Like many other authors on this website I believe that Liverpool really need to buy a winger before the end of the transfer window but that seems pretty unlikely. Although Dirk Kuyt and Milan Jovanovic are good players in their own right, nobody would describe them as wingers per se; rather they are forwards playing out wide. Although Jovanovic does have pace, both he and Kuyt rarely make forays to the byline and cross with quality, and for me it is an area that has been needed to be fixed for a long time. Pace, width and quality delivery from the wings is essential for a quality team. The speculation of Ryan Babel’s departure as part of the deal for Carlton Cole is also worrying as it would lower the numbers further of those who are capable of playing on the wing. In the first team, Kuyt, Jovanovic and Maxi would be the only players to play wide after the departures of Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun and possibly Babel. Joe Cole could play wide but he will most likely play off the striker.
The possible loan move of Emiliano Insua to Galatasaray though made me sit up and take notice, not because of the Argentine’s potential departure, but because of a deal that could be in the offing for one of the Turkish club’s players. Arda Turan has stated on a number of occasions that he would like to join Liverpool, once saying:
“As I always mention, Liverpool attracts me because of their tradition. In Europe, I am a Liverpool supporter, so if I go to play in Europe, I would like to play for them.”
Any move away for Insua could provide us with a great opportunity to land Arda. Rather than loaning the Argentine to Galatasaray we could offer Insua on a permanent deal (worth £5m) plus £6-7m in exchange for Arda’s services. Where would we get the £6-7m to finance the deal? This would come from the possible sale of Ryan Babel. The Dutch forward is said to be in talks in London with a view to a move to either Tottenham or West Ham. If he moves to Spurs it would be a straight cash deal worth £8-9m while he would be used in exchange for Carlton Cole in a move to West Ham. Worth about £8-9m, the Reds may only have to find £2-3m more to get a move for Cole, freeing up some leftover Mascherano cash for Arda. I know I am playing a bit of Football Manager here, but I really believe if we lose Babel and only get Carlton Cole in return, we will be desperately short in the wide areas. Insua’s Galatasaray deal could rectify the situation.
Arda Turan is a player who can run, cross and shoot. The Galatasaray captain played 47 matches for the Turkish club last season, scoring 11 goals and assisting 25. This campaign he has already scored 3 times in 5 appearances, and he would no doubt give us tremendous service from the flanks as well as contributing a fair amount of goals from midfield, which we have been lacking in recent seasons. He is both a goal threat and a player with speed and skill. If Babel does leave today, then I believe we will have a shortage of pace and trickery on the wings. The departures of Benayoun and Riera have only been compensated effectively by the arrival of Jovanovic, who is used to playing in more central positions. If we don’t pursue anyone more than a striker this afternoon we may find ourselves short of players going into the busy schedule of the next few months.
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I understand your concern David but mytake is that RH has his mind set to keep the current crop until the January window opens again and hopefully has the funds to get wingers. Dirk seems to be on his way out as well so the money from his sale can go into getting a winger. Maxi should be given his chance and he can play either flank. Dani has been used in that role as well. Everyone would welcome a winger with skill and pace and can deliver a deadly cross but I really don’t see that happening, not until January anyway. Let’s just hope for the best.YNWA
Insua to Gala and we should have made this deal for Turan happen! Turan would be a great addition!
couldn’t agree more david! insua + cash for turan sounds ideal, like yourself, i really am concerned about the lack of width, no point in buying carlton cole when there’s nobody to cross the bloody ball to him!
arsa arda arda turan turan turan!!!
Liverpool only seem to deal in no-brainer deals that actually involve no use of brain power on our side! Not impressed with our dealings at all 🙁
Roy is a shocking business man what manager wouldnt spend all the funds made available from sales when the club is being sold.
I think it is ridiculous that before now theres no striker i am disgusted this club is in dire trouble none of Roys signings have not done much at all.
I hope to god Merieles is as good as i think he is.
As for Turan it was never going to happen under Roy.
Please tell me we haven’t sold Babel without having a new striker in place? Only 72 minutes till the close of the window so if we have lost Babel and not got someone else I’ll be gutted.
Red
Really is shocking the way we have line up for this season – esp as we seen that we were all to preditable last season… No point in new strikers if we are just going to frustrate them with lack of service… only bright sparks are Joe Cole and Milan – Raul is almost like for like
De La Valle for a Left back – Christ almighty
plus the sums do not add up – where have the rest of the funds gone – why wait until Jan to jump on the winger front
It’s all very well keep on going on about Arda Turan with Insua in px but the fact is, we have had two different clubs ready to take Insua but his wage demands are ridiculous. He is unproven as yet and he demands huge money. I doubt very much gala would pay what he wants or even close. Sorry guys, we might be stuck with Insua or only get a loan deal and then lose him next season on a Bosman. He’s another greedy mercenary and if he stays I hope he is stuck in the reserves till next summer.
ive seen arda play on many occasions, he is a fantastic a player with even more potential. but i doubt galatasaray would let him go, and any deal would probably start around 15mil.
i have been saying this for ages, and you pick this topic after years of me banging on about this player…. liverpool have asked about his exit from the dead beat club that he plays for,m but that was when rafa was in charge, and yes the yanks stopped that deal too!!!! the price would be 14.5 mill and we just do not have that money unless lucus was going or babel or we get rid of el zhar, plessies, itandge, and deadwood, this club is just bullshi* at deals on transfer day, unless we get a last minute deal that slipps in under the door, love to think we could get a turan or mata or llorente but i just dont know….
this would be a great signing, unfortunately now insua has just gone on loan so…
I agree Arda Turan would make Liverpool league contenders with a quality striker. Arda Turan is a fantastic player
YNWA, transfer season is over:: poulsen-waste of money,raul – not tested,paul-comon 2 talented youngsters for him, roy u got it wrong u should hve bought a striker in place of a defensive midfielder, hope so torres wld be healthy. BROKEN PROMISES I M SAD ONCE AGAIN.., YNWA
we dont need striker anymore..Just put babel upfront pairing with Torres.
Before this we only depend on Torres to score goals and the opponent also know. As long as we play 1 striker, the opponent need to put pressure on Torres alone then we will lack of goal threat..
Put 2 upfront then the opponent’s defender will be busy marking Babel and Torres.
Ryan Babel has a good pace, and fast. He just need to be train how to be a proper striker..
We can use Torres,Babel, Milan, Dirk, Ngog as Strikers, we got Cole, Gerrard, Raul, Maxi, in the midfield all of who can shoot, so things should not be that bad as long as we can get these players into positions to TAKE SHOTS which we ave been lacking lately! Thats it until Jan. so we best get behind them and hope Roy can find the gel to get them all firing!!! YNWA!!!!