Welcome to LFC Ibrahima Konate

[The_weatherman]

Sell him or bench him, WC coming up.

[The_weatherman]

I think we need to get more ruthless, otherwise we just get eaten.

[Sus]

The World Cup's a good point, and great leverage for us (and other clubs)

[Charly]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Konate is sold in the summer. I don’t think we will match his contract demands…

Thing is, they have to want to leave. Then someone has to be ready to offer a fair price. If we "force" him out we have to pay up his contract. The likes of PSG Real and Barca are the only real "steps up" with teams of stars.

Unless of course he does want out this summer, but then if there is one year left then he can just wind it down and spend a year playing for the champions.

I agree this is becoming a problem, but unless we massively overpay wages, we just have to grin and bear it with some players, and recognise that with generational talent like Alisson, Salah and VVD, its worth breaking the bank. Personally I dont think Konate is in that category, but at the same time top centrebacks are hard to come by.

The more annoying thing is we dont tend to take advantage of it more ourselves

[Angryred]

Thing is, they have to want to leave. Then someone has to be ready to offer a fair price. If we "force" him out we have to pay up his contract. The likes of PSG Real and Barca are the only real "steps up" with teams of stars.

Unless of course he does want out this summer, but then if there is one year left then he can just wind it down and spend a year playing for the champions.

I agree this is becoming a problem, but unless we massively overpay wages, we just have to grin and bear it with some players, and recognise that with generational talent like Alisson, Salah and VVD, its worth breaking the bank. Personally I dont think Konate is in that category, but at the same time top centrebacks are hard to come by.

The more annoying thing is we dont tend to take advantage of it more ourselves

It's a pauper's market out there at the moment when it comes to Free signings this summer except for TAA... the only decent ones I can see at the moment that we would be willing to look at are Jonathan David & Jonathan Tah.

Kevin DeBruyne & Leroy Sane on a maybe list. I see Messi is available too... not likely while Robertson is still at the club.

[Doc_Piptorious]

[/B]

It's a pauper's market out there at the moment when it comes to Free signings this summer except for TAA... the only decent ones I can see at the moment that we would be willing to look at are Jonathan David & Jonathan Tah.

Kevin DeBruyne & Leroy Sane on a maybe list. I see Messi is available too... not likely while Robertson is still at the club.

A more than useful pair imo.

The latter would make for a nice stop gap signing on a 2 or 3 year contract.

The former looks a very interesting prospect for a bigger team than he is currently at.


Still think that guys like Cherki or Stiller would represent good value too.

[Angryred]

A more than useful pair imo.

The latter would make for a nice stop gap signing on a 2 or 3 year contract.

The former looks a very interesting prospect for a bigger team than he is currently at.


Still think that guys like Cherki or Stiller would represent good value too.

Yes, very much so... will set us up nicely for the next few years! However, David is pining for Barcelona!

[Sus]

A more than useful pair imo.

The latter would make for a nice stop gap signing on a 2 or 3 year contract.

The former looks a very interesting prospect for a bigger team than he is currently at.


Still think that guys like Cherki or Stiller would represent good value too.

I think Tah would be a great addition for us - my only question is his mobility in a high defensive line, as I haven't seen enough of him recently.

But in terms of technical skill, 1-1 defensive duels and mindset, he would be an excellent addition for us for a few years

[Doc_Piptorious]

I think Tah would be a great addition for us - my only question is his mobility in a high defensive line, as I haven't seen enough of him recently.

But in terms of technical skill, 1-1 defensive duels and mindset, he would be an excellent addition for us for a few years

If you mean his recovery pace, then no worries there imo. He is closer to Konate in terms of sprint speed than VVD. He has been listed in the top 5 CBs in the bundesliga for top sprint speed the past three years according to google.



Edit: Just googled his speeds and he seems to register sprint speeds of between 34 and just under 36km/h each season.


VVD's fastest recorded sprint speed with us is apparantly 34.9 km/h. So pace would not be an issue with Tah.

[DerKrampus]

[/B]

It's a pauper's market out there at the moment when it comes to Free signings this summer except for TAA... the only decent ones I can see at the moment that we would be willing to look at are Jonathan David & Jonathan Tah.

Kevin DeBruyne & Leroy Sane on a maybe list. I see Messi is available too... not likely while Robertson is still at the club.

Tah is likely going to Bayern along with Wirtz.

Wirtz would be ****ing amazing in our first team.

[peterbread]

A more than useful pair imo.

The latter would make for a nice stop gap signing on a 2 or 3 year contract.

The former looks a very interesting prospect for a bigger team than he is currently at.


Still think that guys like Cherki or Stiller would represent good value too.

Isn’t that Cherki guy available for only 20-25 million or something? Don’t know much about out him to be honest. I’ve heard about his attacking play but what about the work rate and all that other stuff you need.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Isn’t that Cherki guy available for only 20-25 million or something? Don’t know much about out him to be honest. I’ve heard about his attacking play but what about the work rate and all that other stuff you need.

Yeah he is meant to be available for a lower fee as Lyon have ongoing financial issues.

Cherki is still young, slightly younger than our own Elliot, but he looks to have something special about him in terms of being able to pick defences and create chances.

Seems to do well against teams that sit deep or those that play a higher line.

Unsure about his workrate defensively, but attack wise from the few games I have seen him in on tv this year, he certainly seems to do the leg work in attacking terms.

What I like about him is is that his end product does not drop off when he plays outside of the French league in the Europa League.


Jonathan David is a bit similar that way too in that his end product effectiveness did not seem to drop off against better teams in the Champions League. In fact with David it seemed that even though he got less chances in the CL, his goals per minutes played actually improved a bit.

[Sus]

If you mean his recovery pace, then no worries there imo. He is closer to Konate in terms of sprint speed than VVD. He has been listed in the top 5 CBs in the bundesliga for top sprint speed the past three years according to google.



Edit: Just googled his speeds and he seems to register sprint speeds of between 34 and just under 36km/h each season.


VVD's fastest recorded sprint speed with us is apparantly 34.9 km/h. So pace would not be an issue with Tah.

Ah that’s super interesting actually - thanks for sharing

Looks a moot point though, I guess, with a bit of noise about Tah negotiations with Bayern

[Exiled_red]

Suggestions on social media that the club don't think Konate will sign a new contract and are seeing parallels with Trent...

[peterbread]

If it’s true and he says I wont be sold now and I’ll wait till next season and leave on free would you risk the money on wages and tell him fine but you won’t play another game for Liverpool.

I wonder how the club will handle it now. With Klopp you feel he would have kept him and played him and isn’t this one of the areas Klopp and Edwards disagreed on?

I would be difficult as you’d need to get in a replacement now as well.