WITH the seemingly imminent signing of Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid, Liverpool have now added another striker to their ranks.
However, at roughly £21m, it is a lot of money and under the pretence that Luis Suarez stays, there may only be enough money left in the budget for one more signing that could make the difference between Liverpool reaching the top four or falling away into mid-table mediocrity.
But if there was to be only one more signing, where in the squad should the addition be made?
It is unlikely to be in goal, as we have already signed a new no.1 in Simon Mignolet to replace Reina and go with understudies in Brad Jones and Danny Ward.
At fullback, there is plenty of talent and experience with Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique, plus younger understudies in Jon Flanagan, Martin Kelly and Andre Wisdom. Another experienced left-back would be useful to challenge Enrique, however it is not a priority as Kelly and Johnson are more than capable of filling in at left-back, as well as Daniel Agger when absolutely necessary.
Midfield is well stocked, with Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva patrolling the middle and Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen acting as the understudies. Another midfielder would be welcome, especially a challenger to Lucas that isn’t Jay Spearing, or another attacking presence like Christian Eriksen. However, once again this isn’t a priority.
As mentioned above, the signing of Diego Costa would ease fears over the need for another attacker as Costa can join a line up consisting of Fabio Borini, Raheem Sterling, Stewart Downing, Iago Aspas, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez. Therefore, reinforcements in this area is a luxury now rather than a need, and other players like Downing should be shipped out first before any more attackers are added.
Consequently, that leaves centre-back as the only area left, and this is where the squad does need strengthening most. Apart from new signing Kolo Toure, all of our centre-backs are still being linked with moves away.
Despite rumoured interest from Barcelona, Daniel Agger is likely to stay at the club, but the futures of Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates remain far more uncertain. Even if both stayed, which looks unlikely, both struggled last season, with Coates’ standout horror show being the FA Cup defeat to Oldham.
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Meanwhile, Skrtel’s decline from being awarded Liverpool Player of the Season for the 2011/12 season to calamitous errors like in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City at Anfield last season led Brendan Rodgers to replace Skrtel with Jamie Carragher for the second half of last season, a player who was retiring at the end of the season.
However, Carragher brought stability to the defence and justified the decision, while Skrtel was suffering new lows alongside Coates against Oldham. Now with Carragher retired and Rodgers still doubtful over Skrtel and Coates, a new centre back is needed.
There are many centre-backs out there who could fill the position, but I am going to look at a few potential options. One such option would be a man who has been linked with us all summer in Kyriakos Papadopoulos. A strong, vocal defender who possess fantastic aerial ability despite only being 6 foot tall – small for a centre-back in today’s world – Papadopoulos would be a brilliant fit in the defence alongside Agger. Despite only being 21, he already has experience at the highest level, playing in Schalke’s Champions League win over Inter Milan in 2011 quarter finals and in the semi-final defeats to Manchester United.
Another option would be Stefan De Vrij from Feyenoord, who is already club captain at the age of 21. He has also already featured for the Dutch national team and would represent a solid singing with future potential at a modest fee.
Sevilla’s Federico Fazio is another centre-half linked with the Reds, however Sevilla have already sold a number of players this season, including Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and have already done business with Liverpool in selling Luis Alberto. Furthermore, this summer he has signed a new 4 year contract extension with the club. His new deal does contain a €10 million buyout clause and at 6 ft 5 he would provide stability and strength, but whether he could adjust to the pace of the Premier League is an issue.
Other defenders such as Swansea’s Ashley Williams, Sporting Lisbon’s Tiago Ilori and PSG’s Mamadou Sakho (especially now Marquinhos has joined PSG from Roma for £27m) have been linked with Liverpool and would provide various strengths to the centre back position.
However, Papadopoulos represents the ideal option and the perfect replacement for Carragher, while providing more stability in a position currently uncertain with Skrtel and Coates – the main position that now needs strengthening this summer.
If there’s only one more signing left for Liverpool this summer, that’s where it should be.
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I dont think you can judge a player based on just one game, ie coates v oldham. in other games he impressed. skrtl was excellent in parts of last season and had injuries
There is no guarantee of signing Costa. He is happy where he is and AM have said he is not for sale. I agree that Papa would be a good signing. He is a solid defender, built like a tank and there are probably few players who could outmuscle him off the ball.
De Vrij signed a new contractvat Feyenoord this summer, so that pretty much rules him out. You missed Toby Alderweireld who we’ve been linked to and would be my first choice. Though given our over reliance on coutinho to create chances, I think eriksen would be the perfect final signing.
i wld ve to disagree with this article, we actually need cover for 3 positions or even 4 if i include the goalie but i wont. a left back (ally cissokko), center back (not too important” depending on rodger’s plan” since we ve kelly who can fill it), defensive midfield (diame) this should be our major concern and am afraid it wld expose our midfield and defenders so much and lower their moral cum disorient their game esp in the big games that the wrong players wld ve to take the stick for it nd become victims of it. e.g skrtel, a careful look at the games he fumbled or was rather bullied wld make you note that our defensive mid was missing, also against westbrom in the opening game, it was obvious just that fans were blinded by the euphoria of a new season and brendas hype that they kept blaming the defenders.
I do agree that a central defender is needed. Papadopoulos would be a brilliant signing, strong, determined and doesn’t like to be beaten. I’m worried that as time moves on in the transfer window the deal will not be done. Hurry up LFC and make this move!
Papadopoulos,definetely,
is the man to go for…talented,strong and an aerial threat combined with what we say “leader material”.Besides (by the way I’ve never seen it mentioned) he has successfully played quite a few times as a DM, mostly in Greece’s national team(I’m greek,so…).
The selling of our big players who have acustom to EPL is worrisome. Tell me why should Rodgers sell martin skertel for goodness sake. I don’t buy this idea of BR oh.
Go to mancity they are having upto three defender in a wing. Same with the likes of psg, madrid even chelsea.but come to liverpool when once we get an underget player we new sell our big name.why? You can only sell a player when he is not happy. BR should remember that injuries ll come oh.
Defiantly a strong CDM/CM, Gerard’s expert presence is now very limited to one, two seasons at a push. Lucas is average/ good at best. Diame or arsenals diaby would be a perfect fit for that flaky pocket Infront of the back four
nigeria devender obabuna will b rite for lfc
obabuna to liverpool grait 1 b,r get him pleas
If we don’t get costa. Just a question , what’s wrong with an enquiry for Dzeko?
Keep skertel, toure, agger plus Kelly won’t be too bad.
Ideally defensive mf, winger with flare that will provide 5-10 assists and score a few. To be honest, a lot of players will be an upgrade from downing. Someone that can compete with sterling .
YNWA
A centerback and a striker to replace the bitey ASAP.
Suarez gone:
Need a world class striker.
Need a world class attacking / goal scoring mid
Need a world class CD
Would also like to see a back up DM and LB… Job done.
One more signing ? WTF ???
This squad needs 4 or 5 more TOP SIGNINGS just to have a chance of top 4
Agreed.
The Minimum Amount of players needed this summer is 8.
But we need class and quality in these positions:
GK: A Mccarthy(23) Of Reading to compete and Cover Mignolet
CB: T Alderwierld(24) Of Ajax to compete with Agger(28) and Toure(32)
CB: K Papadopolous(21) Of Schalke to compete and Cover with Skrtel(28)
LB: A Cissokho(25) Of Valencia to compete and cover Enrique(27)
DM: E Capoue(24) Of Toulouse to compete and Cover LUCAS
RW / RWF: J Montero(23) Of Monarcas Morelia in Mexico to compete with Sterling
LW / LWF: B Arda(26) Of Newcastle to compete with Aspas and Ibe
AM: I Munian(20) Of A Bilbao to compete with Alberto and Coutinho
FD: L Muriel(23) Of Udinese to compete with Sturridge and Suarez
And these 8 average dead wood players still in the first team squad at club need to make way:
GK: B Jones
RB: Flanagan
CB: Coates
DM: Spearing ( Nearly completed move to Bolton)
AM: Pacheco
RW / RWF: Assaidi
LW /LWF: Downing
FD: Borini