Ozan Kabak

[Mark79]

What makes you think he would be ahead of Phillips or Williams? I dont think Kabak is better than either, and the clincher is they wont cost us additional money to sign and they are both homegrown.

Bottom line is I dont think Kabak is actually that good, and even at that price does not represent value. There is no way he would get a game over Phillips, and that put him 6th choice at best. Williams had a very solid run in and would be unlucky if not chosen ahead of Kabak. So maybe 7th choice. Not sure any player would willingly move somewhere knowing those odds.

As I’ve already said, your assessment of Kabak as 6th/7th choice assumes everyone else is fit, not to mention puts him behind 2 players that he’s clearly better than. He’s simply better all around than Nat and there’s no chance Williams would be ahead of him.

He’d be 3rd/4th. And £8m is a steal and we’d make that back 2 or 3 times even if he remained a back up for us.

[Kenneth]

Sure, but Klopp couldn’t have had better visibility of the player, and he also knows he’s cheap, and even then he doesn’t want him. It’s clearly not a money issue, so it’s a player issue. Let’s go with that judgement.

[Exiled_red]

At £8m or whatever he'd be good value, if we were looking to sell Phillips we'd probably be expecting to get more than that. In terms of where he fits in in the current pecking order when everyone is fit I'd say he's behind VVD, Konate, Gomez and Matip when fit. Probably on par with Phillips but which one you would pick probably depends on the opposition. He'd be ahead of Rhys Williams and Davies though. Not sure Klopp rates him though to be honest...

The obvious thing counting against him as well as 5th spot in the pecking order is the lack of squad places for non-homegrown players. For me another CB is probably 3rd or 4th on the list of priorities and we are only likely to 3 spots if we move on all three of Shaq, Origi and Minamino, or we surprisingly get rid of someone else.

The other thing is we probably don't have a 'spare' £8m knocking around and if we do I'd prefer to use it to ensure we get our main targets.

[Rigadon]

Robertson doesn't count as homegrown as his development prior to age of 21 was in Scotland which is a seperate FA

Edit: Robertson spent a year at Hull at age 21 but you need 3 years before the end of the season in which you turn 21 to qualify as homegrown, he only has 1 which is why he doesn't count.

I had no idea

[Mark79]

Sure, but Klopp couldn’t have had better visibility of the player, and he also knows he’s cheap, and even then he doesn’t want him. It’s clearly not a money issue, so it’s a player issue. Let’s go with that judgement.

Sorry, how is it clearly not a money issue?

Everything we’re hearing is we need to sell to reinvest.

How do we know that Klopp wouldn’t gladly have him but funds are too tight and he has to prioritise other positions?

[Charly]

He did not exactly set the field on fire with his performances. He was on the end of a few hidings before he joined us. Perhaps he is just not that good?

[Fivex]

Sorry, how is it clearly not a money issue?

Everything we’re hearing is we need to sell to reinvest.

How do we know that Klopp wouldn’t gladly have him but funds are too tight and he has to prioritise other positions?

We don't, but it's definitely you jumping to the conclusion that he does want him & lack of funds is the issue.

No need to buy a new TV in the black friday sale just because it's at a 40% discount when you don't actually need one.

[Mark79]

He did not exactly set the field on fire with his performances. He was on the end of a few hidings before he joined us. Perhaps he is just not that good?

Disagree, he performances were solid and he improved.

You’re holding him responsible for Schalke as a team?

[Mark79]

We don't, but it's definitely you jumping to the conclusion that he does want him & lack of funds is the issue.

No need to buy a new TV in the black friday sale just because it's at a 40% discount when you don't actually need one.

Perhaps he doesn’t, but I don’t think it’s a wild assumption that we’re having to cut our cloth.

I don’t think your tv analogy fits at all. We have a lot of recurring injuries among our senior defenders. Here’s a safety net at bargain price who we can sell on a profit if we don’t eventually need him.

[Doc_Piptorious]

He did not exactly set the field on fire with his performances. He was on the end of a few hidings before he joined us. Perhaps he is just not that good?

You talking about Philips again?


He's a bum!!!!

[frank the tank]

Sorry, how is it clearly not a money issue?

Everything we’re hearing is we need to sell to reinvest.

How do we know that Klopp wouldn’t gladly have him but funds are too tight and he has to prioritise other positions?

It might be a "we don't have enough space in the squad for other non-homegrown players" issue from our side.

It might be a "I won't play every week" from Ozan Kabaks point of view.

[Scratch]

I just think we have decided we don't need 5CBs, and we have Virg, Joel, Joe and Ibu as our 4 CBs, so the money, be it 8mil or 80mil, is better spent on a midfielder or forward, should one be available.

It assumes that our 3 invalids will recover fully and play their fair share of games, but pre--season will probably give us a better idea of where they are at and how their joints hold up under intense training.

[Doc_Piptorious]

For me it boils down to whether or not Philips is sold.

We sell him for 15m to 20m, then getting in Kabak for 8m as the new 5th choice CB is a no brainer (assuming Kabak is happy with having to be down the pecking order).

Philips does not get sold, then Philips is the 5th choice and whatever funds we have or raise go towards a midfielder and attacker.

[Mark79]

For me it boils down to whether or not Philips is sold.

We sell him for 15m to 20m, then getting in Kabak for 8m as the new 5th choice CB is a no brainer (assuming Kabak is happy with having to be down the pecking order).

Philips does not get sold, then Philips is the 5th choice and whatever funds we have or raise go towards a midfielder and attacker.

That seems a fair take.

Though I’m not sure Kabak would as low as 5th choice, unless Gomez turns out to be extremely fortunate with his recovery and Matip can remain fit.

[Buzzo]

This thread needs punting towards general football.