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Why Liverpool should see off Arsenal to sign this top Premier League talent:

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Jay RodriguezIt’s been a real pleasure to see Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez take his career to the next level this season. The former Burnley boy turned 24-years-old this season and seems to have finally hit footballing maturity.

Whilst his scoring form in the Championship was pretty good (15 goals in 48 games back in 2010/11 and 21 goals in 42 games back in 2011/12), few would have predicted he would take so well to the Premier League.

He signed for Southampton back in June 2012 in a deal worth £7m. He’s been a regular fixture in the squad ever since. Rodriguez can play down the centre, but the Saints have chosen to push him out wide.

In his first season he nabbed 9 goals in 37 games and impressed with his all round play. Things have only got better this year. He’s played 13 games and grabbed 4 goals, but more impressive has been the way he has provided support for the likes of Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert.

His profile has grown significantly and he’s even received an England call-up. I’m sure he’s enjoying life at the moment.

His progress hasn’t gone unrecognized by other Premier League clubs. According to The Mirror, Liverpool and Arsenal are ‘poised’ for a ‘transfer scrap’ over Southampton’s talented forward.

Of course, Southampton will be desperate to keep hold of Rodriguez. His Saints contract runs until 2016 and he’s one of their best players. But both Arsenal and Liverpool have the money and the reputation to make a deal happen.

Given Arsenal’s current need for a striker, it would seem that he’d be a better fit for the Gunners. But I can’t help but feel that his career would be better served at Liverpool.

Rodriguez’s career has really taken off since he’s been pushed out wide. Arsenal need another man to fill in down the centre when Olivier Giroud is injured (or if he loses form). Liverpool, on the other hand are spoilt for choice in that particular area. Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are as good as they come.

But the Reds could use a little more cut and thrust down the wings. That’s why they should move in for Jay Rodriquez. He’d up the club’s threat level down the flanks significantly and help get service into Liverpool’s deadly duo.

There’s no word as to what he might cost, but he would be a smart investment on the part of Brendan Rodgers. He’s young, he’s British and he’s only going to get better. What’s not to like?

What’s your take? Should Liverpool be interested in Jay Rodriguez?

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0 comments

  • Joe says:

    Would rather see Liverpool sign Lallana instead. Top player! YNWA

  • Ian White says:

    You guys just don’t get it do you.
    Saints are no longer a selling club, we have bigger resources behind us than either Liverpool or Arsenal, why would Jay move when he’s in a successful team on the way up and has just been selected by England.
    You just don’t get how things are changing.
    Please keep writing these lazy, I’ll-informed, out of date, speculative articles.
    In the meantime Saints will just carry on quietly overturning your out of date view of the football world.

    • Kopred says:

      As much as I appropriate your argument, a couple of points in defence of a LFC move. I go to all the home games and have done for the past 14 years. If JR can play with both feet then I can see BR being tempted. The forwards have a free role to a great extent and JR would need to provide quality from both wings as well as the middle if that’s how the nice developed. Otherwise I’d be inclined to say he’d take a little edge off our current attacking play if he just stayed on left.
      Anyway, pluses for LFC move..
      Closer to home which could well help him settle down quicker and play with more confidence.
      Better chance of more regular England call ups playing for such a club like ours,
      Could cover for sturidge in the middle who luckily hasn missed any prem games due to injury but has a habit of picking up short recovery time injuries,
      Learn off one of the best and on form strikers in the world as well as demi gods such as Gerrard.
      Hypothetically be playing champions league football – I am so praying we maintain this form as I feel we defo can qualify, consistency is key even if we lose to the big boys or don’t pick up too many points, manure won the league with an average team like this last season. Under rafa we had a couple of season where one we has a good first half and a bad second and following season the opposite with starting bad and better in 2nd. Memory isn’t wa it used to be but that’s wa it felt like anyway. Point is we have had a great 2013 with form in 2nd half of last and 1st half (so far) of this. I just hope we get the right people in like last Xmas shoping.
      As much as Southampton are on the up, so are we!!
      Better wages even.
      Obviously I’ve been drinking to ramble on like so but I hope I’ve managed to in between it all make a few points why he would be interested in the move.
      Ultimately it depends on BR and if he feels he’s got the mentality.

  • Steve says:

    Actually, I am sure all these stories about Saints best players being sold to their direct rivals are absolutely true, and not at all made up.

    They have obviously been talking to my source. I met her when I was in the woods feeding my pet dragon! She told me that Spurs are going to offer £10 million for Luke Shaw because we wouldn’t consider less (she must have forgotten the bit about us not considering more either!)….and apparently Messi is not really injured, he is discussing personal terms with Accrington Stanley…..

    Ps…… anyone want to buy some of my magic beans?

  • webby1892 says:

    I’m a Liverpool fan and as much as I think Rodriguez would be a good signing for us I’ve got to agree with the saints fans why would he move to anfield in January the saints are only 1point behind us he plays every week just got a call up and is in the form of his life. Seems a big risk to take when you can never be sure how it will work out when you move clubs.

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