The biggest question mark for Adam and Liverpool though, is that he isn’t really a deep lying playmaker. A playmaker he certainly is, but Adam excels best in an advanced role behind the strikers, a position which both Steven Gerrard and Raul Meireles are more than capable of filling. When he played for Scotland in a deeper role in a friendly against Brazil last month, he had one of his worse games of the season, both getting caught on the ball and the culprit for some wayward passes under pressure.
Alberto Aquilani – Aqua had an unfortunate time at Liverpool during his first season. After recovering from a lengthy ankle injury, it took him to about April to really get up to speed in the Premier League. The combination of a lack of physical fitness and the lack of time to adapt to English football, made him unfairly branded as a flop by the British media. An excellent passer of the ball, Aqua was at his best playing in a more advanced position, which helped him to link up well with Steven Gerrard.
The biggest weakness for Aqua was always his lack of physical strength. To play as a deep lying playmaker, the ability to tackle is essential and Aquilani is not a player to get stuck in. His lightweight frame meant that he struggled to adapt to the strength and power of the English league. In addition, it is clear that Aquilani wants to stay at Juventus, and although King Kenny might want him back, I cannot see how keeping a want-away player can be of any benefit to the Reds.
Steven Defour – The Belgian international has been exciting Premier League scouts for a number of years. Still only 23, despite a number of injuries, Defour is the archetypal deep lying midfield playmaker. Although he can put in a shift, both with his tackling and high work rate, it is his excellent passing ability in advanced positions which he is most known for. Manchester United have been tracking him for a number of years, but he has expressed his desire to move away from Standard Liege to prove himself at any club in England.
Defour doesn’t however have experience of a big European League, and this is his biggest flaw. He also has had a couple of serious injuries over the last two seasons, hampering his development , and so it might be a big risk taking him into the rough and tumble of English football where his body would have to stand up to the physicality.
Which one would you go for?
Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool or like us on Facebook
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
[bet_365 type=’generic’ size=’468′ af_code=’365_061434′]
I’ve watched Nuri Sahin of Dortmund play, and I can say that he’s a heck of a midfielder. very young, good vision, great curve and accuracy, set-piece wizkid and always in the right position. I’d say we get Nuri and leave the unexperienced Charlie for Ian Holloway to chew. you can #FF me on twitter @iLotanna
YNWA
Bring Aqua back and sign Adam or sell Aqua and buy Defour and Adam. Do people not see Adam filling the Alonso role that we have missed. Ridiculous passing range and a general. The Chief play-maker. It will give Gerrard his freedom again.
yes realy am expecting ADAM to be our player coming next season,i’ll advice mr,KENNY not to rely on AQUILANI coming back to ANFIELD because he has said that he want to remain at juv.mr,kenny should go DEFOUR-BOJAN-LAHM-or he should check players at fc.poto and fc.braga all in portuguees league,i’ll want him to bring striker like KARIM BENZEMA also they should make to bring [SHAY GIVEN]to back up PEPE REINA because REINA can’t be keeping all the games through out the season,-GIVEN-is a top quality keeper if not more than our keeper ,players like -jovanovic-poulsen-konchesky-and some other which i can’t remember their names,but JOE COLE -NGOG-KYRGIAKOS should be given another one trials.