Liverpool’s summer rebuild plans
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Alright Reds, Tony Evans here with Walk On, your Liverpool podcast from the Athletic. I'm here with James Pearce and Andy Jones. Now we haven't got Simon today, I don't know what he's done. I mean, he can't cope, can he, with a cup final defeat? He's just gone underground and no one's heard from him. Well, hopefully he'll emerge from his crypt at some point in the not-too-distant future. But anyway, we've sort of come to terms with it, haven't we chaps? We've, you know, we...

We're looking forward, not back, and we're thinking to ourselves, this is the team that's going to win the league. Forget the Carabao Cup. I mean, it just sounds daft, doesn't it? Carabao Cup. Who wants to win that sort of thing? Well, actually me, to be honest. Anyway, Andy, welcome back. And I'm going to come to you for the three words. I think I'm going to, on that theme, much needed break.

because I was pretty sick of the sight of them after Sunday. I think it's good that we're all just taking a minute to just, you know, compose ourselves and get ready to go again. Yeah. I mean, there has been an enormous amount of bedwetting, particularly on social media. James. Yeah. Similar theme, really. Let's stay calm. I think that is good advice in this situation. Yeah.

Let's see what you're saying. Michael Charman, need more steel. Ray Nash, busy summer head. Oh, okay. Christian Chirac, get contracts done. Good luck. Vijay Jain, main prize awaits. And that's true. To join our community of listeners on Facebook, just search Walk On Podcast and join the group. Well, Andy, earlier on in the week,

me, James and Si were full of righteous indignation I mean you'll have had a bit of time to settle down yeah much needed I really did need it as well because like many I was furious after Sunday and the sort of performance that was put in it's just one of them it's really frustrating to give you know for Liverpool to put themselves in the position they did and then

for both of those games to go as wrong as they did. And there were obviously different reasons around it. Ultimately, the performance against PSG was one where you could easily have seen Liverpool get what they needed to get in the tie and go through. But then the complete opposite against Newcastle where they got exactly what they deserved. Just really disappointing because the Champions League, I think I'm more disappointed about because of the fact that Liverpool have put themselves in such a position where...

They could have possibly been able to prioritise games and be able to sort of rotate in the league and really, you know, be full-strength and fresh for the Champions League. And no-one likes losing the final, ultimately. And I always just think when you lose a final, which Liverpool haven't done that much, wish we'd have just gone out in the first round and I wouldn't have had to get my hopes up. No, no. Well, James, we want to look ahead, but not just to winning the league because...

I mean, I think that's a foregone conclusion personally. But you've written a brilliant piece this week about the planning for the summer. Well, when I say brilliant, it fills me full of dread. You should see my Twitter mentions. Oh, well, we've been here before, haven't we? You're the man who's to blame for everything.

I mean, I'm blaming you for Sunday as well. I mean, why would you pick that team? You didn't turn up with the right attitude, James. Yeah, exactly. But no, you know, looking to the summer, you know, we've got the new regime, the old regime, you know, Michael Edwards, you know, at the top of it and sporting director Richard Hughes and...

Well, how do you see the summer panning out? Busy. Yeah. Yeah. I think change was inevitable this summer regardless. There's no knee-jerk reaction to a bad week because I think that sense of perspective is really important that, you know, barring an absolute calamity in the next six or seven weeks, Liverpool will be crowned Premier League champions again.

And, you know, and nobody, nobody should be be playing that down. And I did have a chuckle when I saw earlier on this week that,

one of the national newspapers putting a tweet out asking whether did just winning the Premier League make it a disappointing season for Liverpool? And to be honest, I've seen quite a lot of that. Liverpool will just have the Premier League to show. And I'm thinking, I went to Anfield for the first time in October 1990. Since then...

Like, the only time Liverpool have won the league was in an empty stadium with no parade. So, do you know what? Yeah? Well, winning the Premier League does make it an incredible season. And that's not clutching at straws because a few other prizes have gone by the wayside. I got loads of people on my social media giving the, only the league. And I'm like, well, definitely.

I just think it's hilarious. I mean, I did an interview with Dirk Kaut yesterday ahead of the Legends game this weekend. He was making the point, you know, he shed like blood, sweat and tears for six years and barely got close. You know, I think what one runner up

spot when they lost out to United in 08-09 and like so this idea that you know a bit of an underwhelming end to the season like no really not and especially in the context of no one expecting Liverpool to be serious contenders at the start of the season but saying that

There was always going to be change this summer because I think when you look at this Liverpool team, as good as they've been for so, so long of the season, it's kind of, you know, it's not a squad built to keep on winning. If you, you know, in terms of, you know, you look at the age of certain players and

you know, I think over the course of this season, it's always been like a kind of extended audition for a lot of the players, for all the players really that, that slot and Richard Hughes inherited. And I think, you know, it was a conscious decision by them last summer that, you know, do you know what, you know, we, we, we believe in this squad and, you know, let's give them all the opportunity to, to kind of,

to show how they can adjust and adapt to the new way of doing things. And the vast majority have gone to the next level, haven't they? But it's clear that the squad's in need of some help.

But I think that's not because of those two defeats. That's just the way you've always got to keep evolving, haven't you? Because if you stand still, you end up going backwards. So, yeah, I think at the minute, of course, until there's clarity on the contracts with the three key players, we don't know exactly how much is going to be needed to be done in the window, but

you know, even if, you know, say for argument's sake, Van Dijk and Salah both stay, I think you're still looking at, you know, a minimum of probably, you know, three, possibly four new faces this summer. And obviously more will need to be done in terms of surgery if one of those two does depart. Yeah, Andy, you know, the

In some ways, it feels to me it's a bit like Back to the Future in the sense that everything I hear and read in James is, you know, Fenway are coming with this idea to buy young players and to buy players inexpensively and let them grow with the team and...

They're not going to be chasing the biggest names, I don't think. No, and I mean, you couldn't...

I suppose if you go back to the Jude Bellingham situation, when that was where Liverpool were chasing the big name, and he sort of pulled back from it, and I think everyone would agree that was probably the right idea to do, given that the start of midfield is now basically the three players that they signed instead of him. And he also obviously got Endo in to provide a bit more depth. So I think, yeah, I think...

I'd be surprised if we will suddenly go out and break the bank for someone maybe if there was just one hole say for example it was the number 9 position that was the only thing that needed addressing then maybe they would for example but give it as James said 3, 4 it could be maybe even 5 if Senn goes and

You probably want to do a right back, a left back. You need more depth in midfield. And then if there's a couple of attackers that need, you know, that you do move on, then you've got to replace them as well. So, yeah, because FSC, you know, and the way they run the club...

you know, aren't spending endless amounts of money, then Liverpool have got to budget it and, you know, put certain amounts of money into certain positions. But yeah, it's going to be busy. Hopefully it's going to be fun. Yeah, James, I suppose we need to move that elephant out of the room immediately. The three out-of-contract players...

You can hear the tiredness in my voice saying that. But we do. I mean, again, it's like, I know we shouldn't take too much of social media, but after the last pod, people were messaging me and saying, I don't expect to hear the likes of you calling out Fenway Sports Group. And I'm like, people? People?

Do you know anything about me? Have you ever read anything I've ever written? Have you ever listened to anything I've said? But, I mean, yeah. We've long established on this show that we're all absolutely appalled by the fact that the contracts were allowed to get to this position and that the possibility of three players, the spine of the team, leaving without any fee...

So, come on, where are we? You're to blame for it all. You are the man responsible, so you better tell us something that we want to hear. No, still, the wait goes on, doesn't it? I think...

You know, certainly around Van Dyke, there's always been this sense of like, it'll get done, it'll happen. You know, right to the point where it was, I think Robbie Fowler spoke a couple of months ago, didn't he? About, you know, I wonder whether it's already done and it's tucked away in a drawer somewhere. And it's just a case of when they announce it yet.

Van Dijk has been absolutely adamant that's not the case. He said recently that anyone saying they know where I'll be playing my football next season is a liar because he said, you know, I don't even know myself at the minute. So I just think it's a really awkward one because...

especially in this day and age, people, everything's like black or white, isn't it? It's like, you know, you're either, you know, they should just give them whatever they want. And, you know, it's FSG's fault completely. Or, you know, why are the players not just accepting what's on the table? The reality is when we don't know what is on the table, you can't make a proper judgment, can you? And...

Is there even a table? I can confirm there is a table. And we know that all three of those players have been made offers. And you can certainly criticise the speed, maybe, with which they were made offers. But, you know, you have got to take a step back and go, hang on, we don't actually know what they've been offered. So it's very difficult to say, you know, it's Liverpool's fault.

because they've only offered this, or it's the player's fault because he's asking for too much, or he's asking for too long on the contract, or whatever. So, you know, it's just, the wait goes on, doesn't it? So, but it's, you know, there has to be clarity soon, because just of the impact it does have on the summer plans, because...

You know, I've had a lot of angry people in my Twitter mentions since yesterday morning. But some take an offence at the idea that whether Salah or Van Dijk stay or not will have an impact on how many players Liverpool will need to recruit. And it's like, how is that in any way controversial? That's just like the epitome of common sense that like, yeah, do you know what? If Van Dijk and Salah both stay...

there's probably less work that needs to be done compared to losing the best centre-half in Europe and the most prolific goalscorer in Europe. So, yeah, I'm scratching my head at that one. And then there's other, you know, the other thing that absolutely does my head in with some of this stuff is,

you know, some of those aggregator accounts who, you know, it's purely about stoking people up, isn't it? About getting engagement and upsetting people. And so, yeah, I don't think it was any great surprise that a lot of those tweets were centered around pointing out that Liverpool lost £57 million last season.

and have already got the second highest wage bill in the Premier League at £386 million. As if that was somehow teeing it up for

for like, you know, just to kind of manage expectations going into the summer. Just to be clear, in the same article, it also said Liverpool's financial position is a lot rosier now off the back of a lucrative Champions League run. They can budget for the fact they'll be back in the Champions League again next season. They've got a new kit deal with Adidas kicking in. They've got a lucrative pre-season tour of the Far East coming up in July.

But of course, those kind of things don't make people angry on social media. So they didn't make it into the aggregator tweets and James Pearce in brackets. Andy, the defence is a worry for next season. I mean, there are so many balls in the air. There's so many moving parts that it's hard to say with any certainty. But if, for example, Van Dijk...

moves, then you can't see Canarte signing a new contract. Well, he can't. You know, I think there is a common perception that Trent is on his way. You know, Gomez...

Andy Robertson needs replacing I mean it's like yeah I don't want to think about the defence in August it's always a lot easier when you think if only we were playing footy manager because that makes everything a lot easier because it's a lot easier to do than real life things I don't know I mean karate they might be able to offer him a bit more money if Van Dijk doesn't sign I guess he can shepherd that over but yeah he's almost becoming as big of a concern because you

he's sort of the 25 now isn't he and about to enter his prime and I think has moved into that world class category this season particularly consistently but yeah you're suddenly looking for a centre half that doesn't exist because Van Dijk is so unique and just so much better than basically everyone else in that position you're looking at a right back and I think James mentioned in that piece that he wrote about the Conor Bradley's injury issues are

a little bit of a concern. You know, he's had a couple now since he's broken to the team or, you know, three or four and sort of his, I guess his ability to stay fit is still sort of unproven a little bit. Yeah,

So, yeah, I mean, and then you're trying to find, again, a right back that doesn't exist because Trent is one of a kind and another unique player. I think Robertson, to be fair, I think Robertson does deserve a bit of credit because I do think he's turned things around in the last couple of months because, you know, rightly he was questioned, you know, about his performances earlier in the season. But I do think he's found that level of consistency again. He looks like he's got a little bit more confidence. You know, I think he's sort of at rock bottom, didn't he, with that?

when he fell over with that really slow cross-field ball against Nottingham Forest in January. But since then, I do think he's sort of stepped up and sort of got back to the, you know, not quite maybe peak Robertson levels, but definitely, you know, much better than what he was showing. But I do think, you know, succession planning is needed and

I do think it looks like you do need to upgrade on Simicast because it looks like he's fallen out of favour now and when he's been given the opportunity he hasn't performed in recent months and okay I'm sure he would argue rhythm and not playing and things and I get all that but it does feel like left back's an upgrade that's needed so yeah there could be a lot of change and yeah you're right it is a bit scary when you sort of break it down and go through it all and

Van Dijk staying makes things a lot better and a lot easier because what you don't want to do is be looking at potentially three new starters at the start of a back line at the start of next season because you just don't quite know how that's all going to shape and work out and I doubt that would be the case because I think if Robertson stays then he will probably be the first name on the team sheet at the start of next season but

but yeah if Van Dijk goes then suddenly it does all just look very very scary about what the defence could look like next season and how it'll all just play out Yeah I mean some names James that have been thrown around seem to me to be preposterous you know people saying Anthony Robinson is great I mean I

I don't get any sense that they fancy him at all. You're talking about Kirk has, you know, the money that Brighton has won for him, the money that Bournemouth would want for him, you know, seems to be in ridiculous levels. You know, I mean, I don't know. There are no... Well, you know, I'm not...

a Liverpool scout or in the recruitment department. But, you know, I don't think there'll be anyone obvious brought in in these sorts of positions. I think they'll be... They might surprise us. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think you're right. I think... I mean, Kirk has an interesting one because he certainly fits the profile in terms of, like,

and dynamism and was he 21? You know, you'd be buying someone for the long term, wouldn't you? And I think you're right, Tony. The Robinson links for me never massively made sense because, I mean, what is he? Is he 27, 28? Yeah, it would be 28, like the start of next year. Yeah, which we know with, you know, when you go back to the way that things were done, you know, when Edwards was sporting director previously, yeah,

you know it is going to be very much data-led you know focus on players 25 and under so

so so yeah I mean Kirk is I think a lot would depend what kind of what kind of fee you know because you know it's we all know that suddenly if if a player makes it clear he wants to go somewhere then it can become difficult for that club they might have to compromise slightly on on what they what they thought was realistic you know Hato at Ajax you know young talent who can play centrally and at

and a left back would be you know another another interesting option um but yeah i i think you're right tony in so much as you know i just think the way that you look at how edwards built that previous title winning team in 1920 and you know and and that and that's why i think it will be it will be those kind of deals wouldn't it the ones where it's a player on the way up that

that they see has got loads of room for development and growth under a coach as good as Arnaz Slot. You know, because it was only the only time Liverpool have ever really like bought from the absolute, you know, top shelf would be Van Dijk and Alisson with the Coutinho money. You know, you look at people like even Salah, Mane, Firmino, you know,

some people were turning their nose up at them at the time even you know even with the midfield rebuild you know McAllister, Zabozlai, Gravenberg you know it wasn't like they were fighting off competition from elite clubs all over Europe for them so I think those will be the kind of deals I think we'll see rather than you know crazy eye-watering price tags and and of

I mean, the other thing that's just bonkers is this idea that, you know, are FSG finally going to, like, loosen the purse strings and, you know, embark on some crazy spending spree? When it's like, you can't do that anymore anyway. You know, Liverpool lost 57 million quid last year. What is it you can lose? Is it just over 100 million over three years?

So, of course, there'll be significant money to be reinvested. And I think the fascinating thing will be to what extent that kind of fund gets topped up with sales, because I know we'll come on to talk about other areas of the squad. But, you know, there could be some serious cash coming in to inflate that kitty. Right.

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Well, remember, if you want to get in touch with us, you can email us at walkonattheathletic.com. And that's what Christopher Arlaringa's done. I've emailed him from St. Louis, Missouri. I haven't missed a single game since 2013. And I've been a fan since 2004, when it was more difficult to watch matches in the States. Never been to the UK, unfortunately. But anyway, Christopher wants to know what we think of the poor form of the front three as a whole. Obviously, Salah's carrying them.

you know, in terms of goal scoring and,

And yet the form of the others hasn't been great. Generally poor is the words Christopher used, which I don't know, might be a bit harsh as far as I can see, James. But do you subscribe to the idea, percolating online, online, there's the old words, there's the old words, that the Liverpool ownership intends to do some major investment in the summer? Christopher says, I personally fall for the idea every year. And do you think the investment includes a retooling of the front three?

Christopher thinks there's some great transfer value to be adding Selen, some of our players, and there's great opportunities in the market to bring in some fresh energy and different options to our attacking line. Isaac...

Well, I'm going to stop there, James. I'm going to get you to talk about realistic players because I just like it. When you see the, you know, Isaac, you realise that ain't going to happen. Anyway, Christopher says, thank you guys for everything you do. He loves the podcast. He hopes to get to Anfield sometime soon. And when he does, the pints are on him.

Happy days. We love that. And I'll tell you what, if I get to St. Louis for any reason, I'll get the alien. I had one of the strangest nights out of my life in St. Louis. It was pre-season 2016. I think Liverpool played Roma.

And went out with David Maddox from formerly of the Daily Mirror. And this absolutely crazy couple just came and sat on the table with us. And it was honestly, it was just such a surreal night. She had a couple of drinks and then outed a fella as a murderer who had...

It was and he was very upset that she'd she'd revealed this information saying he'd done his time and that she had to she had to move on and not not reveal that kind of thing in public. And then at one point in the evening, she asked me if I could stay in St. Louis and help bring up her eight year old son.

who was called MJ after Michael Jackson. Oh, well, yeah, that's interesting. And me and Dave, it was like it started to escalate and get more and more weird to the point where we got the barmaid to actually smuggle us back through the bar when they went to the loo into the other, like a disused function room and then into an Uber and like...

Yeah, we're never going back to that bar ever again. That was weird. Well, football writers have codes where bar staff know. But what was the food like in St. Louis? Do you know what? I can't remember, actually. Yeah, I just remember that there was actually someone I was there with. I won't name names, but there was a reporter on that tour. I think we went to a place called...

It was like something called the House of a Thousand Beers or something. I've never seen so many beer taps in my entire life. And do you know what I ordered? Go on. A bottle of Bud. Oh. I've never been so ashamed in my entire life to know someone. Sorry, where were we? Liverpool's attack, yes. Yeah, I mean, I think there is a little bit of recency bias with some of the discussion about...

Liverpool's attack at the minute in terms of because three of them are in such lean runs you know obviously Jota what 9 in 10 Diaz I think it's got 1 in 18 Darwin 1 in 13 so I think there is this feeling of and like in terms of recently in big games they haven't stepped up and because Mo's goals have dried up a bit there's been obviously a bigger focus on it but

But yeah, I think we need to be realistic and we're not going to see the entire...

frontline rebuilt this summer. And it shouldn't get lost as well how brilliant Gagpo has been for most of this season. What has he got? 16 goals in all comps. Again, just really unfortunate that he got that ankle injury and you can see that he's just lost rhythm, hasn't he? Since he's come back, he's just not really been at it. And I actually think Diaz for big chunks of the season has been really good. But I think a lot will depend on what kind of offers are forthcoming. We know that Liverpool...

You know, an intermediary from the Saudi Pro League contacted them in January about Darwin Nunes, you know, wanting to know if there was a deal that could be done. Liverpool said, no, there isn't because we're keeping this squad together for this season. But I don't think that interest has gone away. And that might suit all parties if they were to come back in in the summer. I don't know, you know, 50, 60, maybe even 70 million quid. I think you'd get a much higher fee for Darwin from Saudi than you'd get from

You know, if you were trying to put him on the market in Europe. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, if I'm Derwin and, you know, at his age, I wouldn't be wanting to go to Saudi Arabia. But I mean, and I actually think, all right, he mightn't suit Liverpool, but there's still a player in there.

If an attack is built around them, I think you can get the best out of them. And ultimately, that's not the case at Liverpool because it's built around Mo Salah, rightfully so. I do think the other thing with Nunes is probably why his market will be big. I think in Europe as well is because...

there's just a lack of number nines, there is just generally in football at the minute, there's a lack of real top, you wouldn't say Nunes is top quality I guess maybe at the minute, but there is just a lack of number nines, so I do think there will be clubs out there who are looking at it and will take the gamble on them,

Yeah, you're probably still going to get your best offers from Zardy. And I think we've seen with John Duran, for example, at Villa, that younger players are, you know, willing to go over there. And it may suit Nunes. I mean, you know, obviously the social media scrutiny that he's got at Liverpool at times has been a little bit too much for him. Understandable, because some of it has been, you know, a bit overboard at times. Yeah.

So it might just be better for him to sort of go to a league where ultimately you're not going to get that grief, I guess, every week if you're not scoring. It might just shoot him to sort of be over there for that. So I think there's different things, but I think that's why there will be a market for him because there's just such a lack of number nines and that's why Liverpool buying a number nine isn't as easy as it sounds because outside of Izak there's not sort of...

you know, a load of obvious names that spring to mind about who Liverpool could go out and get. James, what about that fella they brought on at Wembley, that Keyes fella? Has he come through the youth system or something? I mean, I'd never heard of him and

And then he comes in and scores. Yeah, it was like him. He turned up for the long five-a-side. Easily done. Easily done. Yeah, I mean, I think Chiesa's a really interesting one going into the summer because I think...

the decision to be made there is very clear you either either slot says do you know what I can see the progress I've needed to see and I've now view him as having a bigger part to play or you just have to get rid of him because to have got to this point and I know obviously first half of the season there were mitigating circumstances with it you know he had injuries and illness and

You know, it was very stop-start. And, of course, probably his best position is wide right. And Salah's a machine and doesn't miss games. So there was all that. But there's also obviously been lots of other times where you thought, come on, surely Kiezer's worth a go now. And he hasn't turned to him. He hasn't had that trust in him. But, yeah, the biggest thing for me in terms of the front line, and obviously we're waiting on the Salah thing. But even if Salah stays, look, I think the biggest –

thing that Liverpool have to address this summer is a new number nine because I just don't think Nunes or Jota is really what, you know, the answer in terms of what slot wants from a centre forward. There's going to be an awful lot of movements, I think, on that front line. I mean, for me, it's, you know, I think if you look at Diaz's age, I mean, I think Liverpool

I mean, he's effective in spells. Again, we don't want to overreact to a couple of bad results because this has been a really good season. But I could actually see that's the sort of deal that the recruitment department would think, yeah, if we can get Tiaz out for a good price and get someone in less expensive with more opportunity to grow, then

and develop someone younger. I think that would be... that bites someone's hands off. Yeah, I think the thing with Diaz at the moment is I think he just looks knackered. He looks like he's one of the ones who has been overplayed a little bit. That's what I think anyway. That's what I had recently watching him. He's just not as... maybe not as sharp as you like. I think... I guess the problem always comes back with Diaz to the goal contributions and while it looked like he'd solved it earlier in the season...

I think James said before, 1-18 for a forward. Playing for Liverpool as well, who've been attacking really well all season and free scoring, ultimately it's not good enough. And I appreciate this season he's had to move roles and

When he moved into that number nine role, initially it was really good, really effective. You just remember, I guess that spell over Christmas, the West Ham and the Tottenham game, but then it got less and less effective. And I think that didn't help because people were getting frustrated with him and Liverpool were getting to 0-0 on 60 minutes a fair few times with playing that system. And yeah, ultimately, if you're offering a new contract while you're offering them, you're probably going to have to give them four years, which takes them to 32. And I don't think Liverpool...

will want Diaz at that point and okay yeah maybe you can sell him in two years time but what's his value at that point but yeah I think him and then one of the you'd expect Nunes would be the one I think Jota

It's been really difficult watching Jota the last 10 games because he's just looked so far off what we know Diogo Jota can do. You wonder how much the injuries over time have caught up with him and have affected him now. And you wonder what a clean post-season, pre-season Jota may look like. Probably the Jota that we saw at the start of the season, which looked really, really good. But yeah, it would be a gamble to...

to not strengthen in that number 9 position and if you are selling Nunes then ultimately you're going to have to buy another one anyway because slot wants two players for every position and if you're moving one out you've got to bring someone in. Dune's

I mean, kids, if you're not subscribing to The Athletic to read James, then I don't know what's wrong with you. Frankly, I don't. You're probably not a Liverpool fan as far as I'm concerned. I go that far. But anyway, you wrote about a year under Michael Edwards, the new CEO, group CEO, rather than just the football club.

So how's he reshaped the football operation? Yeah I mean it's been completely rebuilt hasn't it I think yeah just over a year ago now since you know he effectively took Mike Gordon's old job we knew that Mike Gordon was looking to take a step back from the kind of the day-to-day grind of running the football department of FSG and that was obviously a big you

you know, factor in Michael Edwards' decision to come back because he didn't want to be a sporting director again. But it was this kind of all-encompassing role. And then since then, yeah, a lot of his work has been about the long term, about shaping the kind of next era for Liverpool with, obviously, his first senior appointment was bringing in Richard Hughes. And, you know, from the people I've spoken to, that dynamic seems to be working really well in terms of,

I think the lines of communication are pretty clear with, of course, Edwards reports to the FSG board, Hughes reports to Edwards, Slott reports to Hughes, and everything going on around that in terms of there's still a lot of work going on regarding the multi-club model and doing due diligence on a handful of other clubs that could potentially be added to the FSG team.

and I know obviously multi-club ownership kind of divides opinion but it's something that Liverpool feel as if in terms of the future in terms of the options it gives you in terms of putting certain young players in a league and helping them develop and then potentially bringing them to Liverpool can help Liverpool further down the line We're in firm weight absolutely against that a few years back

When other people did it, of course. Right. Yeah, I mean, I'm not sure about that. I know that it's, you know, we know that that was a big, big factor in, you know, for Edwards in terms of being able to,

to kind of find a second club and then effectively run it. And obviously Julian Ward as technical director and Pedro Marquez will be heavily involved in that as well. But there's been loads of work going on behind the scenes in terms of restructuring the scouting department, the recruitment department changes with obviously the guys that Richard Hughes brought in from Bournemouth and Dave Fallows leaving around Christmas time. So...

So, yeah, I think, you know, FSG have so much trust in Michael Edwards, don't they? And it's going to be that's why this summer, I think, is going to be really fascinating because, you know, I think with it being so new and there being so much change last summer, you

I think it made sense almost to stick with what they had. And I think it's been proved right because Liverpool are on the brink of winning the Premier League title. But there's also a hell of a lot of work going on behind the scenes to ensure the structure is right to help recruit what we hope will be the next title winning team after this one. Yeah, Andy, I mean, Richard Hughes has come in for a lot of stick, mainly from people who have...

Frankly, no idea what's going on. You know, I mean, he came to the contract situation late, so it's very, very difficult for him. I mean, it seems to me that quietly he's been effective in what he's had to do. And there are issues, like I say, in the heritage, which...

in many ways are beyond him. But it's going to be a big test for him this summer, isn't it? Yeah, it feels like people have jumped to conclusions that he's not doing anything, which feels really, really harsh because he's only Sam one player and he's not us, the contact. But as you say, he was put in a position with the contact and ultimately he's got a certain sort of parameters where he can offer a certain amount and can sort of offer...

ridiculous amounts of money for example so you know he's working with the framework as well but yeah I think you know the next couple of months will certainly shape perceptions a lot more rightly or wrongly with the contracts obviously because ultimately there's going to come to the point where they're either staying or they're leaving and

and we'll stop all the discussions after that. I guess there's other contracts that need sorting, Canarsie being probably the main example where you're approaching 12 months on them and you don't want to do... I don't think any of us can be bothered sitting through another 10-month contract saga with another Liverpool player. But then I guess, for example...

you know, the, the scouting revamp, you know, Liverpool, Liverpool are going to be buying players this summer. So ultimately, you know, what are those players look like? What are they going to find the gems that they probably need to find? So, yeah, I think the next, the next few months are the ones where we can really, you know, in terms of the big, the big decisions, if you like the big stuff, because, you know, you can put in loads of really good work in the background, but ultimately it comes down to,

making the big decisions in the market which largely shape the fortunes of a club and let's not forget at the end of the day that he was part of the team who recruited Arna Slot who was about to guide Liverpool to a second Premier League title and the first one that will be lifted in front of fans so he's done pretty well on that one so hopefully that run continues as we enter the final stages of contracts and the summer

Well, I mean, it's going to be the sort of summer, I think, that the transfer ultras will love or hate. Can we win the transfer window? That's the question. Yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, they'll probably love and hate it at the same time because that's the way they do. But, but, but, and I think the only fitting way to end today's show is James to say,

There is a title within touching distance. And no matter what's happened, no matter all the uncertainty, this is a monumental achievement. And it's there in the next month. In April, the fate of the Premier League title will be decided. And the fate is inevitable. It's coming to Anfield again. Yeah, I absolutely can't wait for it. As I've said previously, you know,

It was such a surreal experience back in 2020, sat in a virtually deserted Anfield watching Jordan Henderson lift that trophy in an empty cup. And it was like, you know, really, after 30 years, is this how it has to be? And being denied all those trappings that should have come with it.

So yeah, this city is going to be an incredible place to be at the back end of May. Two miserable defeats haven't shaken my belief that they'll get the job done. Maximum of 16 points from nine games needed. Less effectively because Arsenal aren't going to be perfect and of course...

Liverpool can make a big step towards achieving that big prize in one go if they beat Arsenal at Anfield in May. The title will be done by the time Arsenal have gone. It'll be guards of honour time. It's going to be party time. May the 26th, that bank holiday Monday when the parade's likely to be. There's going to be no better place in the world to be than on the streets of Liverpool.

Well, again, you know, go back to Christopher who emailed us from St. Louis. Well, you know, if you could make it to Liverpool for that, that would be an event. And yes, despite the disappointments of the last couple of weeks, a title's there. I can taste it and it tastes good. Well, that's it from Walk On, your Liverpool podcast brought to you by The Athletic. Thanks to James and Andy for joining me and you for listening. We'll be back next week. We'll see you then.

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