The #lufc Breakfast Debate (Monday 6th June)

Good Morning. It's Monday 6th June, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


£60m plus Takumi Minamino - Too good to turn down?

According to The Sun, Liverpool are prepared to pay Leeds £60m plus Takumi Minamino, in their bid to land Brazilian ace Raphinha. Jurgen Klopp is desperate to replace Sadio Mane, who is expected to formalise a move to German outfit Bayern Munich this Summer, and see Raphinha as the perfect replacement.

Jesse Marsch is understood to be a big fan of Minamino having worked with him during his time at RB Salzburg. He joined Liverpool in January 2020 for £7.5m, making 55 appearances, mostly in cup competitions. They value him around the £18m mark. Is the offer too good to turn down?

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Leeds may look to hijack Everton’s move for Tarkowski

Leeds may look to hijack Everton’s move for James Tarkowski this Summer, according to The Daily Mail’s Dominic King. The highly rated centre back is out of contract at Turf Moor and as such would not require a fee. According to 'Whoscored, the 29yo was Burnley's stand out player last season with a rating of 6.97, coincidently, the same as Raphinha.

Tarkowski's statistics speak for themselves. He was credited with 216 clearances (first in the PL) and 92 blocks (2nd in the PL) last season. He was also the strongest defender in the air, having won 171 aerial duels.
Leeds shipped 79 goals during their previous campaign, and even though they tightened up during the latter stages of the season, having Tarkowski on board would surely be a no-brainer!

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Raphinha may end up staying until January

Raphinha has given his biggest hint yet that he may end up staying at Elland Road beyond the World Cup in December. The 25yo has risen to fame since his 17m transfer from Rennes in October 2020, becoming a fan's favourite, both at Elland Road, and with his National team, Brazil.

Barcelona are understood to be favourites to sign him, but they don't have the finances to be able to complete the deal. Liverpool too, are understood to be carefully monitoring the situation, but have yet to talk money. It is understood that Leeds are wanting a fee of between £60m - £70m for their prized asset, and are more than willing to wait until next January. During a recent interview, Raphinha was quoted as saying:-

“I have a contract with Leeds and this issue is resolved by my agent, when there is something, he will tell me,” “Knowing that there are less than six months left for the World Cup, you have to be active in the clubs. That weighs on the decision, but I am confident in my potential. Whether it is to stay or go, I am going to give my best, find my space and try to be good for the World Cup.”

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Leeds ready to snap up Ecuador forward as long as he avoids prison

Leeds United may be preparing a bid for Venezuelan International Gonzalo Plata, according to media outlet 'O Jogo'. The talented 21yo spent last season on loan with Real Valladolid, but they don't have the funds to make the £8.5m deal permanent, so he has returned to his parent club, Sporting Lisbon.

He joined the Portuguese Champions in 2019 from Venezuelan outfit Independiente del Valle. He can play either as a winger or forward, and has already gained 25 senior caps for his Country. Leeds are understood to be ready to hijack the deal, though much will depend on a drink-drive charge from last December. Plata was found to be three times over the drink drive limit, following a car accident, which injured two others.

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If Marsch wants Minamino and he is adamant on it then 60 mill plus Minamino looks decent.

Only if Marsch wants him though.

 

Morning all.

Firstly congatulations to Wales for qualifying for the World Cup

Even they don't get to celebrate for long though as Nations League matches still need to be played before the players can go off on their summer breaks. Playing so many international matches at the end of the season is ridiculous and just shows what a joke FIFA & UEFA are.

 

Morning all

I don’t understand the need for Tarkowski unless we’re unloading someone.

I’m on the fence regarding Minamino, if Jesse wants him go and sign him, we don’t have to do a part ex as the guy isn’t wanted at Liverpool.

I don’t get how the top 5-6 teams justify these transfer prices. They sign him for 7.25m and his value nearly trebles despite his progress stagnating and having only a handful of games.

£10m tops surely? He is 27 so 4 year contract and virtually no sell on value

 

Morning all

£60 million plus Minaimino is too good to turn down in my opinion. Yes I want Raph to stay but I don't think we can turn this offer down. I suspect we Marsch wants Minaimino as we've been linked with him since the end of the season.

Tarkwoski is a no for me. If we want a CB then we should go for a younger one not a 29 year old. Personally I think it's time to phase out the older players not a bring in a player 1 year younger than Cooper and Ayling.

Why are we looking at a player who could be going to prison. He better be damn ****ing good and not go to a Spanish Jail.

 

Pointless talking about Raphinha and Phillips really, especially when the Barcelona DoF is flying in to speak to Leeds and he hasn't got a pot to pee in.

Liverpool:
Salah wants to stay at Liverpool but not happy with his 15% pay rise plus bonuses, he wants to be the 6th highest paid player in the world, so willing to move to another prem club to get his way. Mane is a great player but he refused to sign a new deal so is leaving on a free transfer to get a huge pay rise. To replace Mane Liverpool expected to pay £60m plus Minamino is a stupid bit of business. Whoever allowed this situation to get out of hand wants sacking. You allow a multi- million pound asset leave for free and then spend circa £80m to replace him? James Milner takes a pay cut to stay as they wouldnt give him a new contract on the same terms?

 

Minamino had a release clause for 7.25 million in his contract. That's why they got him cheap.

 

Good Morning to Matt Doc Rik WJ ETCFROM acold Bardsey
The Deal for Raphina seems to good to be missed i like the look of Minamino whereas Rap wants awayto chase honoursI do hopewe spend the money we will recieve for him along with the money from KP and Harrison still need a left backand Ilike Tarkowski he would give us a more solid back 4,Like the look of Popeto replace Mesliers

 

Minamino is a quality player. It's just unfortunate for him, that Liverpool have such an amazing forward line.

 

If the raph/minamino deal is for real and accurate figures AND if we want Minamini... which we did in January... then i think its a good deal for us. As Emu says, he's worth more than the release clause and if Marsch thinks he suits the system then great. Take all the points about not playing, and him being inconsistent at Southampton... but if we like him and think he suits the system... then i think he's a good makeweight IF we're still getting top dollar for Raph... which at the figures quoted (pinch of salt) we would be.

Of course Raph might prefer sunnier climes than liverpool.

 

Yes i agree 3 finals and no goals how amazing is that.

 

If he is that good, why do they want to unload him when they have two attackers leaving? This season Raphinha has been a mile short of amazing yet Liverpool think he is £60m worth better than Minamino, it doesn’t add up.

Like I said I’m on the fence, if Jesse wants him fine but he’s not worth £18m

 

I don't want him

 

There are no positives to Rapha leaving. You can put whatever figure you like on a deal but there are no positives to losing our best player by a country mile gloss it up anyway you like

 

Absolutely no need to buy Tarkowski. We have cb's already who are as good if not better. We then have Struijk, Cresswell and Hjelde who are the future.


As for Minamino. If the club are backing Marsch then this deal is a good one. To me Minamino fits Marschs style of play better than Raphinia. Raph might be the better player but will do no good if we play a style that doesn't suit.

As for the forward we are supposedly looking at I'm sorry but don't take a punt on another unknown who has never played in the Prem.

Let's go for a proven Premier league forward or even a top championship striker. Yes these gambles sometimes pay off but let's just go the safe route for a change.

 

Totally agree, I watched his highlights from last season the other day.
The amount of assists he didn't get due to woeful finishing was amazing.

 

I would suggest he is the main reason by miles that we are still in the pl. shouldn’t be allowed leave until we’ve 40 points clocked up next season and safe. People willing to accept a big wad of cash are forgetting what we’ll lose on the pitch which is all that counts

 

We’ll have 40 points after 14 games. Raphinha will then want to stay at Leeds, sign a new extended contract, and then go off with Brazil to the World Cup.

Happy days

 

We’ll need a very generous fixture list when it comes out shortly so

 

true - got 3 assists his expected assists was 7. Similar with Harrison 1 assist, expected assists 4.

… problem of playing with no recognised striker