Then Costa can't be included in ones " who went elsewhere for the money". Think Henri Ryan went to Dortmund because of CL but what I have seen of him he was overvalued. Willian looks a good player but he showed his true colours when he dumped the spuds too! So it all boils down who REALLY wants to wear the famous red shirt. The squad we have now may not be the most mind blowing names ( with one or two exceptions) but they all appear committed to he cause- even cissokho, can't fault his effort he's just ****e. So I think BR should sit with these players we are linked too look them in the eye to see if the desire is there to play for Liverpool or just to collect a big fat wage packet.
Yevhen Konoplyanka: All you need to know about the Liverpool FC target 29 Jan 2014 12:53 Profile of the Ukrainian attacker on the Reds' radar If Brendan Rodgers needed a reference for Yevhen Konoplyanka then his captain could provide a compelling one. Steven Gerrard's last-ditch lunge at Wembley in September 2012 was not enough to prevent the Ukrainian attacker from firing past the despairing reach of England goalkeeper Joe Hart. The Three Lions' World Cup qualifying campaign, just one game old, was already on shaky ground. Konoplyanka, 24, announced himself on the international stage in the most recent qualifiers and is now the subject of interest from the Reds. After the bitter disappointment of losing out to Chelsea for Basel wide-man Mohamed Salah, Liverpool have gone elsewhere for a versatile forward who operates mainly on the left but can play on the opposite flank and in behind the main striker. The Reds have opened talks with Konoplyanka's club Dnipro about whether a deal can be struck before the transfer window deadline at 11pm on Friday. Rodgers revealed last night that he remained hopeful of landing a "major signing" and discussions are underway about prising the Ukrainian from his homeland. Dnipro, based in the city of Dnipropetrovsk, finished fourth in the Ukrainian Premier League last season to qualify for the Europa League. Fierce rivals of Metalist Kharkiv, Dnipro are said to be controlled by the Privat Group, an organisation that is reportedly ran by three billionaire businessmen. Reports suggest that the 24-year-old would command a transfer upwards of £15m, even though he has just one year left on his contract, but a potential deal is not that far advanced at present. Known for his dribbling skills and speed Konoplyanka - managed by former Spurs boss Juande Ramos at Dnipro - has been labelled, perhaps unhelpfully, as the 'Ukrainian Messi'. But there is no doubting the buzz which surrounds him. Konoplyanka was part of his country’s 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad but progressed further into the senior ranks at Euro 2012. The pacy forward played in all three of Ukraine’s Euro group games - including against England - but really made his mark a few months earlier as they set out on the road to Brazil. Konoplyanka also starred in Ukraine’s World Cup play-off games with France in November.
"who REALLY wants to wear the famous red shirt. " Yeah im with you as a fellow fan but this history stuff and what we've have achieved has gone imo. We wont get foreign players signing for us now because we're Liverpool, we have to be competitive with wages and be able to show our team is going places etc We need to create some new history! As for Costa he stayed at Madrid and we couldnt persuade him IMO we missed out on him, Mikki, Salah, Willian, Dempsey and Sigurdsson (prob loads of spelling mistakes there!) because we wouldnt offer more money And if the club didnt want to go above their value thats fine with me as we've been badly burnt in the past, I just hope BR is getting decent backing and we arent missing out on them by millions! Only just missing out on them if you know what I mean
Liverpool FC target Yevhen Konoplyanka has been described as the best Ukrainian player since Andriy Shevchenko. The Reds are hoping to tie up a deal for the 24-year-old before the January transfer window shuts at 11pm on Friday. Liverpool have opened talks with Konoplyanka's club Dnipro for the attacker who is valued at over £15m. International broadcaster John Bradley, who covers the Ukrainian League, says it will be money well spent if a deal can be struck. Yevhen Konoplyanka: All you need to know about the Liverpool FC target Bradley has watched Konoplyanka's rise through the ranks at Dnipro and his increasingly impressive performances for the Ukrainian national side. Liverpool have turned to the pacy winger after missing out on Mohamed Salah last week to Chelsea. But Bradley believes the Reds would be signing a more proven player in Konoplyanka. "He is a classic, old-style winger," said Bradley. "He works really hard and looks to get the ball at his feet. "He gave Kyle Walker a torrid time when he played for Ukraine against England and he has done the same in the Europa League and the Ukrainian League." Salah has burst onto the scene in the last 18 months or so but this boy has been doing for the Ukrainian national team for four years. "He is more the finished article. "He is the best Ukrainian player of his generation and the best Ukrainian player since Shevchenko. "I've rated him for a long, long time. It was probably back in 2009 that he first made his mark for Dnipro." Bradley says Shakhtar Donetsk, Dynamo Kiev and Zenit St Petersburg have previously watched Konoplyanka. Money-bags Paris St Germain are also said to have scouted the 24-year-old extensively. "He has the ambition to go and test himself in one of the big leagues," Bradley added. "He has been at Dnipro since he was a young lad and grown up on the banks of the Dnieper. But he is ready to take that next big step now." But clubs have been put off by his price tag. Dnipro are owned by the third richest man in Ukraine and even with the turmoil of the Ukrainian League, they are not in a position where they need to sell. "I've covered many of their Europa League games and there has always been scouts from top European clubs there watching him. "But he will look at Liverpool and think 'I could go straight into that team'. "Liverpool have also been linked with Andriy Yarmolenko but, for me, Konoplyanka is more suited to their style of football. "His work ethic is really good whereas Yarmolenko is a more laid back character and so will frustrate you. Konoplyanka is a better option."
Fixed that top quote for everyone. It is a rare breed that really believes in that now a days. Which leads me to, is Leighton Banes now a one club man if he stays at Everton?
I don't buy the first point at all Jimmy I'm afraid. Money (as in a few mill for a target) shouldn't have been an issue for us this window. If he was as you say a player who would definitely have started for us he was surely worth paying for. I can accept the second point but still think if he was a genuine target at the start of Jan we'd have contacted him/his club at the start of Jan. As for the third point....if Salah and Plank were both both going to start who were we going to leave on the bench Sturridge or Suarez? We missed out on Salah and are now going for the next option...who is going to cost us more anyway. Kind of weird but might be a blessing....we'll see.
Not quite. He played for Wigan for 6 years (1 year youth); 145 appearances compared with 216 at Everton
Couldn't remember if he was or wasn't. Thought he may be the youngest of the one club breed but guess not! Though he is from Liverpool though correct?
Olympiakos. Better weather, better food, better wages. Even in your fantasty I'm still an #abu and Olympiakos is a good place to develop and get game time and European experience while waiting for Liverpool to offer me my last transfer
Regarding Costa staying put in Madrid after being offered more money... now labeled as "only after money." How does that compare to Gerrard ready to transfer to Chelsea... until we offered him an improved contract? Why is Gerrard a loyal servant of the club but Costa a mercenary for doing the same thing? I suspect in all transfers there is a wide range of motivations... be it Gerrard, Costa, or anyone else. I'm sure Salah could look at Chelsea and see a better chance of silverware for example. I, for one, don't blame them for going after money either. You get a 10-15 year career in which to make as much as possible to support you for the rest of your life. Don't know about you guys but I'd want to be rich always... not just whilst at the peak of my career. Now... it can be taken too far... somethings you don't do... Owen.
I think having Suarez will be a draw to attract other players... (like Sakho) the way having Gerrard once helped bring in other players. Get top 4 this year and it will be a lot easier attracting players in the summer.
And one of Suarez's motivations for signing was reportedly to play alongside Gerrard and Torres (though he ended up being his replacement).
Fair points - these are just theories that I have, no idea if they are true or not. But it seems genuinely the case that Kono was our top target in the summer. With regards to point 1, perhaps we were waiting for the commercial deals to be signed? Just remembered - Kono's contract is expiring in a year, hence why we wanted to pursue in the summer so his value would decrease. Salah would have been a good addition in that he would have added immediately but can still contribute in the long term. We don't have many effective wingers here at the club - only Sterling would can command a place in the first team. Salah and Kono are both versatile.
