And maybe Aspas... can't really decide on him. Those are the permanent deals I'd be looking at, yes.

You're a better transfer strategist than Commolli ffs.   

it's safe to say we're in (almost complete; I'd pick Kroos over Muller ha) agreement here =P)

@RO

Keepers: No comments. Only question is how much we will get from Reina sale.

CBs: Yes, no matter how much it saddens me; it’s time for either of Skrtel & Agger to move-on and that’s for the best for both the parties. I don’t know much about Höwedes as I have a very limited exposure to German League/Clubs. Whatever I have heard about him, two things I recall is he is a ‘bit’ injury-prone and a ‘bit’ slow. I don’t know if it slipped your mind or if it was intentional, but you didn’t mention Coates. However, that’s exactly the situation he is in and unless he has a ravaging season in Uruguay; he should be sold. Between Wisdom & Ilori, I would choose the former as he has played more, played in England and is versatile to fill RB/RWB spot as well.

RWB: Biggest question is will Johnson be around! While Wisdom & Flanagan combined can take a substantial portion of game-load off any starting RWB, neither is ready to be considered as a starter. Suggestions!!! Kelly has barely played in a season our back-line was ravaged by injuries. While I’m horrified at the thought, it’s time we let go of him. The romantic may plea for loan to turn the tide, but that’s all he got ATM.

LWB: Biggest question is will Enrique return to full form & fitness, ever! The best thing such big lay-offs does to a player of Enrique’s age is to make him a bit-part/squad player. We need a player who will start (when Enrique isn’t fit) and provide competition (when Enrique is fit). Shaw can’t be a ‘semi-realistic’ option. Everyone fancies him and in the very next breath concedes the folly of that fantasy. Suggestions!!!

Midfield: Schneiderlin or a similar DM/defensive-minded CM is THE missing piece. Gerrard isn’t getting any younger and Lucas has missed more than half the games over last three seasons. Like Enrique, such lay-off at this age isn’t the thing that propels a player to his imperious best. While a fit Lucas will be a great cover & competition, it’s imperative to have the alternative.

I must admit, I cringed at your view on Suso. However, you got it spot on. I will also loan Alberto. He is in 20s and the only thing that can make a man out of a kid is REGULAR and COMPETITIVE games. I don’t fancy Kroos, in fact I don’t like him. Don’t ask me why, there are certain players/persons I don’t like for any apparent reasons. However, that’s not the point. IMO, if we sort-out the L&RWB, CB & DM positions; the trio of Coutinho, Henderson & Allen would suffice in that advanced role. Each has unique sets of skills and will offer solutions in every scenario.

Attack: While most (everyone actually) don’t rate Assaidi, I do. He may not have that perceived ceiling we may be looking for; but in a season we hope/plan to go all-out in four competitions, he can be that jack-up the-sleeves. He can contribute those crucial (handful) goals/assists that can be the difference between #2 & #1 or QF & Final. I will argue the same with Aspas as well. It’s better to start the season with a bloated squad, considering most of the key players will return from an exhausting WC, and then shed those extra fats in winter window.

1. Mignolet
2. Jones
3. Ward
4. Howedes!!!
5. Sakho
6. Skrtel/Agger
7. Toure
8. Johnson/new RWB
9. Wisdom
10. Flanagan
11. Enrique
12. New LWB
13. Schneiderlin!!!
14. Gerrard
15. Lucas
16. Henderson
17. Coutinho
18. Allen
19. Konoplyanka!!!
20. Assaidi
21. Raheem
22. Borini
23. Sturridge
24. Suarez
25. Aspas

Out of Aspas, Borini, Teixeira, Ibe, Suso, Alberto and Assaidi, I reckon at least three have to be elsewhere next season.

Which one would people keep between Kelly and Wisdom? I don't think we have short nor long-term use for both of them, so one might as well leave permanently in the summer, imo.

since it is an ideal thread, I would try and get some deal with Napoli,
Hamsik == one of Skrtel/Agger+some cash

HEIL MEIN REDS wrote:since it is an ideal thread, I would try and get some deal with Napoli,
Hamsik == one of Skrtel/Agger+some cash

I like your idea.

Hamsik would be a nice addition, but isn't he currently being linked with United? Either way if we're going to grab Hamsik I would say Agger is going -- Skrtel has been our best defender this year anyway (not saying too much), and he plays with Hamsik on the national team.

Ashley Cole, Steven Caulker, Yann M'Vila, Marek Hamsik and Yevhen Konoplyanka/Alexandre Lacazette would not be a bad haul, especially when you consider that our team is still very young, and we've been linked with numerous young talents that they'd likely also bring in: Vietto, Kampl, Hughes, Gauld, Kongolo, Hinteregger etc.

Good times are a comin'.

If you believe Italian reports,Hamsik's valuation is around 35m euros but is considered non-transferable by Napoli and they will only let him go if a crazy offer comes in,something like 50m(?).

S wrote:If you believe Italian reports,Hamsik's valuation is around 35m euros but is considered non-transferable by Napoli and they will only let him go if a crazy offer comes in,something like 50m(?).

Screw that then

I personally am not too fond of Howedes. I really like Godin, and I think he is a better "DEFENDER". We need to look at defending qualities first in our centre backs as rest of our team has enough offensive talent as it is. Godin is also very good in the air and good mates of Suarez.

It'll be very hard to lure him away from Atletico, but we can give it a chance. I really like the look of Godin-Sakho partnership.

I don't think Johnson will stay. He hasn't been offered a new contract already and there is no way we are extending him on 110k/week. We definitely need a senior right back, with Flanno acting as back up. By the way, if Suso wants to go to Sevilla, maybe we can ask for Alberto Moreno in exchange for LB ?

And well, as sad it is...I really think Kelly will leave this summer. He is down the pecking order with Flanno and Wisdom ahead of him, and he'll be 24 by the end of the season, so can see him going to play regular games and get more minutes.

It'll be very hard to lure him away from Atletico

Godin-Agger swap!!!  

I think Miranda is better than Godin tbh. Think he always stands out as the better defender in that pair.

But both of them are 28 and 29. Don't know if they're FSG signings?

Natalie Portman wrote:
And well, as sad it is...I really think Kelly will leave this summer. He is down the pecking order with Flanno and Wisdom ahead of him, and he'll be 24 by the end of the season, so can see him going to play regular games and get more minutes.

Yeah, that's how I feel, too. I'm not sure if Flanagan is the better footballer, but Kelly to me just seems more a CB than RB and that is really what takes away his future at Liverpool, imo. However, just in February 2013 Kelly signed a new "long-term" contract, so we'll see what happens with him, but it's very difficult to see Kelly making it here. Hopefully one of Wisdom, Coates or Ilori will become good enough to take Toure's place in the current squad in a year's time.

So Johnson has another year left in his contract, right? I think we'll either offer him an extension, eventually, or go shopping for another RB. I don't think anyone else we have is good enough to be a starter.

If we're replacing Johnson I'd really like to see a dedicated pitch for Calum Chambers.

Calum Chambers is quiet young to be our starter, isn't he!!!

@El Cujo
You are being way too unrealistic, you want all the players in this world lol

Remember when we all wanted a FB,DM/CM and a LW in the winter window and then signed no one? I bet something similar will happen this summer.
Let's be realistic, we will sign 1 or 2 players in the summer imo. Not expecting much.

BusterLfc wrote:@El Cujo
You are being way too unrealistic, you want all the players in this world lol

Remember when we all wanted a FB,DM/CM and a LW in the winter window and then signed no one? I bet something similar will happen this summer.
Let's be realistic, we will sign 1 or 2 players in the summer imo. Not expecting much.

I only want a FB, CB, 2 MCs (one with a defensive inclination) and an attacker. Considering we're likely to be in Europe for the first time in a while we'll need the first team quality depth, and we'll have some extra money to spend (especially since we didn't spend this winter). I don't think it's that unrealistic.

I think five signings for the first team is unrealistic, tbh...

If we get three, I'm happy.

@iftikhar:
I think Coates is basically a non-entity for us at this point.  He'll be gone just as soon as we can find a buyer or his contract runs out, whichever comes first.

My only concern with Kroos would be his relative lack of speed and mobility.  If we wanted to continue to set up our midfield as it has been in the recent 4-3-3 then we'll either need a more mobile player in Gerrard's position or Henderson will have to start to provide the running for both of them and that's a lot to ask, even for Henderson.  I do understand irrational dislike though, as I've had a few players like that myself.

Art Morte wrote:Out of Aspas, Borini, Teixeira, Ibe, Suso, Alberto and Assaidi, I reckon at least three have to be elsewhere next season.

Which one would people keep between Kelly and Wisdom? I don't think we have short nor long-term use for both of them, so one might as well leave permanently in the summer, imo.

Assaidi will likely be sold.  Suso and Ibe will most likely go out on loan again, and Teixeira may as well.  That solves that problem.

As for the young defenders, I have a growing concern that Kelly is simply never going to be fit long enough to be a real option... as I mentioned before, every injury reminds me more and more of Fabio Aurelio.  It's a shame, but I think the issue is such that even moving him to the less mobile CB role won't stop the injuries from continuing to appear.

El Cujo wrote:Hamsik would be a nice addition, but isn't he currently being linked with United? Either way if we're going to grab Hamsik I would say Agger is going -- Skrtel has been our best defender this year anyway (not saying too much), and he plays with Hamsik on the national team.

Ashley Cole, Steven Caulker, Yann M'Vila, Marek Hamsik and Yevhen Konoplyanka/Alexandre Lacazette would not be a bad haul, especially when you consider that our team is still very young, and we've been linked with numerous young talents that they'd likely also bring in: Vietto, Kampl, Hughes, Gauld, Kongolo, Hinteregger etc.

Good times are a comin'.

Hamsik would be a good addition if we don't get Kroos or similar.  He's a top notch CM/CAM who would directly improve our midfield (assuming he adapted well) even though he's not a player I'm terribly fond of.  Rakitic falls into the same category, as well.

As for your other suggestions:
CAshley: Potential short (and I mean 1 season short) term solution at LB... not ideal but potentially acceptable if we spend the majority of our funds elsewhere this summer.

Caulker: See previous.  Not a direct upgrade on our current options, which is what we want/hope this summer will be about.  A "good" buy if we miss out on CL but a middling one if we make it.

Hamsik/Kono: See previous.

Lacazette: Solid back-up option to Kono.  Not of the same quality but would add quality in depth and a good option off the bench.

I don't think this is a summer for focusing on more young "for the future" signings though.  Assuming this season ends with us in the top 4 (or more ideally, in the top 3 for direct group stage qualification) and CL footy, next season needs to be all about consolidating our place in the top 4 so we can consistently qualify.  That will involve using the pull of CL footy to sign players that can immediately improve our quality on the pitch and provide us with real competitive rotation options on the bench... and youth is a bit too much of a gamble for that role.  Once we've gotten a better grip on the top 4 position and gotten a year or two of re-acclimatization in the CL again we can turn focus to more youthful future signings to ensure long-term turn-over.

BusterLfc wrote:@El Cujo
You are being way too unrealistic, you want all the players in this world lol

Remember when we all wanted a FB,DM/CM and a LW in the winter window and then signed no one? I bet something similar will happen this summer.
Let's be realistic, we will sign 1 or 2 players in the summer imo. Not expecting much.

That's really an incongruous comparison.  Winter windows are nothing like summer windows due to the shorter time span, reduced availability of players, and other issues.  We've been busy in each of the summer windows when FSG have been in charge and given that the club know the importance of consolidating and holding that CL place I can't imagine that they'll sit on their hands with it available.  The quotes coming out of the club, and Rodgers in particular, suggest that they have a number of areas of concern and have already been getting plans together to address those areas.  We may only see 1 or 3 exits, but I would expect a minimum of 3 arrivals and probably more, if things go to plan (that being the key clause, as always).

iftikhar wrote:
1. Mignolet
2. Jones
3. Ward
4. Howedes!!!
5. Sakho
6. Skrtel/Agger
7. Toure
8. Johnson/new RWB
9. Wisdom
10. Flanagan
11. Enrique
12. New LWB
13. Schneiderlin!!!
14. Gerrard
15. Lucas
16. Henderson
17. Coutinho
18. Allen
19. Konoplyanka!!!
20. Assaidi
21. Raheem
22. Borini
23. Sturridge
24. Suarez
25. Aspas

Certain the players in bold don't have to be registered but can still play as they're under the age of 21 which would open 3 spots.

I do understand irrational dislike though, as I've had a few players like that myself.

You do, too!!! Good lord, then I'm not weird.

Certain the players in bold don't have to be registered but can still play as they're under the age of 21 which would open 3 spots.

The concern regarding the squad size is about the effect it will have on wage-bill and hence our overall financial well being, not about eligibility or availability of certain players.

I think five signings for the first team is unrealistic, tbh...

If we get three, I'm happy.

Let's be realistic, we will sign 1 or 2 players in the summer imo. Not expecting much.

IMO we will or try to sign the following players:
1. CB
2. CM/AM
3. Attacker

All three signings will be to improve the starting XI. Furthermore, there might be few more signings to improve squad depth:
1. LWB
2. DM

Why are everyone so sure we'll be looking for a CB?

We've got four senior ones right now. And why have we all those young CBs if we're never going to use them in any capacity?

I think the assumption of signing a CB lies in the idea that 1 of Agger or Skrtel is going.

I hope our tranafer committe looks at our players carefully before we go on wholesale shopping in the next window. I can agree with Art on a level that we never had a consistent back four in this season and it gives also a huge confidence to goalie to play with same B4. I think we dont need to panick suddenly because we were defensively bad in this season. In the next 10 matches, I would like to see a consistent CB pair playing for us and then see how they perform. So selling one of the CB and bringing a new one, I am not sure is the perfect solution to our defensive problem (regardless how WC CB can be).

The young CBs on loan should be handled very carefully before we go out in the window to buy someone. If we buy someone it has to be a a defender who has loads of experience and can fit straight into starting XI. Remember we have Wisdom, Kelly, Coates and Illori and the current lot of 4CB so this window BR and staff has to carefully manage what is the best for us. It all will depend on how a consistent CB pair performs in the last few games of this season. So we all might change our opinion that we better invest in a player like Shaw and wait for another 6 months or a season to get a new CB in.

@ Art: Defence is still an issue.

One of Skrtel OR Agger should be in the sold in the summer. They're not good enough to be starting, especially in Europe. We're going to need an experienced, QUALITY CB to replace them and we're going to need them to compliment Sakho.

Howedes is the best name thrown so far. Garay is another who has great reviews/looks good.

I would like to see Varane (who's not that experienced but he's quality and is very composed/is a big game player), but I think he's far too unrealistic unfortunately.

Of course I now read the headlines with Mourinho calling Varane the best CB in the world.

No chance of getting him then.

I think Skrtel/Sakho is a fine first pairing for Liverpool -- especially if Skrtel can sort out his consistency issues/focus to eliminate some of the very simple mental mistakes he makes, because outside of that he has performed admirably.

Personally I don't think we need to get another CB; I only mention it because of us being linked with a few this year. Even if we assume that Agger is going to go, which isn't a certainty, you still have Skrtel, Sakho, Toure, Coates, Ilori, Kelly, Wisdom as mentioned above as well as Robinson and Agger potentially. So unless we're going to be dealing more than one CB and looking to get a world class CB coming in it wouldn't surprise me at all if we didn't go for a CB. I think getting a fullback is much more important (a world class one would be nice, though a good FB with great potential like Shaw or Chambers would also be nice).

If we were to get a player like Rodriguez, Kurzawa, Coentrao etc. it would go a long way I think considering the strength of the team already. I mean Coutinho - Gerrard - Henderson is already one of the best midfields in England (though it could use another elite talent like Kroos, Isco, Hamsik, Firmino, etc) and Sterling - Sturridge - Suarez is already one of the best forward groups in all of Europe (again, adding Lacazette, Konoplyanka, Reus or Griezmann would be nice for another class option) and while Mignolet has been shaky at times I think he's a fine keeper. Realistically speaking Skrtel and Sakho have both shown the ability to play against and neutralize top level offenses it's the fullbacks that are the most iffy IMO.

The suggestion to only grab 2 - 3 players this transfer window is not a bad one when looking at what our team currently boasts. Rodriguez, Firmino and Konoplyanka would cement this team as a contender, and help make them dangerous in Europe. Even if we don't sign anyone else our prospect depth is quite large and there's already a number of players with potential first team quality coming back from loan or getting older.