20 May 2026 17:04:15
Has anyone heard of us looking at any rightbacks?
1.) 20 May 2026
20 May 2026 19:30:08
We have two already in Dalot and Maz. I know neither are worldies, but both can do a decent job.
2.) 20 May 2026
20 May 2026 20:45:05
We are going nowhere with Dalot as a regular starter. Mazraoui is a really good footballer, but lacks pace. We definitely need a right back.
3.) 20 May 2026
20 May 2026 22:34:00
Good post, Don.
4.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 08:28:29
I suspect the club will look to move one on and spend a little to get an upgrade.
5.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 11:18:15
Agree totally, Don, we need upgrades in both full back positions. Shaw's ok, but we can definitely upgrade. Also, the workload next season will be far greater, so we can't count on Shaw playing a large portion of games, especially with his injury record.
As for Dalot, I'm just not having him. Average going forward and suspect defensively. If the funds stretch, then I'd def be looking at both these positions.
6.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 11:55:41
Who are you guys liking for the left and right back positions?
7.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 14:17:05
I really have no idea. I'd like to see who we are linked with and then give an opinion on them. Random names are irrelevant, really, unless the club are showing an interest. Not much point in debating the merits of any player imo.
8.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 16:55:16
Apparently Jose loves him, let's hope Madrid put a bid in for him when he gets the manager's job.
9.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 17:05:26
There are reports that we have interest in Sporting Lisbon left back Max Araujo, who has had a fantastic season. Would be expensive.
Also, West Ham's El Hadji Malick Diouf has been mentioned for left back. He had a very good 2nd half to the season.
Really hope if we go to West Ham it's for Mateus Fernandes for midfield. Really think he looks excellent. Known as the defensive Bruno.
As for right back, Borussia Dortmund's Julian Ryerson is supposedly liked. He has had 18 assists this season. He is a Norwegian international and is very attacking, depends on Mazraoui leaving. Would be about 30m euros.
Don't know how highly the need for new full backs is looked upon. Obviously it's a question of priorities. May need to wait for this area to be attended to.
10.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 17:11:07
Iwotb. Every area needs attention, and we won't get them all done, that's for sure.
11.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 17:48:44
Jose just might buy Dalot... but Dalot is the least of our problems, but TBF I would take Trent in exchange for him.
I don't really get the Dalot haters when we got so many bigger problems. Every manager who's been here can't be wrong! He is a steady professional, not a world beater, granted, but not as bad as certain people try to claim.
12.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 20:20:05
Ken, you are quite right, a lot needs doing. Obviously, it comes down to prioritising needs.
Clearly, midfield is the absolute priority. I can see about £150m ish being spent there. Left wing is apparently a high need area, and £70/80m is going to be required there. A top centre back must be £60/70m. Back up keeper?
I've said a couple of times, I think we will spend about £300m, so how much will be left for full backs after the foregoing?
Let's not forget, last summer the scousers spent big and created new records for transfer fees. One summer's new record prices are the next summer's norm, so it will be interesting to see how prices go.
Also, considerably strengthening your midfield is a good way to improve your forwards without buying forwards, and the same applies to your defence. Get quality midfielders, and that will automatically give you improvements defensively.
Ultimately, I think buying top, top midfielders is the the highest priority.
If that means we have to spend more to get the players identified and required by the club to achieve this, then so be it. I don't want to see the butter spread too thinly just to cover another slice; it's a tactic that rarely succeeds.
Quality, quality, quality.
13.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 21:37:00
Although both full back positions need looking at, it won't be immediate.
For me, cm and cb are a must. We leak too many goals. Dynamic and athletic cms who can play will change the game for us.
I'm laying down a big marker here, but if we can have the same kind of window we had last year, with the new players having the same kind of effect, we are going to be right up there, lads.
Lots of ifs, I know, but I think it can be done.
14.) 22 May 2026
22 May 2026 07:30:54
Defense isn't just about CBs. If we fix CM and FB positions, the whole defense should look better. Not to mention that we already have 5 CB options. After CM, I'd say striker is the position we are most critical of. Sesko can't go through the season alone, and Mbeumo is not a striker. We need a deeper squad.
15.) 22 May 2026
22 May 2026 17:54:18
IWOTB, if we had £300m in the budget, focusing on CM, I think I'd opt for.
Anderson £120m.
Fernandes £60m.
Ederson £40m.
Next, I think a striker to rotate with Sesko, ideally.
Watkins £40m.
Finally, a true LW.
Fofana or Diomande, if available, for the £50m mark.
I totally acknowledge that we need improvements at LB, RB and CB, but I think that they can be delayed until next summer.
16.) 22 May 2026
22 May 2026 19:43:19
Do we need to upgrade the RB position? Absolutely, but is it a bigger priority than CM? No, we need a minimum of two midfielders long before we sign a RB.
Is RB a bigger priority than LW? Again, I'd say not.
Is RB a bigger priority than LB? Given that, in the first team squad we have Shaw, who'll likely pick up some injuries next season, and Dorgu, who might be better suited to playing as a winger, then no, I don't think we need RB more than a LB.
Is upgrading Dalot and Mazraoui more important than getting someone to compete/rotate with Sesko? This is more debatable, but for me personally I look at it like this: if Sesko picks up a long-term injury or struggles for form next season, then that will be far more detrimental to our season than having either Dalot or Mazraoui putting in 6 out of 10 performances every week at RB.
Finally, do we need to upgrade our RB position more than we need to sign a top class first choice CB? Both Heaven and Yoro are fantastic prospects, but beyond them we have Martinez and MdL, both of whom are amazing when fit, but are reliably unreliable in terms of availability. That said, personally I would probably upgrade RB before signing a top class CB. While I can see the possibility of us having an issue once or twice next season at CB, playing 90% of the season with a higher quality RB overall is probably more beneficial.
So for me the order of signings in terms of positions should probably be:
CM
CM
LW
CM
LB
ST
RB
CB
Now obviously we won't make 8 signings, in fact I'll be surprised if we make more than 5. Which probably means we shouldn't be signing a RB this summer.
17.) 22 May 2026
22 May 2026 19:44:40
Mulambo, I too would love Anderson, Fernandes and Ederson, but cannot see that happening, especially as that would take about £220m of the budget.
If Anderson should go to City, as talked about, there are other options. Tonali would be a good choice and cheaper. Indeed, those 3 may then be viable.
18.) 23 May 2026
22 May 2026 23:51:08
The priorities have to be the first XI.
So that's CM and RB.
Then it's improving our options in areas we're lacking depth:
CM, LB and ST (assuming Zirkzee is sold).
Only then comes LW, another CM and another CB come in.
The one I'm least sure of there is CB, but that depends on whether there is a doubt on De Ligt returning at all.
19.) 24 May 2026
24 May 2026 13:03:05
DonRed, we have two good options at RB in Dalot and Mazraoui, sure they could be upgraded. But there aren't many players I'd say are definitely an upgrade on them who are available and willing to join us.
That said, we only really have Cunha as a LW option, and he's better more central.
Maybe Dorgu is the competition for him, but then if he's competing at LB as well, then we still need another left-sided player.
Same at LB. Shaw is the current first choice, but beyond him in the first-team squad it's just Dorgu (who might be needed to play further forward). Given Shaw's injury record, his age, and the fact that he is entering the final year of his contract, we clearly need cover here.
Effectively, on the left-hand side we have Shaw, Dorgu and Cunha in the first team to cover 2 positions. One of them is injury prone (Shaw), one is young and likely to be inconsistent (Dorgu), and the other probably plays his best football more centrally (Cunha).
That is nowhere near enough for a club that will hope to play 50-60 games next season.
At least on the right we have Dalot, Mazraoui, Mbeumo, Amad and even young Shea Lacey who is expected to get more first-team minutes next season.
I'd even argue that we could see Yoro maybe cover at RB in some games next season. This would work both as a cover option, and maybe a chance to give him more minutes in the first team as he continues to adapt and develop.
If Shaw gets injured next season, then we are forced to play Dorgu at LB and Cunha at LW. If one of them is also injured/suspended, or out of form, we have no other options but to throw a youth player in or play someone out of position.
Given that both Dalot and Mazraoui have had to play games at LB over the last two seasons, it's painfully obvious that it's the left side that is more in need right now.
20.) 24 May 2026
24 May 2026 15:12:00
Shappy, we have options at RB, but not good ones. My point is that our priority is not the squad, but the first XI. Your post pretty much just says you think the squad is the priority. We disagree.
Fwiw, I'm far happier with LB if Shaw is the starter and backup is Mazraoui.
Dorgu can also cover there, as you said. That's far stronger than what we have at RB. I'm perplexed that this is even a conversation, tbh. Do you really think Dalot is good enough?
21.) 25 May 2026
25 May 2026 07:50:58
DonRed, Shaw will likely return to type next season and be injured for most of it. Meaning we don't really have a first choice option at LB.
I think since Carrick has come in it's becoming clear that Dorgu is primarily a winger. He was fantastic in the first few games before his injury, and he's been great in the last couple of games since he's returned.
He's played 6 times for Carrick as a left winger, three of those were 15-20 minute cameos as he built up fitness after his injury. He's started 3 games for us under Carrick in the left wing and has 3 goals and an assist in those three games (against City, Arsenal and Brighton btw).
Dorgu is a winger who can cover at LB in a pinch. Meaning Shaw is the only LB we have, and he will not be able to play 50+ games next season.
In fact, he's probably only stayed fit this season due to the less physical demand on his body due to only playing one game a week and not having to travel all over Europe.
If we don't sign a LB this summer then I'd happily take a bet that we will see one of if not both Dalot and Mazraoui having to play significant time next season at LB.
While we could upgrade on Dalot and Mazraoui, both are solid, steady players who'll consistently put in 6 or 7 out of 10 performance every week. They are both excellent professionals, experienced, and important members of the squad. The fact that every single manager has played Dalot as first choice and that he is a player that Real Madrid are interested in suggests that fan opinion on him might be a little unfair.
22.) 25 May 2026
25 May 2026 20:27:02
Agreed, Shappy.
There are many other areas we need to focus on before looking at Dalot, who is solid.
23.) 25 May 2026
25 May 2026 22:25:00
I'm with Shappy and Angel on this. Dalot is solid, and a top professional. Centre midfield is the top priority. We have to sign two top players in the engine room this summer before we really even consider other positions. Beyond that, I would make a left forward my next priority, followed by another central midfielder and a left back, probably equal priority. Personally, I consider Dalot better than Shaw, and Dalot certainly has a far better fitness record, so getting a left back that can compete with Shaw next season, and hopefully usurp Shaw, comes way before getting a right back.
I would also make both centre forward and centre back a greater priority than right back, since we don't have a genuine centre forward other than Sesko, and we haven't had a consistent centre back pairing since Lindelof and Maguire several years ago. At the moment, we are constantly changing our centre back pairing, and even with every option available, we are miles behind Arsenal in this area. We have barely seen De Ligt and Martinez play together with the injuries they have had in the last two seasons. Maguire doesn't allow us to press very effectively since he is so lacking in pace, and Yoro and Heaven are not yet ready to be starting on a regular basis.
We can probably afford to sign 5-6 players this summer, given we have finished 12 places higher in the league this season, which means we will be getting about another £60 million in prize money from the Premier League, and we will be Champions League football next season, which is obviously lucrative. Along with a few sales, that could mean we have as much as £300 million to spend this, but it has to be spent right. Two centre midfielders first, then left forward, then another centre midfielder to replace Ugarte, then a left back, and finally, potentially a centre back or centre forward.
We can then look at either centre back or centre forward (or both) the following summer, depending on whether we make any signings in those areas this summer, along with moving on Mazraoui and bringing in a right back to compete with and potentially usurp Dalot. Next summer it might be also time to think about who might replace Bruno Fernandes, since it doesn't feel like Mason Mount will be that player.
24.) 26 May 2026
26 May 2026 01:06:01
It would be nice to go into a transfer window. Only need 2-3 players max.
25.) 27 May 2026
27 May 2026 11:38:05
MH, in time, we are getting there. I think maybe even next summer.