25 Aug 2026 18:32:01
Dear Ed 01, can you tell us anything about the scouting and player signings set up at Liverpool? Clubs like Brighton, Leipzig and Salzburg seem to interminably sell players to bigger teams and continually replace them with players who quickly reach a similar level.

LFC recruitment team seem to be atm following the United playbook of signing the biggest most expensive players who might sign for Liverpool and praying they fit in.

{Ed001's Note - it is not that, there are a huge number of players that we simply can't get or we end up with the issue we are having with regards to Ndukwe. Clubs like Brighton, Leipzig and Salzburg do not have the same issue getting work permits. So that reduces the pool massively by comparison.

Then there is the fact that they are not competing at the same level as us. They can afford to give players 2 years or more to develop, while we need players we buy to be at it almost immediately. Also, if we interested, sellers ask for a bigger amount than if Brighton or Leipzig or Salzburg do.

You only have to look at the Barcola and Diomande deals, both young and so far from the finished product but still costing obscene amounts of money. That is not buying the biggest and most expensive, it is just that there is not much in the way of options around.}

1.) 25 Aug 2026
25 Aug 2026 20:17:23
Hi Ed001. Why wouldn't Brighton have the same issues regarding work permits as us?

{Ed001's Note - the work permit rules require players to get points based on a number of factors. If they get enough points, they qualify for a work permit. One of the factors is salary compared to teammates, so a higher salary compared to the rest of the squad gives them more points. We are not bringing in youngsters on salaries even comparable to Virgil or Gravenberch, so they miss out on those points. Also transfer fee, iirc, can earn points.}

2.) 25 Aug 2026
25 Aug 2026 20:36:55
Hi, Ed - Why would Brighton have an easier time obtaining a work permit than Liverpool? In Leipzig/Salzburg's case, it makes sense.
The whole situation bugs me a lot because it seems like it really prevents us from getting the most of scouting.

City have just signed an another player from South America that will either a) be amazing (Alvarez), or b) be flogged to some other team for a silly price (Savinho).

{Ed001's Note - they can get the points required more easily. It certainly does not prevent us from any such thing, we just do not have the network to do the job. We should be investing in it.}

3.) 25 Aug 2026
25 Aug 2026 21:44:01
I had no idea salary by comparison was in there, Ed. Good to know.

{Ed001's Note - we used that a few years back to get a work permit for someone, I forget who it was now. I just remember they didn't work out but had a huge salary anyway. It is not a good way to go for us, you can't be giving potential 200-300k a week or you end up in the same trouble we had the first time Edwards was at the club but without the likelihood of Saudis riding to the rescue.}

4.) 26 Aug 2026
26 Aug 2026 01:02:21
Was it Grujic, Ed? I recall Ed002 saying at that time that there were issues with his work permit and that we had to lie to get it or something to that effect.

{Ed001's Note - might have been, that sounds right.}