Don’t Bank On This Euro Star’s Arrival Come January
SCHALKE 04 forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been strongly linked with a potential January move to Liverpool in the past few days as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his attacking options with the Reds crying out for more goalscoring threats other than the red-hot Luis Suarez.
To further support the claim that Liverpool are in desperate need for a new striker only Steven Gerrard (twice), Raheem Sterling, Martin Skrtel and Nuri Sahin have managed to score for Liverpool in the Premier League this season, with our Uruguayan number seven scoring seven so far.
There is no doubt that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is an out-and-out goalscoring machine. His record of 254 goals in 389 career games, including 48 last season in the Bundesliga, speaks for itself. Huntelaar is, on the surface, exactly what is needed at Liverpool Football Club.
However, cast your mind back just over two months ago – Transfer Deadline Day. The Reds were desperate for a striker after allowing Andy Carroll to depart on loan to West Ham leaving Brendan Rodgers with Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini as the only recognised forwards at his disposal. After being quickly rebuffed by Arsenal in an attempt to prise Theo Walcott from their grasp and being turned away by Daniel Sturridge himself after only offering the Chelsea striker a season-long loan deal, Liverpool’s top men placed all their eggs in a Clint Dempsey-shaped basket.
Regardless of the desire of Rodgers to bring in the American, Liverpool’s top negotiator Ian Ayre had his hands tied behind his back from the very start as John Henry and his fellow FSG members were unwilling to part with anything more than a paltry amount of money to sign somebody they considered to be entering the final years of his career; representing no re-sale value whatsoever.
Now, you may ask yourself, what does this have to do with Dutch international Klaas-Jan Huntelaar? Well, there are a lot of similarities between Huntelaar and Dempsey. Both are 29 years of age and dangerously close to reaching 30 – the age where all footballers reach the final stretch.
Huntelaar, just like Dempsey, has a short time remaining on his current contract so would be available at a snippet of what his true value may be. Finally, in the case of Dempsey, more than one club are bound to be interested in such a prolific player. Clubs where their owners are not so passionate about bringing in younger, preferably British players like FSG so publically are.
For me, the situation is simple, Liverpool will have a list of targets heading into the January transfer window and I am in no doubt that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will be on it. However, the fans excitement may need to be toned down ever so slightly.
Once negotiations are underway it will take no time at all to come to the understanding that our owners are not willing to part with enough money to secure the signing of the Dutch international before another club comes along and gives Schalke exactly what they are looking for.
It has happened to Liverpool FC so many times in the past, I don’t see why things would change now. I, like many others, allow myself to get hugely excited by transfer rumours and the thought of Huntelaar in a Liverpool shirt pleases me no end. Nevertheless, I strongly believe we are more likely to see Theo Walcott or Daniel Sturridge parading around Melwood with their new number nine shirt before January 31st as they fit the bill when it comes to the strategy of our stubborn owners.
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November 6th, 2012
Why is everyone critising FSG for not spending in the last window. They obviously was trying to but didn’t want to get ripped off like last year. After 100 million wasted who could blame them. Only a child can’t understand that. Rogers even said that as soon as clubs hear Liverpool are interested in a player the price doubles. FSG are standing firm and it will take a few windows until clubs and agents are not trying to rip off Liverpool. FSG have openly said that they do not want any quick fix solutions. It’s in their interest to see Liverpool succeed. There is no way they would sell soon after laying out so much money.
November 6th, 2012
they got liverpool cheap .they only spent 12m net in the summer and 20m net last summer . do your maths
they are in it to make money , you fool
November 6th, 2012
that is you tim williams isnt it ? with your new pseudonym . lol sussed
November 7th, 2012
your right , it is tim W
November 7th, 2012
stupid fool . why you making excuses for the stupid yanks ?
November 7th, 2012
Double you say? Dempsey went to Spurs for 5 mill and Fulham wanted 6 mill from us as those bungling idiots at FSG made the announcement before we actually got our man.
Are you JH in disguise? Oh and you did not do too well in Maths at school didn’t you?
November 6th, 2012
Top comment my friend! I agree totally with everything you said. Still, I’ll be much happier when January is over and a striker is in place.
November 6th, 2012
we will be shopping in the bargain basement again im afraid . all talk of huntelaar walcott etc is sadly untrue .
following his 2nd rate signings in the summer , rubbish like hooper is all we will get
November 6th, 2012
yes its time for fans to wake up
-we are owned by hicks & gillet mark two
-we have a clueless manager
-some of our top players will be clamouring to leave in the summer
November 7th, 2012
its clear the yanks wont spend proper money so cheap sub standard players incoming
if rodgers buys hooper after wasting money on the rubbish joe allen then he must be sacked
we dont want hooper borini or allen types – top players only
November 7th, 2012
We cant give BR more money , he wasted the summer money . Can we have Rafa back please
November 7th, 2012
Oh yes, Rafa back plaese?
November 7th, 2012
LFC needs another 100m for 3 Aguero-class strikers. Huntelaar could be one of them. But Walcott is a BIG NO NO.
November 7th, 2012
it really is time for liverpool fans to wake up , nothing will be good again , until FSG are gone . their effort has failed miserably . their management , their managerial choices and all transfer dealings have been poor
its like we are being run by man utd fans
November 7th, 2012
ive woke up ages ago . its time for the slower ones to kop on
November 7th, 2012
We must not take our minds off the experience players we are supposed to buy all in the name of look for younger ones who has no experience. I am saying we should buy a striker whose name can be a threat to our opposition defenders. I think HUNTELAAR fits the bill.
November 7th, 2012
I would rather be patient and let brendon have his five years to bring the title home than have a sugar daddy like mcfc or chelski who have ruined the premier league
November 7th, 2012
thats plain stupid !
November 7th, 2012
Why?
November 7th, 2012
why waste 5 days ,let alone 5 years . we r 12th . his buys r rubbish , and if u dont want rich ownwers , ur dumb !