Jordan Henderson

[Phoenix07]

Like I say that's likely an £80m+ net spend (taking a Fabinho fee into account) for those 2. If Henderson goes too we might need a 3rd midfielder who would cost probably at least £10-20m more than we get for him. I would be surprised if we spend another £100m on top of what we get for Henderson and Fabinho. In this scenario not getting Lavia (or signing him as the starter in that role) seems the most likely outcome to me...

I don't think we'll be going for big names, although I'm prepared to be surprised, but more along the lines of Thuram, Kone, Gravenberch (not necessarily them, but of that ilk).

The money's already set aside for a third midfielder (Lavia), but Southampton need to reduce their asking price.

I don't think we'll replace both Henderson and Fabinho. I think their transfer fees plus wages go towards one player who is primarily a 6, but can move into an 8. I don't know who it'll be, but

MacAllister, Szoboszlai, NEW MID, Jones, Elliott, NEW MID, and Bajcetic is what I'd be expecting. Maybe chuck in Thiago there, as even though he's linked with moves, I think he might stay now.

It's a massive risk to go with what I'm saying, but it'd be affordable. It may not be to everyone's taste though. I can imagine a lot of angry fans if we signed Gravenberch and Lavia after all this for, example.

[fidget]

Just heard from a very connected person that Henderson has gone if they'll pay the fee being asked.
Fabinho possibly £40m

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/sammcguire90/status/1679581434657292291"]https://twitter.com/sammcguire90/status/1679581434657292291[/ame]

[Norbs]

That's my exact point; rationalisation from his adherents, justifying how their multi-millionaire hero of superior moral virtue and probity should be commended while shacking up in a country, and with a regime, that is diametrically opposed to the social values said hero has proclaimed, all for an even bigger pile of cash. Also, note how his contribution to the past success of the Club will be wildly exaggerated, implicitly diminishing the contribution of other team members.

But, more seriously, let's not ****ing jinx it.

He definitely ****ed your sister

[labourRed]

Just heard from a very connected person that Henderson has gone if they'll pay the fee being asked.
Fabinho possibly £40m

Literally everyone is saying that. I don't think we'll pay hardball over the Henderson fee 10—20m would get it over the line. It's worth asking the question of the cash rich.

[Slinky Skills]

[ame]https://twitter.com/SamMcGuire90/status/1679426804761649153[/ame]

[baitman]

If fabingo goes and we bring in a new dm then we are spunking £30M+ so whoever it is will be going into the starting eleven.

[Exiled_red]

I don't think we'll be going for big names, although I'm prepared to be surprised, but more along the lines of Thuram, Kone, Gravenberch (not necessarily them, but of that ilk).

The money's already set aside for a third midfielder (Lavia), but Southampton need to reduce their asking price.

I don't think we'll replace both Henderson and Fabinho. I think their transfer fees plus wages go towards one player who is primarily a 6, but can move into an 8. I don't know who it'll be, but

MacAllister, Szoboszlai, NEW MID, Jones, Elliott, NEW MID, and Bajcetic is what I'd be expecting. Maybe chuck in Thiago there, as even though he's linked with moves, I think he might stay now.

It's a massive risk to go with what I'm saying, but it'd be affordable. It may not be to everyone's taste though. I can imagine a lot of angry fans if we signed Gravenberch and Lavia after all this for, example.

From what I have read City have a 20% sell on and a buy back for £40m active in a year on Lavia, if true a £50m asking price gets Southampton the £40m that they could get from City in a year so I suspect that they won't go much below that.

Assuming we go into the season with MacAllister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Elliott, and Bajcetic, possibly Thiago, Levia and one other we are probably looking at 2 from MacAllister, Szoboszlai and Thiago, with Jones and Elliott as backups for the two number 8 roles. Lavia IMO isn't ready to be a regular starter and Bajcetic is just a youngster, the additional midfielder needs to be a first choice DM then things look OK when everyone is fit and assuming the new signings work out. If one of McAllister or Szoboszlai doesn’t work out and Thiago is injured we are relying on one of Jones or Elliott stepping up to be a regular and the other still needing to play alot of football too. I think Jones has it in him but it's potentially alot of pressure on those two and there are alot of unknowns. If Thiago leaves the two signings have to work out and Jones and Elliott really have to step up

[BootRoom]

I think there could be something in this, as I don't see how this makes sense for the player (large amounts of cash aside - given his campaigning history etc) or the Saudi club, no disrespect to Henderson but he's not a player you would offer that kind of money to. They aren't PIF funded and are supposedly a midtable club, for all Henderson's qualities he doesn't seem like the player to turn their fortunes around especially when competing against PIF backed clubs.

Also the suggestion that they will pay £700k a week wages but want him for free or for ~£10m as seems to be suggested is a piss take, something doesn't add up here

A logical explanation (yes, I know wanting to sign "Capt Crooner" defies all logic, but hear me out here) could be that the reports of "700K per week" are seriously wide of the mark, and the main financial advantages are in regard to tax-free earnings, hence the Saudi's being reluctant to pay a transfer fee. The offer could simply be a net doubling of his money, plus an extra year compared to his current deal - under those circumstances a free/minimal fee seems entirely reasonable.

[labourRed]

From what I have read City have a 20% sell on and a buy back for £40m active in a year on Lavia, if true a £50m asking price gets Southampton the £40m that they could get from City in a year so I suspect that they won't go much below that.

Assuming we go into the season with MacAllister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Elliott, and Bajcetic, possibly Thiago, Levia and one other we are probably looking at 2 from MacAllister, Szoboszlai and Thiago, with Jones and Elliott as backups for the two number 8 roles. Lavia IMO isn't ready to be a regular starter and Bajcetic is just a youngster, the additional midfielder needs to be a first choice DM then things look OK when everyone is fit and assuming the new signings work out. If one of McAllister or Szoboszlai doesn’t work out and Thiago is injured we are relying on one of Jones or Elliott stepping up to be a regular and the other still needing to play alot of football too. I think Jones has it in him but it's potentially alot of pressure on those two and there are alot of unknowns. If Thiago leaves the two signings have to work out and Jones and Elliott really have to step up

I think McAllister and Szoboszlai are fairly proven, low risk signings. I'm just not sure Szoboszlai is suited to the midfield three. We'll find the answer soon enough.

Bajcetic is one I'm very excited about. He's has a fair amount of experience already and has a super high ceiling IMO. As you say he is young and should be managed as he grows.

[Mark79]

I'm not suggesting that we keep playing a midfield unit that doesn't work, clearly there have been issues with the midfield I have been saying that since Wijnaldum left if not before, Henderson clearly isn't a regular for the long term, but if him and Fabinho were here this season, I could see at least one of the starting in the midfield for at tlleast the first couple of months of the season, I don't think Klopp would want to chuck a new midfield unit in every game because you are more likely to get inconsistency, An experienced head such as Henderson or Milner would level that inconsistency out even if the peak level is lower, and that is typically how the squad evolves.

No matter how good the players we bring in are I would expect an up and down start to the season while the new players settle

I know. You’re saying that it’s necessary to have a midfield that have played together. Yet that’s what we had last season, and we didn’t hit the ground running then either.

One of Hendo or Fab starting with the new signings is still a new midfield that haven’t played together before.

That’s why I’m saying there’s a case for a reset with the midfield, rather than persevering with declining players. It’s likely going to be a transition season for us anyway.

[baitman]

The young and unproven Bajcetic xame in last year and was by far and away our best midfielder. He mastered the dm position, and when fabinho came back he moved into the rcm slot and looked like a veteran.
I'm more than happy to have him cover the dm position and if he plays alongside lavia in a deep two then we should be sound.

Don't forget, they won't have the tired legs of hendo and fabinho around them, so slob and maccy can help cover the ground.

[Exiled_red]

I think McAllister and Szoboszlai are fairly proven, low risk signings. I'm just not sure Szoboszlai is suited to the midfield three. We'll find the answer soon enough.

Bajcetic is one I'm very excited about. He's has a fair amount of experience already and has a super high ceiling IMO. As you say he is young and should be managed as he grows.

They are fairly proven elsewhere and as I say we obviously hope that they work out, but you could say Keita was fairly well proven when we signed him but transfers don't always work out, look at the number of big money flops, most were proven at some level otherwise they wouldn't have commanded those fees, there is risk with any signing, overhauling a whole area of the team compounds that risk.

[Exiled_red]

I know. You’re saying that it’s necessary to have a midfield that have played together. Yet that’s what we had last season, and we didn’t hit the ground running then either.

One of Hendo or Fab starting with the new signings is still a new midfield that haven’t played together before.

That’s why I’m saying there’s a case for a reset with the midfield, rather than persevering with declining players. It’s likely going to be a transition season for us anyway.

Obviously there were issues last season and have been for years and yes one new play does mean a new unit, but it's easier to transition one new player into a side than 3, particularly if they are all in the same area of the pitch this is because the existing player has relationships with the other players in the team I think people here under estimate the value of that type of experience, knowing the run Salah is about to make because you have played together for years, that could nick you a win. No matter how good the individual players we might bring in are I think there are big risks of bad or heavy defeats because the players don't know the system or each other well enough, I think with the number of changes we are making there is a danger we will see that in the first half of the season in particular.

[Exiled_red]

The young and unproven Bajcetic xame in last year and was by far and away our best midfielder. He mastered the dm position, and when fabinho came back he moved into the rcm slot and looked like a veteran.
I'm more than happy to have him cover the dm position and if he plays alongside lavia in a deep two then we should be sound.

Don't forget, they won't have the tired legs of hendo and fabinho around them, so slob and maccy can help cover the ground.

He has played about 10 games for us, I want to see young players to come through and do well, but IMO it's far too early to be relying on him as a regular member of the squad. I don't think Lavia would be ready to be a regular in the DM role in our side at the moment, no way would I want those two as our only DM options.