According to several reports in the Belgium press, Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour is being linked with a move to Liverpool. So who is he? Most will remember when in September 2009, Defour broke a bone in his foot and it was revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson sent him a get well letter. The Belgian midfielder is certainly highly rated across Europe and has been scouted by nearly every top club on the continent.
Starting out life in KV Mechelen’s youth team, his talent was quickly recognised and he was bought by KRC Genk at just 16 years of age, breaking into the first team only a year later in the 2005/06 season. He had a very impressive first full season of top flight action and he was the chief creator of the team, using his vision and skill to open up opposition defences. His abilities did not go unnoticed and he was quickly snapped up by another leading Belgian team Standard Liege.
Still very young, he quickly became one of the team’s key players and after a year at the club, he was given the captain’s arm band at the extremely young age of 19. The pressure of captaincy did not seem to affect him though and he was given the Golden Shoe award for 2007, an award given to the league’s most valuable player. His continued his form throughout the season, and in his first year of captaincy, his team Standard won their first league title in 25 years. It was followed a year later with a second successive title after two leg play-off win over Anderlecht.
Defour could be described as a hard working midfield playmaker and his game relies on stamina, vision and technical ability. His ability to pick out a pass is second to none in Belgium’s Jupiler League and it has attracted the attention of teams such as Everton, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United as well as Liverpool. He has already appeared 24 times for his country after making his debut against Saudi Arabia in 2006, and, despite now only being 22, he has become an integral member of the international setup.
Last season was however a bit more difficult for Defour. He broke a bone in his foot against his hometown club KV Mechelen in September and was sent a note from Ferguson wishing him a speedy recovery. He was out for a fair few months with his injury and Standard missed his creative abilities as the team finished a staggering 46 points behind league winners Anderlecht at the end of the season. Despite only recently signing a new contract, the season has apparently persuaded Defour it is time to move on to a bigger club and the Belgium press believe Liverpool are in the running to buy the player for £10million. Is he the sort of player the Reds need at the moment?
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i think this will be a great signing for my beloved liverpool fc the belgian maestro will add the much needed craft that the reds need in the centre of midfield also leaving the way for javier mascharano to fullfill his dream and join the mighty inter milan good luck for the future javier you have did us proud thankyou
Good replacement for Lucas as well as Mascherano….also try to bring Javi Martinez or Bastian Sch.
BANEGA, DEFOUR AND TURAN YOU CAN ALL GET FOR AROUND 40 MILL, MASCHERANO IF HE DOES GO SHOULD FETCH 30 MILL, SO IN EFFECT WITH REIRA MONEY AND THEN SELLING DEGEN, ITANDGE, DIEGO, PLESSIES, EL ZHAR AND NEMETH AND OTHER VERY DEADWOOD PLAYERS WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH FOR A LEFT BACK AND MAYBE CROUCH.
REINA
JOHNSON CARRA AGGER TAWIO
DEFOUR BANEGA AQUILANI
GERRARD
TORRES CROUCH.
THATS NOR BAD IS IT, AND TO THINK HARDLY SPENDING MUCH MONEY
Yeah, Defour would be a great signing. As long as he isn’t troubled by his past injuries he will be perfect for Liverpool. High workrate and determination coupled with good technique and creativity. Sign him.
I think he is a very good player, but I also like Ever Banega so i wouldn’t mind getting rid of Mascherano and probably Lucas cause it seems he is already on the move and getting them both.Plus there would probably be some cash to spare on a striker……ohhh wait a minute that’s not right, i forgot yanks out
Steven Defour is not a defensive midfielder like Mascherano, is a creation midfield
we should sell cavalieri, Riera, Kyrgiakos, babel, degen, plessis, Itandje, El Zhar, Lucas or mascharano (depending on whether javier wants to stay or not) and maybe maxi rodriguez, and consider offers for Aquilani (not less than € 20m) if get a remplasante (like me yoann gourcuff.30m €) (also give loan to Ngog) and with that we raised about € 60m or € 80m
with that money buy mikah richards (€ 4m) steven taylor (€ 5m) and Caner Erkin (€ 4m) for the defense.
to midfield buy Arda Turan (€ 10m) Defour (€ 10m) and cattermolle (€ 10m), try to sign Yoann Gourcuff (€ 30m) and Wijnaldum Georginio (€ 8m)
for the attacks should buy huseklepp (600,000 €) or gervihno (€ 10m) (We could also buy the two) or Podolski (12m €). then a striker like klose, llorente or Kiebling .
if Torres decides to leave his replacement would dzeco, llorente also has a style very similar to Torres.
we should also think of our young players and get on some first-team:
Alex Kacanikilic: Swedish midfielder 18.
Lauri Dalla Valle: forward Filanda 18.
Krisztian Nemeth: Hungarian striker 19.
Martin Kelly: English champion 20 years.
Gulácsi Péter: Hungarian goalkeeper 20 years.
@ Juan – you want to get rid of Aquilani. Now that he is fully fit. Are you on drugs? And maxi. Mate im glad you are not our manager.
how your can get rid of maxi when gerrard said as close to just before the world cup that he is a great player then you must be crazy.
for me the deadwood is;
degen,reira,babel,itandge,diego,el zhar,nemeth,spearing,darby,plessies, and if he really wants to go sell mascherano, wouldnt want to lose him ideally love to pair him up with eva banega. but if we can sell masch for 30 -35 mill, then get rid.
my choice for buys and team shape would be;
mascherano = 30 mill
banega and turan and van der vaart for about that.
joe cole on a free.
with the deadwood money that lot would bring in around 30 mill, so then use that added to the s*** kitty they have given roy that makes 40 mill to spend!
then get a left back i would put a bid in for lahm, love that guy he can play anywhere at the left or right, he would cost 25-30.
then get crouch. my team would be. ideally?
REINA
JOHNSON CARRAGHER AGGER LAHM
V.D.V GERRARD EVA TURAN
TORRES CROUCH.
SUBS;
J.COLE.
SKRTEL
KELLY
AUQILANI
LUCUS
JOANIVIC
GULACSI GK
MAXI
KUYT
SOTO
EMMOO
ECCLESTON
JONJO
AYALA
INSUA
Though a lot of players Hodgson is rumoured to be chasing are second rate this bloke is all class, and can be good going forward or defensively hope they get him.