Summer of 2014

5-6!!!     

FB
CM
AM
Winger
ST

I guess that wouldn't be that excessive, but would surely eat quite a lot into the game time of some fringe and youth players.

I wonder if those 5-6 players include loanees coming back in Borini or Suso?

Or if players are to be sold and that includes to replace them?

I think we'll make atleast 4 signings for the first team.

One thing I know is that I'll be watching the WC games and thinking of any promising-looking unknown players "should we buy this guy?" x)

We really should be getting our targets before the World Cup and sell players after the competition is done if we're smart enough.* The value of a player can be so easily manipulated due to the World Cup. And we don't want to have to wait weeks after the competition is done and let teams have a chance to steal our targets due to the lack of communication.

*Rodgers has stated the committee has been preparing for a while, so I hope they don't do a Salah and stall the negotiations...

I didn't mean players we're already interested in, sign them up as soon as possible, sure. I meant under-the-radar players who perhaps catch some eyes at the World Cup (and even then mostly just entertaining myself with the idea while watching the games that "could we use this guy? Could he be a revelation if given the chance at Liverpool?")

It would be cool, though, if there was some young unknown prodigy bursting into the scene at the World Cup and we signed him

Art Morte wrote:

iftikhar wrote:Guys, would Santon be any improvement over our current bunch of L/RWB!!!

I kinda like him, but I expected more from him this season. It would be funny if we bought another left-back from Newcastle after buying their previous one, Enrique, but I don't particularly fancy doing business with them.

No thanks... I haven't been particularly impressed by Santon since his first season at Newcastle. I know he's 23 and could still develop, especially under BR. However, I'm of the opinion that he's a decent-to-good, mid-table fullback.

iftikhar wrote:5-6!!!  

Some of these may well be youth/returning loanees, but it’s certainly not an excessive number ask for.

- FB (at least one, but could be right or left depending on Glenjo’s contract situation)
- CB (especially if one was to leave... however, possibly not a starter *cough* Caulker *cough*)
- CM (Allen and Henderson can’t start every match, and Coutinho doesn’t fit every game-plan)
- DM (not in the traditional, powerhouse mould, but a regista to learn from Gerrard)
- Winger/AM (at least one, maybe two)
Striker (could be Borini… would prefer a new signing)

The Daily Mail (I know… I know… but it’s sometimes interesting to read rumor and conjecture… and the visual displays are top notch) suggests a list of targets could include (matched against the needs listed above):
- FB – Luke Shaw, Micah Richards
- CB – Steven Caulker, Marcos Rojo (possibly as FB)
- CM -
- DM -
- Winger/AM – Yehven Konoplyanka, Adam Lallana
- Striker -

FB - The rumors of Shaw and Richards suggest that Johnson may leave. We all know that we need at least another LB, even with Flanagan doing well on his non-traditional side. However, should Johnson leave (which may be more likely than some would like), Richards could be a solid replacement. My only concern about him  is his attacking impetus and ability on the ball. We need our FBs to provide an outlet ball for the defense and regista. I have questions over Richards ability in this regard. Shaw would be nice, but I still doubt we will meet the asking price, even if we are technically able.

CB - Caulker and Rojo are obviously not meant as immediate replacements to Sakho/Agger and Skrtel. Unless I see new names linked, I’m working under the assumption that our central defense is unlikely to experience a drastic overhaul, especially with Wisdom and Ilori returning. I fully expect at least one of those two to stay and feature in the first half of next season. When you consider the number of CBs on our books, an addition is only likely in the event that we offload someone. Unfortunately, I could see that player being Agger…

DM – We need a young replacement for Gerrard. I don’t mean a spiritual successor, as that’s somewhere between difficult and nigh-impossible to find. However, we could use a young, regista-type player. We will certainly need someone who can step into that regista role and control a match. Lucas can do the job, but he’s a bit more limited in passing, and a bit more limited in mobility. In all honesty, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lucas move on, with someone like Kovacic replacing him.


CM – We will have enough pure AMs to fill in should we want to take the match to an opponent. However, with Allen and Henderson the only “real” B2B runners in the squad, the added fixtures could put a strain on them. Perhaps Luis Alberto gets a game in this situation, but another body could be useful. I personally think Lucas is too slow, and lacks too much in his attacking abilities to really perform this role. If we truly are in for Rakitic, this might be where he fits into the side.

Winger – Konoplyanka is the obvious addition here. However, the rumors surrounding Lallana have picked up in recent weeks. Personally, I hope they are ‘in addition to’, rather than ‘instead of’. Lallana, while a technically good player, simply doesn’t justify the rumored price tag, especially considering his age and the system he’s played in.

Striker – I doubt anyone would be shocked or terribly disappointed should Aspas go in the summer. I had high hopes for him, but he simply failed to contribute in his opportunities.  Borini is returning, and I think he will have a place in the team. However, I would argue that we could use a like-for-like replacement for Sturridge, as well. This means, we need a striker that is more likely to run in behind, hold-up play, and do the traditional line-leading activities. Perhaps someone like an Alexandre Lacazette (young, fast, and proficient) would be willing to come in with a limited role in order to play with and learn from some truly great strikers.

Rodgers on how many we may sign this summer: “It’s hard to define numbers, but it is clear it will have to be something like five or six.”

Is this quote true?

Anyways he does have a habit of lying when it comes to transfers.

I've made a list of players in all positions for myself that I would love to see here at our club. It consists of about 25 players whom I deem to be very nice fits here. So if we were to sign any of those I'd be happy as a duck. Now say if we signed anyone that is of better quality than those on my list then cheerio, I would be the happiest man in the world. However, if they were of worse quality than my list then you will hear me complain.

Nishank wrote:Rodgers on how many we may sign this summer: “It’s hard to define numbers, but it is clear it will have to be something like five or six.”

Is this quote true?

Anyways he does have a habit of lying when it comes to transfers.

Its quoted in various articles including Guardian, Echo and others. . . .

Currently the most likely and linked signing are of Konoplyanka and Lallana both seem very solidly on from the sounds of it.

Shaw is a big no no can't see that happening!

For a solid CM haven't seen any name being linked seriously!

Its pointless trying to sign anyone from PL this season.With the new TV deals the transfer fees will be ridiculous

Who is Ogenyi Onazi??

BeautifulGame wrote:Its pointless trying to sign anyone from PL this season.With the new TV deals the transfer fees will be ridiculous

Transfer fees will be high, finding equivalent talent from outside of England should be cheaper - although clubs abroad may also hold out for a bigger fee when it's Liverpool who come knocking than when it was, say, Ajax, (because they know we've got more money).

Need some solid rumors to get my head out of this sad consequence!!!!   

Art Morte wrote:

BeautifulGame wrote:Its pointless trying to sign anyone from PL this season.With the new TV deals the transfer fees will be ridiculous

Transfer fees will be high, finding equivalent talent from outside of England should be cheaper - although clubs abroad may also hold out for a bigger fee when it's Liverpool who come knocking than when it was, say, Ajax, (because they know we've got more money).

Ajax get shafted with players that have one year contracts left on them so have to cash in.

Eriksen went for 10m ffs. Vertonghen, Vermaelen, the list can go on. Not too sure what happened with Alder at Atletico, though as I don't watch the La Liga often.

The only player that went for a "high" fee was Suarez, but he always had the ability to make it at the top.

So I don't think Ajax is a good example. With that said, Ajax is a lot more financially stable now, so can demand a little bit more.

No, I meant when Ajax are buying players themselves
They might get the same player cheaper whereas a big Premiership club like us might get milked a bit more.

Ahh, I misunderstood what you meant, apologies.

Telegraph linking us with Shaw saying we're interested but aren't prepared to pay the 30 million price tag on his head.

We're also linked to another LB, Rojo or something.

Marcus Rojo from Sporting Lisbon I believe

We are being heavily linked with Griezmann too!!   

Fahim89 wrote:Marcus Rojo from Sporting Lisbon I believe

Is he a LB or CB, primarily!!! Wonder if we could get Moreno or Rodriguez!!!

iftikhar wrote:

Fahim89 wrote:Marcus Rojo from Sporting Lisbon I believe

Is he a LB or CB, primarily!!! Wonder if we could get Moreno or Rodriguez!!!

Well conventionally was a LB but recently playing in as a CB

Btw how is Immobile? ?

Fahim89 wrote:Btw how is Immobile? ?

why do you want to know   .