I've always said I think he'd stay for 1 more season so he can play with us in the CL, but after the way we lost out on the title, have a feeling he might just think that was the 1 chance and next year we're going to be back to fighting for "just" a top 4 finish. along with this whole clause of possibly £70m to a foreign club, could see Madrid getting rid of Benzema and a couple of others to get him. Bale Ronaldo & Suarez would be one hell of a front 3 and if they win the CL can certainly see Suarez wanting to go.
Not sure it's the position we need filling as a priority, and not sure on the price either, but he's a good player if we get him. I can see him ending up more as a central player than a winger for us, playing in tandem with Henderson - similar to how Coutinho played as the advanced player of a three man midfield. Gerrard, Henderson and Lallana would be a good balance imo. Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling and Coutinho rotating for the front three and all with free license to roam and cause chaos. I think he's quite similar in the positions he likes to pick up and in his style to Coutinho, so there's competition there if we go with a diamond. I'd still like an actual wide player to compete with Raheem though and keep him on his A game.
I see that the opposite way. I said before that if we won the league he wouldn't have a reason to stay as he would have achieved the maximum in England already. Because we missed out, he may think he has unfinished business. Still, I think he'll be off if Real make a suitable offer.
If we get Lallana, we'd have Gerrard/Lucas/Henderson/Allen/Coutinho/Lallana fighting for those 3 central positions. Then you'd have Lallana/Coutinho/Sterling fighting for that number 10 role or wide option. Nice to see a bench with a bit of quality and remember we have lots of games next year so players like Coutinho will get more of a ret and be fresher. Good thing about Lallana is that he is flexible in that he can play as 1 of those 3 in the middle, in that 10 role in the diamond, or even do a job out wide as part of a front 3. Think that's what makes him appealing to Rodgers.
I see what you mean but if my club had just won the league I don't think I'd e thinking about leaving. However if my team threw it away in the season when we had the best chance of winning it as next year City/Chelsea will spend millions more and United will be better with Arsenal hanging around again, I'd be thinking maybe that was my only chance and it's best time to move on and try go to a club that can more realisticly not only compete in the league but also in Europe.
Except Liverpool were in their title race longer than Real were in theirs Real came 3rd in a 2 horse race FFS
By a week? . Next year though... I'm willing to bet a large amount Madrid will be in with more a shout of La Liga than we are with the Prem and Madrid get further in the CL than we do. Madrid is a step up, in the same way we see ourselves as a step up to a lot of players of other clubs.
When you're spending £20m+ on a player, you expect more than just another option to have in the squad. When spending that sort of money on a player, I'll be expecting that player to be in serious contention of replacing someone like Coutinho and Sterling. I hate the old 'he's English, proven etc etc' theory - Downing, Carroll, Adam all had a good season in the PL but it means f all. Suarez, Coutinho etc didn't have PL experience but good players adapt. We should be looking value AND risk i.e. Lallana may be less of a risk because of his 'experience' but is it worth £20m? Kono may be cheap but can he translate his skills to the PL? Personally, Kono deal has more benefits - he's not an Aspas. This lad has delivered on big stages domestically, in Europa and internationally. However, I do think we'll get both but I've heard that we are really interested in Griezemann.
Griezmann would be a very good signing. Young, can play wide or centrally, scores goals and creates goals, brilliant crosser, quick and will be big money in a few years.
Brod said similar when he joined us Suarez said he wanted to play for Barca or Real one day. what better when to move on than as a champion? Downing, Carroll and Adam were all clearly not good enough and not worth the money we paid IMO, they were just crazy signing. Lallana for £20m in the modern market is like us signing Allen for £15m two seasons ago. I'm not saying I agree with it as a also think its too much money, but its tolerable if its what Brod wants IMO. I also think the plank would be a options signing too.
And there is a good chance Barca could come second in a "two horse race" so who wins the race? Edit. it is still more than possible that Real could come second and Barca third in the "two horse race".
Suarez joining Real would pretty guarantee a title challenge for them wouldn't it? Two or the three best players in the world?
I have still not seen anything to suggest Real (or Barca) are remotely interested in Suarez, last year he pleaded for them to come and get him, nothing, this year he has already started the speculation with his comments yet there is still no indication they are interested. The comment "my agent knows what i want" speaks volumes as does the fact he has not said "i am very happy at Liverpool and have a five year contract to honour, we go again and hope to improve".
I think even thinking of paying £20+ mill for Lallana is crazy, did ok this season, did nothing of great note season before, the two seasons before he was a championship and League 1 player I think Southamton did well this season as a team, and with a good manager, so people start looking at their players, but individually they are nothing outstanding. Reminds me of quite a few years ago when Ipswich, i think under Bobby Robson did well, with the likes of Wark,Brazil,Gates Mariner etc. They all got snapped up by the big clubs but IMO were all at best average performers for them. At the end of the day, they have quite a few players that people are rating highly, but they didn't even finish above Man U ffs.
That is true. Southampton started well and just dwindled out as the season came to a close. I still think Lallana is class though and not just a one season wonder - he seems to have that guile about him that doesn't just disappear. But Players like Lambert etc I don't think will perform as well next season. Shaw is young, so the juries out whether he keeps progressing at a high rate (I suspect he will though).
According to Valencia based newspaper Superdeporte, Liverpool are keen to sign versatile Spanish midfielder Daniel Parejo and are willing to offer €25m, which is the player's release clause. Central midfield is one of the areas where Rodgers would be looking to sign one or two top players. Last January, the Reds were linked with a move for Yann M'Vila and Porto's Fernando that shows where the priority lies. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted the Reds need quality players next season in order to compete on both domestic and European fronts. Back in February, we reported Liverpool's interest in Valencia's Parejo, who can play in three midfield positions - defensive midfield, central midfield and attacking midfield, but his best attribute lies in finding key passes from central midfield. Rodgers will be looking to strengthen Liverpool's squad this summer after qualifying for the Champions League and has reportedly been observing Parejo for a while now. Valencia are not willing to sell, but Liverpool might be tempted to pay his buyout clause of €25m. Valencia's policy is to not even listen to any offers for Parejo and that interested clubs will have to meet the buyout clause. The player is key to Valencia's project and they won't facilitate his exit in any way. Rodgers believes Parejo would fit his passing/touch football philosophy easily, as well as Sevilla's Rakitic, who's also believed to be one of his targets for next season. Source: Soccerlens.com --------------------- i have seen Rakitic a few times, but this Parejo any good?
