I have noticed a story doing the rounds today that Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will not have a great deal of money to spend in the January transfer window. John W Henry was quoted as saying:
“We have to be smart. We have to be more efficient. When we spend a dollar, it has to be wisely. We cannot afford player contracts that do not make long-term sense. We have to be smart, bold, aggressive. It’s a great challenge.“
Firstly, the comments quoted by both the Independent and the Daily Telegraph were made on Monday 18th October (written evidence from BBC website here) only three days after the sale to NESV, and it can also be assumed that at this point that John Henry would have had no idea what money the Reds would have to spend in January. Both broadsheets are trying to make out a story when none exists; currently there is really no telling what the manager will have to spend. I was planning to write an article on potential transfer targets anyway so I am endeavouring to continue writing it on the assumption that no budget has been agreed on yet. In any event, we all know the January market is inflated, and so the Reds would have to identify the right targets for the right price, and most importantly they will have to prioritise certain areas of the team. There are four important areas of the team in my opinion that need strengthening, but it would be very unlikely we could get all the required targets:
1) Winger – This should be top of the priority list come January. Three wingers that have been speculated to be interesting Liverpool are Ibrahim Afellay, Ashley Young and Juan Mata. Out of the three, only one would be a likely target for according to Guillem Balague Juan Mata is on the verge of signing a new deal with Valencia and will be unavailable for a transfer while Ashley Young has been touted as costing £14m which would be a large sum on a player who still has a lot to prove. Ibrahim Afellay on the other hand has a contract that is expiring soon and he has stated himself he will be leaving in January. With only six months remaining on his contract, he will be available for significantly less than either Mata or Young, and is a capable player in his own right.
2) Striker – Second on the list must be a striker to take the burden off Fernando Torres. Although David Ngog has helped in contributing 7 goals already this season, there is no denying that Liverpool need more firepower. In recent days, speculation has grown about both Fernando Llorente and Diego Forlan being on the Reds wanted list. Forlan and Llorente are at different stages of their careers and both are also totally different style of strikers. While Llorente is an up and coming star who is best utilised as a target man, Forlan is now 31 years of age but has a fantastic goal scoring record at the top of the European game. In addition, it also depends on the importance the Reds put on getting another striker for Llorente’s fee is sky-rocketing, especially with reported interest from Man City, United and Real Madrid while Forlan’s fee is diminishing with age. Are the Reds looking for a star for the foreseeable future or do they want a goalscorer who can score goals for the next two or three years? With my priority being a winger, I would have to buy the older but cheaper Forlan.
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The part i can completely agree with is Henry has identified the need to buy young fresh talent, before their prices are inflated.
That is smart business the resale value is going to increase and if they stay they are likely to be a strong group in the future.
Turan wants to come and would be a great addition. However, as much as I would like to see big name foreign stars come in i think it is unlikely, certainly in all 4 areas highlighted.
I may well get lambasted for this but there are some quality players to be found within our own league that i believe would improve us dramatically and neednt break the bank.
1 – Matt Jarvis
Wolves’ wide man is an exceptional talent, of that there is no doubt. direct, quick, fantastic ability and young. would be available for somewhere around 6-8mil. knows the premier league and is terrorising PL defenders already. I genuinely think he would hit the ground running with us.
2 – Andy Carroll
Still largely unproven long term but thats what you get with youth. for me, Torres needs a big man alongside him to take the beatings and create his space and preferably one that also chips in with goals. Andy Carroll will be England’s number 9 within 2 years and to my mind, could be secured for under 10mil if done in January. When you consider names like Crouch, Cole and Heskey have all been linked with us in recent times I would take him in that role any day of the week. fantastic potential and good eye for goal.
Both players represent excellent investment potential and we could get them before their stars rise to much and we end up being priced out of the market.
Lastly, keep an eye on Charlie Adam. arguably been the best central midfielder outside the top 4 this season and would be an excellent and cheap squad player for us. dynamic, box to box midfielder with excellent passing range and vision
just some thoughts
btw, we missed out on Adam Johnson (6mil), Niko Krancjar (2.5mil), Ben Arfa (2.5mil after loan deal) because we were obsessed with big names from other leagues – all 3 would walk in to our side right now. im saying there is real quality around if you’re smart about it.
Liverpool jokers – get real, you lot will be shopping in the bargain basement now you can’t attract decent players as Spurs have had to do for the last 20 years – the only way you will get success is to forget the now and think long term, bring in kids with promise and nurture them, Torres Reina Gerrard etc will probably not be around for much longer and you need to plan life without them
tbh, why would a young player really want to join Hodgson’s Liverpool?? Hodgson has a clear track record for only trusting “established players” regardless of form, and will only go with younger players as a last resort; so surely any youngster with any common sense would steer well clear while Hodgson remains in charge. That is unless they don’t mind seeing their careers mirror that of our own Ryan Babel’s…
If we want to move forwards with a young team, then we need to let Roy go and bring in a manager who is actually prepared to develop young player’s in his first team. In a matter of months, Hodgson has already managed to significantly raise the age of our first team (which wasn’t all that young in the first place) without managing to improve the quality of the team at the same time, and he shouldn’t be allowed to do so again; especially with the new measures coming into play where clubs will have to become more self sufficient.
Half you lot think you’re playing footy manager saying get this guy for 10mill, get that guy for 15mill. Jan transfer window is crap, all the top teams are challenging, so will not wish to see any of their players leave unless they’re dead wood. Unless we want more Poulsens (could not get in Juve squad, so why is he even on our bench!) – and I defo don’t as he makes Lucas look like Zidane, we need to wait until the summer.
I’m happy writing this season off and looking to the next – getting H&G out was top of the agenda for me and that’s job done. I’m no fan of Hodgson either, so wouldn’t give him the contents of my bronze jar, never mind whatever millions have been set aside.
Agreed we are desperate for width (push Johnson into that position & save some money as he’s shite at the back). Also think def mid position can be filled by Spearing for this season – local lad who will give 100% then see whats out there (Diarra would be a class signing, but can’t see it). Also give Shelvey and Amoo some games as need to blood some homegrown.
And if you’re going to throw top dollar about go after Lukaku, he’s only a kid & he will become immense.