Summer transfer targets.
Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 5:37 pmEveryone seems to have had their say about who they think will leave this summer and for what its worth, here's my take on the imminent clearout.
Dudek
Traore
Smicer
Baros
Biscan
Diao
Diouf
Mellor
Le Tallec
Kewell
However, im far more interested in who will be coming to Anfield. Rumours are everywhere, with Liverpool linked with several top quality players.
By far the most exciting of these is Joaquin. Forget SWP, this guy is far better. We're talking in the class of Robben and possibly even better. Real Madrid have been linked with him for ages but have never made a move. Man U are also said to have made an approach, but with our Spanish Contingent, Anfield may well appear a more inviting prospect. Joaquin himself said in an interview that he was more familiar with Liverpool because of its Spanish connections.
The imminent arrival of Reina seems to be basically a done deal. It appears we're going to have to pay in the region of 6-8 million for him and I just hope that he's as good a keeper as Cech who was bought for 7 million.
Owen Hargreaves arrival also seems highly probable. Although I dont think he should be a first choice player, I do think he will be a valuable asset and is exactly the sort of signing we need if we are to win the Premiership within the next few years. If you look at Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea, they all have quality to replace quality and at 2-3 million Hargreaves could become an invaluable asset at a bargain price.
Replacing Traore at left-back will hopefully be Evra - think Ashley Cole and you get a picture of what this player is like. This guy is a class act and in my opinion would be a welcome addition to the squad. He's far more attacking than Traore and would hopefully give us excellent width and more penetration down the flanks.
Fernando Torres is another name widely touted - I personally find this hard to believe. If we bought him we would have to empty our transfer kitty for the summer and I would rather see Cisse and Morientes given a crack at leading the line. Cisse can hardly be judged on this season alone and he did bloody well to make it back from injury by the end of this season. I still have great faith that he can become the striker he was in the French League. Morientes was unfortunately cup-tied and has also suffered injuries. He is still adapting to a new country and I see him becoming a great asset next season as he becomes more familiar with the Premiership. I don't deny however, that we need more cover in the forward line. It seems far more likely that we will either sign Crouch or Johnson - possibly both. This is no bad thing as both have a proven pedigree in the Premiership - netting 17 and 21 goals respectively last season.
Finally I would not be at all surprised if Benitez raided Valencia as it is a team he knows well. Do not be surprised if either Baraja or Aimar come to Anfield within the next month.
Finally this is a list of every player that we have been linked with over the last few months - if even half of this lot arrives then the future looks promising.
Sergio Ramos
Jesus Navas
Nicolas Anelka
Jose Manuel Reina
Michael Ballack
Ruben Baraja
Peter Crouch
Andy Johnson
Dirk Kuyt
Stelios
Joaquin
Shaun Wright Phillips
Fernando Torres
Marek Mintal
Pablo Ibanez
Milito
Ricardo
Owen Hargreaves
Michael Owen
Del Horno
Patrice Evra
Pablo Aimar
Vincente
Mista
Sissoko
Tomas Rosicky
Vincent Kompany
Dudek
Traore
Smicer
Baros
Biscan
Diao
Diouf
Mellor
Le Tallec
Kewell
However, im far more interested in who will be coming to Anfield. Rumours are everywhere, with Liverpool linked with several top quality players.
By far the most exciting of these is Joaquin. Forget SWP, this guy is far better. We're talking in the class of Robben and possibly even better. Real Madrid have been linked with him for ages but have never made a move. Man U are also said to have made an approach, but with our Spanish Contingent, Anfield may well appear a more inviting prospect. Joaquin himself said in an interview that he was more familiar with Liverpool because of its Spanish connections.
The imminent arrival of Reina seems to be basically a done deal. It appears we're going to have to pay in the region of 6-8 million for him and I just hope that he's as good a keeper as Cech who was bought for 7 million.
Owen Hargreaves arrival also seems highly probable. Although I dont think he should be a first choice player, I do think he will be a valuable asset and is exactly the sort of signing we need if we are to win the Premiership within the next few years. If you look at Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea, they all have quality to replace quality and at 2-3 million Hargreaves could become an invaluable asset at a bargain price.
Replacing Traore at left-back will hopefully be Evra - think Ashley Cole and you get a picture of what this player is like. This guy is a class act and in my opinion would be a welcome addition to the squad. He's far more attacking than Traore and would hopefully give us excellent width and more penetration down the flanks.
Fernando Torres is another name widely touted - I personally find this hard to believe. If we bought him we would have to empty our transfer kitty for the summer and I would rather see Cisse and Morientes given a crack at leading the line. Cisse can hardly be judged on this season alone and he did bloody well to make it back from injury by the end of this season. I still have great faith that he can become the striker he was in the French League. Morientes was unfortunately cup-tied and has also suffered injuries. He is still adapting to a new country and I see him becoming a great asset next season as he becomes more familiar with the Premiership. I don't deny however, that we need more cover in the forward line. It seems far more likely that we will either sign Crouch or Johnson - possibly both. This is no bad thing as both have a proven pedigree in the Premiership - netting 17 and 21 goals respectively last season.
Finally I would not be at all surprised if Benitez raided Valencia as it is a team he knows well. Do not be surprised if either Baraja or Aimar come to Anfield within the next month.
Finally this is a list of every player that we have been linked with over the last few months - if even half of this lot arrives then the future looks promising.
Sergio Ramos
Jesus Navas
Nicolas Anelka
Jose Manuel Reina
Michael Ballack
Ruben Baraja
Peter Crouch
Andy Johnson
Dirk Kuyt
Stelios
Joaquin
Shaun Wright Phillips
Fernando Torres
Marek Mintal
Pablo Ibanez
Milito
Ricardo
Owen Hargreaves
Michael Owen
Del Horno
Patrice Evra
Pablo Aimar
Vincente
Mista
Sissoko
Tomas Rosicky
Vincent Kompany
Stu you might want to check 
I think he can improve next season. We need some centre-back's as cover for Jamie and Sami. I hope Didi stays cause we have a classy midfield. Kewell is gone. If we get Joaquin then we have the key to unlock defences.