Liverpool banter 3

08 Jul 2026 20:20:04
Probably in the minority here but LFC should have been all over Bruno G! Arsenal are stacking international class midfielders!

At this point I would buy a midfielder and play Dom right midfield.

08 Jul 2026 20:59:18
I think Dom will play as an 8 this season. We have money. We can buy a cm and a rw.

08 Jul 2026 21:31:03
You can only buy players if they want to come to you! He has said he wants to go to Arsenal, why do you think he would then go, okay I'll just go to Liverpool now? I want a player that wants us first, not second choice.

08 Jul 2026 21:41:42
Andoni has always played 4-2-3-1:
4= defenders: (Bradley, Jacquet, VVD, Kerkez),
2= holding midfielders/number 6: Gravenberch, Dominic.
3= RW, AM/False number9, LW: Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo (Hugo when fit)
1= Centre Forward: Isak.

The 3-1 is a diamond in the final third, one hopes RW and LW can be seriously strengthened with absolute quality, replacing Salah world class, and has to be replaced with world class, like for like.



Alonso seems to have made a strange decision to sell Santos AM (Chelsea) to MU for circa £50 million without having even seen him play a pre-season friendly/competitive game? Xabi must have a ready made replacement, hopefully it's Gakpoor.

08 Jul 2026 22:06:10
I agree @Baz! I am just saying in this market Bruno G @ around 60 -70m looks good value for a prem proven Brazil international.

Easily 5 years at top level left!

I suspect he's going to Arsenal because they tried hardest for him, which is fair enough!

Had Liverpool tried and worked on his transfer as long as Arsenal seemingly have, then he would have a decision make! I don't think it's a case of the lad being an Arsenal supporter and I don't know how close Bruno is with Ali.

08 Jul 2026 22:36:28
Maybe Bruno hasn't said he wants us because we've not bid, can't say I wanna go to Liverpool if Arsenal are bidding for him.

09 Jul 2026 06:09:47
How many cms and cbs does Arteta want?! It's absolutely mental how many he has signed every single year.

08 Jul 2026 18:56:49
Bruno G wants to leave Newcastle. Christ, they're having a nightmare.

I'd fancy Bruno though at Liverpool, anyone else? .

08 Jul 2026 20:07:57
I'm seeing The Usual Rag - headlines of
Bruno G informs he wants to join Arsenal.

I think he would be a good signing for LFC if Newcastle ever crossed us off the blacklist and was willing to do business.

Our midfield desperately needs some physical presence.
And it needs addressing quickly.


He'd probably demand £250+k wages minimum tho.
I see him playing 5 games for us.
Half flopping, then blagging an injury for 6 months to take us for a ride.
All the while doing boss interviews with a smile saying he loves LFC and bought his whole family the new home kit.

..... Let Arsenal get stung with that one.

08 Jul 2026 20:09:57
He'd be great at anything, like a fair price, but this is Newcastle, so I think they'll ask for a huge fee. The reality is he'll be 29 soon, and in my, admittedly naive, view, it would be too risky a transfer at even half of what Tonali has just sold for.



I do think he's a really good player and would be 100% behind it if we could do a similar deal to the one that brought us Thiago.

08 Jul 2026 20:16:35
For his cost, age, and injury risk, there is much better out there for the club.

08 Jul 2026 20:33:41
I don't rate him at all. He's a lot like Romero at Spuds, all reputation and average ability.

One thing I'll give him is he works hard but they could sign me for nothing, pay me in Scouse pies and I'd work harder.

08 Jul 2026 21:19:52
We could get a good 4 years out of him.
He'd be a good signing.

08 Jul 2026 18:30:46
Personally not sure about the clamour for Diomonde, there was a time (very recent) where if we weren't the priority for a player we moved on. This is Liverpool and needs to be a destination not a consolation prize or a stepping stone.

08 Jul 2026 18:49:57
Me personally don't mind a player having a decision to make between us and the double UCL Champs at all. We have to be realistic.

08 Jul 2026 19:11:24
Diamonde is an amazing signing for us.

He didn't have the greatest of showings at this World Cup.

But there's a special, rare talent of a player there.

Imagine him in 4 years.

08 Jul 2026 19:16:58
Can Liverpool wait 4 years? What do we do until then?

08 Jul 2026 19:44:42
He won't need 4 years for anything this lad.

He will have an instant, very very important impact to every match going forward.

I've got this feeling of
'Hits the ground running'
'Plug and Play'
'Gamechanger'
'Diomande showing cruises Reds to 3 points.'

All the World Cup negativity being dropped and left behind him, not even a thought, due to how solid he performs and how easily he transitions.



((The 4 years shout is - no matter where he ends up...
He's only 19 now, flashes of brilliance and already a talent.
Has the potential to be in the top #10 footballers on the planet in a few years.)).

08 Jul 2026 20:24:22
That's the thing though, players out there just want a stable career and a stable income, with the chance of trophies if they are good enough.
I can't imagine the club they play for is really much of a factor for most of them once they leave their boyhood club.
There's a few clubs out there with the same pull as LFC in this day and age.
Did Diomande have LFC bedsheets and curtains when he was 8 years old? Or PSG ones? I don't think so.
If you only want players who only ever want to play for Liverpool then you're just gonna have to play Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot, or some of the local Scousers.


Our 3 best and most influential players of the last few years have been Dutch, Brazilian and Egyptian, I don't think any of them had LFC bedsheets either and none of them were Scouse, they turned Scouse later on.
I'm sure if Diomande had absolutely no interest at all in playing for us then we wouldn't be negotiating, but I'm sure he's well within his rights to keep his options open as well. He's not Scouse so just wants a good career, some good money and the chance to win some cool trophies.

08 Jul 2026 20:28:00
Diomande absolutely rinsed Hincapie in their game. He's only 19 and raw. Price is sky high due to his not wanting to sell. How much would we want from Bayern for Rio for e.g?

08 Jul 2026 21:23:54
Dialomonde is an unknown proven talent. 100 million euro is a joke.

I personally doubt he has what it takes and would go for someone proven in the PL; Summerville comes to my mind.

08 Jul 2026 22:38:36
100 % agree WestEndRed on Diomande.

08 Jul 2026 18:29:20
Does anyone else have a feeling that we won't do any business this summer, and have one like we did 2 years ago?

Seems with the market so volatile, Hughes heading off, World Cup in the way and Iroala still wanting to assess the squad that we might just write this summer off and start proper next summer.

08 Jul 2026 18:50:38
No, there's nearly two months left of the window.

08 Jul 2026 18:53:24
Don't have to feel anything as we factually have bought more players than two years ago.

08 Jul 2026 18:56:35
We've already done some business, Fowler, and we're not the only ones in the market.
Players have been to the WC and those that have come back earlier are having a holiday while the rest of the squads have just returned to pre season.


I'm not alone in wanting some activity and a few faces to freshen up the squad, but there's a long way to go in the market yet.

08 Jul 2026 18:57:42
We've already done business! You been living under a rock, mate?

08 Jul 2026 19:20:50
Munoz is gonna smash it this season.
I keep saying this.
--Watch this space for Munoz to become Indespensable to the club by end of this season.

08 Jul 2026 19:57:24
Isak
I agree, I think that lad will have a right good go.
I also think Gakpo improves with the new manager at the helm.
I honestly think we need 4 players.
RW
RB
AM
CM.

08 Jul 2026 19:58:09
Also - this isn't like when Klopp left shortly before we appointed Slot.

Slot came in kind of... aware of big shoes to fill.
He knew he'd be allowed some time and patience from Board and fans.
To do the whole transitional thing.
If no transfer business happens, then trust the plan, give me time etc.

Iraola is coming into a completely different reality.
And, while of course he will be allowed a couple settling matches and a couple hiccups in the first few matches.



If there isn't noticeable improvement / changes visible in the first few performances and results.
The fans and media will turn ugly for him very fast.

IMO- Iraola is under no illusions of the challenge he's taken on and what is expected and required of him.

And you can bet your house on Iraola having already submitted a list on what positions /players /Targets he needs to make it happen.

08 Jul 2026 20:15:38
It's incomprehensible that we won't do any business, I just don't think we'll do enough business.

08 Jul 2026 21:50:52
I suspect, as hinted a few weeks ago by other posters, that we will do most business towards the end of the window, as Iraola will want to work with the players first. I suspect more of our business will happen after the US tour, remembering we have already bought a player.

08 Jul 2026 22:49:26
A right back and right winger is the bare minimum we need.

08 Jul 2026 17:54:09
United getting Santos and Ederson.
Arsenal probably getting Bruno G as he’s informed Newcastle he wants to leave.
City getting Anderson.

It’s frustrating.
We needed so much to do this summer and we’ve done very little.


AI needs time with squad, absolutely.
But we absolutely need 4 signings at a minimum.
I guess we need to sell first and us as fans be patient and trust that we’ll bring in the quality we need!

08 Jul 2026 18:35:31
I don't actually think they will sign a dm or cm as I think it would have happened by now.

08 Jul 2026 18:38:05
Agreed. Isn't the point of the sporting director that they build the squad and the head coach coaches the players. The holes in our squad are obvious and have been obvious for months.

08 Jul 2026 18:44:03
There's so much knee jerk rubbish in that thread it's truly embarrassing.

Wait until the window is over and see how the new manager does heh.

08 Jul 2026 18:47:05
46 days til our first league game. I'd rather get the right players, then rush in the wrong ones. On the surface of it, last summer looked good, but Ekitike and (maybe) Kerkez aside, it hasn't really worked out that well.

He's right to review the whole squad, including youth and loanees, even if he will still need to invest in what are 3 or 4 very obvious weak points. Have faith! Panic in August, I reckon ;).

08 Jul 2026 18:48:00
I wouldn't have wanted any of them players. We will sign a MF and I'll wager he will be a better signing than any of them three. Guimaraes, for me, is just overrated, I've never seen the fuss apart from being an absolute expert at winning free kicks, which I suppose will suit Arsenal.

08 Jul 2026 19:05:01
Guimaraes looks a shadow of the player he was a season or so ago, Florian, and looks totally jaded!
A freshen up with a new club will probably do him the world of good, and he will get the proper rest times between games.
If he does end up at Arsenal, I'd say they've bolstered an already impressive midfield.

08 Jul 2026 19:24:26
Maybe Bristol, but he only averaged 44 appearances a season at Newcastle, so not as if he was flogged to death. Half the seasons he didn't even have Europe to contend with. I think he's a decent player, but I honestly certainly won't be anymore wary of Arsenal if they buy him. Actually think he will be doing well to get in their first eleven.

08 Jul 2026 20:12:21
So far we've gotten Munoz and Jacquet. I'm sure there will be more.

Most importantly, we got Iraola, who may be the best signing of all.

Let's see how everything plays out.

08 Jul 2026 20:20:14
A lot of fault can be pushed onto Slot and his experimenting and tinkering, and some of the questionable tactics.

The rest of the fault lies with some of the players.
Macallister had a ghost season.
Konate, with his Jeckyl/Hyde performances.

There was no service for Isak, which made him look awfullll this last season.



Wirtz wasn't lighting the world on fire, but he did have little flashes of what he's about.

We lost out on some big signings at the last moment, also.
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo.
We needed them so so much and had to roll on without them.

08 Jul 2026 20:21:35
No point worrying about what others are doing... The window is till early and we will strengthen.

08 Jul 2026 21:29:13
All those Brazilian midfielders can't be that good seeing as they were pathetic in the World Cup.

08 Jul 2026 22:07:38
Agreed, MK, I'd rather throw a few million on top of that and get the young Moroccan lad who totally outclassed them.

08 Jul 2026 16:01:37
I heard from a friend today, he’s French and works for one of our suppliers that the murmurs around Paris is that they would be devastated if Barcola left. Plus Diomandes camp have major issues convincing Paris to pay RBLs price. I wonder if we will hear from Robbo again soon on this!

08 Jul 2026 16:44:39
7Didn't he know he was French? ?

08 Jul 2026 21:36:07
If the big money owners at PSG are not willing to pay the cash for Diomande, then why would we want to? I know, with Salah gone, we need a RW, but if Munoz can play there alongside Elliott and Frimpong, then I would be inclined not to buy Diomande.

08 Jul 2026 12:58:07
Great news to hear Szoboslai close to signing, I would be mortified if he moved on.

08 Jul 2026 10:46:33
I don’t think that’s a foul on Salah but if anyone does not think that is dodgy the second goal Egypt being disallowed with the way VAR has been used in this World Cup give your head a wobble.
The foul on Kane 100% more a foul and VAR did nothing.
FIFA is a disgrace and full of corruption.


For me the World Cup started bad with the water breaks in both halves turning into quarters to suit the USA TV companies.
Then with have the utter disgrace of the US player being allowed to play after a red card that should have been a three game suspension.

08 Jul 2026 12:36:36
Agree, regards FIFA grino, but Egypt have only themselves to blame, mate - they were coasting and should have seen the game out imo - another couple of minutes or so at 2-0 & the Argies were spent!

I’ve enjoyed quite a few of the games I’ve watched, but I’ve hated the hydration / commercial breaks and the fragmented KO times have taken the shine off for me as well!
Not a patch on the World Cups of the 70s & 80s.


Mexico, W Germany, Argentina, Spain & Mexico again were genuine footballing World Cups imo.

08 Jul 2026 12:54:06
It's not just Egypt, though, is it? There have been many things that have made me question FIFA and football in general recently. It's that corrupt, it's starting to become almost scripted....

08 Jul 2026 13:22:54
Would VAR have even brought it back had Egypt not scored? That, I'd really like to know.

Either none of them are fouls, or all of them are fouls. It's the inconsistency that's infuriating. A foul for accidentally stepping on somebody's toe is ridiculous in my book. Salah wasn't fouled, but neither was Martinez.

They're all far too soft for me, but that's a whole different conversation these days.

Should have been 3-3 and gone to extra time. That's the truth of it. I still think Argentina would have done the business; they've not been playing great, but, as champions do, they turned it on when it mattered most.

08 Jul 2026 13:35:23
Grino, I agree that the "foul" on Salah before the Argentinian goal is debatable and can be seen either way. But the overall bias by the ref. in favor of Argentina is really something you can't look past. It's really pathetic how FIFA has bent the rules and looked the other way in this tournament. The way Messi has been protected is really a sham. His studs up tackle earlier in the tournament? Clear red card, but no card produced.

Where was VAR? The funniest thing is that the corruption is all out in the open. So plain to see. A phone call from the White House is all that is necessary to rescind a red card.

The whole tournament has been turned into a sham. I'm looking forward to the final whistle of the tournament final game. I want to see how the pumpkin head will share presentation duties with the head of Canada and Mexico (they better be also there).

08 Jul 2026 13:50:57
To me Egypt's goal was disallowed to try and keep Messi, biggest name left in it, in the tournament. No way was it a clear and obvious mistake by ref, and the attack had the whole length of the field to go.
Really, would it surprise anybody given the money in it nowadays?

08 Jul 2026 13:57:11
Word in the US is that both Infantino and Trump will present the Cup.

08 Jul 2026 15:41:10
The whole staging of the World Cup in winter to allow Qatar to host it was all a bit ridiculous.

The organisation has been riddled with corruption for decades, well, as long as I can remember anyway.

08 Jul 2026 16:16:20
Personally, I think the VAR was right to give the foul cos Martinez had his foot stepped on visibly. Now, it was not intentional, but we all know intent does not matter. Just ask Folarin Balogun.

Also, Egypt did score a second goal after that, and had the game in hand, so I don't get the OTT reaction.

Cos, we know that big/host teams like Argentina and U.S get the breaks (they aren't the only ones, btw) does not mean Egypt was hard done by.

Egypt was in control and blew it. Same way, Senegal were in control and bottled it cockily to Belgium. That's all I see here.

08 Jul 2026 16:47:32
Let's face it, FIFA want Messi in as long as they can. He always had help throughout his career, from taking growth hormones, to getting help from every referee in most games. Great player but not the GOAT for me.

08 Jul 2026 16:51:05
OliRed with the most delulu take. ? If you think any of those decisions that went against Egypt would have gone against Argentina had the roles been reversed, you're living in a different planet, mate. There's some political bias towards Argentina and some of us know why. FIFA favour them for this reason.

08 Jul 2026 18:53:08
What is the political bias KmanLFC92?

08 Jul 2026 21:10:34
Money mate, Messi is the footballing face of FIFA, if he goes deep in the tournament, the more the money flows, sponsorships etc.

08 Jul 2026 10:38:50
Hi all. First time poster. Just wondering if anyone has any inside info on Bajcetic? With the new manager being Spanish, and being someone who has turned young prospects into very good players, is there hope he may have an impact on Bajcetic?

He has obvious injury issues, and I read on here possible attitude problems, but is there any inside knowledge of any hopes to resurrect this potential?

Cheers
PW.

08 Jul 2026 11:04:19
Lots of noise on him leaving this window, pal. Would have liked the kid to make it, but he appears to be his own worst enemy at times.

08 Jul 2026 11:09:00
Bajcetic doesn't have a future at Liverpool. Has barely played these last years and is still in rehabilitation. I have no inside info, but it's extremely unlikely he's going to make it here.

08 Jul 2026 11:31:37
In February 2023 Bajcetic was man of the match in a 2-0 home win against Everton. Best player on the pitch. Van Dijk, Firmino, and Jota on the bench.

But that seems a long time ago.

08 Jul 2026 19:15:11
I find it odd that people hanker after a player that has had very little effect on the team and even less on the DM position. He has hardly played at first team level.
Not to mention that he needs a new alarm clock.