Meanwhile, Liverpool coach Steven Gerrard believes the club should attempt to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk – but admits the Reds’ history for signing Saints’ best players in recent years could play against them. "Who I think we need, I would go and try and bid for Van Dijk from Southampton," Gerrard told BT Sport. “But we’ve had enough of their players so that will probably go down like a lead balloon."
Joel Matip: Liverpool defender welcome back with Cameroon - coach Joel Matip has been cleared to play for Liverpool by Fifa following confusion over the defender's availability during the Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon said he had refused a call-up, and Fifa rules state a player may be blocked from featuring for his club if he refuses to play for his country. Matip, 25, was left out of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United as the Reds failed to get clearance on the issue. But world football's governing body has dismissed the case. Matip has not played for Cameroon since 2015 and was not included in their final 23-man squad for the tournament in Gabon. The centre-back was one of seven Cameroon players to say they did not want to play, according to the country's football association (Fecafoot). The defender cited a "bad experience" with previous coaching staff, Fecafoot said. Speaking at the time, Cameroon coach Hugo Broos said: "These players have put personal interest above those of the national team and the federation reserves the right to take action in accordance with Fifa regulations http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38706316
Jurgen Klopp: We want to sign in January, but the right players aren’t available Jack Lusby on 23.01.2017 Jurgen Klopp has admitted he was hoping to add to his Liverpool squad this month, but his priority targets weren’t available mid-season. please log in to view this image The Reds have only won once in January so far, away to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round, having suffered losses to Southampton and Swansea City, and drawn with Sunderland, Argyle and Manchester United. Defeat to Swansea on Saturday has dented Liverpool’s title hopes severely, and led to calls for Klopp strengthen before their prospects fade entirely. But speaking after the 3-2 turnover at Anfield, Klopp continued to stress his rational approach to transfers, while acknowledging a disappointment at not being able to obtain the right players. “I understand it is absolutely normal that people ask whether we should have brought players in,” he told reporters. “The situation is yes, on the one side pretty simple, but on the other hand it is pretty difficult. It is not that we don’t want to bring players in. We do. “But the thing is, the players we want because we think they help us, the clubs don’t sell. “It is not about money in this situation, it is the winter transfer window. “Clubs are saying ‘No, we have half a year to go, we cannot find another player like this, we prefer to take money in the summer than a few pounds more in the winter than whatever’. “So it is pretty easy. You see the situation. It’s tight, it’s close, we know that. “But if the right decision is not possible in signing the right player then you cannot make the wrong transfer.” please log in to view this image Liverpool are still believed to hold an interest in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, despite previous reports to the contrary, but the 21-year-old looks to be rooted in Germany for the winter. The same can be said of Christian Pulisic, with the American winger establishing himself as a first-team regular at Borussia Dortmund this season, and unlikely to leave before June. Furthermore, while incoming youth coach Steven Gerrard has called for Liverpool to pursue a move for Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk, the same situation presents itself, with the Saints already having seen Jose Fonte leave for West Ham United, with Van Dijk taking his captaincy. “It is not as if there are 20 players out there who could make this team stronger, who are running around and are available,” Klopp continued. “That is the situation. That is why I say we know the situation, we are prepared to move, but for the right player. “We are not the only side who can decide the outcome of that, though, are we? The selling club makes the decision too.” Klopp’s approach is, on one hand, a sensible one, but there remains the argument that there were players available that could immediately enhance the Liverpool squad—particularly in attack. But with Klopp practising patience, having rarely dipped into the January market in his time as a manager, supporters will likely need to adjust to this and turn their transfer focus to the summer. source: http://www.thisisanfield.com/2017/01/jurgen-klopp-want-sign-january-right-players-arent-available/
meantime http://www.thisisanfield.com/2017/0...on-keep-clean-sheets-liverpool-fc-loan-watch/ Pedro Chirivella has an immediate impact. ryan kent actually scores a goal markoivic continues to go down the pan. and allan.. the forgotten klopp favorite is off with brazil u20s and this could be crucial in him getting a permit to play here.
I approve of that to be honest. Buy what you want when you can..no point replacing mediocre with your 5th choice...they (as we know) are most likely also mediocre.
oh agreed i was just talking in financial terms. I think i may have mentioned my views on the lunacy of that signing occasionally
true. but if you turn up and choice 1, 2 and 3 laugh in your face you may end up with choice 4 or 5 anyway...
I just want to point out in that article.. “Clubs are saying ‘No, we have half a year to go, we cannot find another player like this, we prefer to take money in the summer than a few pounds more in the winter than whatever’. This certainly sounds like we are looking at players who's contracts are dwindling rather than the perfect player right now. usually the price goes up if a player is doing well. the only time it comes down is if he's not playing OR if their contract is ending.
my guess is that we have been paying a chunk of his wages during his loans & expect all of the transfer fee to be written off. I agree that the Caroll & Balotelli signings were both ridiculous where as the Markovich one was a calculated gamble. However the fee was exorbitant as was pointed out at the time
Of course but then it's deciding whether the existing player or the 5th choice gamble are more likely to improve with coaching... As you've posted below it seems more a timing thing with selling clubs than being flat out turned down by players. As usual it'll depend now where we finish at the end of the season ...
I would assume so yes. I would assume that if he is being sent home he was bringing in a mil or so on loan fee so sporting don't consider him worth that or his wages they pay. my info was he was on £45k so i don't doubt he wan't getting all that from sporting. My view would be more that a) carroll was a pure panic buy when torres left and we needed SOMEONE that day to stay up. we had 22 points when that window opened and bought suarez as a risky buy with a long ban and he was unfit. b) baloetlli was a panic buy by rogers and the person who offered him this sofie's choice is still at LFC. rogers was mad. he should have threatened to resign or actually did so. he would have got a bigger club than celtic if he had. c) markoivc was a we have loads of cash lets throw it about buy by michael edwards and the like. they wasted the cash
I think Van Dijk would be a perfect fit for us, so he'd be another saints signing, so what. There's another side to not signing anyone this window and that's how do the existing players feel about no additions to ease the burden on them? Are we in an inevitable slump atm or are we out of ideas? Fresh blood, freshens the whole team both physically and mentally.
They've probably told him to go say it!! This is what Barca do with their Ambassadors, if tapping up is good enough for them....
My main fear with the return of stevie...he'll still think he can open his gob like he's still the main man rather than a very junior employee.
I think that we have lost our foucs and shape and are playing too narrow and too many are not taking any risks. examples: coutinho. far far too deep v swansea Can: can't play a 5 yard pass Lovren. can't play the ball in fornt of clyne awalys hits it behind him.. its easier than see an interception occur. Clyne. ditto. takes it in and back passes and the list goes on. We have lots that passing and quickness and confidence and it won't come back while we are playing two games a week. IMO we are done for in the league cup semi this week and i'm hoping one game a week from them will allow us to get something back. but most of all i think our squad is still unbalanced
Agreed. I reckon we are still ahead of where we were expected to be at this stage and this window with just 1 or 2 new faces [won't happen but should] and the next window with say another 4 or 5 should have us challenging-ready for real. I'm not giving up on the cups though.
