Lallana's Left Peg

If he's that desperate to leave he needs to hand in a transfer request. And find a team willing to bid for him that isn't Liverpool. Then he can go.

I don't think many fans would disagree with you. I think the acid question - and one you've not answered - is whether or not our business model provides us with a realistic crack at qualifying for Europe every year and even getting close to threatening the top 4? Surely at some point we accumulate enough money to take the 'next step' (whatever that may be)? How can we make players stay?

I'm not surprised by the tabloids picking up on it as anything clickbait is right up their street but for the local rag in Liverpool to do so is a bit desperate of them.

Just like we did Fonte?

Thus far the indications are that Liverpool haven't moved on so the suggestion is that they still think a deal can be done. The board would look incredibly weak if they were to allow it to happen but if VVD throws a strop they are backed into a corner. It'll be interesting to see how this one pans out. Losing VVD does not feel like as big of an issue as it would to lose him and not have a prepared strategy of who to buy to replace him (or what to do with the money full stop).

Good. We don't need a striker who doesn't score goals, a player in the final third who has little physical presence and a player who is competing for a spot in the team in an area we already have good players. We desperately need a central midfielder who has the ability to carry the ball past a player (power and stride, not skill) to break the line of a bank of five opposition midfielders and open things up for us.

They can do what they want. FFP relates to losses based on football based activity and impacts wages / transfer spending. It's more of an accounting practice (of which there are many ways to get around) than something which prevents a club spending lots of money. I understand that if they sold Barkley and Lukaku this summer for a combined £120m then that shows as £120m income in the books for this year but any player they sign has their transfer fee amortized over the course of their contract i.e. if the player cost £25m and signs a 5 year deal then he 'costs' £5m a year in the books. So from an accounting practice they have lots of money to play with this summer.

The new Tello for us to be linked to for the next 5 years

I'd like to see a loan in the Championship for him. Thought he offered a directness and willingness to take risks last season that was sorely missing from others but also at times he found it hard to get involved in games.

Everton about to shoot themselves in the foot by signing Rooney. Do not understand this signing at all, especially considering the wages he will command. Bet Man Utd can't believe their luck.

Good player, would be far better clubs than Leicester in for him if Man City were not insisting on a buyback clause. It's essentially a glorified loan that allows Man City to receive a lot of income which gives them FFP room to buy more players. They've also done this with Unal.

Two years ago we were about to embark on a European campaign and he was needed for the squad. Then we got knocked out and there wasn't much time left in the transfer window - I presume by this stage any club we would have been happy for him to move to had already moved onto other targets as it was getting on late in the window. I am going to guess he stayed last season because we were in Europe as well (although rumours of a move to Derby persisted). This is just an educated guess.

It can be subjective and I doubt anyone would agree on a universal criteria but in the metrics I consider I see Everton as a bigger club. Fanbase, stadium, revenues, standing in game, historical success etc. They are certainly more relevant as a club right now than us, but perhaps not by much.

I'm not jealous at all. They're a bigger club than us and have more revenue to play with. They have someone willing to invest (read: lose) money in the club. I think they've made a few good signings (Pickford, Ramirez) but the others I am not convinced about (at least, not yet). And to go from Lukaku to Giroud and Rooney (on loan) is not progress for me. I actually think they have some fantastic youngsters at the club and I thought a more sustainable / intelligent approach to building their team would be to spend big a few very good players and continue progressing the kids (Davies and Holgate look great) over a number of years. But if they are really going to bloat the squad then it'll be interesting to see how he manages all the players, even with the European games.

Here is a short video of Oludare Olufunwa: Looks like a ball playing centre half - some of those through balls are fantastic too.

Here is a short video of Oludare Olufunwa: Looks like a ball playing centre half - some of those through balls are fantastic too.

You can make your own mind up as to how solid 'Sky sources' are but potentially some good news:

That's a good deal for us. I still feel he has something to offer and I like him as a player but its hard to see where his games will come from in a season where we have no European football. I think he needs a fresh start and I am not against Gallagher replacing him in the squad and us using the funds elsewhere in the team.

Interesting that we don't scout outside of Europe.

Not sure where he fits in with everything. Is he Fonte's replacement? If so I doubt he is first team ready so does that mean it's VVD and Yoshida first choice and then Stephens and this chap as back-up?

You can ignore anything Aldridge says - he's gone full native when it comes to Liverpool. My personal highlight was during the Suarez / Evra episode when he said Suarez can't be racist because his grandfather was black

Barnsley have a great reputation for developing young players now. It'll be a really attractive move for him - the chance to move up yet another division and also play for a club that will trust him and give him opportunities. I'd be surprised if Saints don't have a sell-on clause. I liked McCarthy for his attitude and leadership, something which has been very clear in all the games I've seen him play right through from the U18's under Dodd. It's disappointing to lose players with that mentality but clearly the move is made with the current pecking order in mind - we have two senior full-backs ahead of him at right-back and Valery is highly rated as well. At centre-half we have the seniors (lets say there are four of them - VvD, Yoshida, Stephens and a new signing) and at youth level the club love Alfie Jones (who whilst playing many games in defensive midfield this season is a natural centre-half and he has been doing the same as Jack Stephens did while at Swindon in terms of a new position helping him become a better defender).

Browsing RAWK has been highly amusing. There have been some absolutely crazy suggestions on there, including that the club have played a blinder and done this very deliberately

I accept that discussions between players and interest clubs happen all the time. I accept VVD is still likely to leave this summer. But how delicious is it that a club exists in this world who is stupid enough to brief the media by their own doing and admit to acting against Premier League rules and then **** themselves so much they issue an apology like a 10 year old Liverpool Football Club