Report: Liverpool emerging as favourites to sign Kalidou Koulibaly

[TLW]

Liverpool have edged ahead of rivals Man United in the race to sign Napoli central defender Kalidou Koulibaly according to a new report.

The incredibly imposing 28 year-old has been linked to Man United and Newcastle in recent weeks but French publication Le 10 Sport ( via Metro) say that Jürgen Klopp is interested in pairing the Senegal international with Virgil Van Dijk and  have in fact jumped to the front of the queue for his services.

This rumour about spending a vast amount of money on Koulibaly in the upcoming transfer window contrasts significantly with a recent report stating that Liverpool will greatly scale back their spending due to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about how budgets will look in the aftermath.

 

So this report appears speculative at best, and it must be remembered the very impressive form of Joe Gomez alongside Van Dijk prior to the halt to the season. With funds limited, would it be wise to spend all of it on a position of relative strength? Placing all of your chips on one number hoping it comes in is not the kind of gamble FSG are famed for.

 

With Koulibaly and Van Dijk at the heart of the defence, playing in front of Alisson and behind Fabinho, Liverpool would be as close to impregnable as you're likely to find, but they would be taking a big gamble at the other end of the pitch where they isn't a great deal of quality cover for Sadio Mané, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino. Liverpools title odds would be slashed immediately but bringing in Koulibaly and not signing a forward would be like visiting Online Casinos in UK and placing all of your money on a single number on the roulette wheel.

And also to another pertinent question, if you could only spend money on one player in this transfer window who would it be. Timo Werner or Koulibaly?

According to pundit Don Hutchison, there is no doubt at all how much of an impact the defender would bring to the Reds.

The former Liverpool and Everton midfielder said:

“I think if Koulibaly comes through the door at Liverpool and he plays alongside Virgil van Dijk, I think you wrap the title up right there,’ he told ESPN FC. ‘I don’t think there’s anyone better, there won’t be another partnership like it. 

“The best defenders out there in Europe apart from the Premier League at the moment is Milan Skriniar at Inter [Milan], my gut feeling is he’s going to join Pep [Guardiola] at Man City, and alongside him is Koulibaly.”

 

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[Scott_M]

We might as well furlough Alisson if we sign Koulibaly. We’ll be able to play with 11 outside players. 
 

Can’t see it happening. 

[Lario]

“I think if Koulibaly comes through the door at Liverpool and he plays alongside Virgil van Dijk, I think you wrap the title up right there,’ he told ESPN FC. ‘I don’t think there’s anyone better, there won’t be another partnership like it. "

 

That's right Don. That's what we need.

 

Because the current situation where we're 25 points clear at the top of the table, having only conceding 21 goals in 29 games, with Virgil's partner either being a £3.5m purchase from Charlton or a free transfer from Schalke, just doesn't cut it!

 

Fucking "experts".

[Numero Veinticinco]

I want Gomez to be the long term centre back partner to VVD. No point in spending loads on Koulibaly and not going for Werner. 

[Lee909]

Strange link

Would push Gomez out the door, just don't see it unless Gomez has said privately he wants to move back to London for sone reason. 

[The Guest]

It’s never happening.  It’s would be the most un-Klopp signing of all time.  He’s older and we’ve got Gomez and Matip who’s just signed a new deal.  Klopp backs his players and doesn’t like signing players for big money to sit on the bench.  It just stinks of them trying to spark interest in him and get the price up.  He’s a top centre back obviously and would do well in the premier league.

[Grinch]

Wouldn't have happened without a big sale pre virus, now no chance at all. 

 

Clickbait at its finest, like 99 percent of football talk right now.   

[Lee909]

It would be the CB pairing to end all CB pairings though. 

[Guest Alex_K]

There are at least 8 bets officially with better odds on clubs for Koulibaly to land at than Liverpool including 4 other English clubs (!) so we are in no way shape or form "emerging as favourites", why post nonsensical clickbait? Out of the 90s teletext phone line book. Bad look.

[Guest]

11 hours ago, Numero Veinticinco said:

I want Gomez to be the long term centre back partner to VVD. No point in spending loads on Koulibaly and not going for Werner. 

This post makes a lot of sense, which is the reason I have repped it. It's how things work here.

[Baresi]

We won’t sign him. It’s really pretty obvious. 

[Harry Squatter]

Wouldn't want Gomez to leave. He's the most un Liverpool like signing there is. Expensive, 29 and not a priority position.

[Jairzinho]

He's the second best centre back in the world but, like others have said, fuck blocking the progress of Gomez.  

 

VVD + Matip/Gomez. 

 

Promote one of the lids, and Fabinho can cover if we're short.

 

I'm guessing that we'll be binning David Icke.

[Tony Moanero]

3 hours ago, Alex_K said:

Out of the 90s teletext phone line book. 

You say that like it’s a bad thing.

[John102]

Koptalk is on the ropes and Dave smells blood.

[Rotpeter]

11 hours ago, Jairzinho said:

He's the second best centre back in the world but, like others have said, fuck blocking the progress of Gomez.  

 

VVD + Matip/Gomez. 

 

Promote one of the lids, and Fabinho can cover if we're short.

 

I'm guessing that we'll be binning David Icke.

He couldn't find a team to give him a decent enough contract last year.  What are the chances that has changed?  I fear, both non-contributor Shaq and Lovren will take several flushes.

[Jairzinho]

11 minutes ago, Rotpeter said:

He couldn't find a team to give him a decent enough contract last year.  What are the chances that has changed?  I fear, both non-contributor Shaq and Lovren will take several flushes.

Well, I suppose the hope is that whilst there may have been some degree of doubt last year regarding his position in the pecking order, there shouldn't be now. That may encourage a little more self flushing. Although introspection and generally grasping reality don't appear to be things he's particularly good at.

 

He can't have long left on his contract, Shirley? Summer 2021? There's still a last decent contract for Lovren at a Serie A club, but that opportunity won't last forever.

 

I think we'll be alright with Shaq. Someone near the bottom of the Premier League will take a punt on him, and he'll probably do quite well if he can play regularly.

[Rotpeter]

4 minutes ago, Jairzinho said:

Well, I suppose the hope is that whilst there may have been some degree of doubt last year regarding his position in the pecking order, there shouldn't be now. That may encourage a little more self flushing. Although introspection and generally grasping reality don't appear to be things he's particularly good at.

 

He can't have long left on his contract, Shirley? Summer 2021? There's still a last decent contract for Lovren at a Serie A club, but that opportunity won't last forever.

 

I think we'll be alright with Shaq. Someone near the bottom of the Premier League will take a punt on him, and he'll probably do quite well if he can play regularly.

Man, I hope you're right.  They are our weakest links:  Goodbye (hopefully).

[aws]

9 hours ago, John102 said:

Koptalk is on the ropes and Dave smells blood.

Koptalk are just a glorified crew. 

[Jairzinho]

8 minutes ago, Rotpeter said:

Man, I hope you're right.  They are our weakest links:  Goodbye (hopefully).

Yes, and it's a pretty healthy position to be in.

 

Lovren, Lallana and Shaqiri are all reasonable players. Not good enough for us, obviously, but not out and out turds. The fact that they are the dregs of the squad does rather show how well Klopp has built it. Anyway, the three of them will save us a fair bit in wages as well. Clyne, maybe some of the lads that have been out on loan like Wilson and Grujic, and some/all of the back up keepers will presumably go.

 

Promote a couple of youngsters (maybe sign an old 4th choice CB - hopefully not) and buy someone capable of playing in the front three without creating a noticeable drop off in quality and I think that'll be about it from us.

[sir roger]

There was talk that Adrian wants to go back to his old Spanish club so the link with the Turkish lad seems credible.

[Dr Nowt]

This link screams “legit”.

[Daisy]

About as much chance as Mbappe

[Rotpeter]

2 hours ago, Jairzinho said:

Yes, and it's a pretty healthy position to be in.

 

Lovren, Lallana and Shaqiri are all reasonable players. Not good enough for us, obviously, but not out and out turds. The fact that they are the dregs of the squad does rather show how well Klopp has built it. Anyway, the three of them will save us a fair bit in wages as well. Clyne, maybe some of the lads that have been out on loan like Wilson and Grujic, and some/all of the back up keepers will presumably go.

 

Promote a couple of youngsters (maybe sign an old 4th choice CB - hopefully not) and buy someone capable of playing in the front three without creating a noticeable drop off in quality and I think that'll be about it from us.

Yeah, I'd already factored in Jones for Lallana and I'm sure Neco would be able to cover Clyne's games no problem...

 

4th choice CB, I want an old swarthy South American (with included facon) for the Real Madrid type games.

 

Good times.

[Jairzinho]

2 minutes ago, Rotpeter said:

Yeah, I'd already factored in Jones for Lallana and I'm sure Neco would be able to cover Clyne's games no problem...

 

4th choice CB, I want an old swarthy South American (with included facon) for the Real Madrid type games.

 

Good times.

Cata Diaz would be my selection. Admittedly, he is 40. However, he only retired last year and seemed to be doing reasonably in the Argentinian second tier as recently as last season.