Liverpool rumours 6

03 Feb 2026 23:35:56
Hello all,

Liverpool now understand the parameters of what it will take to sign Bradley Barcola. The player is open to the move.

04 Feb 2026 05:18:40
We already have a bradley with crisps,
Not sure we need another bar cola.

04 Feb 2026 07:03:34
I so hope this happens, a belter of a player, eye for goal too, an upgrade on Diaz and way better than Gakpo.

04 Feb 2026 07:36:44
Cheers Vic

Massive upgrade for Gakpo, need one for Salah too ideally!

04 Feb 2026 07:49:23
This is exciting! I was just thinking this morning. which young French players could Hugo and JJ help persuade to join us. Barcola was top of my list. Any other players you guys or Ed's can think off?

Cheers.

{Ed025's Note - with this being the EPL i think for the good of the game buying English (or at least British) would benefit the league more, if you like French players that much then maybe a move to the Dordogne might be in order, i would like a cap on overseas players myself so that we develop the young lads coming up making the national game stronger, but maybe thats just me..

04 Feb 2026 07:49:32
Good player but I've never found him to be as good as many make out, is it just me? Every time I watch him play he does good things but fails to come up with the crucial assist or goal, and he's always missing presentable chances. Maybe I put a jinx on him every time I watch PSG.

04 Feb 2026 08:25:59
Good player. Hope we look at Yildiz too. He seems far more all rounded.

04 Feb 2026 08:37:25
Ed25- didn't they do that in the late 90's with only 3 foreign players allowed and it just allowed the premier league to fall behind as other leagues didn't do it. Considering how strong the english team have been in recent years (thankfully with a terrible manager 😏) one would argue the english cream of the crop have risen to the top. Whether or not it makes much of a difference- i think there is far too much money been made by the league to impose such a rule again.

Now- that i'm irish and a season ticket holder to my local club, it would probably improve our league if we had more young players willing to grind away in the irish league over going overseas- but i can't see it happening.

{Ed025's Note - i cant see it happening either AOE but i feel we are losing our identity as a footballing nation mate, its all about the money im afraid..

04 Feb 2026 08:46:41
When we win our next cup, I can see us dancing round a fella in a striped shirt playing an accordion.

{Ed025's Note - with a string of garlic cloves around his neck.. :)

04 Feb 2026 08:56:01
Very good player Barcola (much nicer on the eye than Gakpo), but hard to say if he is actually an upgrade on Gakpo in terms of output. He plays for the best team (by far) in a one team league. This season Gakpo has 7 goals and 4 assists, whilst Barcola had 7 goals and 5 assists. Gakpo has played about 350 minutes more football to be fair though.

I know Barcola had a really top season last year (21 goals and 21 assists) but the consistency is perhaps not there yet. He's 3 years younger than Gakpo though. It's an exciting signing on paper either way. Seems plausible too, especially if the Bayern interest in Gakpo becomes more serious.

04 Feb 2026 09:02:00
Football has been all about money for a long time now Ed25.

{Ed025's Note - yeah mate but it has got more ruthless StEA, the fun has gone out of the game for me..

04 Feb 2026 09:06:43
Why would Bayern sign another expensive LW from us? Seems a non starter.

04 Feb 2026 09:21:06
We need a central midfielder and probably a centre back.

04 Feb 2026 09:22:50
If we can replace Gakpo a d Salah with Barcola and Diomande that would be great.

04 Feb 2026 09:26:12
I thought we all agreed that we weren't going to buy a left winger as it would halt Rio's (a young, English, homegrown talent) progress. hence the Fofana shuffle in the summer window. I only mention it as I didn't get the memo about the change of plans.

04 Feb 2026 09:40:50
WDW, my interpretation is that Barcola would replace Gakpo, not Rio. I'd be shocked if this happened, regardless. Gakpo is seemingly loved by Slot.

04 Feb 2026 09:50:27
100%, Ed25. Football in England was built on basic principals of sport and entertainment. That was the identity. It's gone.

{Ed025's Note - yeah Micky i find most of the games hard to watch mate, the personalities and ballers seem to be getting replaced by these 6ft 6inch athletic monsters who like to play the game at a very slow pace, or it could be me just getting old and decrepit i suppose.. :)

04 Feb 2026 10:00:59
I wouldn't mind Barcola, but it depends on how we want to play and the balance on the team. The more I think about it, we need to strenghten the midfield more than we need the forwards. And if any, I would prefer a left footed RW or striker to play with 2 on top, even if they are so hard to find.

04 Feb 2026 10:07:22
Rumours of a "giant bid" coming in from Al-Ittihad for Mo in the next few weeks. As much as I would love to sign Barcola I'd be far more interested in a top quality player to replace Mo.

If Diomande can be that guy then great. He does have much better stats as a RW compared to a LW but we do tend to prefer playing right-footed wingers on the left.

04 Feb 2026 10:20:02
I can't believe Hughes and Edwards haven't keep a retired IT worker in the loop about their strategy over signings. Disgraceful.

04 Feb 2026 10:32:49
While I do rate Barcola highly, I would much prefer Yan Diomande. The guy is built for the Premier League and has himself professed he and his father's affection for us and Anfield.

04 Feb 2026 10:33:58
He is their worst winger so no thanks. Very skillful but lacks end product for me. Kvara and Doue miles above.

04 Feb 2026 10:44:52
Not sure I am really excited about Barcola to be honest. I must admit I have not watched him extensively but the few times I have seen him play, he has been okay but nothing exceptional.

Yildiz on the other hand, I have been more impressed with the few times I have seen him.

The club should know better though since they would have watched each of the targets must extensively.

04 Feb 2026 10:38:56
ED25 re english/ british players. Your right, there should be a cap on forien players. We are losing our identity. There was a rule change when Souness was manager, all non english players were classed as foreign including Scots, Welsh and Irish.

That caused all sorts of problems. Maybe half the playing team should be "Home Players". My son is a coach at lower league football and there is a lot of untapped talent without bringing every foreign player in who looks half decent.

{Ed025's Note - i think you are right Stevie, there is talent out there mate but it seems that its easier to just bring in a foreign player these days rather than take a chance on a young guy from the lower leagues or the academy,s, and people wonder why the national team is so underwhelming..

04 Feb 2026 11:15:22
Not worth the money he'd cost IMO. Would definitely be an upgrade on Gakpo in terms of pace and beating a man but his output just isn't good enough. I'd be leaning much more towards Diomande for that sort of money. Also really like the look of El Mala who would likely be significantly cheaper.

04 Feb 2026 11:48:39
The prem football is rubbish. It's like watching the same game over and over again. most teams play with a low block and hope to win a set piece on counter attack. The team that is trying to win the game in open play are frightened to pass the ball in the final third in case they get countered.
Boring football.

{Ed025's Note - im with you CG, i start watching games then turn over to watch "The Good Ship Murder" its that bad mate.. :)

04 Feb 2026 12:05:01
Ed25 on the Eng player thing, do you think this is due to as soon as any British player is slightly talented clubs put astronomical fees for them so cheaper to just grab a cheaper foreign import, always thought this was an issue and hinders their progress?

{Ed025's Note - i think its certainly a factor KNG, but there are still players out there in the lower leagues who can make the grade, but these players have to be coached and given a chance if they are to progress mate..

04 Feb 2026 13:16:34
If ye want a PSG winger Doue's your man.

04 Feb 2026 14:04:58
Bloomin foreigners, coming over ere and stealing our slots.
Sorry, thought I was on the reform web site not the rumours one.

Hope it goes without saying my tongue is firmly in my cheek.

04 Feb 2026 14:21:13
Are the parameters for the summer of 2028?

04 Feb 2026 14:30:34
Personally I'd like the PL to grow a pair and take a lesson from NFL.
There needs to be a meaningful players salary cap for all teams which is strictly enforced. Bonuses, signing on fees etc should be included and spread over the length of the contract.
That will encourage teams to employ young talent instead of just splashing out £40m and 80k p/ w wages.

It adds competition and makes it more challenging for managers.

04 Feb 2026 12:59:46
Ed25, I agree. Money has sucked the joy out of the beautiful game. There is little fluidity and as John Barnes said in his recent roundtable, we focus on tricks rather than technique.

In a way, dead ball situations are becoming setplays like in American football. Something works, gets worked out, try something different.

Players aren't allowed to work things out for themselves or act against the game plan.

{Ed025's Note - im with you mate..

04 Feb 2026 13:17:03
Ed025, talking about all these foreign players continually coming in and the dearth of English/ Uk players wouldn't it be a good idea that only the Premiership can buy foreign players, that'll mean the championship etc would have to produce good Uk players n invest in them n the same for each nation abroad.

I know its not going to happen with the way employment works but id rather we had mainly Uk players with just a couple of foreign players.

{Ed025's Note - i think that would be the way forward Strom, but there is probably a law that forbids that mate..

04 Feb 2026 13:29:47
Ed025 I used to love World Cup and euros but international football is awful now. I think since the break up of a lot of European countries there has been a Lowering of standard and there is too many teams in them with pointless games.
As for our national team I don't think we have the stand out stars of the past but the players just below that level there seems to be a lot more.

I don't think we need to cut the amount of overseas players that are aloud I just think teams need to give youngsters a chance more rather than playing average foreigners.
England Portugal and France seem to produce the most players in Europe, Germany Italy Holland have really dropped away badly. Spain normally gets a good team but the I think lack depth.

{Ed025's Note - i think the fact that the standard has dropped in English players Grino is that its so much easier to just buy a foreign player rather than coach lads in the lower leagues or academy,s mate, plus there is so many games to play and its just a money making scheme now for UEFA, FIFA and the Premier league and the pressure to be successful is so high..

04 Feb 2026 13:47:27
Thing us though Ed, how many top class home grown wide players are there available? I'd say the pool of talent is more like a very shallow puddle. If you had a choice between Barcola or Claire Balding's doppelgänger at Newcastle you'd go for Barcola every time.

The best available home grown wide players areSemenyo (there's no one even remotely close) and we didn't take a punt on him and Olise, who would cost an astronomical amount. So that's why Barcola is more likely to be considered.

{Ed025's Note - i get that VV but believe the problem is that our own players are not given the chance mate, its so much easier to just throw money at someone from the continent rater than nurture our own young players..

04 Feb 2026 13:58:34
ED25 re the home players etc, i belive it was said a few years ago, that if the infux of foreign players continue then there would be approx 30% of premier league players available to the England manager, so champoinship players would need to step up. Im more concerened on british players getting a fair chance.

{Ed025's Note - and they wont Stevie, teams wont take the chance or put in the effort with the young lads mate, and thats the problem..

04 Feb 2026 17:33:18
My lads are in football, no pressure on them but the academy is recruiting from age 4 which I think is nuts. Considering the already low chance of success even if you make it through the system your chances drop even further when they start recruiting from abroad to the academy too. Feel sorry for the lads because imagine being in an academy since 4 but you never get the chance to play because it's easier to pay for someone than take a chance on a kid.

Look at quansah, shipped him out only to buy another young centre back from France.
Could probably do with the old reserve system to give fringe players and kids some competitive games.

{Ed025's Note - yeah i really feel for them mate, a lot of them work very hard only to be discarded and deemed not good enough and it must be soul destroying for the lads..

04 Feb 2026 17:39:14
Agree with everyone saying football is incredibly boring right now. Certainly don't think it's just limited to the PL though. The general standard and quality of footballers is at a real low IMO, so few genuinely world class footballers compared to 10-15 years ago. Mostly just a bunch of physical robots suffocating the life out of games these days, so little natural flair and ability.

{Ed025's Note - im with you WN, now i dont know how old you are but players like George Best, Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles etc were proper ballers and great personalities as well, even the likes of Gazza more recently mate, but as you say most of them are robots now..

04 Feb 2026 19:02:10
ED25 we must be similar age, Best, Bowles, Marsh, Hudson, Currie, some fantastic players. Not that long o LFC brought through, McManaman, Owe, Fowler, Rob Jones signed from Crewe. Shouldnt be any reason that can't be done again.

{Ed025's Note - i would like to think so Stevie but the game is not what it was for me mate, its all about big athletic groc,s who excel from corners and throw ins but dont possess a lot of ball skills, there is also a penchant to play boring side and backwards passing because they are frightened to death to lose the ball, its all gone a bit stale imo and i have to admit im falling out of love for the game myself mate..

02 Feb 2026 20:55:06
Might be a daft question but as Alonso is apparently nailed on, is he being asked about the players we have signed?

02 Feb 2026 20:59:33
Most likely if we're signing cbs isn't like us to just sign a cb in the summer when he's most likely to come.

02 Feb 2026 21:03:58
The DOF and team make the signings, with guidance from the coach. JJ is rated as one of the top young CBs on the planet, and we are now in the business of collecting the best younger players that we can.


Guehi and Semenyo may be battle ready for the prem, but they were not good value wage wise.
Diomande and JJ will be on much less wages than those two.

02 Feb 2026 21:34:55
Hughes gave Alonso a stack of 52 playing cards with players faces on. The Spaniard says YES NO MAYBE as Hughes held each card up in the Zoom call. Jacket was a YES, Gertrude a MAYBE and HeeHee was a NO.

Hope this helps.

02 Feb 2026 21:44:52
Exactly my thoughts fat Spanish waiter. Both younger and will have resale value whereas in 5 years Guehi and semenyo wrong side of 30.

{Ed025's Note - i suggest we wait and see how they perform in a red shirt before we start discussing sell on values KP..

02 Feb 2026 21:58:25
I've read somewhere on how directors set directions, then buy players based on that directions (with certain levels of inputs from the coach), and hire the coaches based on these directions too, so that disruptions and changes required are at minimum every time there's a change with the coaches/ managers mid-way.

02 Feb 2026 22:06:19
Ah come on Keegan.
Thats the most clutching at straws reasoning I've ever heard.
By that reasoning we should only be buying 20year olds as any player 25 is not good value.
End of the day mate, if this transfer window had ended with us signing both Guehi and Semenyo, most fans would have been happy with that and not here thinking, I hope we don't lose too much on them in 5 years.

02 Feb 2026 23:00:53
Ed025 I was happy in the summer to get Guehi but did I ever think he was top class cb no. As for Semenyo Ed at 26 I do think he is at his peak now and do I think he is going to get to Salah numbers no or be at the level of Saka probably not.
As for jacquet I've not seen him Ed so I can only guess they would say he had a higher ceiling than Guehi. Maybe there is younger wide players out there with higher ceilings than Semenyo.


I don't think it's been the players who have come in Ed that has made us so poor this season because I would say every player that has come in is better than the one they have replaced it's been down to Slots tactics and his plain stubbornness to not change. Because the points dropped to teams near the bottom we should not be dropping them and with wins against them Ed we would be top of the league even not playing good at all.

{Ed025's Note - for me its been an accumulation of things Grino, the changes in playing style, the new recruits and the fitness of the players, for me the main problem has been Slot because he is the guy in charge so the buck stops with him mate..

03 Feb 2026 03:05:39
I think semenyo is capable of getting saka numbers over a season, saka in terms of output really isn't impressive. He's one of the more overrated player in the league.

03 Feb 2026 07:07:44
OP, who said XA is nailed on? Urban myth had Guehi and Semenyo 'nailed on'.

03 Feb 2026 03:29:01
ed025, I think that is one very fair assessment.
The buck has to stop with the boss.
And I would add that he put through too many changes right from the start when he doesn't have to.
Frimpong instead of Bradley, Kerkez for Robbo, and force fitting the team for Wirtz.


I think had he introduce the changes (of personnel) gradually and then change of style to follow, outcome would have been very different.

03 Feb 2026 07:45:33
Xabi is being linked again with city today. Guardiola is not expected to stay beyond this season. Make of that what you will but it's looking less of a sure thing that we're going to be making a change during the summer.

03 Feb 2026 08:07:25
Semenyo is already better than any version of Saka that has ever existed. That kid is a myth. He went over a year without a Premier League assist and last calendar year (2025) he scored 4 league goals. He's never been top class. He's just a Gabby Agbonlahor level player who happens to be at a top club so he gets more hype and media attention. Yes he is fun to watch because he is quick and likes to run at people, but he has no brain and is a dreadful finisher. He's honestly not even Walcott/ Sterling level.

If Arsenal win the league it is because of the 7 deepest player in their team (Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice and Zubimendi). They've all been top top class this season. The less said about their front 4 the better, and that is why they're such miserable to watch Champions elect.

Any way, sorry for the slightly off topic rant. Just does my head in seeing people gush over Saka. Salah (9 g/ a) has better numbers than Saka (7 g/ a) THIS season and most people are saying Salah is washed. He even went to AFCON for a month and fell out with the manager for a few weeks before that, yet he's still had a better output!

03 Feb 2026 08:31:36
Saka gets the hype because he's English that's it and I wish he would stop the limp he does constantly.

03 Feb 2026 09:24:58
Sailor Jerry - that's a mental outlook. Saka is fantastic, one of the few players were G/ A isn't everything, and to be honest you'r ejust basing that on this season. He has a field day against us every single time. If he were in a side that wasnt so functional and set piece based, he would be one of the top players in the world.

Semenyo is class and an output machine. And to the person who said 'in 5 years he will be the wrong side of 30. ' so what? That's five years.

03 Feb 2026 10:20:59
Again, @Hugo, did the club or XA, or his representatives say that his managing Liverpool was a "sure thing".

There was / is speculation that he'll manage Liverpool and some people who hope he'll be the manager assume that what they want will happen.

Of course, if it doesn't happen then they will blame the club, even though the club have never made an official statement about bringing him in as a manager,

It happened with Amorim before we brought Slot in.

03 Feb 2026 10:55:13
Agree with @Hugo, feel it's more likely we stick with Slot even if we finish 5th/ 6th, once the team demonstrate a few more performances similar to Saturday night and would be confident of putting some form of CL and FA cup run together for another round or two - enough to show hope under Slot in a transition season. FSG / Edwards' mantra is continuity and to be fair, long run success in a club usually does stem from this.

Alonso will have his pick of clubs so unless LFC are prepared and have already made their decision (thinking very unlikely), an educated guess tells you this likely won't happen.

03 Feb 2026 11:16:51
Can't help but feel you're over exaggerating a bit MK, Saka isn't as productive as he is made out to be but he is their most important attacking player by far, everything Arsenal do in open play go through him (and when he's not on the pitch, his direct replacement Madueke), when he's not on the pitch they are a worse team and create nothing (not that they create lots from open play anyway as it stands). I don't think he's the best right winger in the world like Arsenal fans make out but he is a very very good player.

Rice is probably the best and most influential player in the prem right now though, he is the one obvious player for Arsenal that is clearly world class. Timber and Raya as you have said have also been top players this year.

03 Feb 2026 11:24:26
There are certain things that are/ were out of Slot's control so for me he bears no responsibility for them.

•The disruption to pre-season training
•The haphazard, feckless recruitment in the summer.

Don't underestimate the importance of pre-season training to a squad which includes multiple new first team players. It's not something you just overcome after a few weeks. The PL is relentless, being underprepared means you're always playing catchup.

People say "we spent £450m so it's our best window ever". I disagree. Any muppet can spend £450m of someone else's money. The players are all good/ decent players but that doesn't mean they're the players we needed as a priority. Buying 2 world class strikers for example, to replace Darwin and Diogo. Darwin and Diogo barely played 38 league games a season between them.
Although we won the league last season, it was clear our midfield was weak. We were blindsided by Gravenberch having a purple patch. Yet no midfield reinforcements.
We'd basically managed central defence with Virgil and "any tall fella stood next to him". We had no quality next to an ageing Virgil.

We needed 1 striker, at least 1 midfielder, a left back, a right back and a central defender who were ready to perform in the first team.

Frimpong struggles to defend (in the premier league) but he was unlucky with injury. Kerkez - similar profile but he's better and has recent PL experience. Wirtz as a replacement to Diaz - well they're totally different players but I'll let that slide. We were unlucky with Leoni but that highlights our lack of depth and he's a kid from a slower league, what did we expect?

People talk about the central spine of a football team - keeper, central defence, central midfield, strikers. We went heavy on the strikers but ignored central midfield and central defence.

So on Slot, I'll say he failed in his remit to integrate this collection of players into a functional high performing team ; BUT he was given an unbalanced, under prepared squad to work with.

03 Feb 2026 11:32:03
Slot is not suddenly going to develop charisma and the ability to deal with immense pressure. As a human being he is simply not built to manage a big club. He lacks man management skills and aura.
Alonso has all of that, and a deep connection withe the city. His first child was born here and supports lfc from memory.

03 Feb 2026 11:35:37
Felix Fischer has previously suggested the Spaniard could be made for the role, saying: "He is not only a genius tactician and in terms of how he prepares his team, but he is a gentleman. Everything he does, he does right.

03 Feb 2026 12:44:49
What a load of crap FatSpanish, he doesn't have the Aura? next you'll be telling us he's not a Alpha. I'm not a massive Slot fan but whiles he's at the club I'll support him he came in after Klopp and won the league man he has to have something about him to even get a sniff at that.

03 Feb 2026 12:57:24
How do you know he lacks man management skills, FatSpanish? And "as a human being he is not built to manage a big club"

With respect, I disagree. My memory may be fading, but I could've swore that we won the PL last season. I will stand corrected if we didn't.

And, forgive my ignorance, but who is Felix Fischer?

03 Feb 2026 13:58:11
i think we beat Newcastle in spite of Slot rather than because of him, he was on the sidelines teeling everyone to calm down and slow it down when in fact evreytime we played quicker we were dangerous why can't he see this?

03 Feb 2026 14:22:06
OK worzal, so when we play crap, it's down to Slot, but when we play well it's down to the players. Sound logic.

03 Feb 2026 15:28:35
Does anybody posting "Slot out" - "Alonso in" - sack the board etc ever take a look at things from a larger perspective.
This week we've seen Konate put in a man of the match performance in the week his Dad died. If you looked on this site three weeks go you'd have Konate in the stocks at the pier head. Now we see a human grieving and we have a slightly less harsh appraisal.

Or I'd hope we do. But to extend this, how long has Ibous Dad been ill, how long has this been affecting him? Did we think a defender who was a vital part of a title winning side that had a great defence had suddenly, at 25, forgotten how to defend?

Obviously that's daft it what it should illustrate is across the club there are things happening that we don't see, don't know about but could be hugely impactful.

We lost a treasured member of the team, I can point to five players who still seem deeply affected. We have to create a team for post Mo world, that's tricky. Naturally it might be Arsenals time, City are better, Villa are good, this league if full of great teams who can beat each other any game.

So my waffly point is, it might not just be a case of "manager bad" or "Hughes do no work, he in office, have champagne". It's a bit more nuanced isn't it?

03 Feb 2026 15:33:19
PB, I think you just proved my point mate. Arsenal are dreadful to watch and poor from open play. As you quite rightly pointed out, most of their open play moves go through Saka at some point. It's quite an obvious correlation in my opinion that he is a part of the problem. He's just a bang average Premier League footballer. He's very quick and strong but he hasn't developed technically or in terms of his decision making at all since he was about 19. Maybe it was Arteta's dreadful coaching/ tactics that stunted his development, but I guess we'll never know.

Ultimately, Saka has 45 non-penalty goals from 216 Premier League games (0.21 per game). Agbonlahor has 73 non-penalty goals from 322 Premier League games (0.23 per game). Gabby played in a shocking Villa team as well, by the way. I like the players in my front 3 to score goals, first and foremost. If they don't I at least want them to be creative, not go a full year without creating a goal.

03 Feb 2026 16:29:30
Why0why I've been making the same point since Ibous sad news. On Saturday he looked like a player with passion doing it for his family and the memory of his Dad. None of us know how long his father was ill but it's affected him as it does anyone in work, then missing Guehi and any other targets Ibou couldn't have a break.

Diogo was heart breaking to all and the start of the season was going to be difficult. Freak luck early on has made everyone more fed up as the realities of the issues unfolded.

New players have took time and Slot has had to find the best and Virgil has been culpable and looked to casual at times and his pace has started to deteriorate.

Injury to Isak and not being ready when came had an impact as I believe Hugo is Gakpo upgrade.

Kerkez is now good, Frimpong can be fire and I think in 7 years we will be talking about Wirtz being a once in a generation perhaps alongside Hugo and Isak.

£55m + on Jacquert shows intent is still there to build a phenomenal squad. Diomande and Bastonj for me in summer keep Alexis as don't think RM want him and with a trio of French including himself I think Ibou will sign.

As an additional squad player I'd take Bowen who could do the Salah job as Salah jinks and passes now as young full backs have him in there pocket. 3/ 4 years of Bowen will be like a Milner in Salah position. Chiesa and Gakpo to go.

The question is whether Slot gets longer than summer. If he wins a trophy and gets runner up in the Prem how can you sack that? Beat City Sunday (I was at the Ethihad and we need revenge for that mauling) then we will perhaps be 5 points adrift of the runners up with plenty to play for.

Arne Slot, Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah and so on!

03 Feb 2026 17:04:40
"He doesn't have aura"my jaysus😁.

03 Feb 2026 19:55:36
I think it's pretty obvious at this point Slot's not going anywhere, barring a totally disastrous next few months.

So I very much expect Alonso to end up at City which will all but rule him out of ever managing Liverpool. Personally feel way too many people are hung up on Alonso for no good reason tbh other than he's an ex Liverpool player. Promising coach ofc but nowhere near a sure thing right now.

At the end of the day, Slot was hung out to dry this season with such a poorly equipped squad and the club recognise that. I expect a lot of these issues will be addressed this summer and next season Slot will be given the chance to prove he is the correct man for the job.

04 Feb 2026 03:43:31
@FarSpanishWaiter, do you think Slot has been on holiday for the past 3 or 4 months. You reckon he hasn't been under pressure?

02 Feb 2026 16:13:01
Sky sports saying it's Jacquet on the medical.

02 Feb 2026 17:37:46
I've heard he's a warrior in the 'trenches'.

02 Feb 2026 18:02:06
Button it.

02 Feb 2026 18:02:09
Nickname : "Full metal".

02 Feb 2026 18:09:37
He's a bit 'down' that he can't join now, but Rennes wouldn't be suede. They wanted extra for an immediate move, but we felt we were being fleeced and the money was just the tip of the ice-Berg, haus it going to work out?

{Ed025's Note - top stuff Willo..

02 Feb 2026 18:29:03
He's not as much as a warrior compared to MAC allister.

02 Feb 2026 18:31:49
JJ's going to be all over premier league forwards like a top man suit.

02 Feb 2026 18:32:11
Heard he goes down like a sack of potatoes.

02 Feb 2026 18:48:05
I think after the signing of Jeremy Jacket we should offer Scott Parka the managers role, re-sign Sebastian Coats at CB and then see if Jarred Gilet wants a job as our PGMOL advisor.

{Ed025's Note - good stuff MK..

02 Feb 2026 18:55:55
Scott Parka wanted to sign him for Burnley.

02 Feb 2026 19:03:02
Straight Jacket signed, and Plain Blazer to follow!

Rumour has it he can play in many positions, like a Reversible Jacket?

Jacket has an even better footballing Brother called Camouflage! but no one can find him?

02 Feb 2026 19:04:48
I believe this may prompt the return of our old physio Mark Leather.

02 Feb 2026 19:33:59
Arne Slot is getting a "Bullet Proof" Jacket?

{Ed025's Note - nice Bond..

02 Feb 2026 20:59:11
Somewhere Ed002 is laughing his arse off at these!

02 Feb 2026 21:37:36
Can we Jack it in now!

02 Feb 2026 16:04:03
Psv captain Ryan Flamingo apparently being looked at. Young Dutch ball playing CB. Also Youri Baas of Ajax only 22 plays lcb and lb. Linked with Baas back in the summer as well.

02 Feb 2026 16:52:19
Flight into Blackpool airport there from Amsterdam, could potentially be one of those lads?

02 Feb 2026 17:04:05
Or it could be a replacement Donkey for ed25 mob.

{Ed025's Note - we have bought a few Chrisy i cant deny that mate..

02 Feb 2026 17:10:01
He's got long legs and is good at sifting.

02 Feb 2026 18:22:13
No more Dutch players.

02 Feb 2026 18:50:29
No more Dutch players! Managers and Coaches, their only Cloggers?

02 Feb 2026 20:27:03
Virgil has done alright for us, as did Dirk Kuyt.

03 Feb 2026 10:23:36
And Gravy was the flavour of the season last year. Sorry,

{Ed025's Note - Gravy was a red wine jus last season WDW, this season he has been more of a cheap Aldi knock off version of Bisto mate.. :)

02 Feb 2026 15:26:39
Afternoon Gents, I have very small information that Liverpool have another medical booked for a player to join before the deadline, wish I had more to say but it's getting increasingly hard to have any knowledge what so ever.
Maybe something to keep an eye on,
Like I said getting hard to be told anything recently and I hope this one is true.

02 Feb 2026 15:41:27
Youri Baas and PSV defender Ryan Flamingo.

02 Feb 2026 15:44:52
Your Baas and Ryan Flamingo sound like they where part of the Royal Rumble on Sunday.

02 Feb 2026 15:53:56
Hyam Taykin Dapiz and Noah Whey?

02 Feb 2026 15:59:08
We've got until 7pm to get it all done, maybe until 9pm if we have a deal sheet submitted before 5pm. As much as I would like to believe we're getting someone else in I just think it's incredibly unlikely to happen now.

02 Feb 2026 15:59:25
Is it the young french/ Moroccan midfielder from Lille? Heard rumours about him but can't think of his name, think he wears 32.

02 Feb 2026 16:13:12
Cheers @robbo

Geertruida would have been perfect as a squad option. Is that deal 100% dead or was there still legs in it?

02 Feb 2026 16:15:10
Thanks Robbo, I hope you are right. To be fair, you're pretty much the only ITK who hasn't claimed Slot's about to be sacked at least once! So you've got as much credit in the bank as anyone now.

02 Feb 2026 16:21:21
Atalanta CB possibly Robbo?

02 Feb 2026 16:24:02
Good player Flamingo, but he is PSV's captain, is he not? I can't imagine they'd be willing to let him go on the last day of the window, plus will he get game time with Jacquet coming in and Leoni recovering next season? We don't know if Ibou will renew for next season either.

Or maybe we're going the Arsenal route of stockpiling center halves young and old.

02 Feb 2026 16:26:22
FSW - that's a lot of CBs were allegedly in for.

02 Feb 2026 16:32:32
Apparently Sunderland are still trying to get something done late for Geertruida replacement.

Then Geertruida to us.

Extreme long shot is the rumour.

02 Feb 2026 16:35:36
Raheem Starling is being linked with a return to the club this afternoon.

02 Feb 2026 16:52:22
Not Sterling, please!

02 Feb 2026 17:11:07
stirling is more suited to Saudi than coming back to L4.

02 Feb 2026 17:14:29
I've heard Flamingo is very one-footed.

{Ed025's Note - nice Willo..

02 Feb 2026 17:27:01
I'm going to Hail Mary and say Kees Smit.

02 Feb 2026 17:28:27
Sterling does count as club and home grown for us, but I've never forgiven him and his agent.

02 Feb 2026 17:48:56
I was thinking of Starling linking up with Flamingo. Apologies all.

02 Feb 2026 21:00:22
its 9pm, so it didn't happen!?

02 Feb 2026 14:31:03
Apparently we're negotiating a change in Harvey Elliott's loan deal, not to bring him back but to change the threshold on the obligation to buy. Should give him more game time and help preserve a bit of value rather than him being stuck in no man's land.

02 Feb 2026 15:03:34
And also help Villa finish ahead of us. Makes no sense. Get him back give him game time and that will increase his value.

02 Feb 2026 15:20:44
On the topic of changes to loan agreements, I really don't understand why we haven't just contacted Dundee United to recall Luca Stephenson. We could even send them Ramsay as his replacement and I'm sure they'd be well up for that given his time at Aberdeen. Slot spoke very highly of Luca in pre-season and he can cover RB, CB and CM.

Instead of trying to sign injured players like Read/ Dumfries or players on loan at other clubs like Geertruida, this would be a lot easier to do. Fed up of the transfer window now. Just want it to shut now before any of our top 5 rivals strengthen further.

02 Feb 2026 15:24:07
Should have been done months ago. There shouldn't have been any of this minimum games nonsense in the first place. Apparently Villa decided back in October that they weren't going to sign Elliott on a permanent. If they are only just telling us this now, it is an appalling abuse of trust.

02 Feb 2026 15:29:53
Its not up to us jimmy. Last week people were moaning poor Harvey wasnt getting playing time. The club can't win. Villa aren't going to want to pay us to cancel his loan.

02 Feb 2026 16:07:57
Recalling Luca Stephenson and sending Ramsay in return feels like the most logical thing to do right now, MK.

02 Feb 2026 11:48:37
Can anyone explain why we walked away from the Geertruida deal? He was Slots captain wasn't he? Plays RB, CB and DM all three positions need filling. Prem proven, £20m deal option if same as Sunderland. Seemed an absolute no brainer. Have I missed something?

02 Feb 2026 12:02:06
Yes. That Sunderland refused to cut his loan!

02 Feb 2026 12:07:46
Sunderland said no.

02 Feb 2026 12:16:04
Think it's because we got Jacquet …. FSG looking long term and taking a gamble on getting through to the end of the season?

I am pretty happy with the signings that have been made in 2025 and future looks bright…, the hiccup is in my view due to Slot and his training staff…. His tactics in first season looked fine but he has not progressed in a positive way and has stumbled when facing teams that have gone physical with concentration on set plays…. we will get through this but we really want to finish top 5 to guarantee Champions League otherwise we will see downturn in finances.
Think a change of coach is inevitable as Slot man management has been found wanting…. Xabi Alonso looks to be a better fit for LFC…. He gets the club and the supporters…. It's not guaranteed to be a success but it's the best bet for a Klopp style of play next season.

02 Feb 2026 12:24:59
I did wonder, given it was reported that RBL would have to pay Sunderland £5m to end the loan early, whether we would offer the £23m as a straight sale to RBL and pay the £5m on top - still a decent option at £28m.

02 Feb 2026 12:49:20
Oh ok, thanks. Most places that was reporting this said Sunderland happy and wouldn't stand in his way. Fair enough if they changed their mind. Shame can't push it as he seems ideal.

02 Feb 2026 12:54:43
Well Calvin Ramsey is now being linked to going out on loan surly that means a right back might be coming in?

02 Feb 2026 12:55:47
I would say that is a very acceptable fee to get the deal over the line for a player that knows slots football system.
Begs the question why it was left so late to make the move and why are we not willing to pay that bit extra to seal the deal.


If we don't make top five at the end of the season we will lose a lot more champions league money than five million.

02 Feb 2026 13:04:52
If Sunderland don't want to do a deal or the terms would be not be favourable then that'll be why it didn't happen, whereas I think we did drop a bollock with Guehi and Semenyo, we nailed it with Jacquet, and credit to the lad too for not wanting to become another chattel for Chelsea to chuck away when there's a new flavour of the month.

02 Feb 2026 13:16:01
Is the fact that Xabi played for us the only reason he looks to be a better fit? Genuine question. Like HOW does he get the fans, because we liked him and he said the generic complimentary things EVERY footballer says during his time here? Torres said them same things, more so even and look how that turned out? Alonso would not be coming here because of his love for the club he would be coming here because we are at the absolute top of the game at the minute.

If we were in the situation we were in when Jurgen took the job i don't think he'd give us a 2nd look, and that's not a criticism it just shows how big of an absolute legend jurgen was. And this is from someone who loves Alonso, just my honest feeling. I think a lot of fans oversell the relationship between him and the club.

02 Feb 2026 13:58:02
Ramsay going out on loan could just be because every other defender isn't available and Slot still won't play him!

However, would it be too cute for us to loan Ramsay to Sunderland to make Geertruida happen?

02 Feb 2026 14:03:31
I'm holding out hope that there is a fresh twist in this saga.

02 Feb 2026 14:53:15
To be fair Florian, he has always referred to himself as a Liverpool fan, continued to say how much he loved the team even after joining Madrid, celebrated Liverpool scoring and winning games in his short spell as a pundit, and has come back to Anfield multiple times, that's not something that Torres has done.

02 Feb 2026 14:39:47
Is there anyway that we could get him in the summer.

02 Feb 2026 14:46:58
How could a player who was not even capable of nailing down a spot in the starting 11 for Sunderland be a good acquisition for LFC?
All dutch coaches basically do is buying dutch players or players from the only league they seem to know, the German Bundesliga.


We must get rid of Slot asap.
We need a real coach and a staff with knowledge beyond the dutch and the german leagues.

02 Feb 2026 15:24:21
Utter xenophobic nonsense, Earp.
Why am I reading so much anti Dutch sentiment on this website recently?
How is it even getting posted?
I don't want to appear 'woke', but some of you should get out more, maybe read a book every now and again, speak to the odd human; that kind of thing.

02 Feb 2026 15:35:02
Im sure the Sunderland manager would think the same as Slot, that he already has better options Zedd.

02 Feb 2026 16:21:12
Why do people think Ramsay is such a good player, I don't think he's done much on loan whenever we sent him out, and has never shown much with us either. Genuine question.

02 Feb 2026 16:34:33
All of that on a day we bought a French centre back, from France. Although we are being linked with three other Dutch players this afternoon. lazy journalism perhaps.

02 Feb 2026 18:29:32
Quiet Earp

Under Slot (who doesn't decide which players we buy) we've bought one Dutch player. In Klopp's time, we bought 5. What's your point here? Klopp didn't buy a single German. Last time I checked, the Dutch are not terrible at footie.

02 Feb 2026 20:30:27
Quiet must be thinking of Ten Hag, must bring back sad memories.

02 Feb 2026 07:30:34
Kees Smit being linked for a late deal this window. Don't know the player but think he may have been mentions as a talent to watch out for by someone on the forum.

02 Feb 2026 08:54:48
I'm pretty sure the world and his mother are after Kees Smit. Would be a very difficult deal to pull off, and that is before considering the transfer deadline ends tonight, at 7pm. Having said that, would love to finally beat Real Madrid to a signing for a change.

The player must be exceptional if every big team in the world has tried to get him. Hopefully we come out on top and he excels, or he don't and becomes a flop. Either way, hectic end to the window.

02 Feb 2026 09:07:52
Got his future stars on fifa looks decent.

02 Feb 2026 09:22:02
We just need to sign someone called "wallet" now and we have all the things I check on a morning before work:

Keys
Jacket
Wallet.

02 Feb 2026 09:34:43
How reliable is the source?

02 Feb 2026 10:33:24
What I've seen it's here would be allowed to leave but this isn't a rumour.

02 Feb 2026 10:34:33
JJ was seen as a superior option to MG for various reasons.

Buying up the best young players around is a good strategy, provided we pick up the odd VVD/ Ali when possible.

02 Feb 2026 10:38:37
FSW, the source is DaveOCKOP, so not terribly reliable so let's wait and see.

Ron, we also need to add Spectacles and Testicles to that list to complete your checking process before leaving for work.

02 Feb 2026 11:21:48
Isn't Kees Smit another attacking mid where we are very well stocked?

02 Feb 2026 10:54:16
I've not seen anything of Smit apart from what I've just looked at on YouTube. But from that small sample he looks quality but is he what we need for our midfield.
It's great having all these gifted ball playing midfielders but you do need to earn the right to play and our midfield is wide open.


I would love a Henderson type midfielder in there at the minute would improve us no end.

02 Feb 2026 10:58:01
If I had the choice of any midfielder I would love bruno guimaraes in there think he would transform us.

{Ed025's Note - great player Grino...and just what you need imo mate..

02 Feb 2026 11:43:27
Think he gets in every team in the league ed025.

{Ed025's Note - really Grino?, hes a good player of course but maybe you are slightly over-egging him a bit there i would say mate..

02 Feb 2026 11:49:15
He's more of an around type. Has been compared to Pedri on the ball. Some of the best managers around like flick or enrique don't play with what we'd class as a destroyer. i've no issue filling the midfield with ballers and trusting them to use their heads.

02 Feb 2026 13:10:14
Ed025 who's midfield do you think bruno guimaraes does not get in then Ed?

{Ed025's Note - i cant think of one Grino, im a massive fan mate..

02 Feb 2026 13:13:48
Flick and enrique don't manage in the premier league though Florian it's totally different to Spain France Germany and Italy lots of bang average players have gone from here and looked world beaters in them leagues.

02 Feb 2026 13:48:37
Ron, Maybe we should sign Ciro Immobile (phone) to go with Kees and Jacquet…?

02 Feb 2026 14:06:43
Wont get in Everton's ahh Edd25 🤔🤣.

{Ed025's Note - its affordability with us Chrisy, he wont be coming to Everton any time soon mate..

02 Feb 2026 15:21:33
If we're looking at young midfielders De Cat would be my choice, defensively minded, only 17 but physically developed already for a lad his age.

02 Feb 2026 15:39:04
How many Premier League teams did PSG beat on their way to the champions league last year Grino? Pretty much all the best sides we have to offer. Barca have beaten Newcastle etc.

01 Feb 2026 22:40:50
Jeremy Jacquet to LFC deal agreed for Summer 2026 - Paul Joyce.

01 Feb 2026 22:47:34
Sky reporting he is signing now and being loaned back until the end of the season.

01 Feb 2026 23:06:01
FSG OUT

Oh wait.

01 Feb 2026 23:08:57
Looks to be one of the strongest young CB's out there, and we gazumped CFC.

Bastoni and a new, rugged RB next and we are good to go.

01 Feb 2026 23:11:37
If this is correct it will avoid another farce like Guehi. Furthermore, maybe the club will think it will passify the fans for not signing anyone else as cover or permanently in this window. Liverpool fans are not that naive FSG, you have still put our season at risk.

01 Feb 2026 23:35:40
Hughes incompetent again!

02 Feb 2026 00:02:47
Looks like Man U tried to hijack the deal but were unsuccessful.
I suppose because we had Coates and now have a Jacquet, they wanted to follow on from Paul Parka. Maybe we just had deeper pockets?

02 Feb 2026 00:45:41
I will say, we seem to be doing well in securing CB talent for the long term. Leoni is already in and I expect big things from him when he's back. Jacquet appears to be highly rated. I think Ndukwu could be a real talent. And the 2 other youngsters in Ndiaye and Adoka seem like shrewd signings as well.

It would be great to see the club work really hard to convince Bastoni to leave Italy to compliment lots of young talent at the position.

02 Feb 2026 01:43:08
Ndukwu hasn't signed yet maybe one for the summer.

02 Feb 2026 05:17:52
@KP, according to the official Liverpool FC website, we have agreed a deal with the player and Austria Vienna subject to international clearance so to all intents and purposes he is our - due to join in the summer and going into the U-21s.

On a different note we now have VVD, Gomez, Leoni, Nallo, Wellity, Jacquet, Ndiaye, Adoka and Ndukwu and the summer window is still just a mirage on the horizon. I haven't counted Konate as he hasn't re-signed a contract. Him notwithstanding we have nine CBs, even without Bastoni and Gertruida and the German lad whose name I can't spell but starts something like Schlotter-something.

We can all sing:

'Too many CBs, we've got too many CBs
Too many CBs we've just got too many CBs'.

02 Feb 2026 05:20:14
Another thought, will Jacquet's nickname be Kenny?

02 Feb 2026 05:39:13
It's good that Jacquet is cool with playing in Conf League next season. 😅.

02 Feb 2026 07:18:42
Which one's are the first 11 replacements for VVD and Konate?

02 Feb 2026 07:24:47
Good bit of business, very highly rated. We beat off quite a bit of competition to get him. Well done RH.

{Ed001's Note - we beat Chelsea to get him, no one else would go near the price being asked. Chelsea can't even get their own players to want to come back from loan periods, hardly a difficult sell to get someone to choose us over them! A team where you will be rotated constantly, no matter what position you play or how well you perform. Or he can join us, desperate for a centre-back and if he does well he gets a place and keeps it. You would have to be an utter moron to be unable to get a player to choose us over them right now. That could change if Rosenior turns out to be good and builds a settled side, but players do not like to be rotated for the sake of it like happens there right now.}

02 Feb 2026 07:42:13
Thanks west derby didn't realise it was on the official site. Looks like CB is covered. Now to get a lb to replace Robbo/ Tsimikas and a fit RB.

02 Feb 2026 08:35:15
Man United were in the mix for him, Real Madrid, Chelsea. Chelsea were emerging as the clear favourite to get him, as they did with others like Caicedo over recent years so it's nice the tide is turning away from them.

It's not to say they would have paid the asking price, but most of the big teams pay as much if not more than we do in salaries and bonuses. He's a very high profile and sought after player, and we've done well to get him surely.

02 Feb 2026 08:50:18
All good @KP.

I'm old school and want a DM. I don't think we've ever replaced Fabs.

02 Feb 2026 09:01:17
And a combative midfielder.

02 Feb 2026 09:03:12
Chelsea did offer him a 45 year contract though Ed.

02 Feb 2026 09:05:02
No Something Red, it's Gillet out, Jacquet in.

{Ed025's Note - not many will get that Ron, nice one..

02 Feb 2026 09:39:49
This is a great signing. We will have 2 young, top-quality RCBs in Jacquet and Leoni. Both have experience covering at RB too so that side of the defence looks well covered from next season (and takes the pressure off Leoni coming back from his injury).

Not sure if either are overly comfortable as a LCB so presumably we will still need to find the long-term Virg successor and hopefully we can bring in somebody like Bastoni.

02 Feb 2026 10:08:45
That price is crazy for such a limited CV, Ed1. When you consider Huijsen went to Real for £10m less. Even Yoro was cheaper. Hughes is scaring me more and more with every negotiation he does. It's not how we used to do things. And he isn't even coming in now for that premium price when we are desperately in need for that position.

{Ed001's Note - it is very odd.}

02 Feb 2026 10:54:45
Love your work @Ron 😁.

02 Feb 2026 12:51:56
Seems like we're just looking for problems. Not sure what's wrong with securing a top talent who represents better value in terms of the all round package than others in the market.

Theres risk with every purchase or contract, we found that in the summer with Isak and Mo. Buying or paying for established talent doesn't always guarantee results, and between them we'll be paying over £500k a week and we've hardly had a tune out of either all season.

Probably the last experienced premier league player we bought before then was Macca, who also hasn't been great. It's an inflated and difficult market.

02 Feb 2026 13:23:07
The official LFC website states that Liverpool do not yet consider the signing of Jacquet to be guaranteed yet. Not sure why, but that is clearly stated.

Anyone got any clue why, or is it a case of needing work permits etc.

02 Feb 2026 13:47:21
My initial thoughts on him is he looks lightning quick and can pass well with good feet.

Negatives are he looks weak for a CB and a bit rash.

He is very young so you'd hope he can iron out those two and turn into a fine player indeed.

A lot of money for a CB that still needs polishing.

Think he will struggle initially but could turn out to be very fine business long term. That pace intrigues me in a CB because I believe Liverpool CBs need it and he looks one of the fastest you'd find. I think we paid too much and I think he needs work. But still. Think it will work out long term if he bills up which he should do naturally with age. Him and Leoni could be a very very good long term pair. Hopefully anyway.

02 Feb 2026 14:20:16
Hugo i. e. before Hughes. And it wasn't just Premier League experience. It was experience from the top 5 leagues, ideally with European experience if they were coming from abroad, having play at least 170 games in their career but under the age of 25. That was our transfer criteria before Klopp won the standoff with Edwards and our hit rate was ridiculous. We should never have moved away from it (Thiago, Nunez, Gakpo).

I'm not going to applaud Hughes for throwing stupid money at an inexperienced kid. We're behaving like United under him and it scares me.

02 Feb 2026 15:15:33
You must scare easily! Tbf Manchester United threw stupid money at anything until recently. I quite like both Cunha and Mbeuno as an example of better business they did in the last window.

I agree with the point on how moving away from a template can result in big mistakes like buying injury prone players like Thiago, or players who don't fit a style of play like Nunez. Gakpo is an odd one in the sense I'm not really sure what we saw in him at all, whereas I do with the others.

Richard Hughes I'm not sure about, but I'm hopeful Jacquet will prove to be a very good signing. I'm also hopeful Konate recovers his form and stays, and that VVD steps back up.

02 Feb 2026 21:44:08
Something Red you missed the part where he was loaned back. Happy to write off the season then… thought so.

01 Feb 2026 22:26:31
A here we go from Romano on JJ! Great signing be sweeter if it was for now.

02 Feb 2026 01:18:27
It will be Phil Collin's for now.

02 Feb 2026 08:49:44
No Jacquet Required 😉.

02 Feb 2026 09:53:14
"No Jacquet required", Acered? - Classic!

01 Feb 2026 22:24:35
We just signed Jeremy Jacquet.

02 Feb 2026 00:04:10
I'll get me coat….

01 Feb 2026 22:02:33
We are close to agreeing a £60m deal for Jeremy Jacquet to arrive in the summer.

01 Feb 2026 22:28:30
Confirmed by Romano.

I suppose he's seen as an Ibou replacement by the club?

We don't spend £60m on a 3rd choice centre half.

01 Feb 2026 22:33:50
We need a winter jacket now, not a summer jacket.

{Ed025's Note - i like that FW..

01 Feb 2026 22:35:56
60m plus 10m add ons, personal terms agreed.

01 Feb 2026 23:12:26
Does that mean this season, while not being written off, but being a case of being left to the God's and what will be, will be.

01 Feb 2026 23:46:56
I'll get my Coates (older members will recognise this one)