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Kirkez in, Qaunsah and Phillips out!
1 Playsin 10 hours
It's the close season so it's all about transfers! Milos Kirez, Andy Robertson, Nat Phillips and more...
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Transcript
Introduction to Liverpool's Transfer Activity
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. We're talking transfers today, it's that time of year. And, well, my word, have Liverpool been active during what is still just the start of this closed season of buying and selling?
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Moving early and getting Jeremy Frimpong in right back after the departure of Alexander-Arnold. Bringing in Florian Wirtz, you know, for a club record and an English football transfer record fee.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
not Not to mention Georgie Marmadashvili, the goalkeeper that think we officially signed him last season, that he'll be starting this season. And at the time of recording, that's Tuesday, sorry to burst the bubble, the yeah the illusion, the magic, but so this is Tuesday right now.
Milos Kerkhez's Transfer to Liverpool
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it looks like Milos Kerkhez is pretty much done. we're We're just waiting for the official and announcement.
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
The medicals have apparently all been done. And maybe that has happened. The announcement has happened by the time that you tune into this episode on on Wednesday.
00:02:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like i said, it's pretty much a done and dusted deal. Kurt Kiss, was in Liverpool for his medical. And then, you know, he should be putting pen to paper on a £40 million pound deal.
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's a straight 40 million pounds. Quite unusual in football these days. There's no kind of add-ons or kind of performance bonuses. It's just a ah ah straight 40 million pounds cash deal.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Kerkhez, he's 21 years old, Hungarian international. He'll be joining his, you know, his Hungarian compatriot, Dominic Sabozlay, into this Liverpool team.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was actually Richard Hughes who signed Kirkus for Bournemouth when he was their sporting director director for around 15 million pounds.
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, you know, Richard Hughes, again, sealing the deal for the Reds this time, 14 million pounds. I think that's a price that suits all parties.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bournemouth will make a handsome profit on their investment. And, you know, Liverpool secure the services of probably the best left back in the Premier League last season.
Kerkhez's Impact on Liverpool's Attack
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He played all 38 Premier League games for Bournemouth. So, you know, a good fitness record. He seems like a really kind of robust character.
00:04:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
strong and you know you chipped in with two goals and five assists for the cherries last season so look i think that he's an excellent signing you know his age profile the fact that he's already playing international football with hungary the fact that he's now got premier league experience under his belt and not to mention having a very very good season and He's excellent going forward, has, you know, an absolute wand of a left foot, which I think is really important for a team that, you know, is is an attacking team. And for a team like Liverpool, and and it it goes, it's the same for if you would sign for Man City or if you would sign to for Manchester.
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal, you're going to teams that are going to be dominating possession. they They're the ones who are going to be on the front foot. So for Kerkhez, whereas maybe he would have been defending more with Bournemouth, but to be fair, Bournemouth had a great season as well. But I think with Liverpool, I think he's...
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
attacking prowess I think is really going to come to the fore and with Frimpong on the other side on the other flank I think it's a really exciting signing and and think it's going to be fascinating to see how Arnie Slott utilises You know, both of his new fullbacks next season into this kind of you know new look Liverpool
Potential Departures and Future of Liverpool's Defense
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
3.0.
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, you know, him coming in puts a question mark over the futures of both Andy Roberts and Kostas Simikas. You know, i I would expect one of those players to go, know, Roberts, Andy Robertson, sorry.
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's He's been linked with Atletico Madrid. Apparently he has said yes to the move. He's got one year left on his contract.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that, you know, it looks like a good move for for Robertson. You know, the age that he's at, I think he's 31 years old. I think he'll be a huge loss to the team. I think a huge loss to the club.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he was an integral part of the title and Champions League winning teams. Part of that lead leadership team is real captain and and a real character, you know, a never say die attitude.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, you it wouldn't shirk a challenge at all. You know, had run-ins with Ronaldo and Messi famously and nothing ever fazed him. So if he is to leave, i think he'll leave with, you know, the the best wish wishes of every Liverpool supporter because it just personified the kind of determination that and commitment that we all want to see that we all expect to see as as supporters. So I think one of those would go, i mean, Simicas, obviously, he's another one that could could be leaving as well.
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I personally would keep Robertson and let Simikas go. He's got one year left on his contract. I would i would keep Robertson and just utilise that experience.
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kirk is coming in. Yes, he's very talented, but he's very young. And think having Robertson... know, with him there, i think I think would be a really good mentor in terms of just getting him, you know, ready for Liverpool Football Club and and making sure that those standards remain.
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do expect that Robertson will probably leave because I think the club will respect his wishes if he wants to move on.
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he probably will because he knows that he's not going to be number one now with Kerkis coming in at £40 million. pounds And, you know, his age, I think for him to go and, you know, try another league, I think, you know, I think it's good for him. And I think I don't blame him for jumping at the opportunity to play for a club like Atletico Madrid in La Liga, to work for a coach like Simeone, who, you know, by all intents and purposes, really admires Robertson. You know, probably sees a lot of his characteristics in him as well.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So as well as as well as being great news that we're signing Kirk as, you know, a player for the future, fullback for the future,
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's tinged with with a little bit of sadness knowing that him coming in it means that it's kind of an end of an era, really, with Andy Robertson probably leaving the club as well.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And another ah of of player another couple of players who who have... who will be leaving for sure. Liverpool defender Nat Phillips has moved to Championship Club West Brom for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract. 28 years old, he made 19 appearances for the Reds in his nine years at the club.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So obviously, look, at a bit part player. know, Liverpool are you know going to do OK without Nat Phillips.
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think we'll all remember Phillips with real affection, really just for that 2021 season where, you know, we were in the middle of a an absolutely monumental injury crisis in defence.
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, that second half of the season, we were kind of languishing in eighth or ninth position in the Premier League. Nat Phillips stepped up alongside Rhys Williams as well, to be fair.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Nat Phillips really kind of, he led that kind of back line. And he was a real kind of old school defender. He wasn't someone who was going to, glide out of defence with the ball like Van Dijk or play these kind of cross field passes.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was just you head it, kick it, tackle. And it was it was good to see. And, you know, look, he was part of that defence that helped Liverpool go from, know, pretty much mid table and to finish in third place.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and a you know Champions League qualification. So I'm pleased that he'll be getting regular game time and you know good luck to him at West Brom.
00:10:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another player on his way out, Gerald Kwanza, who was signed for by Leverkusen for £34 million.
Liverpool's Transfer Strategy and Free Transfers
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
The relationship between these two clubs has really kind of gone on to a new level, hasn't it? But £34 million, pounds I think Liverpool have inserted a buyback clause, which I think is sensible given his age as a young player.
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know who knows how he's going to develop. I would think that Leverkusen and... I think the Bundesliga, I think, will be good environment for Kwanzaa to develop, to kind of hone his skills and to you know gain that experience, to play in a different league against different players, different systems.
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that can only benefit him. I was a little bit surprised that we were letting him go, given his age profile. But I think... I think on Arnie Slott is once again showing ah ah ruthlessness that maybe a ruthlessness that maybe Klopp didn't show enough of when it came to players being shipped out.
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't think there's any doubt that that Arnie Slott has got that. He is very ruthless. And you know we saw that last season, first game of the season, in fact, when Konza was hooked at half-time away at Ipswich.
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he pretty much didn't play after that. So it leaves us with three senior centre-backs, Van Dijk, Canate and Joe Gomez. Now, even if Gomez does stay,
00:12:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there's no guarantee. Lots of rumours that he could move on as well, which means that Liverpool will be looking for at least one, possibly two centre-backs to come in.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... Connected, you know, to connected to that rumour with Gomez is is at Crystal Palace. You know, the biggest rumour is that Crystal Palace is Mark Gahey is on the club's radar.
00:13:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Palace captain is he's 24. He's England international. He's an experienced Premier League player now, an FA Cup winner. And he's now in the final year of his contract, know which poses, I think, an interesting dilemma for both clubs, for Liverpool and for Palace, and for the player.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is a player that Newcastle were very, very keen on signing for for around £60m to £70m. And I think Palace wanted more. i think they wanted seventy five And now with a year left and on his contracts, you know, Liverpool are going to be asking themselves, you know, do we pay the £40 million pounds needed to secure him now, knowing that we could pick him up for nothing next summer?
00:14:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, obviously in order for that to happen, there's, there's a, there's a lot of things that have to go our way. We have to almost have a pre agreement with Gay that, you know, come next summer, we will be, we we will be signing him.
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know whether that kind of pre agreement can exist. I mean, you know, Gay, he could, he could very well, you know, move to a different club. So,
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there's a lot of moving parts to this deal if Liverpool were to wait for next season. And also, you know, does the Canate contract impasse impact Gahy's situation?
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are Liverpool thinking, look, Canate is not signing a new contract. We've been here before. We've seen how this movie plays out with Trent Alexander-Arnold. has Canate already been tapped up? Has he already agreed to either go to Real Madrid or to PSG?
00:15:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if that's the case of Liverpool thinking, well, Canate will probably leave for free next season. Let's wait. Let's wait and pick up Gahey for free as well to balance the books. And I think this could become more prevalent in football. This...
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
this this moving of players on a free transfer. We've seen even big players like Mbappe move for free to Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold going for free to Real Madrid.
00:15:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i think with the cost of, of of running a football clock club always going up. I think even Real Madrid now have abandoned the kind of Galactico model, at least in terms of mega transfer fees. I'm not saying in terms of the status of the player.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mbappe is a Galactico-level player, but they they didn't pay anything for him. And I just think that you know clubs are going to be looking, at you know the top clubs are going to be thinking,
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, you know, in the case of Real Madrid, look, we're Real Madrid. If you want to play play for us, Canate or Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mbappe, run down your contract and when you join us, instead of us paying 50 to 100 million pounds in transfer fees, you'll get a nice 10 to 20 million pounds signing on fee, which is cheaper for us and it's great for you.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that we'll see more of this and I think maybe that's why think maybe supporters should be maybe a little a little bit more kind of reserved, let's say, in their criticisms of clubs when they fail to tie a player down.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean, you can't force a player to sign a new contract. And we're in that situation now with Canate. We can't force him. to sign up a new contract. You know, we can we can offer him as much as we can, but if his heart is set on a move,
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really, you know what can we do? There's not a lot that we can do. We can't force him to track to sign a contract and we can't force a move. know we could Liverpool could agree a fee with, I don't know, Newcastle or you know Manchester United.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if Canate doesn't want to go, he he he doesn't go. So um I think it's a difficult one. and But I do think that this, the free transfer, i think we'll see that being utilised more and that being almost part of a a sporting director's remit to scale the markets, to keep an eye on contracts, to see whose contracts are running down and to get in early and say, look, don't sign a new contract, wait 12 months, join us for free.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i think Gahey would be a solid option. i think he's young, he's English, he's he's experienced. I don't have any doubts about him in terms of a Premier League level.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
question is, is he good enough at the elite level, the very, very top level, which Liverpool will be you know competing at you know It's not just about the Premier League. where We're looking to compete at the top end of the Champions League.
00:18:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so is he is he the kind of defender you trust to go to Parc de France or to the Bernabeu and deal with that pressure?
00:18:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know I'm not sure. We we shall see.
Podcast Conclusion
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so that's all for today. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Please support the show by following us wherever you get your podcasts. Until next time, thank you for listening.