If they had gone for younger players they would have either:
a. Spent well beyond their means
or
b. Won fuck all
They have put all their eggs in the Klopp basket and if they don't sell on their assets asap they could be in trouble.
His dad has an awful lot of say, defacto agent.
He can get top money anywhere, but they do have a vision and road map as to what will suit him best.
As I said the other day, it may well be a perfect storm opportunity, simply because I don't see Barca or Madrid having the current lure or resources to make it happen.
I have felt for a while that he wants to come 'home' to England, and that the two main clubs we must concern ourselves with are United and Chelsea.
We have our own blue-tinted lense, but those clubs will also have their appeal and pitches.
However, the fact we can pitch the Aguero replacement/successor, Pep and a team full of winners, coupled with the old man's former association, people would have to be ignorant to dismiss we have a wonderful chance of persuading him.
And that's before paying him top wages.
Now imagine if that equation could include playing with Messi for a couple of years?
The boy and Alfie have been very smart with their decisions up to this point, nothing I hear on the grapevine suggests they suffer fools.
It is highly likely Liverpool will need new centre backs as the two they have added in January are unlikely to be the answer. Both Gomez and Matip are injury prone. History says that players coming back from ACL as we have witnessed ourselves struggle with muscular injuries the following season as well, this effects VVD.Yes, that is the only outlier. Chelsea and United both want centre backs.
United will also have to replace Pogba and are linked to Rice and Grealish.
Thing is, both those teams might try to wing it and buy someone cheaper, just because they know Haaland can be the difference between a good team and a title winning team.
And also secure the main striking position for at least five years before making a profit if he comes good.
Tread water eh?........looks like they are sinking fast to me.Agreed. That's what I am saying. They are not in the Haaland equation or for any top player this summer.
They won't get the fees they need to bring in the type of players that will make a long term difference for them.
They can only tread water and hope their key players stay fit and firing.
They also wont get anything like the fees they have been getting for fringe players either. No way the likes of Sheffield United will be giving them £23m-plus for a striker who has 10 career goals in the Championship in the current marketAgreed. That's what I am saying. They are not in the Haaland equation or for any top player this summer.
They won't get the fees they need to bring in the type of players that will make a long term difference for them.
They can only tread water and hope their key players stay fit and firing.
Van Dijk probably wont be the same player again. An ACL at 30 will take him 3-6 months of playing regularly to get anywhere close to where he wasIt is highly likely Liverpool will need new centre backs as the two they have added in January are unlikely to be the answer. Both Gomez and Matip are injury prone. History says that players coming back from ACL as we have witnessed ourselves struggle with muscular injuries the following season as well, this effects VVD.
I would expect their transfers to be concentrated there.
FSG will keep them for as long as they can and in 2-3 years be hit with a massive problem as performance levels drop off, and they have little transfer value. Milner 35, Wijlnadum leaving, Dijk may never return to previous levels. The Scousers will implode soon enough.Agreed. That's what I am saying. They are not in the Haaland equation or for any top player this summer.
They won't get the fees they need to bring in the type of players that will make a long term difference for them.
They can only tread water and hope their key players stay fit and firing.
Apparently Dortmund want rag keeper Henderson.Of the potential moves for Haaland this summer, I’d rule Bayern out this summer, they’ll try and persuade him to stay another season and get him cheap. That realistically leaves Chelsea, United, PSG, Real and ourselves. Real appear to be aiming for Mbappe but that may be another season away. PSG are more likely to go for Messi but may be less active this summer with the problems with the French tv deal.
That leaves Chelsea, United and ourselves. Haaland must have considered united before Dortmund so they have some groundwork done. Solskjaer would appear to be a positive factor there. Chelsea have a young team with a decent attack but completely unbalanced. The have lots of defenders but no quality. Obviously we have Pep and a very good team so if its purely down to football we must be in a very good position to hand him.
A dream summer for me would see Mahrez sold, Mendy moved on and Fernandinho moving into coaching while we bring in Haaland, Messi, Alaba and Grealish. We’d probably have a net spend of around £130/140m by virtue of obligation to buy on loanees and leverage with Dortmund and Villa on Sancho/ Luiz.