from Bristol City. Wish I read it like that. Coupled with the briefing given to Joyce about a month ago I don’t think we will spend massively. There’s been a move made to ‘manage expectations’ I think. But what is just a ‘respectable’ spend these days anyway? £60 million? On a completely different note, Brandt who we have been linked again with in recent weeks, has apparently been playing through the middle for a good portion of this season and has been doing very well. Also has a €25m release clause apparently. A relatively cheap reinforcement who can play attacking midfield and one of the wide forward roles too? Jurgen you wouldn’t...

Being linked with Dybala again. Apparently we are ‘stepping up our efforts’ with a view to concluding a deal over the next few weeks. Comes from Italian media though.

That’s interesting. There were several reports linking him with us towards the end of 2018. Seems to be a winger though rather than a central attacking midfielder. Possibly a cut price back up for Mane/ Salah.

Mane was rumored to have verbally agreed to sign for Madrid last summer, before their change in manager. Links dried up after Zidane went so not surprised to see them return now. Am very glad he’s signed a new contract earlier in the season but as Coutinho has shown it means little if the offer is good enough.

Anything to that or just a hunch?

Agreed. We’ve been linked with him a few times as well. One to keep an eye on, possibly Havertz or Aouar too.

Absolutely. But for who’s benefit?

Like both those players and do think we need another wide option, but we’d be missing an alternative 9 to Firmino in that scenario. Don’t think we can rely on Brewster and Salah tends to play more as a 10 when he’s supposedly play up top through the centre. Werner was ideal which is why that news will be disappointing. I suspect he was a player Klopp had earmarked for quite some time too.

There were reports last summer/ towards the end of last season, that his agent/ wife had met with us. Think the line at the time was we weren’t after a forward. At this stage I’d say the cost would be astronomical. Believe he’s being lined up by Real Madrid regardless. Fantastic striker though.

There’s been a few articles hinting Raiola is persona non grata with us too.

Don’t think any was mentioned at the time of the deal, in marked contrast to the deal for Suarez.

Depends what player we’d be getting. I wouldn’t want a Coutinho who was suffering from ‘Torres syndrome’. Reading the various reports it sounds like his confidence is completely shot. If there’s one manager out there who could address that it’s Klopp. Coutinho strikes me as a player that needs to be cosseted. But he may well have burnt his bridges there... Certainly the line coming from the club, ‘we’re looking at getting the next up and coming attacker’ wouldn’t suggest we’ll be going back for in for him if Barcelona are looking to offload.

I see the puns continue. They’re breeding like Rabiots.

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Hasn’t Rabiot already signed an agreement to move to Barcelona on a Bosman? ****** In other news, reports in Turkey saying we have shook hands on a deal to sign that young playmaker Abdulkadir Omar for €20m at the end of the season. The suggestion is it won’t be formally announced until after the season is over. However the Echo has rubbished that report with ‘Anfield officials’ saying he’s not a target.

You’re right, the proof will be in what he actually does with him. The briefing when he was going out on loan was that Klopp highly rates him but wanted him to get some game time before taking up a role in the squad. It also looked like his agent was pushing to get him a transfer last summer (Lazio were very strongly linked at the time) before he signed his new deal.

I think both will be in the squad but if that was the plan for next season I think a lot of people will be disappointed. In my head I have Brewster down as 3rd choice striker - the Origi role or Solanke in last season’s squad. I would probably swap Wilson for Lallana now but I still think we need a higher level No. 10.

Forward, attacking midfielder, left back cover and sub goalie are minimum requirements for the summer I’d say, with Sturridge, Origi, Moreno and Mignolet all looking to be off and question marks over the futures of Lallana and Milner. We also know he wants a number 10. Saw a piece on that earlier that seemed to be suggesting we made contact with that individual quite some time ago.

Read this first thing... that message https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2019/0123/1024912-english-channel-search/

Couldn’t agree more. He’d be perfect for us.

But if you take that perspective, then even making it was a moot point. Cos nothing football specific in this forum matters.