Arturo Vidal has impressed for Chile
I don’t know whether you have noticed, but it’s the World Cup. Having watched nearly every minute so far, chosen my 23 man squad for fantasy football, and collected almost half the stickers in my World Cup sticker book (3 facts I am not at all ashamed of), I am becoming quite the expert on obscure players who only appeared on our screens at the last World Cup.
Every World Cup brings with it a surprise package – be it a team that goes far (Uruguay in South Africa anyone?) or a player who everyone remembers, for good or bad reasons (Luis Suarez and Asasmoah Gyan spring to mind!).
For me, the World Cup fills the void that is left by the end of another season, and I use it like a shop window, creating the most expensive shopping list I could imagine including people I think Liverpool could do with; and who I dream might play for the Reds. So far this summer, Liverpool have been linked with everyone; every player that has been rumoured to be parting company with their clubs seems to be arriving at Anfield, ‘red since birth’ who always chose to be Liverpool on his Playstation 1, or 2, or 3, dependant on age.
They are all rumoured to be arriving at Anfield. Source of information? The dodgy guy in the corner by the bar, whose brother has a contact in a burger van on Anfield Road. Good enough for me! This, combined with my over-optimistic shopping list, has produced some of the most exciting, if outlandish, transfer rumours that have floated around the rumour mill throughout my years of support.
This transfer window has already provided Liverpool with some much needed depth in the attacking department with the arrival of life-long Liverpool fan Rickie Lambert, whose height and power provides a dynamic alternative to the Reds prolific strike force. Emre Can should provide some defensive support to the team in front of the defence, allowing Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho and crew the freedom to attack without exposing the defence. With Lucas injury prone, it’s good to see some young fresh blood brought in to bolster the squad.
Darmian has been on form for Italy
Considering the team had its first centurion season going forward, scoring 101 goals, it is not the department which I am worried about. Adding strength and depth there is undoubtedly important, but my window shopping has centred more on the defence. A few defenders have caught my eye so far, some more available than others. With Enrique injured, and Johnson’s defensive qualities currently somewhat lacking, a decent full back is an absolute essential in my eyes. A couple of candidates have caught my eye from the games so far.
Firstly, and from current media speculation a legitimate target of the club, Ricardo Rodriguez of Bundesliga side Wolfsburg and the Swiss national team. A young and versatile full back at just 21, Rodriguez has played left-back for Wolfsburg since 2012, and has made 22 appearances for the Swiss national team since 2011.
His 5 goals and 9 assists in his 34 appearances in the Bundesliga are in keeping with Brendan Rodgers’ and Liverpool’s attacking style, but it is his strength, tackling prowess, and the ability to pick out a long ball that suggest this young left-back could be a promising talent for a fraction of the price-tag that players such as Luke Shaw carry. This English youngster has caught the world’s eye with his performances throughout the 2013-14 premier league season, but the £30million price-tag that the Saints have placed on him seems to be deterring potential offers.
Argentina are a force to be reckoned with in world football and, knowing that no-one from outside South America has won a world cup held in the Americas, they were my pre-world cup tip. The Sporting CP and Argentine centre/left back Marcos Rojo has impressed under Argentinian manager Alejandro Sabella, and was chosen to play ahead of Manchester City star Martin Demichelis in Argentina’s world cup opener. His ‘rabona’ clearance under pressure against Bosnia and Herzegovina hinted at the 24 year old defender’s talent. This, combined with his defensive versatility, make him an ideal target for the Reds.
Unlike Rodriguez and Rojo, Italian defender Matteo Darmian has caught my eye but seems a less likely target. At 24, Darmian, originated as a central defender, but his preference for the right flank has seen him develop into a classic Italian full back who has defensive power and resilience, combined with pace and awareness when attacking. The Torino full-back seems content at the Serie A side which makes a likely transfer much less realistic.
Interest in the Spanish and Sevilla youngster Alberto Moreno has been constant since the January transfer window. This interest, however, seems to have died down of late; the £20million valuation is too steep a price to pay in Liverpool’s eyes. Inflated valuations of players have disrupted many deals relating to upcoming players for all the big European clubs.
Any player mentioned in the world cup so far who is moving clubs, has invariably been linked with a move to Anfield, with the exception of Ivan Rakitic who has already made a high profile move to Catalan giants Barcelona. So far, Alexis Sanchez, Mateo Kovacic, and Pedro Rodriguez have all been linked with Liverpool; a trio of top notch attacking talent who have impressed on both international and club levels. Although it has been suggested that the Nou Camp is about to experience an exodus, I don’t think we should concentrate on buying more forward talent when we already have an abundance of quality and youth going forward.
Mateo Kovacic of Croatia
That said, Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic impressed in the world cup opener against Brazil, and Arturo Vidal has been an integral part of Chile’s surge that has seen the World Champions exit in the group stages. Free agent Guillermo Ochoa, whose goalkeeping master class for Mexico against Brazil, has provided the most memorable performance of the world cup so far; Liverpool and Arsenal seem to the most interested parties, but after that stellar display, I’m sure many more clubs will want to claim him for their own.
If money was no object, and every player who impressed was available for the club to purchase, my shopping list would obviously extend to include the likes of Neymar Jr, Lionel Messi, and Thiago Silva. Although I am not usually an advocate of buying before a World Cup starts, the players the club have brought in so far make tactical sense; I’d like this to continue throughout the transfer window, with some of our passengers (Aspas and Alberto to name two) departing.
Which players have impressed you so far this World Cup? Who would you like to see arrive at Anfield before the start of the new season?
The center holding mid for Belgium, Axel Witsel. I know they only played Algeria, but he was everywhere in that game. Always showed and on the ball plenty. First time I ever saw him play, but what a beauty he would be in front of our back four in my opinion. Plays for Zenit I think.
Not a bad shout, he did look quite good, but as you say they were only playing Algeria, and I felt that they were quite slow whilst creating chances, and that would show in the premier league.
And we wonder why english players are struggling to get a game in the prem league! This article tells you all you need to know. There will be even more foreigners here after the world cup. Good luck greg dyke. You are urinating against a hurricane
Liverpool have done more than their fair share of producing England players, add Wisdom Flanno & Kelly to the current England squad members and that is a lot of players. We are entitled to sign the odd foreigner now definitely