Get him to the Greek (Deal Confirmed)

[Judge Jules]

Except that we are signing another left back and Norwich have a pissed off player who'll want to leave anyway.

Work of a true genius.

Exactly. That nonsense is all just one giant 😗 from Norwich.

 

[Red Bird]

Michael Edwards 'met his match' in former Liverpool man unwilling to budge on transfer demand
Norwich City left-back Jamal Lewis was subject of a bid from Liverpool but the Reds seem to have needed to look elsewhere

Michael Edwards is said to have found his equal in Canaries sporting director Stuart Webber after Liverpool were unable to land a bargain deal for Norwich City defender Jamal Lewis this summer.
A bid of £10 million was submitted for Lewis’ services last week, with that offer immediately rejected. The feeling at Norwich was that the valuation placed on Lewis by Liverpool was nowhere near a figure they would accept, with Webber wanting to open talks at double that amount.

Stuart Hodge, who is a journalist covering Norwich City, told the Blood Red podcast: "To talk about Jamal Lewis as a £10 million player is fantasy land even allowing for fluctuations due to the pandemic.

"He has that high ceiling in terms of development but he already has that defensive solidity to his game.

"Jamal is not an Andy Robertson-type full-back. He can do the same running but he is about as accomplished defensively at this moment, if not a little bit more so.

"It’s clear that the story emerged from the Liverpool end and not the Norwich end as a means of trying to drive the asking price for Jamal down, hence the derisory opening offer."


In effect, Liverpool stuck to their guns and Norwich did too, with the two sporting directors unprepared to budge. Liverpool always maintained that they had other options - and it appears that was correct.
Norwich rejected the offer for Lewis almost out of hand, and value him at the same amount as Max Aarons, their right-back who has been linked with a £20 million switch to Bayern Munich recently.
Hodge added: "Stuart Webber said on my podcast that Norwich will not be bullied - he made that explicitly clear.

"He said ‘we set our stall out with the James Maddison transfer’. If you noticed, there are a host of add-ons that Norwich are set to benefit from if Leicester qualify for Europe, caps for England, that sort of thing.

"With Maddison, Norwich were, in terms of the club’s financial situation, under pressure to get a deal done. And they weren’t bullied at that point - they got a club-record fee and a record fee for a Championship player.

"What Webber said to me was that is how we are going to operate going forward. They are under no pressure to sell and the player can utilise their agent, but at the end of the day, it was Norwich who gave them an opportunity."

Webber was a part of Liverpool’s staff once upon a time, during Damien Comolli’s time in charge of the club. Webber was responsible for Academy recruitment during his time at Anfield, and was a part of the team who signed Raheem Sterling to the club's ranks.

And Hodge says that the ex-Reds employee firmly believed that Liverpool would pay his asking price this summer for the left-back. It appears that the Reds had other ideas.
Norwich pointed out, according to Hodge, that the market has increased significantly since Robertson moved from Hull City to Anfield, and Lewis is under contact until 2023.

He concluded: "Liverpool [were] trying to play on the narrative that Norwich are a small club, but Webber has made it clear that Norwich will not be bullied or treated differently."

Norwich are under no obligation to sell players this summer and wanted to keep their man, so holding out for the full £20 million was not quite the Canaries failing to call Liverpool's bluff.

So nothing from the Norwich end, eh? I see words such as "derisory" and " Norwich pointed out ... since Robertson moved from Hull City to Anfield ..." Pretty much everything is from the Norwich end, I'd say.

 

[Brizzle]

I think Edwards would only have met his match if Norwich extract value from the deal - whether that be from another buyer, or whether they actually want to keep him. I'm not sure putting an unreasonable (or what feels unreasonable) price on someone and thus losing the deal is reason to do this.

If they either get more money from someone else, then maybe he's done his job. Or if they get great performance from Lewis next year - likewise. For now I don't think he has exactly shone by being unable to negotiate (from what we can see).

 

[Beamrider]

So nothing from the Norwich end, eh? I see words such as "derisory" and " Norwich pointed out ... since Robertson moved from Hull City to Anfield ..." Pretty much everything is from the Norwich end, I'd say.

Yeah, if Edwards had agreed to pay £20m then it would be fair to say he met his match. He didn't.
Fine for Norwich to say no sale at that price, but trumpeting it as a win for them is a bit of a stretch, to say the least.

 

[KopRed]

I think you've just covered why we need a back up ! And I doubt it was first priority, just the first to come to fruition.

Neco did well covering TAA however Robbo looked knackered in some games and IF he were to get injured we'd be fucked without proper cover.

He'll get enough games to keep him happy between the 6 trophies we're gunning for next season, his pay has just increased, he's playing with some world-class players under Klopp and his chances of winning a major trophy have just gone through the roof. What's not to be happy about ?

Let me put it this way, if this Greek fella is the only player we signed this season because we are skint, will you be happy with the window?

Yes i recognised we have been asking for a LB cover for awhile but that was when we were throwing 30-40m to buy midfielders after midfielders. I think many felt we could shift some funds to buy a cover which is valid at that time.

Now that we don't have the funds, a LB should not be the priority.

I would prioritise a CB, and a keeper before a specialised LB. Or at least buy a versatile LB who could play in a few positions.

 

[peterhague]

A question for the believers , if he's as good as you think he is how does only have 3 international caps for a country ranked outside the top 50 in the world ?

Presumably there's some great Greek left back we're all unaware of ?

I kept meaning to check what his international record was like, because there's no mention of it if you Google him, which is a bit odd.

So yeah, that's not very promising.

 

[Brizzle]

**sticks head in sand**

la la la la la

 

[LeTallecWiz]

official yet?

 

[peterhague]

**sticks head in sand**

la la la la la

I have every confidence he'll be better than Moreno.

 

[Brizzle]

I have every confidence he'll be better than Moreno.

With this as a bar - in the same way the 4th CB versus Lovren will be then we are on the up!

 

[Frogfish]

Let me put it this way, if this Greek fella is the only player we signed this season because we are skint, will you be happy with the window?

Yes i recognised we have been asking for a LB cover for awhile but that was when we were throwing 30-40m to buy midfielders after midfielders. I think many felt we could shift some funds to buy a cover which is valid at that time.

Now that we don't have the funds, a LB should not be the priority.

I would prioritise a CB, and a keeper before a specialised LB. Or at least buy a versatile LB who could play in a few positions.

Well he may or not be the only player we sign (I think it'll be 3-4 TBH since that's what we'll lose/have lost from the squad) so it's a bit premature to make a call on that. Of course I won't be happy if he's the only signing but the odds on that are likely 100/1.

It would seem that LB has indeed been a priority for LFC for some time though. Supposedly we tried and failed to find a back up last season so it's not really a surprise since Millie has aged, and Larouci didn't work out, it's become more critical.
Additionally the way this guy plays we could easily see him step up to LM for some games, he seems to have that in the tank (hope this isn't new girlfriend bias though) ! I much prefer to have a LB who can play LM than one who can play CB ... because if he's that guy then he won't have the pace/attacking prowess of Robbo and his ilk.

Keeper : we won't buy anyone. Adrian is a fair deputy and it's unlikely we'd get much better to sit on the bench 99% of the time.
CB - I would say we're odds on to buy to replace Lovren (hasn't the club stated that the youngsters are not ready yet) ? Again the window has an age to go so ...

 

[Frogfish]

official yet?

Yep. Brizzle has indeed stuck his head in the sand.

 

[Hansern]

So I looked up Tsimikas and apparently he has spent half a year on loan at a Danish club Esbjerg in 2017 and then spent the entire 2017-18 season on loan at the Dutch Willem II. First of all, I want to express my profound disappointment in @Kay Age El – this is the player you should have been scouting for SCM instead of following all these Danish no-hopers warming the benches of shit clubs around the world. Was is so hard to predict that in 2020 we're going to have a global pandemic, win the title at a canter and look for a back-up for a world-class Scottish LB we signed for £8M from Hull and this guy was going to be the one we'd choose? I forgive you for now, but do better next time!

Seriously though, a bit of Dutch education should do him a world of good in terms of adjusting (in contrast to the Danish education, which means fuck all). We had the likes of Hyypia and Van Dijk come through Willem II before ending up at LFC and what's also encouraging is that Kostas' loan spell there was a big success – he started almost every game and scored 6 and assisted 4 in all comps (3 and 3 in the league). Not too shabby for a young full-back! I feel more confident about this transfer now; it's not the same as plucking a 24-year-old out of the Greek league who's never played abroad or had to navigate a new environment.

Here's a clip of 20-year-old Tsimikas bossing it in the Danish league (which @Kay Age El was obviously too busy to have noticed):


And here is a free-kick goal from his time in Holland:

According to the Echo, our scouts have been following him for the last 3 years after spotting him while on loan at Willem II. They were keeping track on Chirivella when they noticed Tsimikas.

 

[Jack D Rips]

I also like how we waited until the day after they got knocked out of the EL to move on this. Could be a good pointer for Thiago.

Have you been reading my posts?

 

[Brizzle]

Have you been reading my posts?

Have I missed anything?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

A question for the believers , if he's as good as you think he is how does only have 3 international caps for a country ranked outside the top 50 in the world ?

Presumably there's some great Greek left back we're all unaware of ?

Did anybody believe Robbo would turn out to be what he had become? I bet no one, not even Robbo himself.
I think any excitement has more to do with Klopp and his track record with signings for Liverpool

 

[Judge Jules]

Klopp definitely, but also the backroom staff led by Edwards who have made such an enormous difference to the professionalism of our transfer dealings. I have immeasurably more confidence than I used to have in our ability to find the right players and do the right deals for them. I hesitate to say too much about Tsimikas individually as I haven't seen enough of him, but plenty on here (though I was never one of them) weren't having Robbo initially because he hadn't exactly had a stellar career up till we went in for him. Any transfer's a risk, but this is one I'm OK with taking.

 

[Modo]

I'm delighted that we finally have a back up for Robbo. Ideally he would have been 3-4 years younger but it is what it is.
I'm not expecting Tsimikas to become better or equal to Robbo in skill as long as he can do job for us whenever needed I'll be happy.

 

[the count]

Klopp definitely, but also the backroom staff led by Edwards who have made such an enormous difference to the professionalism of our transfer dealings. I have immeasurably more confidence than I used to have in our ability to find the right players and do the right deals for them. I hesitate to say too much about Tsimikas individually as I haven't seen enough of him, but plenty on here (though I was never one of them) weren't having Robbo initially because he hadn't exactly had a stellar career up till we went in for him. Any transfer's a risk, but this is one I'm OK with taking.

I think that there was quite a bit of excitement around the signing of Robbo but I think that had less to do with any extensive knowledge of his ability and potential but rather the fact that he wasn't Alberto Fucking Moreno

 

[gkmacca]

Can people please stop mentioning Moreno? I'd just about blocked the daft little fecker from my memory, and now THIS!

 

[Rosco]

L

Did anybody believe Robbo would turn out to be what he had become? I bet no one, not even Robbo himself.
I think any excitement has more to do with Klopp and his track record with signings for Liverpool

No, hence me saying this guy needs a Robbo-like transformation in my first post about him.

And the excitement is all based upon YouTube videos. The only reason I hold out any hope at all that this might turn out okay is because of the work done with Robbo - I've said for ages he became quicker and fitter after six months with us. And that's what led to the transformation.

But he was already a Premier League starter and a regular in his international side when we bought him at age 23.

This Greek lad is neither, so he's got a bigger jump to make. He doesn't jump out as someone obviously capable at performing above Greek League level in those videos.

 

[King Binny]

 

[rurikbird]

Well, frankly it's not very meaningful to just transpose the Greek league stats to the EPL.

 

[Rosco]

Well, frankly it's not very meaningful to just transpose the Greek league stats to the EPL.

These are metrics Rurik.

You're supposed to be impressed

 

[MomoWASright]

Done deal.

 

[Hansern]

 

[Bradley]

Athens can provide an accurate, authentic greek tune for some chants.

 

[King Binny]

[article]Jürgen Klopp is delighted by Liverpool's signing of Kostas Tsimikas - a player whose mentality the boss feels will perfectly match that of his new teammates.

The Greece left-back sealed a switch to the Premier League champions on Monday evening after 86 appearances for Olympiacos, with whom he won the domestic title in 2019-20.

The defender arrives with Champions League and senior international experience under his belt, too, and Klopp expects his new No.21 to neatly complement the desire and competitiveness that has gained such success for the Reds in recent seasons.

“We have watched Kostas for a long time and are really happy that he has joined us. It’s the perfect news before we come back together very soon,” the manager told Liverpoolfc.com.

“He is a very good footballer with an attitude to win and to compete, and I really like his mentality. It fits perfectly with the mood and the desire we have in our dressing room already.

“He has showed already at a young age he can experience football in a different country and do well - and he has been a big part of the success Olympiacos has had to win their title this season and in their European campaigns.

“Kostas knows from personal experience what is required to challenge and succeed domestically and in the Champions League, and he is ambitious for more - just like us.

“He has come up against some very tough opponents in the past couple of seasons and done well and we know he relishes the challenge, which is perfect for us.

“For that reason we are delighted to know we’ll have him with us for the years ahead. I’m so pleased.”[/article]

[article]Kostas Tsimikas supported Liverpool as a child and has revealed his family's delight with his transfer to Anfield.

The Greece international left-back signed a long-term contract with the Premier League champions on Monday following a successful 2019-20 season with Olympiacos.

And, shortly after putting pen to paper at Melwood, Tsimikas revealed that he was a fan of the Reds while growing up in his homeland.

"My brother is a Liverpool fan and he pushed me to come here and sign. [As] a kid, I supported Liverpool. For all my family and for my brother, we are very happy for this," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"I think until now he [his brother] doesn't believe I'm here. Now when he sees the pictures he will understand I've signed here and will be very happy."
[/article]

 

[6TimesaRed]

 

[6TimesaRed]