IN quite an unusual departure from the typical transfer guff that we’re generally served at weekends, the Reds were linked with a couple of young ‘up and comers’ who ply their trade in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Far from the likes of Cavani, Zaha and Gaston Ramirez, neither player has been mentioned up to now, and neither is particularly a well-known star, at least not outside of Holland.
The name most touted of the two is undoubtedly Rasmus Elm, a 24 year old Swede who apparently possesses some ability from free-kicks and has a good range of passing.
He’s had a slightly chequered career in Holland so far but has really hit his stride this season and has helped his side AZ Alkmaar rise to just three points behind 2nd placed Feyenoord. Currently AZ’s second highest scorer, he has impressed a great deal this season and would likely be available for between £5 and £7 million. While we’ve been burned quite recently with Charlie Adam (who himself showed similar attributes), it is perhaps the unknown quantity element of Elm that could see him go on to become a success, if he does indeed become a Liverpool player in the post season.
More interestingly for Liverpool fans though is the promise of having an out-and-out goalscorer at the club, one with a strong goals-to-games ratio and a full career still ahead of him. And that is why the potential signing of Luuk de Jong could really give the Reds attack a real boost going in to next season. Much like Elm, I know little of him but his record speaks for itself – 30 goals so far this season for FC Twente and 50 over his last two seasons. Now, we’re all aware of the dangers of assuming players coming from Holland are going to be as prolific in the Premier league as they are at home but at just 21, de Jong really can only get better.
While in the past we’ve spent money on youngsters such as Ngog, le Tallec and Pongolle and expected big things and plenty of goals (that they then subsequently failed to deliver), the young Dutchman has 4 years experience already playing at the highest level in Holland, playing over 130 games so far. He has also represented his country at U19, U21 and senior level, scoring goals at all levels and scored his first full International goal for Holland in September last year, replacing our very own Dirk Kuyt.
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His fee is supposedly anywhere between £9 and £12 million, depending on the gossip-peddlers you read but I think that with his current record and young age he would be as much an investment in the future (you know, the kind Henderson apparently is) as a player for the here and now.
I’d be surprised if many Reds fans knew much – or had even heard of – either of these players but the little I do know and the things I’ve read and seen of them I, for one, would be quite happy to see these two youngsters join us over the summer. How would you feel about Rasmus Elm and Luuk de Jong?
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SACK DALGLISH AND EVERY ONE OF HIS USELESS SIGNINGS AND THEN SACK THE USELESS AMERICANS IN CHARGE – there was more passion with Hicks and Gillett
The worse HOME RECORD EVER IN THE HISTORY OF LFC – this is what Fenway call progress – WERNER GO NOW
Listen KOP and listen good… There is NOTHING that we should be missing about the Gillette and Hicks era. I know its the easiest thing for you to think of calling these players useless and I’ve been there myself, but remember, they were bought by commolli and played out of position by kenny. Your nuts if you think andy isn’t starting to come good on his transfer fee and 5 yr contract. and henderson actually seems to know what hes doing in the center of the pitch, the same is true of downing on the left versus the right. these three players have more pressure on them to succeed then you’ll probobly ever experience in your life. they will all come good in the end… you may even need to sing their praises at one point, and that COULD be embarassing couldnt it?
to return again to your point about hicks and gillete (also americans by the way) the kind of passion for L.F.C. that those guys felt saw them run our club into the ground and nearly enter administration because of 300 million pounds worth of acquisition debt. They even tried to hold the team and the club hostage for MORE MONEY when they were LEGALLY seized back from them. if thats the passion your looking for from the owners then I’m sorry you’re a complete idiot.
Every fan and servant of the club is frustrated, but no one is going to spoon-feed us our success of old. we are not entitled to win trophies just because we’ve done it before! we have to work at it every year just like every other club. sacking kenny isn’t going to help, neither will ousting the owners again, or the ‘useless’ players we have on the pitch. Again I disagree with you on that assessment. I cite the example and development of one lucas leiva, who (even if your still on the i hate lucas band-waggon) has turned into one of the premier defensive midfielders in the EPL(see the numbers). patience is a virtue my friend… don’t lose faith!
Brilliant reply
Omg. this reply is nothn but WIN! i take my hat off to u sir. YNWA
oooooh what a reply we need to be pation we will be come champion soon
‘liverpool fan’ anyone who says those previous yanks had more passion is an utter idiot, you got that one absolutely right.
I am liking Andy each day a little more, he has one essential ingredient that is :desire. The rest are coming, and Hendo has also showed me that he can be trusted for the future given that he plays in the middle and NOT on the right. As for Downing, he never was spectacular, but he can be trusted with a job.
KOP shut up moron. Liverpool need goals, I hope they sign Ramirez too.
@KOP:U are a fool4insulting the owners.Without them we would have been in big trouble last year.Let me sincere,I can’t see neither coming cos of D manager we’ve got.He is very pig headed,too british4liking&clueless manager.2nd,we are downhill at D moment.If I were a player&newcastle&LFC offered4me I would join N’castle cos they’ve potential than LFC.D way they blend british&foreign players is excellent.3rd,Our midfield is clueless.If I were a striker&I saw a player lyk adam,Hendo,Downhill as my midfielders,I would be sad cos they are clueless&too british.Ask Suarez&he would give U an answer.To me we need2get rid of Kenny 1st&hope we get a good coach cos the more Kenny stays the more we move further backwards.YNWA!!!In Kenny I don’t trust at all.
I cant believe that the blame is flung kennys way! we now play a silky smooth style of football but carrol cant even finish his dinner! check the stats people! two cup finals in his first full season back and you put him down? you guys arnt fans your followers, go find your next flock to follow.
Don’t put Andy down now, he needs our support at this very moment, with a bit of luck on our way we will have him as a great asset in the future.
We need the finished article, not prospects. These two may become excellent players in time, but right now we really cannot afford to take the gamble. I think if we went all out for someone like Soldano, remember Valencia are desperate for money, we could get him. Even Defoe, a known goalscorer in our league, would be good. We must find an established scorer. All other positions are secondary.
Knowing Liverpool they’ll sign these two and then play one at center back and the other at right back!!
Well said Jack!!