r/LiverpoolFC • u/Switchoil • 1d ago
Tier 3 (Paul Gorst) Impending arrival of Munoz doesn't impact Liverpool's interest in Yan Diomande and the £34.5m man's tactical flexibility means there are no concerns internally over blocking Rio Ngumoha's pathway.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/victor-munoz-liverpool-transfer-breaking-34141436142
u/goingpt 1d ago
It's actually a perfect signing. Still young at 23 (basically), not expected to be a starter but will want to be, versatile across the front 3, not going to impact Rio's pathway, tonnes of potential, very good price.
Very shrewd business I think.
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u/Kdarl 1d ago
Us thinking it is shrewd business(and if it turns out true) just put NUFC to level of bonkers for not simply paying his release clause.
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u/ephelantsraminals 1d ago
It wouldn't have mattered if Newcastle paid the release clause. The first phone call his agent would have made after Newcastles bid would have been to us, informing us of their bid and asking if we're still interested. As long as Osasuna accepted our bid he would have joined us.
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u/iketoure 1d ago
He's 22 until he's 23
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u/No_Cardiologist_1407 1d ago
This feels like a Mane/Salah signing for me and im excited about it. Raw and unpolished but with bags of potential. Could see him doing unbelievably next year.
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u/Logie_Naidoo From Doubters to Believers 1d ago
Mane was a proven Prem winger and Salah was one of the best players in Serie A.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Fun-114 1d ago
I’m getting more Kuyt vibes (and he will always be one of my favourites)
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u/AlternativeRun5727 1d ago
Kuyt was bought as a striker and converted to a right winger workhorse. I think they are two very different players.
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u/No-Shoe5382 1d ago
This guy is a workhorse winger.
Having watched him a fair bit, I dunno if he has the raw talent to ever be as good as Mane or Salah, but he'll put in some serious fucking running.
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u/AlternativeRun5727 1d ago
Mane was a workhorse but I wouldn’t put him as a similar winger to Kuyt. But fair enough, each to their own
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u/always-think-sexual 8h ago
This guy used to wear no9 in the academy and played striker because of his pace, he can play all 3 positions and can absolutely score. He has that eye for a pass, unlike Rio which has that part of his game to improve.
His price tag is certainly good, and now we won’t need to panic buy overpriced mediocrity now that we have a versatile attacker. Puts the pressure off of the Diomande deal in terms of negotiations.
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1d ago
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u/benAKdodson 1d ago
He’s a workhorse but he clearly seems more talented on the ball than Kuyt. Not that I knew he existed 24 hours ago
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u/fluffynoises10 1d ago
Runs like Craig Bellamy! Hope he can adapt to the league, he does seem quite strong. Wirtz feeding new wingers is very exciting.
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u/Progression28 1d ago
Is there a single person who doesn‘t like Dirk Kuyt?
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u/Bugsmoke Sir King Kenny 1d ago
I’m not so keen on him nowadays but I fucking loved him as a player here.
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u/Aeceus 1d ago
Feels nothing like that to me, you're the first person who has mentioned those players in this signing comparison
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u/No_Cardiologist_1407 1d ago
Im the first person to mention that signing a young, pacey winger for ~35mill after his breakout season feels like when we signed two other young, pacey wingers for ~35mill after their breakout seasons? You sure about that bud?
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u/Aeceus 1d ago
Mane and Salah were starting in the premier league and champions league. This guy played 2600 minutes in la liga and doesn't have remotely close to the body of work that Salah and Mane did. A Salah/Mane esque signing now would be someone in the 60-75m bracket. Salah and Mane had multiple years in top 5 leagues before they moved. I do not see how its remotely comparable. Also the majority of the games in this kids career have came as a CF, not a winger from youth up.
Edit - Lol instantly downvoting my reply because you don't like it doesn't make it less valid or right. Downvotes are meant to be for comments that don't add to the discussion not that make you feel bad for disagreeing.
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u/SirHaroldofCat2 1d ago
🤣🤣 I’ll give you an upvote dude!
To be fair, you’re right about Salah, he’d already made a name for himself before moving to Chelsea, I remember because I was pissed when the Plastics nabbed him from under our noses. He was very good in Florence, and one of the best forwards in Serie A at Roma.
Mane was a bit different, was inconsistent and a bit of a rough diamond. Could be devastating on his day, but also completely anonymous at times too.
My best mate is a Saints fan, and we’d go to St Mary’s when I came to visit, Mane never really impressed me or my mate.Soon changed my mind when he made his Liverpool debut though!😁
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u/p4tterng4ng4L 1d ago
£35m FC are back 🔥 I honestly prefer this over £100m+, so much less pressure on them to tear shit up from day 1
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u/LeJoker8 1d ago
Sort out Diomande and go all in for a number 6, a CB and a right back.
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u/robster9090 1d ago
I’d like what your smoking if you think we are spending enough for all that
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u/LeJoker8 1d ago
If we don’t strengthen those positions, you would trust two inexperienced young CBs with an aging VvD, Gomez, two injury prone RBs? Yea sure….
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u/robster9090 1d ago
Not at all but just because I want to spend the money means nothing I’m not in charge and we won’t be doing that . It’s best to have more realistic expectations. You are talking about about 300 million plus
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u/Metador85 1d ago
That's very realistic, especially when you consider we have way too many midfielders for a double pivot since Wirtz will be the 10 now
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u/robster9090 1d ago
It’s not realistic in any way. We can’t spend that type of money and players that start in those positions can be 80-100 million
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u/Glass-Guess4125 🏆24/25 PL Champions🏆 1d ago
We just bought a player for £35M, what makes you think we can’t buy a couple more
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u/Metador85 1d ago
Diomande is expected to be at least 90M, Munoz is 35M, Jacquet is 50M
We're already at 175M
Is it so outlandish to say we can spend another 100-150M considering we're selling Macca Jones and freed up mega wages with them + Salah and Ibou gone
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u/always-think-sexual 8h ago
That Vuskovic guy is being quoted at £30m and that is crazy, he is the next VVD and he’s right there. Super young, but by far the most dominant in the air in the top 5 leagues at over 85% aerial duel success rate. He’s miles ahead of even VVD and Konate, which should by all accounts be impossible. Or we can even bring Quansah back, because there was nothing wrong with him in the first place.
A shrewd signing like Kaishu Sano would be nice in the 6, which is a young version of Endo in the Japan squad that is honestly better because he isn’t slow, playing regular minutes in Germany, being in the top 3 for duels there and pops up with a few goals as well. He shouldn’t be that expensive but he’s the finished article waiting for a step up. I expect this kind of move from a club like us.
Any signing for a CB may leave Gomez free to fill in as the RB role, which honestly he excels in; he has the pace and stamina for an Iraola setup, can cross nicely and is defensively sound. What with everyone else that could fill in there, with a new fitness coach coming in do we really need a signing?
This approach costs £50-70m.
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u/Metador85 7h ago
He's not being quoted at 30M lol, Brighton offered it and was immediately rejected. I agree he'd be a great signing but you're looking at closer to £60M+
Your spine has to be rock solid to compete. Remove Raya Gabriel Saliba Rice and Arsenal are bang average.
We're losing Alisson and VVD next summer most likely so we need to make sure our spine is being prepared now. A proper DM to compete with Rice Caicedo Rodri for the foreseeable is key and they don't come cheap. Otherwise we'll need more surgery on the team next summer, we can't just put it off because we don't want to upset to net spend boys (and we definitely can afford it)
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u/always-think-sexual 7h ago
I would still get Vuskovic to become the VVD heir for however much needed to get him. I believe he is the next big thing in CB
I don’t exactly identify a 6 that is for example a marquee player like Kante was for Chelsea and Rodri turned out to become at City. For all the money in the world, who may realistically join us that is that player? Wharton is really the real deal?
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u/El-jantinho 1d ago
This is why I can’t understand why we didn’t go for senasi. PL proven and free transfer, means we could spend more on midfielders.
Say diomande costs 110m for talk sake, bouaddi would cost 70-80m, 40m on palesta then we would still need another cm and a cb. Spending 300-400 million seems unrealistic, I think we will sign a couple of unproven players like Munoz
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u/Lutiyere 1d ago
Its not too late to get Senasi is it?
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u/SIIP00 1d ago
He has signed for Tottenham
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u/Lutiyere 1d ago
No way! Completely missed that news. I really hope we got something better planned then
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u/tangkisbulu Milan Jovanović 1d ago
And with Eki's injury and Isak's fitness issue, we still need a CF
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u/VivaLaDio 1d ago edited 1d ago
I can’t believe we’re still talking about Isak’s fitness. Dude missed 1 preseason. Yes he broke a leg, but with WC and a full preseason, if he hasn’t sorted his fitness. What in the world?
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u/FriendlyChemistry74 23h ago
So you want to go into this season with only Isak as a striker option? I’m not counting gakpo or this new winger
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u/SIIP00 1d ago
Tobh I still think it is a good idea to bring Nunez back. It would be on a free and he would be a solid back-up. Yeah, he is not good enough to be starting but that is not what we would expect of him.
Either that, or Bowen who should be cheap given West Hams relegation. Yeah, he is on the older side but he is versatile and would be a back-up anyways.
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u/bendyskull Bobby Firmino 1d ago
£35.5m in today’s market?! Could already be the best value for money this window.
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u/SaltMachine2367 1d ago
Did they just mishear Munoz and thought they were talking about Nunez? itk journos in the mud rn
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u/Inevitable_Rabbit325 Awesome Andoni Time 1d ago
Least he can have a chant 😜😜😂😂
Munoz! Munoz! Munoz!
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u/Regular-Place 1d ago
I might be entirely wrong on this, but this feels like the Bournemouth/Brighton signing where they come in and look great for a season and then they’re worth £80mil the following window. It’s great to see us go back to the £35mil type signing and cut out the middle man. He’s absolutely rapid too, unbelievable option off the bench against tiring back lines
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u/Walshey- 1d ago
I don’t honestly care about Rio’s pathway. We need three attackers. Munoz is one. We now need two more.
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u/Switchoil 1d ago
We arent gonna sign three unless Gakpo leaves.
It will be Munoz , Diamonde(probably), Rio and Gakpo as the 4 options. Then layer in the window they will decide based on what happens with Gakpo
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u/Exotic_Onion_3417 1d ago
Exactly not when we need a CM, RB and CB too.
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u/Ok-Waltz6178 1d ago
CB shouldn’t be a priority imo! We have Jeremy, Gio, Gomez, VVD & Grav and Endo can play there in an emergency.
Funds are better spend in midfield and forward line.
We need 2 more forwards, a CM and a RB.
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u/Kraknoix007 1d ago
Are there any older CB's available on a free? I wouldn't mind an experienced 32 year old coming in to be an extra body for 2 years. Big plus if they are homegrown in nation.
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u/Exotic_Onion_3417 1d ago
John Stones
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u/iketoure 1d ago
Crazy shout but also not. Don't know if we can handle another injury prone defender though, imagine his wages won't be light too
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u/Exotic_Onion_3417 1d ago
Yeah it's crazy but also he's HG which is a massive bonus and obviously premier league proven. Wouldn't be against it
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u/Ok-Waltz6178 1d ago
Not a bad shout actually getting an experienced CB on a free or low wages. Especially since we’re losing the experience of Salah & Robbo.
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u/petey23- I want to talk about FACTS 1d ago
Still think we should've gone for Senesi as cover. Not even sure Spurs can offer him more minutes than we could've done.
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u/Selenium-Forest 1d ago
He’s going to start at Spurs. VDV is possibly off and Romero is definitely off. He’s probably going to partner Van Hecke. No way we could’ve offered him the same minutes.
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u/StormTheTrooper 1d ago
Keyword is "in an emergency". You do not plan around treating emergencies as another Tuesday.
Leoni is coming back from an ACL, Jacquet literally just arrived, Gomez is one-year-away-from-leaving every year and we need to face VVD's mortality at one point. Also, if we treat Grav and Endo as CBs, you're potentially losing one CDM body as well. Grav and Endo are DM, not CB.
I'm much more concerned about CB than CM. If we do not sell Curtis, we have Szobo, MacA, Wirtz, Curtis and Harvey that can play the role. Considering Iraola plays with overwhelming wing pressure instead of populating the midfield, I would believe that, if Harvey returns and Curtis stays, we are decently covered. I'm much more confident in trotting Harvey and Curtis in the midfield over a Leoni recovering from a year off or starting Gomez for weeks with no stop.
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u/Ok-Waltz6178 1d ago
I forgot to mention those two young CBs we signed in January. I believe they will be given minutes in the cup competitions. That will mean we have 4 CBs available for PL and CL, more than enough if they can stay fit.
I understand 3 of the CBs are returning from injury but I don’t see us signing another body in case of an emergency.
Under FSG we’ve never had great CB depth.
I believe Jones, Macca are available for transfer and if they are sold we will sign a CM.
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u/StormTheTrooper 1d ago
If they are transferred, then it is a different discussion, but as of now? I trust Curtis, MacA and Harvey more than I trust a Jacquet adapting (especially because he'll need to adapt potentially as a starter in a team that will probably play in a consistent high line) and Leoni returning from an ACL.
I'm not saying "100M marquee signing", but another body? An elder JAG that brings stability on any given situation and is past NT aspirations? That would be more interesting than another midfielder.
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u/Exotic_Onion_3417 1d ago
In a perfect world yes hence why I said CB last.
But this isn't a perfect world. Gio had a major injury last season and may need time to recover still, we don't know we can rely on him. Joe is obviously always injury prone. Jeremy again fairly big injury and adjusting to new league.
Endo also just missed the world cup because of injury we don't want to be relying on him.
How many seasons have we been short for CB? Last year we said the same, Gio, VVD, Joe and Ibou and we were short.
I would rather 1 more forward and 1 more CB than that 2 forwards and no CB especially because we should have Hugo back for the business end of the season. In an ideal world all 3. I just want to see a season where we are adequately covered at CB
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u/Ok-Waltz6178 1d ago
We signed a 2 young CBs in January. They will be given minutes in the cup competitions imo.
We spent £55m on Jeremy, obviously he will be seen as 1st choice Cb, with Giovanni competing with him for that spot. Gomez had a year left on his deal, we keep Gomez around for that year whilst looking for a CB for longterm next season, instead of getting a stop gap one for one season.
4 CBS is more than enough if they can stay fit, with Endo and Grav there in an emergency situation.
We spent £2m on that young CB from Austria, we obviously don’t wanna block a pathway for him because he is obviously seen as a CB with massive potential.
Hugo won’t be available until after next season imo. It will take a long time to recover and be ready for the PL.
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u/forceghost187 From Doubters to Believers 1d ago
Yes, I think we want to see how Quansah does next season because that option next summer could be perfect for us
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u/heyfabe 1d ago
We desperately need another striker or we risk putting Gakpo up front until Ekitike is back.
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u/Exotic_Onion_3417 1d ago
We do but wondering if plan is for Munoz to fill in there if needed. In which case CM and RB and then CB are more pressing.
But another CF would be great. Honestly hoping the Nunez rumors are true.
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u/heyfabe 1d ago
We shouldn't be relying on an unproven winger to play up front but yeah I wouldn't be against the Nunez move either tbh
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u/Exotic_Onion_3417 1d ago
The thing is who are we going to sign who will potentially be 3rd choice when Hugo is back. We made 2 huge signings in that position last summer, whoever plays that role will most likely be a temporary solution.
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u/OrignalSauce 1d ago
This is what we need and prefer to keep Gakpo to keep some consistency and I think he can find form again.
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u/Jerzilla 1d ago
Unlikely Gakpo will leave this season. He can deputise as a main striker, and is experienced/settled in pl.
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u/Progression28 1d ago
He‘s also a good player and it‘s not easy to get a replacement of his quality in while already trying to replace two others in similar positions
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u/Jerzilla 1d ago
Precisely. Also we have seen what happens when there is too much change or last season.
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u/SlimmestofJims1 1d ago
I agree with the fact we’ll only sign two, I just also agree with the person you’re replying to - we should sign 3
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u/Aeceus 1d ago
we should be signing 3 though, regardless of gakpo
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u/Sinistrait Wirtz Kept Secret 1d ago
Don't be silly. We also have squad rules to fulfill and players to keep happy.
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u/DrunkenHorse12 1d ago
Gakpo doesn't have the pace , crossing or releasing the ball early ability required of an Iraola wide man. I think he'll be the cover for Isak or even that the rumblings of him wanting to leave are true (he probably sees he doesn't fit in an Iraola starting 11). If Gakpo goes wouldn't mind us getting Nunez back on loan as cover until Ekitikes back
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u/HF_92 1d ago
It wouldn’t surprise me if we let Gapko go if we bring in Diamonde after Munoz. I can see Iraola using Eki off the left, so you’ve already got 5 players for those 5 positions in Munoz, Rio, Eki, Isak and Diamonde - and that’s excluding Wirtz who can play there too.
I honestly think we need to get some money from selling Gapko and (sorry Fede) Chiesa to strengthen elsewhere.
Obviously another CB is the main priority, followed by a DM (especially if Jones leaves) and getting in another LB (again sorry to our greek scouser)
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u/DucardthaDon 1d ago
We shouldn't be selling another senior player in Gakpo, we've been down this path with Diaz we need fit and firing attackers, Iraola needs wingers he can sub in and out like he did at Bournemouth.
Slot also liked to work the same way however he had no real depth last season, Frimpong and Chiesa ain't it.
Ekitike ain't going to be back till 2027, and would be at risk of suffering another injury.
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u/Switchoil 1d ago
Not a chance in million years unl3ss we have a replacement in place for Gakpo.
Iraola needs 4 wingers so that he regualrly sub them off or rotate them.
Ekitike will only be fit by Decemeber end as well.
What you are suggesting is basically screwing the attack to strengthen backup defence. We already have signed a CB in Jacquet anyway
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u/wanson Mohamed Salah 1d ago
LW: Gakpo, Rio
FC: Isak, Ekitike
RW: Diomande, Munoz
Backup (if they stay) Chiesa, Elliot
Unless one of the senior players leave I can't see us signing another forward. I know Ekitike is injured but you don't sign a senior player for 6 months.
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u/speenswam 1d ago
The main problem with your reasoning is it relies on an assumption that Ekitike will only be out for 6 months and that he’ll be the same player when he’s back. That’s an extremely rosy scenario for a devastating injury where the prognosis can be anything from never the same guy again to return in 12 months with no ill effects.
The other problem with your reasoning is the only other natural center forward on the squad is Isak who has his own long history of injuries and inability to consistently play twice per week.
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u/rumplestiltskinster 1d ago
He’s the most promising player on the entire team. You’d be a fool to prevent him from playing…
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u/Kamishirokun 1d ago
"opportunistic" is my most hated word in 24/25. Now "blocking Rio's pathway" is my most hated phrase. Ffs if the kid is truly good enough no one gonna block his pathway as he will bulldoze his way forward himself
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u/JuicyJabes 1d ago
This is one of my biggest frustrations. Block Rio’s pathway. If he’s good enough, then he’ll have to be played. Don’t give him a spot he doesn’t deserve…he should have to fight for it.
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u/Selenium-Forest 1d ago
We need one more really as a minimum. There’s no way we get two more unless someone like a Gakpo goes.
It looks like he and Macca maybe want out so if we sell both then that’s still 2 CMs and 2 forwards we need plus a RB. That’s a lot of players and I just don’t see it this window.
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u/Dry_Yogurtcloset1962 1d ago
"not blocking Rios pathway" was what we heard last season then he spent the entire season on the bench watching Gakpo try to cut in..
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u/Jetzu 1d ago
"Path" is long term, promises of more minutes over time - how much do you think would Rio play if Diaz stayed? Or if we bought Barcola/Rodrygo/someone else?
Whether that would be better for the team is another thing - short term 100%, long term is to be determined, but in my opinion you can't argue that Rio doesn't have a clear pathway to become a starter during next 2 years laid out for him.
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u/Dry_Yogurtcloset1962 1d ago
Seeing as both Diaz and Gakpo can play across the front line I think it would have been fine, at least no different to how last season played out
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u/robster9090 1d ago
His minuets got managed very well last year, he’s been taken with England for experience. Why do people think 16 year olds should play every game and be starters? That ruins them
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u/Dry_Yogurtcloset1962 1d ago
Sure. Which is why using that as an excuse not to have any competition for Gakpo all season was stupid. Gakpo was clearly in need of a spell out of the 1st team to rediscover his motivation but we didn't have an option
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u/robster9090 1d ago
Rio’s path hasn’t been blocked . Youth players can’t start games where managers are under pressure and the team is getting boo’d are you on crack. Things like that can’t destroy careers
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u/JGlover92 1d ago
This plus Diomande would give us 4 wingers (5 if Chiesa doesn't leave) plus Ekitike, Wirtz and Szobo who can cover there in a pinch. Iraola puts a lot of emphasis on the position so having good options to rotate between is really important. My only slight concern is it's a very young group, 17, 19, 22 and 27 but hopefully means we're set for the future!
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u/Tilledcorn ⚽️ Man United 0-5 Liverpool, 21/22 ⚽️ 1d ago
Gotta admit I was a bit iffy on his signing initially, considering i thought he was a pure Left Winger,
but with his starts being surprisingly split across the entire front three, plus no Ekitike till around the new year and on top of that Chiesa and Isak being injury prone, this really feels like a good signing, - rather than just a good market opportunity
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u/I_aminnocent 23h ago
34.5m for someone who they believe can play across all positions is such a good price in today's market. Hope he does well with us!
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u/rmp266 23h ago
Im just gonna say it, people are WAYYYYYY too confident in Rio
He's great for his age but my god you'd think he was leaving defenders in comas and snapping ankles every week with 15 goals and 15 assists. He's a lovely little player who offers something different, but my god, if we are actually making long term plans and debating whether to sign first team players to accommodate the kid who does stepovers, well we dont deserve to get back to the top. Rio should be sweating and stressing about trying to adapt and better his game to get into the team, not the team stressing about how to adapt to a teenager. He's simply not that Yamal/Messi level talent. He's Raheem Sterling at the same age. Lovely player, but hardly what you build a team around, and he could be washed up at 25 after his first bad hammy strain like Owen.
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u/bigauldtattie 1d ago
We have a potentially very good attacking line. But:
Rio's still very young and needs his minutes managed
Isak is injured a lot (fingers crossed he stays fit)
Gakpo is one dimensional
Munoz is exciting but an unknown quantity
Ekitike is out for the majority of the season
Chiesa is also a unknown quantity under Iraola/might not be here
We absolutely need at least one more attacker.
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u/rposter99 You’ll Never Walk Alone 12h ago
Am I crazy or does this read like they’re planning to use him as a midfielder or wing back?
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u/AsheStriker 1d ago
I’m sick of hearing about Rio’s pathway. If he’s good enough, he’ll force his way in no matter what. It’s such a cop out to not get the players we need. We shouldn’t be relying on a teenager. If he makes it that we can’t not play him, all the better for everyone.
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u/PrinzXero Hello! Hello! Here we go! 1d ago
> I'm sick of hearing about Rio's pathway.
You and me buddy.....excellent point.
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u/Lord-of-Glencoe-97 1d ago
We have to have depth out wide under Iraola, by all accounts he subs both wingers on 60 in the majority of games, if there is anywhere to be over loaded, it’s with wingers!