The recent comments by Gavin Law of Liverpool’s shirt sponsor, Standard Chartered, have caused some concern over the possibility of the Reds signing token players in the summer rather than what’s needed on the pitch.
The banking company’s Mr Law; head of corporate affairs, expressed the desire for Liverpool to sign players of nationality where their bank operates, like Japan and China. He mentioned how the likes of Manchester United’s Ji-Sung Park has massively increased coverage and revenue in Korea and how Liverpool want to do the same, by saying:
“Liverpool are more aware than most other clubs we’ve spoken to of the commercial opportunity for them. If they can sell a million shirts with another Mr Park on the back, why wouldn’t you?”
So could we see a few Asian players sign for Liverpool in the summer? Or should Liverpool’s main concerns be to sign quality on the pitch, before commercial interests are considered? After all, they’ve just announced a pre-season tour of Asia this Summer.
Fortunately for Reds fans, the club has responded to the desires of their shirt sponsors. Fenway Sports Group have said they will not be signing players to sell shirts and new arrivals will be signed on the basis of their football talent before any commercial advantage is considered.
However, there are a number of Asian players that could match Liverpool’s summer transfer targets. Monaco’s Park Chu-Young is already said to be a target of Liverpool and the winger has been impressing in the French league this season. Or, the Reds could go for a player with Premier League experience in Bolton’s right sided midfielder, Lee Chung Yong, who has shown some class since joining the Trotters in 2009.
The comments made by Liverpool’s £20-million-a-year sponsor have only created more scrutiny on what is already a much-debated subject. When Arsenal signed Japanese international Junichi Inamoto in 2001, it was criticised in regards to Arsenal cashing in on the Asian market, as sales of Arsenal shirts increased and tourists from Japan were visiting Highbury.
Inamoto wasn’t a huge star in his own country at the time, unlike Hidetoshi Nakata, who moved to the Serie A in Italy in 1998. The player had commercial success but was also rather successful in Italy playing for the likes of Roma, Parma and Fiorentina.
The accusation of Arsenal signing the player for commercial reasons was not helped after he was released a year later having never made a Premier League appearance for the Gunners, only getting games in the League Cup and Champions League. The player did go on to have successful spells with Fulham and West Brom, however.
Commercial interests are very important to Liverpool, who want to financially match the likes of the current top four and the signing of a talented player from Asia would be a smart move on the pitch as well as off it.
It’d be worrying for Liverpool fans if they did sign an Asian player, who would only a fringe player in the squad at best. However, if they are to sign someone similar to the ability of United’s Park, then it would be successful in both avenues and you can’t argue against that.
The article was written by Matt G-Freebody for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.
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signing of honda wud be very beneficial in this regard..
he has proved his quality at an international level and wud provide much needed creativity and flair in our midfield..
Honda IS quality. Liverpool needs to go global. Gone were the days only players from west are considered.
There are a lot more from Asia to be discovered.
Park JS once scored against us. Remember?
If quality asian players are available and want to come to the club I have no problem with that as long as it is a descision made on MERIT only.
I suspect that the statement from SC was no more than the wishful thinking of their marketing department that was blown out of propotion ( selling shirts would be putting their brand name global rather than the clubs name which is already worldwide)
So don’t panic as sponsors (should) have no power over the club other than using it as a walking bill board