20 Jun 2026 15:01:56
Liverpool are apparently in talks with Rayo Vallecano over their Romanian RB, Andrei Ratiu.
He turned 28 years old today, and has a release clause of €25m. Barcelona are also interested apparently.
Looked him up and he is extremely quick. Makes fast wingers look like they're running in treacle. Never seen him play before though as I hate La Liga football.
20 Jun 2026 16:23:33
These are the type of signings we need. Left field ones that go under the rader. Not spending mega millions.
20 Jun 2026 16:25:51
Looks alright as a 'stocking filler'. Be good for the money spent, but nothing to write home about in my opinion.
20 Jun 2026 17:57:25
Mk, what's your opinion of these signings, like Munoz and this reported interest in this right back.
Seems like a risk to me, like Brendan Rodgers signing Welsh Xavi, etc.
Or they could be hidden gems.
Dnt know whether Hughes already had plans for them, or are they Iraola recommendations.
20 Jun 2026 18:00:20
He plays on the right side, though, Dilly....
20 Jun 2026 18:11:55
Nabeel, in my opinion these are the kind of signings we need. In the respect that if we sign a player like Munoz or Ratiu, it is because the scouts have seen something in them that made them stand out enough to believe that in the right environment and coaching set up, they can be top tier.
Any big club can look at a player like Isak or Wirtz and go sign them for £100m+.
Pulling a gem out of nowhere is what will get us back to the top because if we're just going to sign the best players for huge money, there are other clubs with more money than us who can just spend more. What can set us apart is if we sign the gems that go under the radar normally until they're 24/25 and then someone buys them from Brighton or Leipzig for £100m!
20 Jun 2026 19:07:09
Just seen on X that Muniz was the 3rd quickest player in La Laga. The quickest was Ratiu. Iraola is definitely wanting to inject some pace into the squad.
20 Jun 2026 14:02:03
Not LFC related but Bowen is in talks with Bournemouth.
20 Jun 2026 14:16:47
Rayan to Liverpool confirmed then. Cheers, mate!
20 Jun 2026 15:43:36
Rayan-field for me also, 20 on the 03 August 2026 natural left footer, six foot two inches tall, physically built like a monster, Premier League proven 5 goals and 2 assists in 15 PL games (Wirtz got 5 goals and 3 assists in 31 PL games last season).
Ye won't get in an Ancelotti World Cup/Iraola Squad if you can't play elite football at the highest level, has the world at his feet and the prime years of his career to come also.
Concerning Ancelotti, a foreign coach has never won the World Cup? In every WC tournament since its inception in 1930, the head coach/manager has always had the same nationality as the team that won the World Cup Final.
Del Bosque, one of Andoni's mentors, is the only manager/coach to ever win the World Cup, European Championships, European Cup and Intercontinental Cup.
VVD versus Isak tonight 18:00 BBC One.
20 Jun 2026 09:19:09
Morning,
Not itk.
However, putting 2+2 together from some reporters, I think the plan is for Diomande & Barcola with Gakpo leaving this summer.
Romano keeps alluding to the fact that we are chasing Barcola still, however it’s said as a separate note to Diomande. Combining this with Ben Jacobs/Alex Crook who are Hughes’ mates saying that we aren’t shopping Gakpo but ‘would sell for the right deal’ is very Diaz from last year.
Definitely not one that would be done before PSG sign a replacement and could be completely wrong. Just think there is more to what is being said.
20 Jun 2026 10:25:45
Sorry, mate, I don't see both. We want Diomande for the right wing, with Frimpong as cover, and even Harvey Elliott. Left wing would be Munoz (who can also play right) and Rio. Also, Wirtz, Isak and Ekitike can play on the left.
20 Jun 2026 11:03:35
If we Diomande follows Munoz, and Gakpo does go, I would be surprised if it is Barcola we go for, but rather someone who can play centrally. Someone who can play a false9 would be a nice touch to our front line options.
Who is the next Bobby Firmino in world football?
20 Jun 2026 11:10:30
Darwin on a free solves the centre forward crisis.
Isak as back up to Darwin makes sense.
20 Jun 2026 11:14:01
I don't see why it's not feasible. Diomande replaces Salah, Munoz replaces Chiesa, Barcola replaces Gakpo.
LW - Barcola, Ngumoha
St - Isak, Ekitike
RW - Diomande, Munoz.
20 Jun 2026 11:29:14
JK, you know that ain't gonna happen. If, and it's a big if, Isak stays fit, then he will likely be a starter. Maybe the other way round, I quite like the idea of DN coming back, especially on a free, gives options from the bench.
20 Jun 2026 12:07:09
I think signing 3 wingers in front of Rio would be a problem we don't need to be creating. Rio should be getting about 15-20 starts next season. Having Barcola, Diomande and Munoz ahead of him would block that.
A creative central solution to cover while Hugo recovers would make a lot more sense if Gakpo is sold. If Gakpo stays, then he can be that guy.
20 Jun 2026 12:15:15
Darwin does not solve the CF issue since he misses 9/10 chances.
There are better, leftfield options out there.
20 Jun 2026 12:31:46
I think it would be interesting to see Darwin in a false 9 role. His link up play is better than his finishing. He can be quite useful when dropping deep.
20 Jun 2026 12:32:35
Bazzinga, There's no chance we went from pursuing Barcola to settling for Munoz inside 4 days of the window opening; the levels are miles apart. Munoz is not being brought in as a starter.
20 Jun 2026 12:55:25
How about Lewandowski to cover? He's on a free too.
20 Jun 2026 12:57:01
I also think Munoz will be used just like Jota was, as he too can play multiple positions.
20 Jun 2026 13:00:23
Barcola is the backstop for Diomande. Given that PSG are the only real competition for the Diomande signing, the Barcola backstop is elegant.
I would be gobsmacked if we are looking to sign both after signing Munoz. And yes, I was gobsmacked we signed Isak and Ekitike last summer.
Don't forget that the Rio contract negotiations are due. Signing three wingers would make that very difficult.
20 Jun 2026 13:04:27
I'd probably make Darwin captain and put him on penalties, free kicks, throw-ins, goal kicks, and team talks.
20 Jun 2026 13:32:13
Nunez for player manager!
20 Jun 2026 13:34:12
FlyPelicanFly, I don't see an issue. Bringing in 3 gives us 4 wingers (I expect Gakpo to either cover Ekitike or move on), 2 each side, meaning there's just 1 senior player ahead of Rio. Also necessary for playing Iraola's style if we want to be challenging on all fronts. We were extraordinarily lucky that Mo was as good, fit and resilient as he was; that's not going to happen again. We need 4 wingers.
As much as I like the kid, Rio is not remotely ready to shoulder the responsibility of being a full-time starter; there's massive holes in his game still. No doubt we need a senior player ahead of him to allow him the time he needs to grow, and also somebody to learn from.
Diomande predominantly plays RW, Barcola LW. I don't see Barcola as a backstop, but as a possible replacement for Gakpo.
20 Jun 2026 13:50:09
Chewy, don't underestimate the playing expectations of the elite kids. Whether we think it is right or wrong, it is a reality.
Rio and his reps will be expecting him to start between 15-20 games next season, and that is not likely with 3 other first choice wingers to compete with.
Add to that the contract renegotiation, and it would be effectively a signal for him to seek first team opportunities elsewhere.
20 Jun 2026 14:15:45
Fly, You're phrasing and acting like there are 4 wingers fighting for 1 position, that's simply not the case. We will need 4 wingers, 2 each side, to play Iraola's style whilst challenging on all fronts, we know that, it's inarguable. It doesn't matter what Rio's team expects, the kid can't play beyond his capabilities. While he's a promising young talent, he's not a full-time starter, again, that's a pretty widely agreed-upon fact. 15 or so starts, as you suggested, in a 50+ game season is completely reasonable and wouldn't be affected by having 4 wingers, they're not all challenging for one position.
Iraola is not going to play one of them on both sides, ahead of Rio at every opportunity, which, even though you don't realise it, is what you're inadvertently suggesting. Think about it.
Munoz is clearly not first choice, he's had 1 season in La Liga with a club that barely escaped relegation, and he didn't even break double figures for G/A. Just 8. There's absolutely no chance we're bringing in a player like that to play first fiddle.
20 Jun 2026 14:23:42
I'm loving it, @JK 😀 Surely we put him on a two-year contract, let it run down, and then he can be off to RM?
20 Jun 2026 14:26:23
I'm with Chewy here. Rio would get a good amount of starts even with 4 wingers, and that's without unforeseen injuries. If Gakpo goes, I'd be worried if we only had 3 wingers, especially as one of the wingers will probably be deputising as striker while Ekitike is out. With the potential of around 60 games this season, we need more than 3.
20 Jun 2026 15:03:28
Stop with Nunez back stuff. He bombed in the Saudi league for God's sake. Let's see what Adoni wants, and it's been debunked that we enquired anyway.
20 Jun 2026 15:23:36
It's hard to read in the comments, but it's all sarcasm, Fatwallet.
20 Jun 2026 15:33:39
Maybe Munoz, being able to play across the front three, is the Isak backup/Ekitike part season replacement, then he'll move out wide left and replace Gakpo as the rotational competition for Rio from next summer.
20 Jun 2026 15:40:34
Lofty1979, no chance.
20 Jun 2026 17:01:28
Darwin Nunez. That is all.
20 Jun 2026 08:53:31
I would say that any four of the following based on specific needs would constitute a good window.
Diamonde (a matter of time I think)
Sadiki
Kone
Scott
Palestra
Kayode
Ordonez
Barcola
Gertruida
Ayari
This is also based on Allisson and VVD staying for one more season.
20 Jun 2026 09:18:36
Hasn't Kone just broken his leg! Unless that's a different player.
20 Jun 2026 10:28:19
Long thing, different Kone. The one mentioned by Hughes is the France Kone.
20 Jun 2026 11:21:22
Thanks for clarifying, KP. Manu Kone indeed.
I actually think we need more than four to improve the squad overall and add depth, but I feel FSG won't commit to more than four.
I personally think now is the time for major change, out with the old, in with the new !!!
20 Jun 2026 14:34:06
Marmadashvili
Frimpong
Jacquet
Leoni
Kerkez
??
??
Ekitike
Wirtz
Munoz
Isak
All 9 signed post Jurgen. You could add Chiesa too.
I think the 'in with the new is actually well underway.
20 Jun 2026 07:41:04
Hi eds1
Do you know if we have got any back room staff that Iraola wants in yet.?
{Ed001's Note - I don't, sorry. I do expect some of them to be announced in the next week, they want it pretty much done ahead of pre-season.}
20 Jun 2026 08:08:59
I thought we bought in a couple of guys from his team and rumours of Thiago also joining the coaching team.
My concern is around guys whose job is to keep players fit, physio and all. We need to get practical guys and get rid of the harpoon that sits there right now.
20 Jun 2026 08:27:29
They announced the departures of staff the other week which included Ruben Peetera, the "de-conditioning" coach... We will be alright.
20 Jun 2026 08:45:24
Thiago, Tommy Elphick and De Torre all joining prior to pre-season, some from next week, I believe.
Thiago was the guy Carra said he's excited about, I think.
20 Jun 2026 08:50:54
Would be great if Milner is involved somewhere.
20 Jun 2026 10:17:58
Lol, Man of Todd!!..de-conditioning coach!!! 🤣 💥 🫵
20 Jun 2026 10:23:38
It would, Taurus, if Milly fits the bill and if Iraola wants him. A fantastic player and individual, but I have zero idea in what he would bring to the backroom coaching staff.
Can he coach is the first question, how good is he would be the second, would he fit in Iraola's plan is the last. Perhaps. Perhaps not. It'd be magnificent if so, but sentiment can blur reality.
20 Jun 2026 11:01:27
Guess it depends on the position Shankly and what he wants. Maybe some role with the youth for now. Kind of like how Stevie got involved a few years back.
I just think it's good to have these people in our setup who really understand what it means to be Liverpool.
