Hugo Ekitike (not playing for Liverpool for a while)

[wong989]

57 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

 

It's been explained a hundred times before why we don't have the same transfer shortlist as mid-table clubs with mid-table aspirations. We're dining at the top table but the cartel clubs are the only ones with access to the tasting menu. 

The explanation makes no sense. The top table transfer shortlist is always made up of at least 30% Brighton, Villa, Forest, Brentford, Bournemouth value buys that prove themselves worthy of top teams within the year or 2 max. We don't have access to the coveted players, that was always the hardest step. Going from big achievements to big turnover, wages, transfer fees. Thats why we had to build the best scouting and recruitment system 3 years ago. We tried all summer to buy Guehi for 50-60 mil while pleading poverty. Forest and Bournemouth signed signed nearly/better defenders for fractions. Its mental. We only get to the top by scouting. Only way. As if some French lad is going to turn down guaranteed CL, league title challenges and double the money because he knows Newcastle in his heart. Watch, Brighton, Forest, Bournemouth, they'll have signed players good enough to improve our team significantly. The players exist. Everywhere. Takes some time, thats where we're at.

[mighty__mag]

1 hour ago, Yorkie said:

 

whatever. Cba to engage. The cartel clubs control the market. The manager basically said it yesterday.

 

He has to say that, and again you know it.

 

Keep pretending to yourself 

[pubteam]

Be interesting to revisit this thread at the end of the season, I have a feeling Liverpool will be dealing with Nunez mk2. His shot conversion rate needs to improve dramatically in a much tougher league, I can’t see it happening.

[Yorkie]

1 hour ago, wong989 said:

The explanation makes no sense. The top table transfer shortlist is always made up of at least 30% Brighton, Villa, Forest, Brentford, Bournemouth value buys that prove themselves worthy of top teams within the year or 2 max. We don't have access to the coveted players, that was always the hardest step. Going from big achievements to big turnover, wages, transfer fees. Thats why we had to build the best scouting and recruitment system 3 years ago. We tried all summer to buy Guehi for 50-60 mil while pleading poverty. Forest and Bournemouth signed signed nearly/better defenders for fractions. Its mental. We only get to the top by scouting. Only way. As if some French lad is going to turn down guaranteed CL, league title challenges and double the money because he knows Newcastle in his heart. Watch, Brighton, Forest, Bournemouth, they'll have signed players good enough to improve our team significantly. The players exist. Everywhere. Takes some time, thats where we're at.

 

We have aspirations of consolidating our place as a Champions League team whilst competing for domestic silverware. Our top transfer targets are based on that premise and defined as low risk-high reward, because we can't afford to squander our resources. So we're courting some of the best players on the market because that's what we need to elevate us.

 

Brighton etc's aspirations and policy are totally different; it delivers them stability and an outside chance of the European places. Good for them but that's not what we're after.

 

I'm not saying we shouldn't cast the net further, ever. Clearly our signings are going to be those way down our list of targets. We're talking about our first choices here.

[Stottie]

4 hours ago, jack j said:

Ornstein uses that "only wanted" line now as well

He's not worth a light anymore the prat

Its a pity the club Ekitike is joining *wanted* a different player for not much more money.

They probably want this other player more because he's got four goals and an assist against them in six matches.

[KaKa]

18 minutes ago, pubteam said:

Be interesting to revisit this thread at the end of the season, I have a feeling Liverpool will be dealing with Nunez mk2. His shot conversion rate needs to improve dramatically in a much tougher league, I can’t see it happening.

 

Yeah, it will be indeed.

 

We were excited about the signing because of the idea of him linking up with Isak, and playing off him in a more free role.

 

Instead he's the main signing upfront at Liverpool. Going to be watching closely to see how he handles that. I'm not sure he will handle it well.

[Stottie]

2 hours ago, duo said:

It is too much tbf as he's totally unproven - Pedro would have been better value at £60mil 

2000 PL minutes in 2024-25 for only 5 goals from open play. The same the season before, when he was averaging 3 shots a game.

 

Pedro's value is in his potential as a second striker and covering other positions. 60M is a high price for it though.

 

Just on Wissa, but Callum Wilson was 28 and a half when we signed him and he was a great buy.

[Gawalls]

23 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

We have aspirations of consolidating our place as a Champions League team whilst competing for domestic silverware. Our top transfer targets are based on that premise and defined as low risk-high reward, because we can't afford to squander our resources. So we're courting some of the best players on the market because that's what we need to elevate us.

 

Brighton etc's aspirations and policy are totally different; it delivers them stability and an outside chance of the European places. Good for them but that's not what we're after.

 

I'm not saying we shouldn't cast the net further, ever. Clearly our signings are going to be those way down our list of targets. We're talking about our first choices here.

Were certainly not squandering our resources but the way we’re approaching it there’s a very good chance we’re squandering our opportunities instead, getting there is only half the battle and a plan of “buy the best but spend next to nothing” is not the best approach.

[Yorkie]

Just now, Gawalls said:

Were certainly not squandering our resources but the way we’re approaching it there’s a very good chance we’re squandering our opportunities instead, getting there is only half the battle and a plan of “buy the best but spend next to nothing” is not the best approach.

 

Is this a serious comment? Both Pedro and Ekitike would have been our most expensive signings ever. Elanga is second, isn't he?

[Nucasol]

Anyone else irrationally irritated by the way Romano pronounces Ekitike? One more reason why he should be hoyed into an enclosed space with a pack of hungry hyenas.

[Deuce]

Just now, Nucasol said:

Anyone else irrationally irritated by the way Romano pronounces Ekitike? One more reason why he should be hoyed into an enclosed space with a pack of hungry hyenas.

I’m not sure many of us are doing much better on pronouncing his name accurately tbf  

[Gawalls]

12 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

Is this a serious comment? Both Pedro and Ekitike would have been our most expensive signings ever. Elanga is second, isn't he?

What I mean is we bidded less than the team wanted and they were both transparent about that price, I worded it badly.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2025 by Gawalls

[Nucasol]

Just now, Deuce said:

I’m not sure many of us are doing much better on pronouncing his name accurately tbf  

I think you pronounce his name “Ali Barat’s bitch”.

[PauloGeordio]

Lock thread, open after next season for a short window to NJOY.

[wong989]

1 hour ago, Yorkie said:

 

We have aspirations of consolidating our place as a Champions League team whilst competing for domestic silverware. Our top transfer targets are based on that premise and defined as low risk-high reward, because we can't afford to squander our resources. So we're courting some of the best players on the market because that's what we need to elevate us.

 

Brighton etc's aspirations and policy are totally different; it delivers them stability and an outside chance of the European places. Good for them but that's not what we're after.

 

I'm not saying we shouldn't cast the net further, ever. Clearly our signings are going to be those way down our list of targets. We're talking about our first choices here.

But we aren’t looking to sell the way Brighton are. We need top level players, but  we are way behind the number that cartel clubs own. We can’t catch up by buying them. We don’t have the revenue or the wages to offer. Aside from that, our squad is not that good. All of these teams have players who would greatly improve our squad. Aside from 11-12 players, we are very average. Mitchell was 100% correct with regards our transfer policy, at least going forward. He never should have said what he said or acted the way he did. But for us to catch up, we need to win in value recruiting as well as on the field.

[The Prophet]

Shows what we're competing with.

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

Shows what we're competing with.

His agent is amazing. 

[BennyBlanco]

What hope do we have when they can offer a player with one decent season under his belt more money than our highest earner by a country mile. 
 

Fuck it off man.

[duo]

4 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Shows what we're competing with.

That's ridiculous- Football is just rotten to the core

[Adam P]

We didnt try to sign him, we forced Liverpool to move. Imo.

[Kanj]

Nah mate we made an ambitious move and it didn’t pan off in the end. 

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, Adam P said:

We didnt try to sign him, we forced Liverpool to move. Imo.

Your coping brother. 

[TheBrownBottle]

The funny thing to me is always ‘who is offering him similar?’  Is there a club out there about to pay him £200k per week so Liverpool just had to offer more? 
 

You can bet your bottom dollar we wouldn’t have made him top earner - he’d have sat in the £150-180k bracket with the rest of our high earners.

 

We’re shopping in the wrong places, bidding for players we can’t attract or afford.  Plenty of time to turn this around, but we’ve made a pigs ear of this so far. 

[r0cafella]

Just now, TheBrownBottle said:

The funny thing to me is always ‘who is offering him similar?’  Is there a club out there about to pay him £200k per week so Liverpool just had to offer more? 
 

You can bet your bottom dollar we wouldn’t have made him top earner - he’d have sat in the £150-180k bracket with the rest of our high earners.

 

We’re shopping in the wrong places, bidding for players we can’t attract or afford.  Plenty of time to turn this around, but we’ve made a pigs ear of this so far. 

Doubt we offer him more than 150k. 

[TheBrownBottle]

Just now, r0cafella said:

Doubt we offer him more than 150k. 

I agree, just thought I’d probably get shot down for undercooking it!  Probably closer to half of what Liverpool would offer.  ‘Not fit for purpose’.