Alberto Aquilani may yet have a future at Liverpool?

Here's a report from the Liverpool Echo

KENNY DALGLISH has opened the door for Alberto Aquilani to return to Liverpool this summer, insisting the midfielder could still have a key role to play at Anfield.

The Italian international has spent the season on loan at Juventus, who are keen to make the move permanent.

However, the Serie A outfit aren’t willing to pay 16million euros (£14million), which was the purchase option they negotiated with the Reds last August.

Unless a deal is struck, Aquilani will return to Melwood for pre-season training – and Dalglish says the 26-year-old would be welcomed.

“When people talk about next season, I’m surprised they don’t give Alberto a mention,” he said. “Everyone seems to have forgotten about him.

“I know he has done really well at Juventus this season. When the loan finishes at the end of the season, he reverts back to being a Liverpool player.

“Nothing is cast in stone and he could be coming back to play for Liverpool. He could be a valuable asset here next season. He’s still our player.”

Aquilani was bought by Rafa Benitez from Roma for £17.1million in August 2009 as a replacement for Xabi Alonso and signed a five-year deal.

However, a serious ankle injury meant it was late October before he played.

He struggled with the physical demands of the Premier League and fitness problems limited him to 13 starts and 13 substitute appearances.

Aquilani played in both legs of the Europa League qualifier against FK Rabotnicki at the start of this season but it was no surprise when he was off-loaded to Juventus.

Dalglish has been impressed by the form Aquilani has shown in 29 league appearances for Juve this season, which have earned him a recall to the Italy side.

“He certainly didn’t have the best of luck last season,” Dalglish added.

“At times he did really well and at other times he didn’t do quite so well but you can say that about most players. What I do know is that he’s had a fantastic season at Juventus.”

Meanwhile, FC Copenhagen are keen on snapping up Reds midfielder Christian Poulsen this summer.

The 31-year-old, who was signed by Roy Hodgson for £4.5million from Juventus last August, has has made just nine league starts for the Reds.

Poulsen has been told his Denmark career will be over unless he gets regular first team football.

My Question is,If Kenny playing a bit of kidiology with Juventus,by saying that he'll have him back in the summer,to stop them from pussy footing about and put in a suitable offer.We know Aquilani wants to stay,there,we know they want to keep him.Maybe just maybe,this is Kenny's way of telling them to put their money where their mouth is.He didn't take the £35 million Chelsea offered for Torres(Their first offer),He dismissed it.I reckon this will force Juventus to put in the required offer.

 

My first thought was it's politicking to convince Juve they won't be getting him cheap.

 

MFG.
Thats what I'm getting at.Kenny no more wants him at the club as he does Paul Konchesky,He's gently leaning on Juventus to stop pricking about.

 

I think he could fit in nicely..

However, i would have worries about his commitment to Liverpool

 

My problem with him is that he is no more used to the English game than he was last season. Loaning him to Juventus was saying to me that we don't want him anymore. Why didn't we loan him to another premier league team if we wanted him back?

Kenny is just trying to get Juve to cough up the money.

 

Yeah, I suspect he is just trying to get Juventus to up their offer. It never worked out in England for him and I suspect he will be off in the summer. Juventus want him, Aquilani wants to stay at Juventus and I believe Juventus will find the money.

 

Aquilani himself has said it wouldn't necessarily be a problem if he came back, after all its a different club from the one he left. I just don't see where he would fit into our team. I don't think he's imposing enough to play in a 4-4-2 and if we have a midfield 3 i'd rather have Gerrard or Mereiles or even Suarez in behind Carroll i think. Showed glimpses of his ability before though. Sounds very much like Kenny sticking to his guns though, that wily old fox! I don't think we'll have trouble finding a club for him at more than £10mil.

Sounds like another case of us putting pressure on other clubs in the transfer market, which has definitely improved with the new owners.

 

Kenny may be pulling the same stunt he pulled with Torres,Kenny insisted that Torres wasn't for sale,even though he put in a written transfer request.The only reason Torres was sold was because Chelsea bowed down to Kenny's and Liverpools demands.If that were Hodgson,we would have got £30 million and Bobby Zamora as a replacement for £15 million.
Expect Juventus to be stung for far more than their initial offer.We could well break even or even make a profit on Aquilani yet.

 

I think Kenny is sincere, we not have players to aim for with good service where as before we were a bit static up front. I could see Aquiman providing some options through hte middle. Him and Meireles with Lucas holding, or spearing Lucas and Aquiman, a good balance of skill grit and determination in that trio that could provide a good foundation for defence and attacks. If you get a midfield that clicks the sum of each combined is usually less than the whole as a unit like good CB partnerships. Caroll and Suares or Kuyt could feed off balls won from the middle, a lot of goals came from this in our most successful premiership season. Energetic biting midfield with a playmaker Aquimana terrier Spearing and a disruptor and anchor Lucas.

 

Yes, that's what I was getting at. I agreed with you but a little more elaborately than "I agree with you."

I think he'd be happier keeping him than Konchesky, though.

 

KPR, don't ever mention this phrase again! As this is precisely what would have happened! Only talking about the 30 mil then 15 for Zamora......

 

We should have given him to someone like West Ham, Sunderland or Fulham. Somewhere where he would get games and get used to the Prem. If he didn't cut it then we could get rid of him.

As has been said, we are none the wiser from when he was with us before the loan move.

Classic bit of Roy sending him back to Italy.