At first I did not pay much attention when reports were floating around that Liverpool may be planning on selling Raul Meireles as he is surplus to requirements at Anfield or because he needed to be sold in order to fund the transfers of new signings this summer.
Looking at the first point, I do not understand why some people would think that he is surplus to requirements? Raul was after all voted PFA Fans’ Player of the Year after his impressive debut season for Liverpool. It took him a while to get going but that was largely due to the fact that Roy Hodgson had no idea where to play him! Kenny Dalglish then stepped in and we saw the best of Raul as he banged in goals for fun in consecutive matches. Raul has seemed to pick up niggling injuries through out the season but that is not reason enough to want to sell the player.
Now the debate is that Dalglish has bought in Jordan Henderson this summer and is still reportedly eyeing Charlie Adam. Where then would Meireles fit in if Liverpool signed Adam? There will be a lot of competition for places in central midfield as we have the likes of Gerrard, Lucas and Spearing already competing for places. Coupled with the fact that we could have Alberto Aquilani returning to Liverpool if no one buys him this summer.
If we are looking at the issue of selling Meireles to raise transfer funds then it could make sense as Meireles is more marketable and easier to sell than Aquilani. That is based on the assumption that FSG had included the sale of Aquilani as part of their summer spending budget. So to balance the books; sell Meireles as we will find a buyer for him and keep Aquilani as we will get more money by selling Meireles. It would not surprise me at all if this is what FSG are thinking as it makes business sense. Whether it makes sense on the field, that is another question.
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i would like meireles to stay but i also like aquilani so if he wanted to play for liverpool next season then i wouldnt mind if meireles left
Surely to God, Raul is just TOO GOOD TO LOSE!!!!!!
What I don’t understand is how Juventus supposedly really wanted Aquilani but couldn’t afford him – but now all of a sudden they can offer £13.5m for Meireles – what’s all that about!
And if it is true that doubling his wages takes Meireles to £60k per week, then compared to other players I would say that is good value. Hope he stays.
Meireles is a clever attacking midfielder but he is not versatile, he can only play in one position and that belongs to Gerrard. Meireles was tried in different positions by Hodgson and Dalglish and he was lost, the reason he is going is because he can not adapt. The new Liverpool will be a very versatile unit who can change formations, unfortunately Meireles is not versatile enough. In an ideal world we could keep him and use him of the bench but at nearly 29 time isn’t on his side.
don’t you think Juve want to stratagise their market by comfusing us?
adams couldnt lace meireles boots , this guy was 1 of the best players for portugal in the world cup. we should play him through the middle like when he had his goal scoring spell, instead he his pushed out to the wing… wot a joke. we have enough attacking midfielders in stevie,shelvey and raul then we go out and waste 16m on henderson (on his performances for england u21 he aint worth 5m). we are crying out for wingers who can go past defenders and a world class defensive midfielder and we are still linked with half a good season charlie adams.we should buy gago , mata and johnson who his the only attacking english player worth buying besides wilshere