Aspas has been brought in from Celta Vigo for £7.7 million. Declaring “I’m not a direct replacement for Luis Suarez.” Aspas’ tenacity and versatility will be a great asset for Rodgers who shapes his team with three forwards that amalgamate to fit his playing style. As a flexible and fluid player, Aspas can play wide right and as a centre-forward, using his pace and ability to drop the shoulder and cut inside of defenders. He has a decent goal ratio scoring one in three in his first full season in La Liga, playing for a team that can be considered the equivalent to the likes of Crystal Palace. He also has a fiery reputation, having head-butted another player, for which he was subsequently banned.
Rodgers raid on the Spanish league hasn’t stopped there with winger Luis Alberto also expected to make a move for £6 million from Sevilla (Source: The Independent). Following a season long loan in the Barcelona B team, The Spanish champs have decided not to exercise their right to purchase. This paved the way for Liverpool to make their move, with Sevilla’s hierarchy declaring “they have made a good offer but we will see what happens”. Of all the summer signings being made, this will provide the biggest question mark.
The player is 20, plays wide and is a decent technician but the club is also swamped with wingers, do we really need another? With Christian Atsu looking to come in for a meager £3 million by the end of the week via FC Porto, it is the one player I would not look to add. But squad depth is what Rodgers is looking for, so the possibility of throwing Alberto into the youth set up for a year seems feasible at this juncture.
Of course Kolo Toure has been brought in as a free transfer from Manchester City commanding just a third of the wages he earned at his former club. In the twilight of his career at the age of 32, he will not be expected to start and will provide cover and invaluable championship winning experience to the squad. Replacing Jamie Carragher, a further centre back is expected to come in for Sebastian Coates, who after his £8 million move, has clearly failed to adjust to the pace of the Premier League.
Thiago Illori of Sporting Lisbon has been singled out for a minute fee of £4 million, though Lisbon are playing hardball and trying to get Liverpool to stump up more cash for the ball playing centre back (Source: Sky Sports). Should he come in, he is expected to start alongside Daniel Agger, unless Rodgers takes a look at Martin Kelly and could see him filling the vacant role due to Skrtel’s desire to leave.
The signings being made have certainly thrown me off course, as I expected bids for established players such as Christian Eriksen, Papadopolous and Cristian Tello being made to add to the youthful blend we already have in the squad. Other than Kolo Toure, Rodgers has stuck to the framework the owners FSG laid out, which was investing in young potential with higher sell-on fees.
There is, of course, still plenty of time left for Rodgers to buy these players as a holding midfielder and a direct replacement for Suarez remain significant to Liverpool’s push towards a Champions League spot next year.
For all the anticipation of the coming campaign, the sense of intrigue will be interspersed with unadulterated worry, because these players being brought in are not well known and are relatively cheap compared to the wasteful sums spent on the contingent of British players that came in thanks to Kenny Dalglish. After the dire performances in the Premier League for the last four years, there is perhaps a veiled feeling of poise that Liverpool will launch a legitimate assault on the Champion League slots this year. Rodgers has been backed to the hilt, now is the year to deliver.
P.S I forgot about Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Armenian playmaker at Shakhtar Donetsk, who may come in at the end of the week for £23 million! How do you reckon Liverpool will fair this season?
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Downing Shelvey spearing Flanagan Robinson Coates Enrique Allen ALL NEED TO GO ASAP Before we can start to compete against Everton or Spurs.There’s KNOW CHANCE OF US COMPETING WITH Arsenal Chelsea Man city Man utd YET…
Based on our form from January onwards we were third in the league for most points won. We can only get better but the signings he has made have me worried. Aspas is diminutive and pacey but looks light. Alberto seems to lack pace and strength and he only 20. Signing him will only curb the progress sterling and suso have made. I agree with all the players you said we should get rid of mid keep Enrique as 2nd choice left back
I agree. If he signs quality like wanyama, Eriksen and papadoplous I see us competing.
enrique is our first choice robinson is one for the future so fuck off ya plastic fan
Robinsons our future? Well clearly he must be when he’s not even named on our bench let alone included in the squad of 25. And Enrique will be fist choice when there ain’t no decent competition. Now wipe the jizz out of your eyes and look clearly you muppet.
Enrique has been very good, why would you want to get rid of him?
( Goal of the season!! )
Allen is still very young, he played ok in a new team and then he got injured.
I pretty much agree with the rest.
If we dont get over 8million for Downing i wouldnt sell him either.
We need experienced players too.
Didn’t say we should get rid of Enrique but I’d have him as back up to an Aly Cissokho type of left pacey. Strong pacey athletic and a good crosser of the ball. Complete left back. I just don’t see joe Allen succeeding at an field. Doesn’t offer us much defensively or in attack. Just passes side to side.
things seem to b heading in the right direction but it will b at least 5 yrs before they can think about champions league football especially with the redevelopment of anfield expected to cost over 260 million
Five years is a little bit off the mark for me. It just comes down to the players we sign as I stated before. There are question marks over aspas and Alberto because they’re young, Spanish and never played in European competition. Alberto wasn’t even part if the Spanish u21 squad and barca not taking him on is indicative of his quality hence why I question that signing the most. Of we lose SuareZ it will also be a big blow but we need seasoned internationals like your affelays and eriksens to help take this young team forward. I think we can compete but I’m not impressed so far with th current signings.
It’s 150 million you turd
It’s actually 260 million that’s been quoted by an array of sources. Get your facts checked.
It’s 150 for the anfield redevelopment but 260 for the hotel and the new square and pedestrian avenue aka revamping the area. So read the articles before hand, get your facts straight
That’s what I alluded to. £260m for the entire thing where did I not say that?
As a resident of the area I can tell you that you have your facts completely wrong. The amount of £250M is for the WHOLE AREA of Anfield and NOT just the stadium. The stadium costs are £150M as you have already been told. Reading articles helps!
It is £260m. The independent verified it with the local council. It includes plans for a food court, offices, a hotel and possibly an array if restaurants. Do your research
We need new defenders – at least 2 hopefully more. Had no problem in attack and too many changes will unsettle the side. Our weak defense cost us top 4 finish. Who would give £15 for Allen anyway?
£15m I meant not £15 !!!
Haha I think you were on the mark with your initial £15 valuation.
We got kolo Toure as an experienced centre back. An this ilori we have been linked with is young and looks slight. I’d sell Coates and buy papadoplous. Looks like a no nonsense defender. Or perhaps use martin Kelly as a centre back. Looks like carras successor.
obviously eriksen, papadopoulos and wanyama would be great signings, but i dont think liverpool have the money at the moment.
either sell suarez and reinvest the money in goalscoring players like mkhitaryan, or force suarez to stay another season like man u did with ronaldo.
if we can sneak into the champions league in 4th, the money that would bring in would be enough to get some real reinforcements and get us back to being a regular top 4 team.
we should be challenging arsenal and tottenham, they aren’t great teams
I think there is money, fsg are not a poor bunch but Rodgers has been given a remit to spent thriftily. £20m initially with the sales of Carroll and deadwood will raise and another 40m in wage bill reductions with the likes of carragher going too. Eriksen is a legitimate target. He won’t go to type ham cos there’s too much competition. He ruled out Spain, Dortmund the only alternative but they’re selling players. Liverpool are in with a shout and he should be within budget since he in his final year. Need a quality signing or two to boost out champions league aspirations
Dreamng haider
papa hs signd contract wd hs club
think man
And Suarez signed his contract last year and wants to leave now. They ain’t worth the paper they’re written on so dreaming? Not so much, there’s always a chance.
I rate Rodgers, but he has no pulling power to get players in… If you’re a player, somone like Mourinho comes knocking, you’ll jump! Even Wenger has pulling power, as to does AVB. Thankfully David Moyes hasn’t either, but he doesn’t need it, he has a trophy cabinet and the biggest club in the world as his pulling power, but Rodgers has nothing to entice players, apart from his gift of the gab and a fantastically rich in history club, but not rich in money! The one thing he does have though is the ability to speak Spanish, so young Spanish players will have a kinda father figure in him during training and his one-on-one management! Given all of this, our signings are the best we are gonna get we just have to hope they are shrewd signings like Sturridge and Coutinho were, and not like Borini and Allen. If we get Mignolet (likely) and Mhkitryan (unlikely) we will be heading in the right direction! I’d like to see a big name come in, Suarez looking like he’ll be gone, we will have no one to inspire other than Gerrard! If Liverpool do let Suarez leave, they have to get a marque signing to prove to not only the fans, but also to the rest of the premiership that we do mean business this year, and anything less than 4th is not even considered! Like every year I am optimistic, but like every year I’ll probably have head in hands by January! For the forthcoming season at least, in Brendan I trust! Fingers crossed YNWA
Very astute analysis. The best so far if I may say. Only thing I disagree about is the transfer kitty. I think there is money, but by letting on to clubs there’s a hefty sum clubs will inflate players prices an we ll get shafted as a result. There are players we can get like Affelay, Eriksen and Ben Arfa who are established internationals all with ability and for decent prices. Allen and Borini aren’t te calibre if player we should have brought. I just knew when he bought courinho he would hit te ground running cos the lads quality. Sturridge took me by surprise and I’m glad. These news signings are gonna have to be given time but I want two marquee signings if Suarez leaves. Eriksen and Ben arfa would be great additions
Spot them when they’re young and decent and develop them into good, then great and some even world class players. I trust Brendan Rodgers completely
Rodgers is building a very exciting, fluid, attacking team that will not be rigid like the past managers have set up. Having seen Brendan’s previous transfers do so well, I have total faith in his talent spotting.
Joe Allen was and still is an excellent midfielder…to keep the ball moving is an art and not many can do it outside of Spain. Borini has had a tough season with injuries but he’s a lot better than Ngog ever was and I think he’ll be an excellent squad player, who will make sure he’s pushing for a starting position.
I would like to see Downing go, he’s not got the heart or passion required at Liverpool to ever make a proper impact. Coates too, just don’t think he’s got the quality.
I would also, controversially, sell Suarez and Skrtel. 50m for those two and bring in 2 maybe 3 players. Suarez wants to go and Skrtel isn’t in Brendan’s plans obviously.
I cannot wait for the season to start and if we hit the ground running unlike so many other campaigns, I’m expecting great things with lots to cheer about. YNWA