Liverpool FC Forum

cardiff-red » Mon Aug 05, 2013 6:02 pm wrote:Just a quick one, from Skys transfer speculation ticker...

It is also reported that Barcelona will sign a central defender when they return from their pre-season trip to Asia. Several names have been linked with a move to Camp Nou in the past but Sport writes that Daniel Agger of Liverpool is now considered to be the only realistic option.

Seen the rumour on places like Tribal Football - it wouldn't surprise if they were looking at him

Not a rumour, but a little look at foreign forwards we might target should Costa fall through / suarez leave

courtesy of Tor-Kristian Karlsen:

Hard to understand why there's been no reported interest from PL clubs in Adem Ljajic (SRB,1991, Fiorentina). Once on the books of Man Utd. Skilful, smart second striker w/ great balance. Fiorentina turned down bid from Milan (€8M), they'd surely rather sell to abroad. in my opinion, a player that is possibly right on the verge of becoming a world beater. Value soon likely to triple/quadruple. profile/playing style/qualities that would suit any of the top Premier League teams.

Jackson Martinez (COL, 1986, FC Porto) possibly the only high scoring out-and-out cfwd "available" from one of the top European clubs. clause of €40M seen as excessive (Napoli said to have offered €32M), some stil feel jury still out due to level of POR league. that said, he does possess a rare variety of very desirable abilities: pace, aerial, movement, strength, height, finishing skills

Another forward with enormous potential is Luis Muriel (COL, 1991, Udinese) - still a bit raw but possesses great pace, strength, balance. unpredictable, instinctive - potential to become a real star. Could prove a smart buy even at €30M (the reported asking price).

Finally; Erik Lamela (ARG, 1992, AS Roma) - elegant winger/second striker with a wonderful left foot, could emerge as late "high end" option. adapted very well to Serie A after initially being considered frail and (too) flamboyant. Roma apparently demanding €25-30M.

Would take any of those three. Especially Jackson and Lamala. Quality players and the type that would improve our first 11

Down and out! Liverpool to off-load winger at a massive loss
5 Aug 2013 21:53
Newcastle keen on cut-price £5m deal to bring Stewart Downing to the North East

Liverpool FC are prepared to off-load Stewart Downing at a massive loss with Newcastle United having been told they can sign him for a cut-price £5million.

The winger's representatives have been contacted by the North East outfit to confirm their interest and find out whether he would be keen on a move to St James' Park.

Downing, who cost the Reds £20million from Aston Villa two years, has asked for some time to consider his options.

The 29-year-old had no intention of leaving Anfield after being reassured by Brendan Rodgers earlier in pre-season that he remained part of his plans.

However, he now intends to hold talks over his future after learning of Liverpool's willingness to sell him on.

Downing played in Liverpool's opening three friendlies against Preston, Indonesia and Melbourne Victory but has been an unused substitute in the past two games against Thailand and Olympiacos.

Philippe Coutinho, Iago Aspas, Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe have all been selected ahead of him in the wide attacking roles.

Downing, who was the subject of interest from West Ham last month, wants to stay put and fight for his place. However, if he's informed he's not going to feature then he will reluctantly agree to a transfer.

Having battled so hard to establish himself as a first-team regular in the second half of last season, the England international doesn't want to go back to life warming the bench.

Downing, who has two years left on his contract, was told by Rodgers last November he could leave in the January transfer window but responded by kick-starting his Anfield career and played a key role in Liverpool's revival.

“I feel settled now,” he said recently. “The first year at Liverpool was difficult but once I established myself in the team last season I really enjoyed it.

“That's why I don't want to leave. If you are playing with good players in a good team then you don't want to lose that.”

Newcastle are signing Loic  Remy  on a season-long loan from QPR and hope to further boost their strikeforce with a deal for Aston Villa's Darren Bent. Toon boss Alan Pardew wants Downing to provide the service for them.

Downing, who grew up in the North East and started his career at Middlesbrough, will be part of the Liverpool squad who fly to Norway today. Rodgers' side face Valerenga in Oslo tomorrow night.

source liverpool echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/fo ... ng-5654489

It's clear BR doesn't rate and wants him gone - thought he did well when he came back into the team from Jan - provided an outlet as well as covering at the back. If he isn't going to play him then might as well sell him. More experience going

Need to move on Downing. Villa, Newcastle, Bitters etc is his level. He does ok as a big fish in a small pond however absolutely useless at a club of our magnitude that has higher ambitions. Should never have been signed

Doeboy » Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:41 pm wrote:Need to move on Downing. Villa, Newcastle, Bitters etc is his level. He does ok as a big fish in a small pond however absolutely useless at a club of our magnitude that has higher ambitions. Should never have been signed

Currently though that's the level we have been at for the last 3 seasons.

Certainly need some proper high quality players to move us back up a level.

Seriously if we got Lamela.... There's not many players in world football who excite me more. Could hardly be happier if he came.

Benny The Noon » Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:46 pm wrote:

Doeboy » Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:41 pm wrote:Need to move on Downing. Villa, Newcastle, Bitters etc is his level. He does ok as a big fish in a small pond however absolutely useless at a club of our magnitude that has higher ambitions. Should never have been signed

Currently though that's the level we have been at for the last 3 seasons.

Certainly need some proper high quality players to move us back up a level.

Do you not see your own contradictions? You are mental.

On one hand you berate the club for signing players who - lack ability/lack ambition/don't fit style/don't rate (take a random pick)

and then you go and make posts like the one above acknowledging the clubs situation, in terms of a fall from grace.

What do you expect the club to do?

Quality, CL level players, do not come to a club that isn't in the CL. The only ones who do come with a very high wage demand and can be safely classified as mercenaries. Now you may be willing to sell the clubs soul by signing players of that ilk, but I am not, nor most others supporters with any level of class.

So what about when we signed Suarez when we didnt have CL. What about Spurs signing players this summer and they aren't in the CL.

Yes some players will want high wages - that's the nature of the modern game. I guess you don't mind the club paying Gerrard his high wages.

The club buying quality players on high wages isn't selling the soul of the club - it can't be when we have one of the highest wage bills in the game.

If we don't buy the quality players we won't move forward - simple as that. We don't have enough quality in our first 11 to move the team forward back into the top 4.

Benny The Noon » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:57 am wrote:So what about when we signed Suarez when we didnt have CL. What about Spurs signing players this summer and they aren't in the CL.

Yes some players will want high wages - that's the nature of the modern game. I guess you don't mind the club paying Gerrard his high wages.

The club buying quality players on high wages isn't selling the soul of the club - it can't be when we have one of the highest wage bills in the game.

If we don't buy the quality players we won't move forward - simple as that. We don't have enough quality in our first 11 to move the team forward back into the top 4.

Yet you advocate keeping one of our weakest first team players (Downing) despite the fact that he contributes little in an attacking sense and is one of the highest earners ?

Would keep him unless we actually get a replacement Ben. No point just getting rid to reduce the wage bill. Replace him with proven quality and then let him leave. Despite what people say from last jan he actually was a solid performer week in week out and his defensive discipline allowed players like Coutinho to roam free. I'm all for selling him but only if we get a proven quailty replacement in. Far too many times over the last 12 months have we let experienced prem players leave without replacing them - its done wonders for our wage bill ( owners happy ) but not for our first team.

Benny The Noon » Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:19 am wrote:Would keep him unless we actually get a replacement Ben. No point just getting rid to reduce the wage bill. Replace him with proven quality and then let him leave. Despite what people say from last jan he actually was a solid performer week in week out and his defensive discipline allowed players like Coutinho to roam free. I'm all for selling him but only if we get a proven quailty replacement in. Far too many times over the last 12 months have we let experienced prem players leave without replacing them - its done wonders for our wage bill ( owners happy ) but not for our first team.

I actually agree with losing experienced players just to reduce the wage bill.
Personally I would have kept one of Maxi or Kuyt to keep that experience and goalscoring ability in the squad.

On Downing though we will have to disagree. He offers nowhere near enough even though he has improved slightly.

We have already signed Aspas who can play in that position and look to be in for Diego Costa. I havent seen much on either if I am honest but they wont have that big boots to fill to be an improvement on our first 11.

Well we are no nearer signing Costa than we are signing Messi with no bid being accepted , the club saying he isn't for sale and the player saying he isn't going.

As for Aspas - hasn't proven abything , could easily go on to have the impact that Borini did last summer after pre season. If we are getting in real quality then yes let Downing go for £5mil but its pointless getting rid for that sum unless we have a proven replacement at the club - and we don't. He is still currently our only natural experienced wide left player.

Benny The Noon » Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:40 am wrote:Well we are no nearer signing Costa than we are signing Messi with no bid being accepted , the club saying he isn't for sale and the player saying he isn't going.

As for Aspas - hasn't proven abything , could easily go on to have the impact that Borini did last summer after pre season. If we are getting in real quality then yes let Downing go for £5mil but its pointless getting rid for that sum unless we have a proven replacement at the club - and we don't. He is still currently our only natural experienced wide left player.

Downing has had 2 seasons now in which he has showed he isnt up to it. He is reportedly on 90k a week.
Aspas deserves to be given a chance to see if he can do a better job. Like I said in my previous post it wont be that difficult for him to improve what Downing has given the team.
By what I have seen he will work just as hard but be far more of a goal threat.

The Diego Costa one we will wait and see, rumours are he is on peanurs at Athletico so unless they offer a new contract if we meet the by out clause I would be surprised if he turned it down.

Like I said though wait and see, he wont be the first player to say he is happy at his club then leave within weeks.