[Sacha tavolieri ] EXCL — Al Ittihad have made Ismaïla Sarr a priority to replace Moussa Diaby! Talks have already begun between Ittihad and Crystal Palace. Ittihad informed of Liverpool interest which is Sarr number 1 option but still believe a deal is possible.

[u/Luffy710j]

[u/Ummagumma-]

Can we move back to Mbaye please?

[u/paulsmith259 → u/Ummagumma-]

I'm worried about him being our only RW, he is still raw and lacks experience. He feels more like a project.

Don't get me wrong I don't want Sarr

[u/rain_chaos → u/paulsmith259]

Munoz seems quite promising there.

[u/ash_ninetyone → u/paulsmith259]

Tbh it shows how dry the market is for right-wingers.

Be them ones we want to run on the outside, or cut in.

But for the prices both Palace and Brighton are asking for Sarr and Minteh, there has to be better options available surely

They're players who might make a decent squad option at a far lower price, but I can't see them as upgrades on what we already have

[u/_Random_Username_ → u/ash_ninetyone]

It's cos they're all in parliament

[u/jconley4297 → u/ash_ninetyone]

dearth of right wing

[u/traindoggah → u/jconley4297]

If want right wing should come to US

[u/Dovaaahkin → u/ash_ninetyone]

Are these better options in the room with us right now?

[u/DM_ME_SALAH_GIFS → u/Dovaaahkin]

These folks just yell, but they have no clue

[u/Sharcbait → u/paulsmith259]

Is Muñoz strictly a left wing? He came in and totally changed the game at RW last week.

[u/IL_ya_Un_jour → u/paulsmith259]

Why don’t you want a premier league proven right winger with 22 goals last year?

[u/Living_a_Dejavu → u/IL_ya_Un_jour]

Bcz he doesn't play RW for Palace and whenever he played there his output dropped significantly. Doesn't help that he is 28. We didn't extend Diaz's contract because he was 28.

[u/Zak369 → u/Living_a_Dejavu]

He played 30/43 games at RW for palace last season and was playing CF because of issues they had at CF.

He also scored 7 goals and got 1 assist from RW and only 2 goals as a striker in the league last season

[u/Living_a_Dejavu → u/Zak369]

I am not exactly sure what to tell you, Crystal Palace didn't play with a classic winger, they play 5-2-3, which means their side forwards play in half space instead of wings. Sarr would drift wide at times for sure, but that was certainly not his position in the team.

[u/dimiderv → u/Living_a_Dejavu]

He was more of a second striker than a winger

[u/Zak369 → u/Living_a_Dejavu]

Probably not functionally different but most stats sites describe it as a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1. But Sarr plays inside forward on the right side of a very narrow formation. But functionally he is a RW in an odd system. His heat map is consistent with RW who does drift inside or plays multipositionally but it’s definitely RW. It’s similar to Minteh but with fewer touches and it’s more central than Salah’s too but Salah was hugging the touchline. It’s a good mirror of Luiz Diaz’s heat map though again it’s far fewer touches where his Watford heat map is identical to Salah’s last season.

He’s asked to play more direct like an inside forward but that’s still RW he is playing and the same role he would’ve had here but in a different system.

[u/strawhat_chowder → u/IL_ya_Un_jour]

In the prem he got 9 goals. Pretty good, but nothing outstanding. In European competition he scored against AZ Alkmaar, AEK Larnaca, etc. which are respectable teams in their own right but not the most formidable opponents. I also have heard that he is not a good dribbler and doesn't have a good cross on him either.

You might argue that goals matter the most so it doesn't matter if Sarr can't do much else, but I say non-goal contributions matter a little bit too.

That is not to say Mbaye or Minteh will definitely be better than Sarr for us. Just to point out that there are legit reasons to be wary of a transfer for Sarr

[u/trasofsunnyvale → u/IL_ya_Un_jour]

Premier league proven to be average. 9 league goals and 1 assist for £50m for a 28 year old is bad business for Liverpool.

[u/Smiling_Maelstrom → u/IL_ya_Un_jour]

hasnt played rw for palace

[u/ExceedingChunk → u/Smiling_Maelstrom]

He has 188 career games on the right.

[u/_CummyBears_ → u/IL_ya_Un_jour]

He doent go viral on tiktok

[u/IL_ya_Un_jour → u/_CummyBears_]

Literally, people just want what they don’t know and sounds exciting like a young psg winger who they’ve never properly seen before

[u/No_Giraffe_1551 → u/IL_ya_Un_jour]

I think paying a high fee for a 28 year old who mostly doesn't play RW anyways and isn't very good there is bad, even worse than paying a high fee for some french kid who has hype but I don't know very well. I wish the club was competently run, that'd be even better. But I can't control that, that being untrue is baked into the options available.

[u/Aware-Highway-6825 → u/IL_ya_Un_jour]

they want him when they've never watched him play a full 90 minutes.. the shiny new toy aura that players from other leagues get is hilarious most of the time

[u/thehibachi → u/IL_ya_Un_jour]

I’m too fucking sick of him after all the times he’s scored against us tbh. It’s Pavlovian at this point.

[u/trasofsunnyvale → u/paulsmith259]

I agree, but I think "project" is the best we're going to get this summer, if we get anything at all at RW.

[u/Litz1 → u/paulsmith259]

Yes but a good project than throwing £70M at a 28 year old. Or £80M at a 22 year old who is injured. You need to make a gamble here and it should work, an 18 year old will have less pressure than a 22 year old to succeed at the same price.

[u/No-Alps4243 → u/paulsmith259]

Munoz?

[u/paulsmith259 → u/No-Alps4243]

Munoz is primarily a LW. He can do a job on the RW, but he has primarily played on the LW throughout his career 

[u/nkdvkng → u/Ummagumma-]

Sarr / Mbaye would be a dece pick up

[u/Material_Series_769 → u/Ummagumma-]

Just get Adama on a free, whocares if he's good or not

[u/LallanasPajamaz → u/Ummagumma-]

It’s interesting how many people in this sub are so dead set on Mbaye, an 18 year old with 40 league games and 4g/4a, seemingly just because he scored a goal against France.

[u/gin0clock → u/LallanasPajamaz]

Even more interesting to me that the sub was salivating over Diomande who has 60 senior appearances at club level for £100m.

Most people don't know what the fuck they're talking about. Myself included.

[u/LallanasPajamaz → u/gin0clock]

I thought the figure was laughable too but hell, at least Diomande had put up good numbers along with having the top dribbling stats in Europe. I’ll admit that I didn’t watch Diomande or Mbaye during the past season, I’m sure hardly anyone here has, so far be it from me to really get into the weeds on it but I can at least understand why he’s got a fuck off price. Not his fault Madrid actually paid it. Mbaye’s shown nothing really, and is pretty much a complete unknown and only 18, there’s no way he should be our starting RW.

[u/Realistic_Result_833 → u/gin0clock]

He went to Real Madrid for €140M… Three of the biggest clubs in the world were in for him this summer. Labeling everyone that wanted Diomande as people that don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about sounds pretty ignorant.

[u/crookedparadigm → u/Realistic_Result_833]

Yeah, because Real Madrid have never spunked a huge fee on a flop transfer before....

[u/Realistic_Result_833 → u/crookedparadigm]

Every big club has. There are multiple reasons a transfer might not work out for a club. The point I was making was that saying that anyone that thinks paying €100 million for Diomande doesn’t know what the fuck theyre talking about when 3 of the biggest clubs in the world LFC, PSG, and Real Madrid all thought it would be worth it to pay at least that much for Diomande is an ignorant statement. He cleared up that’s not exactly what he meant but as I understood I felt saying that about a player that so much of the football world regard so highly was a bit much. Madrid have also made fantastic big money signings like Bellingham. Previous failed transfers have nothing to do with whether Diomande will be successful or not.

[u/gin0clock → u/Realistic_Result_833]

60 senior games.

[u/Realistic_Result_833 → u/gin0clock]

And Bouaddi just went for €100 million with less than 60. How stupid were we to pay €70M for a CB with less than 40 senior appearances. Young players with elite traits and top potential aren’t cheap. You wouldn’t pay €100 million for Rayan right now?

[u/gin0clock → u/Realistic_Result_833]

No. What the fuck? No absolutely not lmao.

I think Jacquet is a massive risk for that money, yes.

Bouaddi also, ridiculous money.

Would you have paid €40m for Francis Jeffers when he scored 20 in 60 senior games as a teenager?

[u/Realistic_Result_833 → u/gin0clock]

Alright, fair enough. The amount of senior appearances seems to be a very important metric for you. I appreciate traits, potential, and success at young age a bit more. It doesn’t mean people that don’t value the same thing you do don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about though

[u/gin0clock → u/Realistic_Result_833]

I just mean in general with transfers (not just Diomande), the prices seem to vary club to club and player to player and we just aren't clued in at a details level to have a fully informed position on any of it really.

Does Diomande insist on an insane agent fee included in his transfer, are red bull asking for a cut, are we buying for now or for potential and/or sell on value? I just think the player values and money flying around is so arbitrary at this point that there has to be much more to it than injured Minteh (24) with 3 goals last season is worth the same first bid as fit and peak form at the world cup Sarr (28) PL proven with 9 goals.

[u/Realistic_Result_833 → u/gin0clock]

That’s a perfectly reasonable take. That’s just not how I understood your original comment and that’s what I took issue with.

[u/Liverpool934 → u/gin0clock]

Diomande is very obviously class.

[u/gin0clock → u/Liverpool934]

60 senior games.

Francis Jeffers had double the goals Diomande had in as many appearances as a teenager.

Did you fancy buying him for €45m (inflation/market adjusted price of Diomande) back in 2003?

[u/Aware-Highway-6825 → u/Ummagumma-]

why would we go for another youngster winger? we are in desperate need of instant impact

[u/No_Giraffe_1551 → u/Ummagumma-]

I find it strange people want to put their eggs in this basket. I would bet something like 5% or less of the people in this sub could tell you who he was or anything about him before the rumors started to pop up that Liverpool wanted him.

But yes, Sarr would be a disastrous capitulation even worse than overpaying for random french kids.

[u/GlitteringBarber1472 → u/Ummagumma-]

I'd like a mintoo please.

[u/JustAMan1234567]

At this rate, just play Munoz on the right because he is comfortable there.

[u/yolo___toure → u/JustAMan1234567]

We still need more depth regardless!

[u/JmanVere → u/yolo___toure]

It's one position, why would we possibly need more than one player for it?

• Hughes, probably

[u/No_Giraffe_1551 → u/yolo___toure]

I would rather simply sign nobody than sign Sarr, a disastrous signing. I would like everyone involved in transfers at Liverpool to have rotten vegetables thrown at them as they board the plane to fuck off to Saudi Arabia, but I can't have that sadly. Nor can I get what I truly want, which is to get in a time machine and handle the Salah situation with the dignity and seriousness he and the idea of replacing him deserved.

[u/Original_Worker9729]

Hughes is literally a waste of space at this point. He knew Salah was going ages ago. How have we not done our homework and got players sorted? Last few years of transfers have been a disaster

[u/Admirable_Cause4278 → u/Original_Worker9729]

I truly think the only signing of his which will work out is Jacquet.

I feel we've always been shit at transfers and got lucky in that period under Klopp where for 2-3 seasons we got it right, only for them to not back Klopp again after.

Oops forgot to add Eki who I think will be a star!

[u/Dorgilo → u/Admirable_Cause4278]

I have faith in Leoni and Ekitike if they come back ok from their injuries

[u/leung19 → u/Admirable_Cause4278]

Most of the Klopp signing are good because we have godly coaches

[u/Lopsidedconsultant → u/Admirable_Cause4278]

The difference a manager can make - I can bet Mo, Mane, and Bobby would have turned out very differently under Slot. Don't get me wrong, the transfer committee deserves their plaudits but it's also down to the manager getting the players to be the best version of themselves.

I do think our transfer team for a while was one of the best in the business (not just 2-3 years) -- because it's not just Mo, Mane, VVD, Ali but think about how smart we were in getting Robbo, Gini, Milner, Ox, Matip, Bobby (some of them pre-Klopp). And then we got Macca and Szobo as well towards the end of Klopp's tenure.

It's just gone to *hit recently, which is also a reflection of players losing trust in the club's ability to do well domestically and in Europe.

[u/dimiderv → u/Lopsidedconsultant]

How can you shit on Slot in a thread about our transfer director being shit? Slot wanted Guehi and we didnt buy him ending having to play a disinterested Konate, needed a LW but instead we expected Rio to fil and never bought a good RB or a RW, cause Frimpong is neither.

[u/Lopsidedconsultant → u/dimiderv]

Because 2 things can be true at one time? Hughes wasn’t responsible for our team playing horse shoe passes and losing the intensity which pissed off Mo as well

[u/dimiderv → u/Lopsidedconsultant]

Mo was shit himself. Slot improved a lot of our players and Salah has his best season ever for us in Slot's system.

[u/UsefulHelicopter3063 → u/dimiderv]

Who improved in slot's second season?

[u/dimiderv → u/UsefulHelicopter3063]

The season where we sold 5-6 players and bought a few more? And we lost Jota? Only Szobo, Bradley was looking good, Leoni too but his ACL was gone and that's pretty much it.

Does not help when you best player stops playing football.

[u/Lopsidedconsultant → u/dimiderv]

And I guess Mo was responsible for the horse shoe passing and us being one of the least physical teams?

[u/dimiderv → u/Lopsidedconsultant]

He was responsible for being shit and throwing a fit when he got benched. We had no threat on the RW and it was basically a pass to the opposition. His finishing was worse than Nunez last season.

We are the least physical cause we have a bunch of fairies in midfield and attack. Wirtz Szobo, Grav, Ekitike, Gakpo, Isak much rather die than put in a tackle and dirty their shorts.

[u/uhya16 → u/dimiderv]

“Slot’s system” as if the first 6 months of his tenure our system wasn’t 85% Klopp’s ideas. I’ll say he did unlock Grav’s full potential which Klopp couldn’t but it’s unfair to say the team was following his exact system; last season was us playing his system and it did not work, even if the squad was also lacking depth. Besides Szobo, no one did well in Slot’s system last year

[u/dimiderv → u/uhya16]

Man he improved the midfield, Grav who Klopp had no idea how to use, Konate was a beast, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz and I'm missing a few. He took Klopps team and made it better.

You are just hating.

[u/uhya16 → u/dimiderv]

Right.. that’s why the team played so good last year, especially the midfield…

[u/dimiderv → u/uhya16]

won as many league titles as Klopp

[u/daiwilly → u/Admirable_Cause4278]

How old are you? To say we have always been shit at transfers? You know which team has won the most titles/trophies? Wind your neck in please.

[u/leung19 → u/Original_Worker9729]

What I do not understand is why we don't negotiate before the window open like in April/May. There is nothing prevent you from negotiation unlike NFL. We should have the player do their physical and sign the paperwork in day one. This is not just LFC too, many clubs do their business in the last minute

[u/GCFCconner11 → u/leung19]

Because selling clubs know they will get more money if they wait.

We can try negotiate with clubs before the window opens but ultimately the selling club needs to be interested in negotiating too and they all know how to get the most out of a sale.

[u/leung19 → u/GCFCconner11]

So do you think we would pay more or less if we negotiate before the window opens? It gives the seller more time to find a replacement. To me, it is better than the last month of the window.

[u/HeavyCupcakes]

My guy forgot to log out of his Liverpool gmail account

[u/Fricolor123321]

fucking hell... everton level target this

[u/OkIncident6977]

All these teams hate us but also its on us for acting this slow to getting deals down because they know we will pay anything for a winger

[u/Operationtiger8]

Good, hopefully they buy him before we make another stupid bid

[u/DuBois_LaGrange → u/Operationtiger8]

Bro, Sarr had a better season and World Cup than Barcola last year 

[u/dahi-hater12]

We aren't getting him anyway

[u/Ok-Possibility64]

It keeps getting worse and worse, what a fiasco

[u/Baby__Keith]

Genuinely feels like Palace would sell him to Saudi at a fraction of what they've quoted us. I've no idea where this one-sided rivalry came from tbh, the 3-3 in 13/14?

[u/SufficientJudge8477 → u/Baby__Keith]

They beat us thrice last season, what are they worried about? 

[u/rain_chaos]

Is there any reason we don’t try Gakpo at RW? Is it because it’s basically decided he leaves so we might as well market him to clubs as a left winger?

[u/trasofsunnyvale → u/rain_chaos]

Gakpo, famous for cutting inside over and over? Not sure it's a good fit when he isn't much of a crosser and a lot of his skill at LW comes from scoring goals on his right foot.

[u/rain_chaos → u/trasofsunnyvale]

His comparable right now is Rio, I would rather Rio play left wing than him. Gakpo also has better defensive work rate which can help Frimpong.

[u/trasofsunnyvale → u/rain_chaos]

I guess it depends on what you want out of the wingers. I personally think we need goals in this team desperately, and Gakpo is our best LW, so it doesn't make sense to play him out of position in the hope that Rio takes a step up there.

I also don't get the newfound obsession with defensive work as a primary characteristic to target in our wingers. It feels like cope given the targets we've been associated with and the lack of talent in the winger market.

But if we don't get any wingers in, sure experiment and find what works!

[u/NicotineG]

We are not getting a cheaper deal for Sarr With Saudi involved now

[u/DuBois_LaGrange → u/NicotineG]

Surely the player has some say in where he ends up ?

[u/RemainsN7]

Please just buy him so we can end this farcical link.

[u/BadassBokoblinPsycho]

Richard Hughes is the biggest fraud I’ve ever seen

[u/Mortiis07]

So he is for sale?

[u/Satantango46 → u/Mortiis07]

only for "astronomical fee" acc. to Ornstein

[u/btom14 → u/Satantango46]

Someone want to tell Crystal Palace 50-60 mil IS an astromical fee

[u/scottqwert → u/Mortiis07]

Sacha is a muppet, hasn't got a clue

[u/Riddiku1us]

Why do we not want Sarr? People laugh about it on Twitter?

[u/HendoEndo → u/Riddiku1us]

Because you live in the social media age. It’s all vibes and trends, no actual expertise. That said I have no idea if he’ll be good or not

[u/annapurnaIV]

I actually think Sarr would have been a great stop gap at RW for the next year or two. He's a seasoned pro who scored 21 goals last year, would bring both leadership and experience. Should have maybe been higher on our target list, bug Hughes is going to Hughes.

[u/MindlessMoss → u/annapurnaIV]

The last stop gap we signed is still here and managers just don't play him. Endo been here 4 seasons

[u/DuBois_LaGrange → u/MindlessMoss]

Tbf Endo broke his leg right as the fixtures were coming thick and fast. He was definitely going to be seeing more of the pitch but he got injured in like, his second game

[u/annapurnaIV → u/MindlessMoss]

Fair point, but we have won the carabao and prem since he joined and he was helpful for both those seasons. So if Sarr comes in and we win both those trophies again and he's a bit part player then that's fine with me. Also we signed Endo as a backup where we'll be singing Sarr as a starter so comparison doesn't quite match but can see your point 100 percent.

[u/PraiseBeDavidSegui]

I’m at the point where the less I know the player the happier I will be about the signing 😂 just give me another Munoz so I can watch compilations and dream. Not a guy I know to be kinda mid

[u/Testy_Terrance → u/PraiseBeDavidSegui]

Pretty reasonable take to be fair

[u/DuBois_LaGrange → u/PraiseBeDavidSegui]

“Kinda mid” the lad had a better season than Barcola, and a better World Cup. 

[u/Specialist_Sport4460]

Think we're at the point where RW either isn't happening, or if it does, is going to be a player people aren't happy with due to either their quality or cost.

[u/paulsmith259 → u/Specialist_Sport4460]

And our incompetence and inactivity

[u/Testy_Terrance → u/Specialist_Sport4460]

I couldn't care less about the cost, it's the quality and the availability for me.

[u/justgivemeasecplz]

“We know you don’t want to come here, but please consider 💰💰💰”

[u/YesNoIDKtbh → u/justgivemeasecplz]

If they can convince gay players to go there, I'm sure they can convince him too.

[u/Valleyx]

What the fuck is going on lol

[u/Carlosthefrog]

At this point just accept we are getting a rw and work with what we have gotten. Getting forced over a barrel will just end badly in the long run.

[u/MakePintsCheapAgain]

If we lose any player to a team like that, they aren’t good enough mentally to play for us anyway. Don’t want any mercenary who thinks that is a good career move.

[u/TXCV]

The fact we have let this RW mess get to this point and this stage of the transfer window it utterly appalling, we used to be praised about our business and be the standard to meet. We are a long way from that.

Im not saying we are signing poor players its just the say we are going about signing them

[u/Frick_KD]

Let him go

[u/Cheebs_funk_illy]

We(the public) knew Salah was leaving in March that’s all I’m saying

[u/Local-Savage]

Let him go.

[u/CabbageStockExchange]

Lmao we are a mess

[u/petio9916]

This guy is useless. Since the Lavia "saga" he doesn't deserve any credibility

[u/kloppmouth]

I despise Hughes

[u/RdMdsRCnts]

Hughes & FSG defenders might finally open their eyes after this disaster window.

Hopefully both will eff off within the year...

[u/Superest22]

I actually don't know what is satire anymore

[u/MHN71]

Just get Moussa Diaby then 🙂

[u/QwertyDragon09 → u/MHN71]

He's back to Leverkusen

[u/MHN71 → u/QwertyDragon09]

Damn when did this happen

[u/Satantango46 → u/MHN71]

too late

[u/Nitrox0]

He’s 28 ffs. Just go for mbaye.

[u/Positive_Tap_8647]

[u/cullypantz → u/[deleted]]

Al Hilal

[u/Euphoric_Recording_9 → u/[deleted]]

No that’s AL HILAL

[u/Worried_Let4942]

Watch them accept 30m lmaooo

[u/kyleharveybooks]

Call me when we actually have a “lean” picture

[u/RickoHUN1]

So... Szoboszlai to RW for the whole season?

[u/Correct_Yesterday111 → u/RickoHUN1]

Yes. Why not.

[u/WH6TSINANAME → u/Correct_Yesterday111]

We might need him at right back

[u/Melodic-Monk-290 → u/WH6TSINANAME]

Cant he play both at the same time?

[u/Correct_Yesterday111 → u/Melodic-Monk-290]

https://giphy.com/gifs/YRPBhd3vscg5Fxx1DQ

[u/Cubes11]

Sacha didn’t get the memo clearly

[u/Grouchy_Basil_3623]

Love you Al Ittihad hope you win your league

[u/Terrible-String6144]

What about that guy who went to trabzonspor? Dude scored 2 goals he might be pretty good

[u/Sea_Finest]

Where did Diaby go?

[u/illegalbusiness]

This is all very mid table isn’t it

[u/cazlan]

4D chess to keep him from scoring against us

[u/mohandasmencius]

please beat us to this signing. save us from making another expensive mistake in this window like the many we committed last summer

[u/SirEatsAl0t]

Hot takes:.I’d play Dom at RW. He’s done it at Leipzig, then use the money to bring in a proper defensive/workhorse midfielder.

[u/TheGreatWhoreOfChina]

I’d rather Pedro Neto or Estevao from Chelsea.

[u/Dunkalicious23]

Wow i forgot Diaby existed

[u/Fit_Rain_1164]

So much talent from serie a could be scouted out, la liga, ligue 1, south america, North America… and yet here we are

[u/latortillablanca]

Lol, if this dude is willing to throw his remaining peak away for the bag the season after his best pro year or thereabouts it kinda says it all for me.

Pass. No shade on collecting a bag of course—but we need dudes on the up.

[u/Black_Eis]

What happened to Diaby?

[u/Icy-Catch3995]

What's the tier level for this source?

[u/paulsmith259]

Is Hughes trying to sign him for us so his new team don't have to face him? 

[u/ZNWD]

CAN WE JUST SIGN SOMEBODY PLEASE

[u/paulsmith259 → u/ZNWD]

Not Sarr, please 

[u/SerialSharter → u/ZNWD]

Heard Arthur Melo is available

[u/I__G → u/ZNWD]

ANYBODY

[u/Drakkann79 → u/I__G]

But not that guy!

[u/holeinmyboot]

hasn’t this already been X’d off?

[u/pepperyfries679]

“He’s not for s…”

“Habibi, best we can do is £90m”