King Kante

I foresee a Vlahovic/Lukaku swap. Could potentially cook the books a little on the value of each player to massage FFP a bit. I suspect that Lukaku didn't pull out on this, rather he realised he wasn't getting back to Inter as we weren't going to just take any offer.

Really want to try James in a DM position. Think he would absolutely dominate.

The only players that agree to one year extensions are the likes of Baka, Batsh*t and Baba who know that the extra year gives them a bit more security with their current wage which they'll unlikely get elsewhere. Anyone who knows they can get a decent move and more money elsewhere isn't signing those. Or, you get a Mbappe situation where you throw money at them, then they don't play ball six-18 months down the line. Anyway, Levi has three years left atm.

I think a lot of his injuries are joint problems. For me, him in a DM position would help with this as he wouldn't have to bomb up and down so much. Personally, with Soton getting relegated, I would be happy with us trying to get Livra back rather than try and sign 2-3 CM's. We saw this last season with the CB's. If clubs know you're absolutely desperate in one position and you try and go for one of those positions, they'll gangbang you on the price.

Most players don't peak until that age. Drogba and Costa didn't either.

I have said on a number of occasions that I think Ethan had a bit of talent to be a squad player. Unfortunately, I haven't seen enough of him in the past few years to say whether that is still true as when I said this I was still basing off him being in what I call 'prospect years', rather than now. Interesting. I think me and you typically align, with our views on players. On this occasion, you may be right. However, I still don't mind having Ethan as a squad player - no fee, reasonable wages rather than spaff £35m+ on Bakayoko etc. On a secondary note, in a previous post you mentioned you used to post on CFCNET. That was where I used to post most of the time between 05-18. What username did you have, out of interest? I was Sebcfc/Conte Kante/King Kante.

Another former youth/development player goes for mega bucks.

Another former youth/development player goes for mega bucks.

Yeah, I cannot blame him. We are absolutely crap shooting with our rebuild and, even if it goes well, we're looking at, at least, two seasons of ebuild before we can start competing again. Going to City in that situation was incredibly logical.

Yeah, I am not a fan either.

What do people think about moving James to DMF? I wouldn't be entirely against it as I think he is capable of playing there and it would protect his joints a little more as he wouldn't need to do so much running. Obviously, we lose his ability at RB/RWB but if Livra is available at £15m, I wouldn't be against getting him back. In addition, it'll mean we have a little more wriggle room in the market as people will know we aren't desperate for CM's/a DM. I do recognise I may get pelters for this.

Happy with that. Prefer to keep Connor as the HG CM option to act as cover in CM.

People said the same sort of thing about Sancho and Werner. It is one thing to be a forward who can work in the Bundesliga with the high lines they play over there and translate that to the low block/psycalitily you find in the PL. For me, I honestly cannot reasonably judge a Bundesliga forward these days unless they're an absolute elite freak like Haaland. For me, the Nkunku transfer looks as well timed; we signed him early into a good season/just off the back of his best season when still young. However, when we look at players like Sancho and Werner in the PL vs. Bundesliga or as a reverse Haller, there are absolutely no guarantees a elite forward in Germany will be able to do it in the PL. At this moment in time, I am in the wait and see position with Nkunku. For sure, he has some nice assets, but the question really is how will this translate to the realities of the PL, week in, week out? Let's not also forget he also has 10 appearance for France and hasn't scored a goal for them yet; albeit, it appears he has mainly be used bit part (approx 400-500 mins) and I haven't personally seen him play international football.

I agree we are playing with fire this off-season. People talk about Kai and Mount like they will never be as good as KdB or Salah. The thing is, KdB wasn't much older when we sold him than Kai/Mount are now. For me footballers always really show what they're going to be in the 22-26 bracket, unless they're super elite like Mbappe, Rooney, Messi, C.Ronaldo, Haaland etc, where they started doing it from a very young age, simply because they were elite talents. Personally, for me celebrating the selling Kai and Mount is both highly dangerous and ill thoughtout as these players aren't at their peak yet. I also remember a lot of people for instance celebrating the £18m we pulled in for KdB at the time due to him not being a team player and a prima Donna. Additionally, people celebrate players like Costa and Drogba but forget that they were both 26+ when they rocked up here. Both of them had to play a lot of football elsewhere in the early 20's for 'lower' teams before they made it. This said, I do equally understand the economics of football. Both Kai and Mount have few years on there contracts and, even waiting a year, could be disastrous for their value. So, I can see why the club may want to sell, even if I don't understand why people who are just fans/supporters are happy with it - if you consider the above. This said. I am worried about next season. For sure, getting rid of the likes of Ziyech, KK and Mendy for reasonable fees won't hurt that much because there age means we know what they are and that they're only likely to decline from here on in. However, the purchases raise massive concerns with me. Let's look at these in the cold light of day: Jackson - 6 months ago was going to Bournemouth and people didn't have a clue who he was. Hits a purple patch towards the end of a La Liga season and people now think he walks into the PL as a proven goalscorer or at least can 'do a job'. For me this is a very highly speculative transfer. Caicedo - stats show he is a very good ball winner. However, as soon as Potter left, DZ decided to play him in multiple positions to cover holes. For sure, people can argue that he is so good he can play any position, but another argument is that he cannot nail down his favoured position. I mean, seriously, whenever have you seen a player being switched around like that in there early 20's to fill holes in a 6th placed team? The answer is normally a McTominary/Flecther/Cleverly ( SAF/Man U tbf have always had a great eye for finding roles for grafters.) For me, as DZ was/is the better tactian, when compared to Potter, this leaves massive question marks for me as whilst some people see Kante, I can also see Ramires. His age is the only reason why I cannot place him yet as he still needs a lot more football in his legs. As for the overall balance of the squad, it looks like we're aiming for a U23 side hoping that they'll grow together. This for me is a crap shoot in that if it comes off, it is jackpot. However, we also run the real risk we leave ourselves a lot poorer, even though we convinced ourselves before we threw the dice that things couldn't get worse.

So, as it stands the squad is looking like the following for next season, so far: GK: Kepa, Betti, Gaga CB - Silva, Badi, Fofana, Trev, Colwill WB - James, Chilwell, Cucu, Melo CM - Enzo, Gallagher, Carney, Hall(?), Mount, RLC AM - Sterling, Noni, Mudryk, Pulisic, CHO CF - Broja, Jackson Italics means players with futures undecided. That for me is really light. CM looks crazy light with the italics as does every area bar WB and possibly GK, depending on your thoughts of Kepa. For me, we need at least 5 more players - CF (Broja and Jackson cannot be used as CF1) - CM x 2 (1 if Mount stays as I suspect we go 433 and he slots in at No.8 AM GK (I really cannot be doing with Kepa.) Then there is CB. Silva is 39, Fofana is always injured, Badi is currently injured. Something may have to be done there if Trev is sold.

Tbf, Juve weren't great last season.

I am a bit unsure about him to. Not sure he'll ever be an elite striker - although at 23 he still has a bit of time to prove me wrong - but he is probably the best 'gettable' CF on the market. If he comes here I suspect he would be CF1 and give us 15 goals in the league, which is eons beyond what we've been getting, even if it isn't great when compared with other CF's.

Tbf, their initial target was De Ligt but he chose Bayern. We also has an incredibly weak negotiating hand. AC and Rudi went on Granny's/Roman's watch and the new owners couldn't negotiate any transfers until the deal went through which left us short of time. Personally, I was never sold on KK at any point - even in his peak - as I thought he was a 'hipsters' type player where flashes made him look amazing but everything I saw when actually watching him in games, made me believe he was 'good to very good' and by that I mean not world class/elite. For me, he always reminded me of a slightly better at positioning Zouma - a player I was also happy to get rid of and said so when he was here; unless he was happy at a CB4. All this said,for me the board deserve a lot of criterism but I am not so sure the KK deal was that illogical given the circumstances.

The club was desperate for CB's last Summer owing to AC and Rudi leaving and we had people who didn't have extensive knowledge of football doing the transfers. £33m for a CB that was deemed as a top CB in Italy that was readily available did make some sense in fairness. I doubt he was seen as a like for like.

Personally, I am not that convinced Mount is absolutely determined to leave (although I am not as sure about this as I was before January.) Things could've changed from his position - for instance he may have been testing the waters to see what kind of offers he could get (this I wouldn't begrudge him as everyone should be doing that with their employer) - and the club may be thinking it is better to keep hold of him. Especially when you look at the prices other players go for in his age bracket and how every manager he has played for has liked him a lot. The biggest stumbling block always seemed to be the length of contract. Maybe their could be some sort of deal struck where it is five years with +2 that the club can activate with a certain amount. Either way, I doubt the whole deal is being held up over 8%/£5m. Especially owing to his amortisation and only having one year left. This whole notion the club are holding out for £5m in a £55m/£60m deal seems like BS that idiots in the media/Twitter spread to get some clicks.

Rumours on the street was that he had planned to go but the gangsters he hangs around with pressed him to stay as they liked having access to Liverpool players and prime seats. Gerrard is well known for having dodgy mates, it is well known in the press if you know where to look. This is one article I remember from the time but there have been lots of others. I think his daughter is currently or recently was dating a known gangster. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-560616/Soccer-star-gangsters-Steven-Gerrard-murky-depths-Liverpools-underworld.html

I love the irony of the sponsor here.

Kepa isn't a good GK. Saying stuff like this is just nonsense. Sure he may be someone who is better with confidence, but who isn't? Additionally, if he is so reliant on his performance in the work place on what is happening at home. I really fear. I mean, who hasn't been in an adult relationship, and one member has got upset with the other over slight grievance and given them the ol' slient treatment/made them to believe they aren't good enough/fulling the needs of the other? If he is so relaint on that, marriage isn't going to save him past the honeymoon period (so let's say 6 months if they've not been together for very long.) That aside, Kepa is no way being saved from his limitations by being in a stable relationship. Just look at the stats of the guy. Even in his 'good periods' he is far too liable to being beaten by long shots to his corners and he is additionally poor in his ability to stop one on one's and deal with aerial balls if you take away his performances in La Liga were such things aren't played so much. Sure he is good at 'springing up' - so he can do multi-save in the box - but that comes with most small GK's as there isn't so much of them to have to pick up. Kepa has been a bust since the day we brought him. The fact that people think he can become a GK that even teams in the 10-15 range in the PL think they can get by with is frankly laughable.

Looks like my initial observations were right. I wasn't overly sold on him from what I actually saw but admitted it was limited. Just glad we got to move him on without too much of a hit to the bank account.

I think we'll be able to work something. People have to remember this clown left Inter the first time as he had done two years in Italy and didn't want to pay the higher tax rate. I absolutely want to get rid of him, as I even went absolutely mental when he was linked/signed in 2021. However, we shouldn't be idiotic and give him away. The guy, if pressed, I reckon will go to Saudi for the dollars if there money is there; which it most likely will be owing to the zero income tax rate.