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A post-World Cup Luis Suarez "might" worth more than today's Luis Suarez...what do you think?

Santa » Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:19 am wrote:A post-World Cup Luis Suarez "might" worth more than today's Luis Suarez...what do you think?

Currently Uruguay are equal 5th in the qualfying race, so there is a possibility thet might not even make the world cup.

How do we go about replacing Luis Suarez?

Whether it’s a last minute bid from Madrid in this window, or a move away from Anfeild next summer, one thing’s for certain... he wants to play champions league football, so I think come what may, he won’t be wearing a Liverpool shirt at the start of the 2014 season.

Suarez is one of the best strikers in the world. In fact if you google best strikers in the world, every single list has him in the top 5.

How realistic is it to replace him with someone of equal quality? – not very. But how realistic is it to replace him with someone who could benefit the team as a whole? – possible.

Below is a rough list of the top 30 strikers in world football. They are in a rough order, best at the bottom, but the order is by no means fixed as everyone has a different opinion about who is better than who, and so-and-so isn’t on the list where-as whats-his-name is etc etc. The list is just a list of top strikers around at the moment:

Leandro Damiao
Burak Yilmaz
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Samuel Eto’o
Mario Mandzukic
Carlos Tevez
Mario Balotelli
Alvaro Negredo
Mario Gomez
Lukas Podolski
Roberto Soldado
Fernando Torres
Karim Benzema
Stephan El Shaarawy
Wayne Rooney
Fernando Llorente
Hulk
Gonzalo Higuain
Marco Reus
Antonio Di Natale
Neymar
Sergio Kun-Aguero
Robert Lewandowski
Edinson Cavani
Stevan Jovetic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Luis Suarez
Radamel Falcao
Robin Van Persie
Lionel Messi

How many on there could we actually get? – Not very many.

Perhaps a proposed swap for Benzema? (though whether he would agree to join us with no champions league football is a different matter)

Off that list there’s probably only Leandro Damiao and Burak Yilmaz that we’d be able to get and that might join us with no champions league.

If Sturridge is able to lead the line, maybe the best option is to look at someone for the LFW position, essentially where Willian was due to play, allowing Coutinho to move inside

So, courtesy of a couple of websites, let’s look at some possibles:

Andriy Yarmolenko - Dynamo Kyiv
As soon as Liverpool fans came to terms with losing out on Willian, rumours began circulating that Brendan Rodgers had turned his attention to Dynamo Kyiv’s Yarmolenko. The Ukrainian is exactly the type of player Rodgers is looking for - someone who can play either side of a front three and regularly chip in with goals. He’s a much cheaper option than Willian too and could probably be snapped up for under £20 million.

Arda Turan - Atletico Madrid
Turan’s agent recently confirmed that Liverpool were interested in the Turkey international and that he would be open to a Premier League move. He has a release clause of £20 million, which is a touch on the expensive side for a player who scored only five goals last season. There are fresh rumours that Turan could return to former club Galatasaray, which seems more likely than a Premier League switch.

Xherdan Shaqiri - Bayern Munich
Shaqiri is one of the hottest young talents in Europe and Bayern Munich are keen to hold on to the Swiss international. However, with so much competition in the Munich midfield, including new signing Thiago Alcantara, Shaqiri may feel that he has a better chance of furthering his career elsewhere. A loan move for the gifted 21-year-old could be the perfect option for all parties involved if Suarez left this season, enabling Liverpool to spend a year looking for a proper replacement.

Iker Muniain - Athletic Bilbao
Another product of the Spanish youth system that continues to churn out stars, Muniain was a part of the Spain u21 squad that won the u21European Championship this summer. With Rodgers recently talking about wanting to move Coutinho into a more central role, this right-footed left winger would be a perfect fit for our side tactically. Of the players mentioned in this article, Muniain is not the greatest goal threat, having only amassed 1 league goal in all of his 33 games last season. However he did score in his first appearance this season so far, suggesting that the next stage in his development could be the addition of goals to his game. At the age of 20, he may feel that this is his time to move on to a bigger club. Also, with him being so far from the national team (1 cap, none in 2013) he may feel that he has to move in order to push for a place on the plane to Brazil in 2014. Bilbao do not want to sell their prized asset and the 20-year-old’s release clause is a rather staggering £29.5 million. That could prove a snip in years to come.

Christian Eriksen - Ajax
Liverpool have been heavily linked with Eriksen since the start of the transfer window but it appears, for whatever reason, a concrete bid has not been tabled. The Dane is one of the most exciting young prospects in world football and it appears that a £17 million bid could be enough to secure his services. Liverpool will have to act soon though, with increasing interest from (you guessed it) Tottenham and AC Milan.

Yevhen Konoplyanka - FC Dnipro
Konoplyanka is the second young Ukrainian talent on this list that Liverpool have been heavily linked with. The Dnipro winger has blistering speed, loves running with the ball at his feet and regularly creates good scoring opportunities for his team. He is so highly rated by Dnipro coach Juande Ramos that he slapped a 50 million euro price tag on him. Out of the two Ukrainian players, Yarmolenko would be a better option for Rodgers

Adem Ljajic - Fiorentina
Ljajic’s future at Fiorentina is far from certain and a bid from Liverpool may convince the attacker to leave La Viola. The Serbian scored 12 goals last season, as the Serie A side narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification. His current deal expires next July, which means he could be available for cheaper than his talent deserves. An offer around the £15 million mark could be enough, in what would be shrewd business for the Reds.

Leandro Damiao, Internacional
Leandro Damiao is, like Coutinho, Willian and Diego Costa, a young Brazilian attacker. Unlike Willian and Coutinho though, Damiao is more of an out-and-out striker, rather than a playmaker. His better than 1 in 2 goal scoring record in Brazil mirrors this fact. From what I’ve heard, he has been looking for a move to Europe for a while, with Spurs being touted as the favourites to sign him for a long time. However, after signing Soldado, Spurs' interest around the player has cooled and over recent weeks Southampton has been mentioned. He’s likely to be looking for a move to Europe to strengthen his chances of getting a starting place in the Brazil national side in the lead up to next summer’s World Cup. BBC sports journalist Ben Smith yesterday claimed that the club were not looking to bring in Damiao after missing out on Willian, so whilst he is a possibility, my guess would be that he is unlikely to move to Anfield this summer.

Erik Lamela, AS Roma
Erik Lamela is a young Argentinian who has shown enough over the last few years to make many across the world take notice, and earn him a price tag of around £30m. Last season, at the tender age of 21, he scored 15 league goals in 33 games, which is even more impressive when you find out that he is a winger and not a striker. However, despite all this he is still on the fringes of the Argentina squad, and will have to compete with Messi, Higuain, Aguero, Lavezzi, Tevez and Di Maria for a place in the starting lineup. Therefore, he may feel it is in his best interest to take on a new challenge and join many of his fellow compatriots in the Premier League. Whilst the player would be perfect for Liverpool, it is worth noting that Spurs have been heavily linked and may possibly have fee agreed so would make it a challenge for us to try and sign him.

JACKSON MARTINEZ, FC Porto
Porto’s Jackson Martinez was named one of the signings of the season last campaign with a stunning 34 goals in 39 appearances in Portugal. A natural born finisher has all the qualities to succeed at Anfield should he be willing to switch from Porto. Porto would demand a big transfer fee for their star striker who is happy to stay at the Estadio de Dragao. Napoli and Tottenham are also interested in the Colombian but signing Martinez could be the ideal solution for Liverpool.

BURAK YILMAZ, Galatasaray
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Burak Yilmaz after a sensational season from the Turk saw him net 24 goals in 30 league games as well as 8 in 9 during Galatasaray’s Champions League campaign. Signing Yilmaz would be an astute signing and although he is 28, is a proven finisher. Adding Yilmaz to the group of Iago Aspas, Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini leaves Liverpool with a solid strike force and some flexibility with Rodgers’ tendency to operate in a forward three.
Liverpool can’t replace Suarez just as Arsenal cannot replace Robin Van Persie. Such influence from a player is almost impossible to replicate but Suarez departing Anfield could make the Reds a less Suarez centred side and more balanced.

LUIS MURIEL, Udinese
Luis Muriel could be the perfect replacement for Suarez after his breakthrough season with Udinese. Having been farmed out on loan to Granada where he bagged no goals in seven games, he impressed on a temporary spell with Lecce scoring seven goals.
Upon his return to Udinese, he scored 12 goals in 22 appearances and has been compared to legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo. Muriel possesses explosive power and pace with great dribbling ability. Should Liverpool swoop for the 22 year old, it could seriously pay off.

If he goes then Muniain and Damiao would be my choice

Yarmelenko would another great choice

I would also look to get Ficsher from Ajax - he is going to be a world class striker

The more I read and hear about Lamela, the more I think he would be perfectly suited to the LFW position. And it would be so much fun to pip spurs at the last minute. But I think the ship has sailed, and Baldini's influence at Roma could sway any competitive bid in their favour anyway.

Since we're looking for a top signing regardless if Suarez goes or not, we should be looking at Lamela, Muriel, Yarmolenko and Eriksen. If Suarez does go, we should also be looking to sign Damiao or, if we get enough money, Martinez. There are other players that we should go for that are not on that list.

Not heard of Fischer before...

Viktor Fischer, Ajax
Viktor Fischer (19) is a Danish international footballer who plays professionally for Ajax as a left winger.In a debut year that saw Viktor Fischer emerge as Frank de Boer's first choice on the Left wing, Fischer was announced as AFC Ajax Talent of the Year, for his outstanding debut season, which saw him find the back of the net ten times, scoring twelve goals in all competitions all together. He signed a new contract this year which expires in 2017

He is going to be top quality mate - you could see in the next gen that he is a special talent

Suarez is world class and for that we will get top dollar (if he goes). If we keep him this season (which I think we will) and we qualify for CL then I can see him having a change of heart and staying on for longer.

I just hope that whatever happens we do it behind closed doors and don't tell Spudz as they seen hell bent on snapping up everyone we are linked with!!!

Id, just sell Suarez anyway now before the window closes. He wants out, let him go. Id have took 40m for him.
We looked Ok with Sturridge up front anyhow in the first game, and I'd play Sturridge on a regular basis as he looks like has goals in him.

Hustler 2 » Fri Aug 23, 2013 4:44 pm wrote:Id, just sell Suarez anyway now before the window closes. He wants out, let him go. Id have took 40m for him.
We looked Ok with Sturridge up front anyhow in the first game, and I'd play Sturridge on a regular basis as he looks like has goals in him.

Fk knows what will be said about the owners if they do that !!! £40m

£45-50mil two days before the end of the transfer window is my bet.

he wont be sold this window.

Hustler 2 » Fri Aug 23, 2013 4:44 pm wrote:Id, just sell Suarez anyway now before the window closes. He wants out, let him go. Id have took 40m for him.
We looked Ok with Sturridge up front anyhow in the first game, and I'd play Sturridge on a regular basis as he looks like has goals in him.

Are you Ian Ayre in disguise? £40M for Suarez...it's a joke right?    If Suarez goes for £40M, the  every clubs in Europe will bid £6M for Coutinho, £10M for Sturridge???

If Bale is worth £93M plus Fabio Coentrao, sure nothing less than £60M at this end of the transfer window will do or else he stays. We are this thin in terms of the necessary talent to challenge for a CL spot that we should not be selling ourselves short, to anyone!

Arsenal have already tested Liverpool's desire to keep Suarez with their idiotic bid of £40,000,001 which was difficult to take seriously in any event.

Our owners know very well that if Luis behaves himself, playing brilliantly this season, qualifying for CL then they get to keep him or sell him for a minimum of £60m. If we don't qualify for CL we still sell him for substantially more than the current figures that are being suggested. At the moment there has been minimal interest in Luis because he is regarded as tainted goods but obviously that can change in a year. Twelve months in football is a very long time. Memories are short.

I don't think there is any chance of us selling him during this transfer window.