An update from Merseyside clubs with LiverpoolWorld writer Will Rooney
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00:00 Okay. So, Will, just on Liverpool starting, there's a lot going on with Romelu Lavia now.
00:07 Do you think, are you confident they'll get him in before the Premier League season begins?
00:12 Yes, it's rumbled on a lot longer than certainly fans would have hoped for.
00:16 I mean, you look at the Donnach Sir Bozlai deal that came at breakneck speed, really.
00:21 I mean, no one has really mentioned him as a potential target.
00:25 And then, you know, probably took four or five days for the deal to get over the line
00:30 and him to be officially announced.
00:32 So, the Lavia one, obviously, it's a little bit different because maybe Liverpool weren't prioritising signing a defenceman for midfield.
00:40 I think they've always wanted, maybe they wanted a cover for Fabinho, but maybe the ÂŁ50 million for Lavia,
00:47 they were looking at thinking, well, that's a little bit too much for a 19-year-old at the minute.
00:51 But obviously, with Fabinho and Jordan Henson leaving, that's accelerated the need to get in a new player to fill the void in the number six position.
01:00 So, yeah, it looks like two bigs turned down so far.
01:05 You'd think Liverpool are going to come in with a third one.
01:09 And as you say, they'll want someone through the door for the first game of the season.
01:13 But even if he did come in for the game of the season, would he be ready to start for Liverpool and a JĂĽrgen Klopp team?
01:20 Because he hasn't played an awful lot for Southampton during pre-season.
01:24 I think he's made one start of 45 minutes and then he's had pretty much cameos off the bench in other games,
01:30 which that sort of suggests that Russell Martin isn't planning to have him around the squad,
01:35 which you can understand because, you know, Romelu Lavia, I think, since Southampton relegated, expects he'd be to partner Klopp.
01:42 But as we speak, Southampton have set up late, Jeffrey Wednesday is going to be in the squad.
01:48 And Russell Martin said he'll play his strongest team.
01:50 And you look under that team and he's part of it.
01:53 And same with James Ward, proud to his future's up in the air as well.
01:56 So, personally, maybe Liverpool might be close to getting him over the line before the Chelsea game.
02:04 As we speak, there's nine days.
02:05 There's a lot of water to go under the bridge until then.
02:10 But even if he does arrive, I still don't think he'll be ready to start for Liverpool,
02:16 unfortunately, because he's just not going to be probably fit enough for the demands of Klopp.
02:21 And he hasn't had time to bed him really.
02:23 It might take a few weeks for that to happen.
02:27 But, yeah, obviously the Poole have got ironed in the fire there.
02:30 And, you know, linked with Andre, the Brazilian midfielder, a couple of others still being mentioned, the likes of Ryan Gravenber.
02:39 So, yeah, what happens between now and the start of the season, we'll be interested to see.
02:46 Liverpool need someone in.
02:47 But for me, looking at it now, it's not, you know, even if they got someone in the middle of next week, it wouldn't be as important now.
02:56 Because not all the times are really coming and making an impact.
02:59 Not a lot of players do, down the year, in Klopp's team.
03:01 Yeah, and if Liverpool are to sign a midfielder, is there going to be more business in other positions?
03:09 Or how are they looking if they do get a midfielder across the line before the season?
03:14 Yeah, I think I could see, obviously, defensive midfielders are definitely going to come in.
03:19 Yeah, and Klopp said it's no secret that we're still in the mouth of players.
03:22 And I think another defender will potentially arrive towards the end of last season.
03:30 Klopp didn't deny that they weren't looking at one.
03:32 When he was asked, he said it was every department bar goalkeeper that they're looking at.
03:38 So, in theory, that doesn't rule out the attacking areas, but we can't really see Liverpool wanting anyone in the forward position.
03:46 Because they've got five players, as we talked about last week, plus Bento as well.
03:50 So, it will look defence, but will that now be, I think, maybe a lot of people thought it would be a versatile left-footed defender.
04:02 A left-footed centre-back isn't something that Liverpool have at the minute.
04:06 And in the new system now, Andy Robertson is sort of playing that.
04:10 Not a centre-back for all, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold moving into midfield, he's having to tuck in a little bit more.
04:16 He doesn't get forward as much.
04:17 And he's suffered a little bit from the system change because we've seen over the past few years how often he mirrored out of defence.
04:27 And he's a real asset in those positions, but he's having to be a little bit more disciplined.
04:31 So, you're looking to Liverpool to get a left-footed centre-back who can, maybe when you just need that little bit more solidity, he plays in that role.
04:41 But judging by the pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich, Joe Massa struggled to get across and cope with Trent Alexander-Arnold when he was in midfield.
04:51 Suddenly, Brikke McCarty does superbly, but he's had his injury issues as well.
04:56 Joe Gomez is another option, but Joe Gomez, since he's had that knee injury a few years ago, his form has been up and down, to say the least.
05:08 Will JĂĽrgen Klopp look at potentially bringing in a right-centre half with Pace now?
05:14 It'll be interesting, but I can't see another defender coming in.
05:18 And then you look at maybe, it's doubtful, but goalkeeping situation, if Keleher was to leave and Offa came in, I mean, it's the chance for Windsor-Ludwigs,
05:28 it looks like there's not going to be one.
05:30 But if one did come in and Liverpool accepted, then they might go in and look for a back-up keeper somewhere.
05:37 You mentioned pre-season there for Liverpool.
05:42 What's the latest you can tell us on their tour?
05:45 How do you sum up, will the players be ready?
05:48 Are they looking like they've readjusted into this new system as well?
05:53 Yeah, I mean, it's hard to judge the Singapore tour because, and pre-season in general, because the first two games in Germany were effectively run out.
06:03 And the games in Singapore, they were more competitive, I think it's more competitive opposition, obviously Leicester and then Bayern Munich.
06:11 But I don't think Liverpool's done an awful lot in terms of fitness over there.
06:17 Maybe it was a bit more tactically, as you say, but it was hard work over there because of all the commercial aspects that go into it.
06:23 The heat, etc.
06:28 The time difference, you can't shake the team's work over there.
06:31 I should say, Leicester game, they played well in.
06:36 But the Bayern Munich game was, like a lot of people said, there were positives and negatives to it.
06:43 Played well going forwards, lots of real threat.
06:47 But again, those holes at the back were exposed, especially on the right-hand side.
06:52 I mean, the gap that Chante Alexander-Arnold leaves when he goes forwards into the midfield,
07:00 it's a gaping hole and you've got to be able to cover that when Joel Martip didn't do it.
07:04 And then in the second half, even, for Bayern Munich's winning goal,
07:09 Canarty and Joel Gomez were both exposed in that area.
07:13 So it's something that JĂĽrgen Klopp's got to remedy, because it doesn't take a genius to realise that that's an area that you can pretty much take advantage of.
07:25 And teams will be looking to do that.
07:28 So, you know, got one more friendly now, German second-tier side again.
07:35 And then after that, maybe JĂĽrgen Klopp will have, what, six days until the Chelsea game.
07:41 Maybe that will be really tactically for a good few days, to have the training ground.
07:45 But they're looking OK.
07:47 But it hasn't been the perfect pre-season, just because of what's happened in terms of transfer market.
07:52 When Alexander McAllister and Dominic Spurs came in, you thought, right, Liverpool looking really good.
07:57 But obviously, it's been a little bit disrupted because of what's happened to Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
08:02 Not being able to really plan with a proper defensive midfielder in the building.
08:05 But JĂĽrgen Klopp suggested that these things are going to happen.
08:10 They might happen over the course of a season if you have injuries.
08:12 So you've just got to get used to it.
08:15 So, Will, just on Everton, what's the latest transfer news you can tell us?
08:18 Is there any more sort of movement?
08:20 Because we've spoken and it's been moving quite slow until these rooms have been emerging recently.
08:26 Yeah, just looking, Everton are on the verge of signing Yousef Choumethi from Sporting Lisbon.
08:35 Obviously, they missed out on Elba Alturi to Atalanta.
08:38 I think, to be honest, a lot of people were braced for that.
08:42 Because when Atalanta come in and you look at a club who are on the up in Serie A and I think they're in the Europa League next season.
08:50 It was either that or go to Everton where you might not be the main striker.
08:57 And, you know, potentially might be fighting at the lower ends of the division again.
09:02 So I think people are braced for that.
09:04 But Everton obviously has a contingency plan in place.
09:07 It's nice to see, to be honest with you, Everton have gone right with missing out on him.
09:10 Right, who can we get in now?
09:12 And yeah, it's looking like that.
09:13 That deal's edging closer for Choumethi.
09:15 But comes in after just one season playing senior football, I think he's got three goals and 21 appearances for Sporting.
09:25 Which for a lad who's 18, 19, it's not a bad record whatsoever.
09:30 And, you know, his height, he's around 6'4".
09:33 He's not going to be a prolific goalscorer.
09:34 He's going to be more of a target man who can bring others into play.
09:39 And that'll be his remit.
09:40 So maybe you can't judge him on goals as well.
09:42 But you say 19 comes to Premier League, it's going to take a few months to adapt.
09:47 But I think his arrival will potentially see Tom Cameron go out on loan.
09:52 It has a really good spell of Preston, second half of last season.
09:57 And it makes sense for him to go out again because half a season is nothing.
10:03 And, you know, if he can do that over half a season in his first taste of senior football, then what could he do over a year?
10:10 And then Everton can see where he is in 12 months' time.
10:14 I still do think there'll be another striker coming in.
10:17 I think Timmy Massey will be sort of third choice.
10:21 Obviously the likes of Ian Hatcho and Che Adams linked so far.
10:25 I think, yeah, he wants physicality, Sean Dyson, as strikers.
10:30 Because I think Everton needs players with a similar ilk to Tom McCartney.
10:34 I think everyone knows he can't be relied on just because of fitness issues.
10:39 And he can't play every week anyway.
10:41 Can't play every game.
10:42 He'll know that himself.
10:43 He needs to look after his body.
10:45 And once potentially a new senior player comes in, then maybe Everton will look to offload Neil Mopé then.
10:54 Struggles in his first season at Everton.
10:55 I think he's just suited to the way he plays, especially under Sean Dyson now.
11:00 So Everton might look to cash in on him.
11:02 So, yeah, plenty going in the strikers department.
11:06 Then, yeah, maybe obviously talk of Harry Maguire now, maybe.
11:09 Potentially someone he could target.
11:13 Yeah, I think centre-back is an area that Everton still need to improve.
11:16 Because Mason Holgate will probably go out at some point, you would think.
11:21 And Jared Pranfrost has a great spell of PSV.
11:23 But is he ready for the Premier League to play week in, week out?
11:26 Michael Keane, there's still some doubts over.
11:30 And Ben Godfrey the same as well.
11:32 So it still could be a busy couple of weeks for Everton.
11:35 I think the business will go right down to the wiring, Cummins and Gollum.
11:39 Will, just on Everton and obviously the season approaching now,
11:42 what are their aims long term for the season?
11:45 Because it's going to be another long haul, you feel.
11:49 They've got to eradicate those problems that they've had over the last two seasons.
11:54 Yeah, I think first and foremost, I don't want to be accused of being a bit of a pessimist.
12:02 But I think Everton ultimately have to survive in the Premier League this season.
12:06 After two campaigns fighting for survival, you have to be pragmatic about it.
12:14 They've finished 17 plus seasons.
12:19 I think Sean Dyche knows the realities of what the challenges he might face in the upcoming campaign.
12:24 He spoke about it candidly after the Bournemouth win.
12:28 I don't think Everton are...
12:31 You'd love for Everton to be the size you compete for Europe,
12:35 but you've got to look at it bluntly.
12:37 They're in a precarious financial position.
12:40 Business over the summer has been difficult.
12:42 They've lost a few players.
12:44 And the dam of Pechernod's when it comes to signing players as well.
12:50 So I think you've just got to look at it as a pragmatist.
12:54 Survival will be key because Everton, I've said it before,
12:58 they need to be in the Premier League when they move to that new stadium on Bramley Moor Dock.
13:05 And yeah, it'd be an absolute disaster situation if the Waynes were spoken on to before.
13:10 Going from there, obviously you want to see progress.
13:12 I think if everyone said now Everton will finish 13th, 14th,
13:17 they'd be going into the last few games of the season as dead rubbers.
13:21 I think, as I say, I don't want to look like I'm not being ambitious,
13:28 but I think a lot of fans will take that just because of what's happened over the past few years.
13:32 Good cup run as well.
13:33 I think maybe if that is the case, then some supporters would like...
13:39 Well, every supporter would like to see that.
13:41 Maybe Sean's eye shall be eyeing that himself as well.
13:43 Because I think last season maybe the mistake,
13:47 one certainly wants to see Frank Lampard make,
13:49 is that game against Bournemouth when he changed a lot of his team,
13:52 even though he changed his centre-backs,
13:54 even though Connor Coady and James Tarkowski over the past few years,
13:59 I think they probably missed 10 games between them, to be honest with you,
14:03 over the past few seasons before that.
14:04 So, you know, extremely durable cup run, that'd be appreciated.
14:10 Then obviously what's happening with maybe new investments in the club,
14:14 MSP, Sportacapital, just repairing that fractured relationship
14:18 between the fans and the boards.
14:20 And, yeah, Everton fans having that regained trust in the hierarchy at the club,
14:27 because we know what's gone on over the past 18 months.
14:32 And Everton fans need to be able to have some trust in the decisions that are being made.
14:38 I think they are at a football level, definitely.
14:41 Shaun Dyche coming in and Kevin Felwell, who's working with limited resources,
14:46 you have to salute what he's been doing so far.
14:49 But apart from that, you know, things that,
14:53 though they can affect off the pitch that others do,
14:57 then I think that, yeah, that relationship needs to be repaired.