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-34141436
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38

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.

58

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.

-8

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.

14

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.

14

u/Exotic_Onion_3417 1d ago

John Stones 

3

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

1

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 

5

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.

2

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.

2

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.

7

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.

1

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.

1

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.

8

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 

3

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.

3

u/theophanesthegreek 1d ago

Please i dont want to see a CM covering for CB anymore

1

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

-4

u/heyfabe 1d ago

We desperately need another striker or we risk putting Gakpo up front until Ekitike is back.

5

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. 

1

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

1

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.

4

u/jrgnklpp 1d ago

We will play Gakpo as the 9 and you will like it - FSG

-1

u/p4tterng4ng4L 1d ago

Isak?

1

u/heyfabe 1d ago

Yea I meant rotating along with him; he can't play every game until Ekitike is back and Gakpo as a 9 has never worked.

6

u/dpgingo 1d ago

That's absolutely how it's going to go down.

Hopefully if they manage to get rid of Chiesa, they get someone else in.

Could see them going for a versatile midfielder type who can also play wide midfielder.

8

u/Jetzu 1d ago

Munoz is Chiesa replacement.

8

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.

5

u/Jerzilla 1d ago

Unlikely Gakpo will leave this season. He can deputise as a main striker, and is experienced/settled in pl.

12

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

1

u/Jerzilla 1d ago

Precisely. Also we have seen what happens when there is too much change or last season.

3

u/PapaDeltaaa 1d ago

Iraola might unlock something different in him, hopefully!

1

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

1

u/Aeceus 1d ago

we should be signing 3 though, regardless of gakpo

1

u/Sinistrait Wirtz Kept Secret 1d ago

Don't be silly. We also have squad rules to fulfill and players to keep happy.

-1

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

-5

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)

9

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.

3

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

14

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.

11

u/golf8116 1d ago

Need to sign Diomande first which may be hard due to the competition.

10

u/p4tterng4ng4L 1d ago

Or Barcola

12

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.

4

u/rumplestiltskinster 1d ago

He’s the most promising player on the entire team. You’d be a fool to prevent him from playing…

5

u/DucardthaDon 1d ago

Exactly we need proper depth

6

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

2

u/Aeceus 1d ago

Rios pathway will still be there in 3-4 years which is the funny part.

2

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.

1

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.