The Liverpool FC Thread XIV

We signed him on a 3 year contract. He messed around at Anfield for a year and then spent last year at AC Milan. The player has made it clear he doesn't want to be at Liverpool so as soon as anyone makes a bid, we'll let him go. I'm actually surprised that a Chinese club hasn't made a bid..

Could be a Jose Enrique type situation where nobody wants him and he won't take a paycut... at least you've only got him another year

Mane reported to be the only big money signing this summer so far. However the club are keeping the door ajar for Gotze if he changes his mind late in the transfer window.

Can you imagine our attacking options being - Coutinho, Gotze, Firmino, Mane, Lallana, Milner and Markovic? I imagine the latter would go out on loan again if Gotze moved..

I think at the start of the season, we had plans to keep Enrique as cover (so Moreno and Enrique were LB options) but then Rodgers decided Gomez would work there once the season started.

By January it was obvious that Enrique needed to be gone but obviously he was happy to sit out his contract but he's 30 and unlikely to get another big contract.

Balotelli on the other hand is still only 25. What value is there in wasting a year of his prime years for an extra couple of million? He'd make more money by having a good year of football in the long term.

Interesting to hear the noises surrounding Markovic, with the club keen to make it seem as if he has a future. With Mane coming in for such a hefty fee, and Klopp lamenting a lack of wingers, it makes sense to utilise the lads we've already got - because new signings won't want to join a side where they know they'll be playing a bit part role. Hopefully Markovic gets game time this season. He clearly struggled in 2014-15, due to a combination of factors, but he has an abundance of natural ability and raw pace, which our three-pronged attack behind Sturridge severely lacks.

I wanted Götze and I still do but nowhere near as much as I did before the Euros, especially after his performances. Obviously can't conventionally compare him to Manè, but the latter gives more balance and dynamic to a front 3 consisting of Coutinho and Firmino.

I can see Markovic going as he's unlikely to even get on the bench at the moment. Benches usually contain the keeper, 2 defenders, a midfielder and that leaves space for 3 attackers. If hypothetically our front 4 were Coutinho, Firmino, Mane, Sturridge, we'd have Origi, Ings, Lallana, maybe Milner, Markovic, maybe even Balotelli and possibly a youth player (Ojo or Canos) fighting for 3 spots. I'd expect Origi, Ings and Lallana to be the shoe ins. So with Markovic's age I doubt he'd be happy playing reserve team football for the rest of the season. Also that's why I don't think we'll sign another attacker (unless one or two leave). Obviously we need squad depth but especially if we sign another forward there'll be one or two of the more experienced players missing out every week. I guess preseason will determine a lot of this.

I completely forgot Gomez existed. Is he still injured?

Interesting to hear the noises surrounding Markovic, with the club keen to make it seem as if he has a future. With Mane coming in for such a hefty fee, and Klopp lamenting a lack of wingers, it makes sense to utilise the lads we've already got - because new signings won't want to join a side where they know they'll be playing a bit part role. Hopefully Markovic gets game time this season. He clearly struggled in 2014-15, due to a combination of factors, but he has an abundance of natural ability and raw pace, which our three-pronged attack behind Sturridge severely lacks.

For those who like to dream, Dahoud liked an Instagram post of Klopp and Buvac at Melwood earlier

Palace submit improved offer for Benteke. £27m + add-ons which will get to £31.5m.

Too quick - I was about to post that.

Tbh I would accept that bid rather than drag it out. What's the point in having Benteke come back to pre-season to try and get a few more million from C.Palace? Let the player leave before upsetting people + CP will be happy to get the player in as soon as possible for pre-season.

Would mean we've pretty much recouped what we spent - around Xmas I was thinking we'd be lucky to get £15-20mil!

- still see a chance of both Gotze and Dahoud; playing hardball isn't in Gotze's interests or Gladbach's (given he won't sign a contract and they'll lose him for 10m next summer otherwise)

The issue with the Dahoud transfer could be Gladbach being (understandably) unwilling to let go of three of their best midfielders, and even players, in one window. Doing so would hardly be promising PR for them.

Nordtveit plays CB mainly and they've already brought in a World Cup winner to replace Xhaka.

Gladbach seem to be in good financial health but a 30m bid is more than a quarter of their last reported revenue. They've had a new TV deal and reached CL since then but we're talking their equivalent of us selling Coutinho for 80m. That's a lot of money for a player in his penultimate year, who'll see his value drop 50% or more next year.