please log in to view this image Liverpool should target Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani, says Phil Thompson Last Updated: 02/04/15 2:56pm please log in to view this image <img class="widge-figure__image auto-size__target" src="http://e1.365dm.com/15/04/16-9/20/h...-liverpool-targets_3284849.jpg?20150402112223" alt="Anfield bound? Thommo says Reds need a striker this summer"> Anfield bound? Thommo says Reds need a striker this summer There are still more than three months until the summer transfer window opens but Premier League clubs will already be busy outlining their targets. Liverpool are no different, and former Anfield star and Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson says boss Brendan Rodgers will look to bring high-calibre strikers into the club to strengthen his forward line and cover for Daniel Sturridge, who has struggled with injuries this season. “Sturridge’s latest injury confirms that you cannot rely on him throughout the course of a season and Liverpool need suitable cover for him,” Thompson told Sky Sports.
We spent £120m last summer and our squad is still weak - shows you how poorly Rodgers spent the money on Soton dross.
please log in to view this image Raheem Sterling agent Aidy Ward in profile - the man who has angered Liverpool FC hierarchy. In the space of a week, Aidy Ward has gone from a relatively unknown agent to back page news – and in football, when agents make the news rather than fashion what it contains, that spells trouble. Ward’s name had began cropping up in stories of Raheem Sterling’s contract stand-off as far back as January. Now, after Sterling’s interview with the BBC – something the club had no knowledge of, therefore breaking policy – Ward is the focal point. It is Ward, 34 years old, who has been largely vilified for his role in the recent breakdown in negotiations. It is Ward who has angered the Anfield hierarchy. But just who is the man who has suddenly become a key part of these negotiations – and, in truth, a key player in what has become an expensive tug-of-war. Ward is no charlatan or chancer. He is also, in the purest sense, very good at his job. He cut his teeth with Impact Sports Management and Rob Segal, both respected names in the business, with clients including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Saido Berahino and, of course, Raheem Sterling. That, understandably, was as low-profile as can be. A player paying lip service to his agent, one who he trusts. But now, the spotlight is on Ward, and how his clients have acted over the past few months. When West Brom striker Berahino gave an unsolicited interview to Sky Sports in February, he angered his club, who now reportedly have no plans to initiate contract talks and will consider selling the talented striker in the summer. A familiar tale, then – although Liverpool do plan on reigniting contract talks in the summer, and have no desire to sell Sterling. In his set-piece interview, Berahino said: “I need to stay focused on what I’m doing right now which is scoring the goals and keeping West Bromwich in the Premier League. “If I can keep them in the Premier League and score as many goals as I can, I’m pretty sure the fans wouldn’t mind me pushing on and moving on to bigger things.” A nod to the fans and respect to the club – but with an underlying message to communicate publicly. Berahino, like Sterling, looked to appease the fans – but it backfired. History looks to be repeating at Anfield. In truth, this head-to-head between club and agent was over two years in the making. In September 2012, just a month after Sterling made his first start for the club and having been called into his first England squad for the game against Ukraine, Rodgers said: “After I spoke to Roy Hodgson and Raheem, my next call was to his agent. “I wanted him to be aware that this news was coming out and that, when it did, he wasn’t jumping in the car up to Liverpool to have a chat with me. “I want to manage the expectations of the kid. The last thing we need is Sky Sports coming up with a yellow bar saying he has signed a five-year contract after playing two games.” Comments which skimmed under the radar at the time, with Sterling’s advisors unknown. But they, and specifically Ward, are known now. If Ward wanted to create a buzz around himself as he goes solo, job done. But, in reality, Ward is just doing his actual job and is trying to get the best financial deal for his client - but whether he's helped Sterling in other aspects, such as career development and the overall picture, remains to be seen.
Raheem Sterling: Every player has his price, says Jose Mourinho Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says "every player has a price" after being asked about Raheem Sterling's contract wrangle at Liverpool. The Portuguese said he understood the stance of Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who said Sterling would not be sold. But Mourinho said: "I don't like players that don't want to play for me and my club, clearly." Chelsea are among the clubs linked with the England forward, 20, after he rejected a £100,000-a-week contract. Mourinho said striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sold to Barcelona when he was Inter Milan boss after asking to join the Spanish club. Play media Jump media player Media player help Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. Sterling not 'money-grabbing 20-year-old' "Every player has a price. It doesn't matter which player," said Mourinho. "If you ask me now, for example, Eden Hazard, we can speak about him because he's signed a new contract. "Do I want him to leave Chelsea? No. If he wants to leave, if he doesn't want to work with me, if he doesn't want to play for Chelsea, does Eden Hazard have a price? I think he has a price." Sterling has two years left on a contract worth £35,000 a week and Mourinho added: "I also understand the philosophy of managers and clubs who want to keep the players at any price, who want just to say, 'there is no price to sell - the player stays, whatever'. "My philosophy is not better than that - it's just different. Either way, when a player has a contract with a club, the club, the manager and the board have the power to decide what to do." Mourinho admitted he faces a difficult decision over Petr Cech after the long-serving goalkeeper said he did not want to remain second choice behind Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge. "Chelsea gave him a lot, but for what he is giving to the club still, he deserves a special perspective," he said. "I think he won the right to be part of a discussion and a decision." Manchester United ‘line up transfer of Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling’ please log in to view this image Man United are looking to grab Raheem Sterling (Picture: Reuters) Manchester United are reportedly ready to sign Raheem Sterling from Liverpool in an incredible £50million deal. Sterling, who has turned down two new contract offers at Anfield, looks set to leave and is wanted by Arsenal and Chelsea. However, the Sun reports that United have joined the race, and are now ready to grab the England winger in a stunning £50million deal. United have apparently made their interest known to Liverpool, and despite the rivalrly between the two clubs, the transfer could happen. Louis van Gaal’s men can beat anybody when it comes to fee and wages and they have funds free to get Sterling signed up.
Has no one told LVG the price triples for Man U, its £150million for them. Utter made up BS by the scum
May as well think about next season now. Won't win the FA cup really will we. --------------------------Mig New RB-----New CB-------Sakho-----Moreno ------------------Hendo----Can ---------------------New CM ------Sterling------Sturridge----Coutinho Bench - New GK, Skrtel, Flanagan, Lucas, Markovic, Lallana, New ST Don't think it's unreasonable to expect 4 outfield signings and a cheap backup keeper. Maybe Milner if he's a free. Outs need to be Jones, Glen, Kolo, Lovren, Borini and obviously Aspas when he's back. Undecided on Allen and Balo. NOT just 'potential' - at least 3 must be WINNERS. Tough players who can give steel to the undoubted talent we have.
I think Moreno will improve. It's not perfect but I don't think we can afford to change the team - especially at the back - too much. Even a new starting CB initially might be too much if we go 4 at the back. If we continue with 3 CBs then a new one is a necessity. EDIT: Whilst I've no doubt Flanno can come in and perform admirably we should be targeted the like of Montoya etc to really push on. In fact speaking of Barca fullbacks I'd take Alves or Adriano
Yeah, stick a guy at LB that can't defend to save his life and compliment it with a RB that can't defend as well Manquillo Skrtel Sakho Flanno I'm not a fan of Skrtel but he's playing better than Lovren. Manquillo can actually defend, might not offer much going forward but defenders who can defend would be my preference, same with Flanno. More than capable of playing LB, especially as most teams player left footers on the RW who like to cut in so just means Flanno will be on his strong foot if they do cut inside on him.
Only because I personally dislike Skrtel as a starter... if we end up with Skrtel and Sakho as CBs it won't be a disaster but won't improve us. We need a leader in there - and it'll be absolutely needed if we stick with 3 at the back. I think Manquillo has promise but is tentative. Losing the ball is as bad as missing a tackle/high ball in that it invites pressure. He won't make it here in reality. Adriano can play LB or RB pretty competently. Certainly better than what we have in either position and has played at the highest club level for years. He'd add a lot without being spectacular. Alves too - looks a little liable for Barca but would start for us every week - let's not kid ourselves. And again - experience. He's a better defender than his criticism allows. Not his 2008 self but still better than most. EDIT: Also worth noting that what we want - especially on the left as Coutinho will come inside - are fullbacks that can overlap. They just have to know when to do so and be able to defend when required. Attacking fullbacks aren't a bad thing and allow us to push teams back. With Hendo and Can in midfield they are responsible for cover. And it would be easier still with a 3-4-3
Can't say I'm Skrtel's biggest fan but he is one of the two best CBs we have. I think that says more about Lovren and Toure than Skrtel though. Ideally, we need three reliable CBs when playing a back four. On a back three we need four or five #squadgame
Raheem Sterling not good enough for big move, says Phil Neville Raheem Sterling would struggle to get into another top Premier League side if he left Liverpool, says BBC Match of the Day pundit Phil Neville. The forward, 20, told BBC Sport this week how he had refused a £100,000-a-week contract offer from his club. "I don't think he would get into Chelsea's team with Diego Costa there," said former England defender Neville. "Would he make Manchester City's team with Sergio Aguero there? Manchester United with Wayne Rooney there?" England international Sterling, who played in the Reds' 4-1 Premier League defeat at Arsenal on Saturday, said he was not motivated by money, but by a desire to win trophies. But Neville, who won six Premier League titles with Manchester United, was critical of the player and his advisers. please log in to view this image "It has been horrifically mismanaged - not just this week," said Neville. "I was reading about this last April. This is a 20-year-old who should just be concentrating on playing football." Former Manchester United and Everton midfielder Neville suggested that Sterling needs to "take ownership of his career". He said: "I think Liverpool have to play hardball with Sterling. As for Sterling, it is fine having agents, but at some point you have to take ownership of your own career and say: 'I want to sign a contract. I am at the right club at the right time.' "At the moment, he is at the best club who are helping him to develop and giving him a platform to play. They have stood by him and given him a good contract. He has 27 months left on that contract. "In two years, if he wants to play with Real Madrid and his career goes in the right direction, he will still be able to do that. But at the moment he should get on with playing football." Liverpool is the best place for him - Rodgers please log in to view this image Brendan Rodgers confirmed before Saturday's match that Sterling would play despite his contract controversy Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told a news conference on Thursday that Sterling, whose current contract runs until 2017, would not be sold this summer. He complimented the 20-year-old's performance in the defeat at Arsenal, adding that he would benefit from staying at Anfield. "I thought Raheem was excellent," said Rodgers. "Our best player. Anyone can see that as far as his football development is concerned, Liverpool is the best place for him. There is absolutely no question about that. "We have improved his game tactically. He has become more tactically aware, technically improved and he has had the opportunity to play. "He has two-and-a-half years on his contract and he won't be going anywhere this summer. We will sit down again with the club and his representatives to find a solution in the summer. "I have had a good chat with him and given him my opinion. This is a young kid who is being advised to do something else. He just wants to play football. I think he enjoys playing for Liverpool. He knows he is privileged to play in front of Liverpool's supporters." 'Sterling stands out on dismal day' please log in to view this image Sterling won the penalty from which Jordan Henderson scored Liverpool's goal BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty felt Sterling could be pleased with his own performance even though Liverpool were well beaten. "The future of Raheem Sterling is still the only Liverpool story in town despite being played out against the backdrop of a heavy defeat at Arsenal that seriously damages their Champions League hopes," explained McNulty. "Rodgers was downbeat as he admitted Liverpool now face a struggle to finish in the top four but was positive and defiant when questioned about Sterling. He repeated he would not be sold this summer and insisted once more, at length, that Anfield is the best place for him. "Sterling was arguably Liverpool's best player on a dismal day, starting centrally before moving to the left at the start of the second half. He chased everything, took some heavy knocks from Laurent Koscielny and Hector Bellerin, winning Liverpool's penalty. "There was no discernible reaction from the travelling Liverpool fans, good or bad. Sterling may just have been the least of their worries after such a poor and damaging performance." 'It must have affected the team' please log in to view this image Liverpool have lost their last two matches, having gone 13 league matches unbeaten before that Sterling's performance against Arsenal won compliments, but the speculation over his future did not help the team's display as a whole, according to former Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz. The retired Switzerland international told BBC Sportsworld: "I think the story with Raheem Sterling during the week must have had an effect on the team. "It's a big story now and when you're a player even if you say you don't really care what is happening or is in the papers, then you do really. "Knowing that maybe Liverpool are going to lose a player such as Raheem Sterling in a few months does make an impact when you prepare a game like today's against Arsenal." 'Sterling's been badly advised' Former England captain Alan Shearer believes that Sterling's situation raises significant questions about the player's advisers, of Rodgers and of the club's contract policy. Speaking during Saturday's Match of the Day on BBC One, Shearer said: "Firstly, it's incredibly bad advice to give to a 20-year-old to say: 'Go on TV and say that it's not about the money, but then admit that you've turned down £100,000 a week.' It alienates the fans. "Secondly, the situation has been compounded by Brendan Rodgers saying that he's the best young player in Europe. "With the TV deal coming in, his agents will sit back and say: 'Well, make him the best-paid young player in Europe.' "And thirdly, it raises questions about the contract policy at Anfield. Steven Gerrard said that if he'd been offered a contract earlier, he would have signed. "Sterling has said the same this week, and Jordan Henderson's got one year left on his contract." What the papers said Saturday's back pages were dominated by discussion of Sterling's future. please log in to view this image
Think he did a Barkley. Didn't Sterling say, in his unsanctioned interview, he wanted to play more centrally and further forward like a striker? Which is laughable since his finishing is ****. He should ditch his scumbag, Arsenal fan agent and sign the dammed contract. If he improves like he thinks he will the big Euro clubs will come knocking in a few year and he'd still be under 25. He is typical of modern football, wanting everything at once and no patience.
