LIVERPOOL have just over a week left until deadline day and upon the conclusion of that day, the transfer window slams shut and leaves each Premier League manager with the squad they currently have at their disposal until January.
It has been an up and down window for Liverpool and after making such an eye-opening start with four signings confirmed by June 25th, the Reds have been unable to continue in similar fashion and have only managed to add left-back Aly Cissokho to their ranks after missing out on a number of high-class targets.
It is an open secret that Brendan Rodgers is targeting a centre-back to compete with Daniel Agger, Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel as well as an attacker, with suggestions that the manager is aiming to bring in a left-sided forward to allow Philippe Coutinho a free role in the centre just off the main striker.
As for an attacker, Liverpool have missed out on three high-profile transfer targets so far this summer with Henrikh Mkhitaryan choosing to sign for Borussia Dortmund, Diego Costa using the club to secure himself a lucrative new contract at current club Atletico Madrid and Willian preferring a move to the capital. These have been three significant setbacks for the both the club and the supporters after initial excitement has been met with overwhelming disappointment.
Rodgers insists that the club will do everything in their power to secure one or two more signings before September 3rd but the question is – who is left on the market? With an obvious reluctance to overspend, the club would admit that there are few names out there that would both improve the current crop of players and be available at the right price.
Names such as Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Diego Capel and Arda Turan have been linked with Liverpool, and some not for the first time. Whether or not Liverpool will be able to tie any of these players down to a contract remains to be seen but, with the fans reeling from another missed target in Willian, a ‘marquee’ signing is one that will lift the spirits of the fan base and squad.
As for centre-back, Rodgers seems reluctant to take the gamble on number one defensive target Kyriakos Papadopoulos after it emerged that the Greek’s knees are showing no sign of improvement. The name Tiago Ilori has appeared on numerous occasions this summer and, although the central defender has the potential to be a world-class defender, the desire to bring in a centre-back with immediate talent is evident.
The club already has the likes of Martin Kelly and Andre Wisdom on their books and to bring in another young defender in need of game time would surely be a mistake given the uncertainty around Martin Skrtel’s future.
There are a number of fixtures facing Liverpool in the next few weeks that provides the club with the chance to pick up some valuable Premier League points, therefore the arrival of a few quality players would give the team the lift needed to get the Reds the necessary victories to see them climb the table. The remaining week or so left for the club to spend the cash they have kept locked away until now is vital to the ambitions of the team.
With clubs like Spurs, Man City and Southampton splashing the cash Liverpool not only have to worry about falling further behind the leading pack in the Premier League but there is also the concern that the chasing pack will overtake the Reds unless FSG put their hands in their pockets and back the manager.
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Ok, here is my idea. We all want another attaching player and want to see our team play attacking football and score /win games by a high goal margin. We all want to see that.
Now, failing to add to our attacking options. We have about 30 million to spend on players. Not a lot of money but enough to add 2 players.
I think, failure to defend well cost us points last season. Partly because there was not enough cover in the holding mf. No coincidence we have improved since Lucas came back. Anyway, how about adding a top class defender and a holding mf player? We can score goals, but we don’t need to score 6 to get 3 points do we?
So, I say, strengthen our defence, holding mf this year. Next year, sell Luis, stock up on strikers and we an push for top 4 and beyond!
Ideally, I would add a right wing/striker this season but its not going to happen.
What do you guys think?
YNWA
We should just sign Eriksen, Sakho and Diamo
Im sure some cheap and average players are on their way . Rogers is useless at attracting players
Yes he can’t attract players, but we are where we are. Unless they were born in Northern Ireland or Swansea he won’t attract them.
Having said that, I am against getting in bidding wars with the Bale money and Chelsea as it seems. How funny that we had Spurs fans rubbing it in :)? Always the bridesmaid never the bride!
We should add in our defence. Getting points is not about scoring 3 plus per game. It’s about scoring one or none against some teams and keeping that score line 0!
BR is nt to blame,he’v gt eyes fo a gud player bt FSG is unwilling to fund it..I thnk FSG shud sell d club to a competent person to buy nd stp draging LFC on d mud……As regard an ideal player to buy,i tnk Ben Arfa,Christian Erikson nd luiz muriel can fire us back to top four
Not unwilling to fund it I’m afraid! Unwilling to go above our evaluation I think.
When KD was in charge we became the summer christams present. How much for downing? 10 million mate. Villa, “no way, we want 20.” A wee bit overpriced but ok then here is 20!
I was pulling my hair out when we bid for downing and couldn’t believe that we thought Carrol was worth 35 million.
No more please ! Coutinho cost peanuts. There are other players. Defensive mf player? How about Alex Song? Yes he still plays for Barcelona but is very unhappy at the bench/reserves role but he could add to our team and won’t cost much.
Add another defender and we will get another 10-15 points. Don’t forget Spurs have Thursday night football and playing in Russia or turkey on Thursday then Sunday away costs points.
There are opportunities out there. We need to be smart enough to take them.
I love my club. FSG? Saved us from bunkruptcy! And have consistently invested in our team. Not billions like city , Roman …but enough!
That we spend 55 million on Carrol downing and then Allen Borrini another 28 million is NOT their fault. Sorry but that’s 83 million . More that enough if spent properly to make a championship team reach 7’th!
Rant over
Well said!!
Ok Mr Henry.
One of the only people on this site that actually talks sense
The rest of you BR and FSG Critics are absolute doughnuts
So you were celebrating 7th place last season? Fans have every right to be angry with the current pathetic state of our club.
No mate, you misunderstand me. I’m not happy unless my team lifts the PL but the sooner we work out our business dealings, the better.
Simply pointing out the mess we made of it. We are in a pathetic state because if the way we have conducted business .
Is this the same Erin that spent last season lambasting BR and FSG at every turn?? I haven’t seen the weather change as quickly as that!
Yes , see the comment above! I don’t think he can attract players. I’m not defending BR.
I’m defending transfer policy, and putting forward some ideas. I don’t like Rogers but I’m stuck in the middle of a rock and a hard place. I love my club and want what’s best for the club.
The best for our club is not Rodgers and definitely not fsg
To be realistic, Lfc can’t make top 4 except they sign top quality foward and centre back. Aspas & Toure are only but average players and, you can’t challenge for top 4 with such players. Signing William would have been our brightest chance to equip our team for top 4. We expected fsg to provide the demanded money since basically we have spent nothing this summer based on the number of players we sold. If fsg & co fail to add quality to our team this summer, they should be ready to sell the club to a capable owner next year.
Well said.
Carlton Cole?!
BR can probably attract B team players and loan players. The only good thing he had done is to ship out deadwood like Adam , Carrol , Joe Cole and Downing.
And replaced them with equally poor players like Allen Borini assaidi and Alberto
I dont rememberBR,Ayre or FSG announce publicly who their targets are. These are all concocted by the media. And when Liverpool start any enquiry, the media prints it for the whole world to see. And in some case the agents themselves are against players under their wing coming or playing for Liverpool. For example Kia Joorabchian- he is Willians agent. Does anyone remember him? He is involved with Mascherano and Tevez saga. So as funny as it may sound, there are indeed outside forces that at work preventing LFCs progress. We cant simply blame BR, Ayre or even FSG. On another note,everyone know that mr J.Henry has daid that Suarez will no be sold to anyone. But it is understood that R.Madrid is preparing to lure him to S.Barnabeau. Just wonder,what if they come with £60-65m? As a businessman,will mr J.Henry stand his ground? What do you guys think?
John henry is a businessman. Do you lot not realise this? He isn’t going to wipe our arses financially like the smug russian at chelsea does or the towelheads at citeh. We have a budget which he will adhere to, having one eye on his investment at the same time. He isn’t going to throw his fortune away just so we can win the league. That’s the reality. Get used to it. We have to buy wisely and bring through our own talent. Simple as that
Why are we so desperate for another cb?Coates is injured but never played anyway. We have toure, agger, skrtel, kelly and wisdom. Now we’re chasing after llori who is 20 and played less games than kelly and wisdom. How does that make sense? He’ll play as often as coates. Please enlighten me someone as to why we need him