Liverpool FC Forum

[7_Kewell]

The summer is approaching and the squad needs a major overhaul. Who should stay and who needs to go?

For me, it's this:

Gomez - never been the same since his injuries
Matip - past his best
Tsimikas - isn't good enough to start or challenge Robertson
Milner - great servant but past it
Keita- contract is up. Has been poor for most of his time here
Ox - offers nothing
Fabinho - has been dreadful this season. Cash in while we still can
Thiago - brilliant when fit. But spends 50% of the season injured. Also on a huge contract

[7_Kewell]

I'd also listen to any reasonable offers for Nunez...

[Eagle]

7_Kewell

[7_Kewell]

7_Kewell

Cheek 

[Eagle]

7_Kewell

Cheek 

Couldn't help myself 

[damjan193]

Doubt we'll sell almost our entire midfield but Ox, Keita and Milner are definitely gone in the summer. Tsimikas, Gomez and Matip might also go, but maybe not all 3 of them at once. Firmino will also leave. So we'll need at least 2 new midfielders, good ones too, and probably a CB and LB as well.

[UvS xR4GEx]

Tsmikas- he needs regular football and he's not getting it here. He looks rusty everytime he's called upon.

Thiago - brilliant player. But he's knocking on, picks up alot of injuries, and he's on a huge wage.

Ox and Naby - both contracts are up.

Matip - he's been brilliant for us over the years, but you can see the decline this year.

[Penguins]

I agree with everything BUT with how utter inept the club is with transfers I expect Matip and Thiago go on a free next summer.
Worst in the league at selling players and just losing everyone to bosmans.

[kazza]

Doubt we'll sell almost our entire midfield but Ox, Keita and Milner are definitely gone in the summer. Tsimikas, Gomez and Matip might also go, but maybe not all 3 of them at once. Firmino will also leave. So we'll need at least 2 new midfielders, good ones too, and probably a CB and LB as well.

In Midfield I think Hendo has fallen off a cliff, not sure if it’s injuries but he seems to have trouble keeping up and even making passes, a replacement for him needs to be found sooner rather than later, I see him only getting worse and he is expensive. Ox certainly is leaving along with Keita (what a waste of talent he was) and Milner. I’d keep a Milner on the books though  if he takes a wage reduction as he’s English and we are losing three, he can work on his badges. If Thiago gets us money then sell him, he only has a year left, if you can’t get a good price then keep him as he is quality when he’s fit. As outrageous as it seems, I’d sell Henderson as he won’t be happy not playing much, we need to move on and since he has a couple of years left, he might get more than Thiago. I would keep Fabinho as with good players around him he would be a better player. I wouldn’t sell Jones as he a local lad and I think he has good physical attributes. Carvalho need to go on loan and I’d keep Elliot as he is versatile.

[Reg]

Doubt we'll sell almost our entire midfield but Ox, Keita and Milner are definitely gone in the summer. Tsimikas, Gomez and Matip might also go, but maybe not all 3 of them at once. Firmino will also leave. So we'll need at least 2 new midfielders, good ones too, and probably a CB and LB as well.

Highlights the need for succession planning. Ox, Keita and Milner this season, Hendo and Thiago next season, and that's just in midfield.
Start planning, budgeting and making things happen Mr Klopp.

[Penguins]

It's going to be fun conjuring up 5 new TOP class midfielders when the 5 that leaves this and next summer will return ZERO pounds....
Cause it sure as hell won't be the ownners that will come up with the money and no CL money either....

[damjan193]

I agree with everyone above, awful planning on the club's behalf. The way our club functions it needs to plan these things better than anyone but this is probably the worst I've seen anyone plan anything. There was never a plan in the first place most likely.

It's interesting though, because our club's strategy was pretty good in Klopp's earlier years, up until the pandemic I'd say. Since the pandemic though, and then after Michael Edwards left, our transfers strategy has been in decline. I'd say the financial loses during the pandemic, vital club staff leaving (Michael Edwards) and us not replacing them quickly and properly, are the main contributors for us being in this situation.

[Lallana in Pyjamas]

We are already losing the likes of Ox , Keita and Milner

They club aren’t going to sell any other mids in the summer

[Eagle]

Some of the things that could affect our plans:

- With it looking likely we’ll be in the Europa League next season, do we need the same sort of squad as if we were in the Champions League? Will Klopp use the group stages as an opportunity to give our second-string game time and develop the likes of Ramsay and Bajcetic?
- Who has done a Mane and told Klopp that they want a new challenge?
- With no Champions League football next season, and subsequently no meaty Champions League bonuses for the players, will more players be asking their agents to find a move?
- Which players have no interest in moving on regardless of what Klopp/the club say because they are on a good contract that they won’t get elsewhere and their family are settled in the North West?

I don’t think Kelleher will want to spend another season as 2nd choice and will be asking for a move and his stock is high enough that decent clubs will be interested in him. If Adrian leave on a bosmon that means we’ll need to find 2 keepers. One of those slots could be filled by either Pitaluga or Harvey Davies but certainly not both of them.

In defence I have a feeling Matip will move on. He’ll only have 1 year left on his contract and without CL football and CL bonuses he might decide to cut his losses as I can’t see him getting an extension that takes him to 34/35. That gives un an opportunity to bring in a young talented player who will be the long term partner for Konate. Don’t think we’ll see much else change in defence.

In midfield Keita and Ox are leaving on bosmons. Arthur’s loan will end but he doesn’t need replacing. And it sounds like Milner will finally move on with Brighton strongly linked but I would be fine with him staying as an extra body that doesn’t affect other plans. Don’t think there is any chance of Henderson moving on as he has 2 years on a very big contract which he won’t get close to elsewhere. I do wonder if one of Fabinho or Thiago might fancy a move to sunnier climates. That would open up the oppounity to further change the midfield. As a minimum we need two midfielders that are not "projects" and will start taking first team minutes straight away.

I don’t see much change in the forward line. Firmino will move on but I think Gakpo was the early replacement.

More often than not the formula for Klopp is 3 keepers, 8 defenders, and 14 midfielders and attackers with a mix of specialists and hybrids. And normally within this 25 there are say maybe up to 5 you would consider "league cup players" who are trying to establish themselves as PL options. My guess is that it will look pretty close to this:

Leave: Kelleher, Adrian, Matip, Nat Phillips, Milner, Arthur, Ox, Keita, Firmino
Loan: Conor Bradley, Rhy Williams, van den Berg, Morton, Carvalho
Squad on 1 September:

                             Alisson
                              ?????
                       Pitaluga/Davies


Trent          Konate          van Djik          Robertson
Ramsay       Gomez            ?????              Tsimikas


             ?????          Fabinho          ?????
        Henderson     Bajcetic         Thiago
                                                   Jones

             Salah          Gakpo          Diaz
            Elliott          Nunez          Jota

[Reg]

Doubt we'll sell almost our entire midfield but Ox, Keita and Milner are definitely gone in the summer. Tsimikas, Gomez and Matip might also go, but maybe not all 3 of them at once. Firmino will also leave. So we'll need at least 2 new midfielders, good ones too, and probably a CB and LB as well.

Highlights the need for succession planning. Ox, Keita and Milner this season, Hendo and Thiago next season, and that's just in midfield.
Start planning, budgeting and making things happen Mr Klopp.

Thiago out injured and will need an operation apparently. Add him to the list of players needing replacement!