As the ever crazy January transfer window rolls on, there is one player who should seriously be turning heads in England, yet despite a few tepid links not much has been done. This player is Real Madrid fringe player Esteban Granero, who at 24 years of age just wants to play football and is finally willing to seek a move away from the Bernabeu to do this.
Granero possesses a great many attributes, and can provide an attacking flare from the middle of the park, or even play just behind the central striker. Add to this an engine that never seems to stop, not to mention a very impressive work rate and you have a player that seems a steal for around the £8 million Real Madrid are willing to let him go for.
The player has so far been linked with Liverpool andArsenal, and judging from what both have displayed this season, the purchase of Granero is not something that is beyond the realms of possibility.
It is also possible that Real would consider a loan deal for the remainder of the season with the option to buy in the summer, as the player features in Mourinho’s plans about as much as losing yet another Clasico does.
Liverpool who are enjoying somewhat of a renaissance under King Kenny are still struggling at home and it is this that will see them miss out on a top four spot if things do not change fast. With the addition of Granero, they would add some much needed fire power in the middle of the park, and legs willing to do the running and cover behind inspirational skipper Gerrard when he makes those frequent bursts forward.
The Merseyside club have been strongly linked with Granero in the last few days, with the player’s agent stating that Liverpool was a possibility, yet with the player and manager so keen to move Granero on, the January transfer window may come slightly too soon for Liverpool who are thought to want to wait until the Summer for the sought after player.
One club who are more than in need of someone like Granero to bolster their squad is Arsenal, who despite the return of Henry still look lacking at times- their recent away game at the liberty stadium being a prime example of this – and have lost players to the African cup of Nations to boot.
Although the player prefers to start in a more advanced position, he is the very definition of versatile, and is well capable of filling a defensive role in the middle of the park – and possesses a wicked shot on goal. Granero could be just the type of versatile player that Wenger needs, and has both the youth and experience to make a real impact for the Gunners. Granero also has a determination about him and a physicality that would not go a miss in the Arsenal midfield.
It would be a mistake for clubs and fans to discount Granero due to the lack of playing time he has under Jose Mourinho when essentially their squad is the best in Europe and Granero is just not fancied by Mourinho. What could be Real’s loss should, if they have any sense about them, be either Arsenal or Liverpool’s gain.
Written by Rebecca Knight for FootballFanCast.com
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Song, Arteta, Arshavin, Ramsey, Gervinho, Walcott, Oxlaide Chamberlain, Benayoun, Coquelin, Frimpong,Rosicky,
now where exactly does granero fit in?? Just garbage- the last thing we need is another versatile squad player. Sure, If Arshavin, Benayoun and Rosicky go then maybe – but Gotze, Hazard or Martin are really where we should be looking.