English Premier League Transfer Window: Scharner all set for Liverpool
Paul Scharner, who left Wigan Athletic at the end of the last season after his contract expired, looks set to join Liverpool. Right now the Austrian national is a free agent. Scharner’s main position has been in defense but his versatile nature as a footballer allows managers to use him in midfield and attack.
Liverpool’s new manager Roy Hodgson is an admirer of Scharner, who had impressed the former Fulham boss with his displays for Wigan. However, Liverpool fans are skeptical of this deal. Scharner is thought of by many as an average footballer at best. Liverpool fans, who are used to buying star players such as Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres, are now being treated to such sub-par transfer news.
Scharner spent his youth football career at SVG Purgstall in Austria from 1987-1993. From 1993 onwards till 1996, Scharner played for VSE St. Pölten, from 1996 till 1998 Scharner spent the rest of his youth career at Austria Wien.
Austria Wien also became Scharner’s first professional senior club as he signed a contract with them in 1998. In 2004, Scharner moved to Salzburg, where he played for only a single season. At the end of 2004, Scharner moved to the Norwegian club Brann. In 2005, Scharner was named the Brann’s player of the year.
The following year, Scharner was sold to Wigan Athletic by Brann for a club record fee of £2,500,000. In his first game for Wigan, Scharner scored his first goal which resulted in Arsenal’s elimination from the Carling Cup competition.
In 2009, Scharner became the first Wigan player to play 100 premier league games for the club. Roy Hodgson made an approach for the former Wigan player when he was in charge at Fulham but was constantly denied by the Wigan hierarchy.
Liverpool’s competitors for signing Scharner are thought to be Sunderland and Aston Villa. However the Austrian midfielder’s preferred club in England is Liverpool who finished seventh in the last Premier League season.
There is a lot of transfer speculation surrounding Javier Mascherano who is currently under contract at Liverpool. The Argentinean defensive midfielder has caught the eye of managers at Barcelona and Real Madrid. Chelsea are also thought to be keeping tabs on the midfield terrier.
Scharner is seen by many as a replacement for the 26 year old Argentinean, who is thought to be considering his future away from the Merseyside club. Scharner’s agent remarked that Roy Hodgson thinks, Scharner’s best position is as a defensive midfielder rather than in the defense as a center back where he has played most of his games for Wigan Athletic.
He also said that Roy Hodgson and Paul Scharner’s relationship can be a special one. Scharner’s agent further added that the 30 year olds transfer to Liverpool will be a dream move for him, however because Scharner is a free agent right now, he can choose.
Liverpool’s attempts to sign free agents signal a dangerous trend that might be emerging at the most successful club in England. It has been well documented that their transfer funds are quite limited and therefore manager is being forced to look at free agents rather than contracted players.
Tags: