Football Special Report: Liverpool’s Christmas shopping list (Part 2)
Continuation from part 1
In the last part we were discussing possible defensive signings for Liverpool. In Part 2 we continue our analysis from where we left off:
Since the arrival of Liverpool’s Director of Football strategy, Damien Comolli, Liverpool have been heavily linked with most of young French footballers. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 at the moment. The 6ft 2in Centre back has huge potential
and at the age of 20 and a price tag of around £15m, he might just be the player who Liverpool needs.
Another French player to be linked with Liverpool is Lille’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adil-Rami-c3639. He too provides value for money and at 24 with a value of around £12m; he looks one of the more likely options. The centre back has all the makings of the tough centre back and can certainly
command a starting role in Liverpool’s back four.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-c29347 Konchesky has been given enough opportunities but has failed to live up to Liverpool’s standard. A left back is also needed. It might not be a priority for Liverpool at the moment, as signing a left back would mean that Hodgson considers Konchesky a
failure – and we know all managers hate to accept that their signings were a failure – With http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 Aurelio back in the fold, reinforcements might not be required up until summer.
However, a loan deal for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wayne-Bridge-c36733 might just do the trick for Liverpool for the time being and the likes of Fabio Coentrao can then be pursued in the summer transfer window.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Martin-Kelly-c24395, Liverpool possesses one really exciting and able back up.
Midfield
Unlike the centre of the defence, the centre of the midfield looks reasonably healthy. Had Liverpool made a better purchase than the embarrassing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Christian-Poulsen-c9114, they might not have been looking to bring in someone in this area.
With Gerrard, at times, preferred to play alongside Torres, it leaves Liverpool with only http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonjo-Shelvey-c19081 to call upon, but that should not be an option if Liverpool
want to finish in top 4.
As always, a host of midfielders have been linked with Liverpool. Valencia’s Ever Banega was heavily linked with the Anfield club in the summer and an £8m deal seemed imminent. However, the departure of Rafa Benitez has cooled down the rumour.
Others to be linked with Liverpool include Standard Leige’s Stephen Defour, Rosenberg’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Anthony-Annan-c6201 and West Ham’s Scott Parker. Although Scott Parker could prove to be an excellent signing, but at nearly 30 and with a price tag of £10m his arrival seems
unlikely.
Stephen Defour, although young and classy, seems content with his current club and his agent has recently claimed that the young Belgian will not be changing clubs in January.
Other more viable options are Real Madrid’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 with price tags of £10m and £12m respectively. Diarra brings with him experience at top clubs and more importantly Premier
League. He is a feisty character and good technical player.
M’Vila on the other hand has huge potential, at only 20, the young Frenchman has already appeared five times for his National team and at £12m, he represents value for money.
The more problematic area for Liverpool is their wings. They have plenty of players but none of them can be consider a top player. The likes of Kuyt, Maxi, Cole and Jovanovic have been played on the wings by Roy Hodgson this season.
Cole and Jovanovic prefer to play behind a front man and the other two also love to move inside and play centrally. This leaves Liverpool with no width at all.
Continued in part 3
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