Is This Relegated Striker The Answer?

SINCE the summer transfer window slammed shut a few months ago, Liverpool’s main issue has been their inability to find the back of the net.

It was always going to happen, given that our only other senior goal-getter headed south to London and a major background cock-up led to the club heading in to September without a single genuine striker besides Suarez and Borini.

It was a clear inevitability also when Borini then went on International duty and came back injured, leaving us with Luis Suarez and a bunch of inexperienced kids to get us through until the January transfer-window opens.

So a very key topic for debate since the previous round of Internationals amongst Reds has been, who is the answer to our problems, come January 1st?

I have seen a number of interesting propositions thrown around over the past 7 days. From the names we’re always linked with, such as Theo Walcott, Demba Ba and Darren Bent, through to the suggestions such as Gary Hooper, Klaas Jan Huntelaar or even the permanent recall of Carroll. None of the rumours seem to be able to suitably agree on a solid amount that the club would be willing to pay, but the prices range from £2-£20million.

Which is why I would suggest looking slightly further afield than the more obvious choices of familiar star-strikers, to the Liga Adelante (Spain’s second tier), where a certain Guiseppe Rossi plies his trade with Villarreal.

Whilst he is currently injured, Rossi would more than likely be fit again by January and, given Villarreal’s current debt – not to mention, their recent relegation predicament – he may well be available for a fairly reasonable fee.

I would see a player like Rossi as a long-term fixture, rather than a signing that is of pure necessity due to our current striker predicament and I get the feeling that one or two of the players we’ve had a look at are short-term options to fill the gap we have at the moment. But a striker like Rossi – still only aged 25 – would be young enough to fit in with the FSG guidelines over signing young players with bags of potential that would be worth much more, in terms of sell-on, in the future, whilst also offering Liverpool an immediate answer to their goal-scoring issues, being the fairly prolific striker he is.
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Many people might turn their noses up at making a signing such as Rossi given his former connections, and the fact that he didn’t quite ‘make it’ there, but Barcelona were never too bothered about signing another cast off of theirs (a certain Gerard Pique) and look how that’s turned out for all parties involved?

After a couple of mixed loan spells, the New Jersey born Italian International moved permanently to Villarreal, where he has since racked up an impressive 82 goals in 192 games, with a further 28 assists. Whilst capable of playing in a number of positions throughout the final third, his most natural role is that of striker, and it is here where he would be most effective and I believe his similar style to the Italian legend Del Piero, would see him link up superbly with Luis Suarez.

The little Italian has a great number of footballing talents, including his ability to link up play, drop deep to collect the ball, can see passes others can’t and has a definite ‘poachers’ eye for goal that would be gratefully welcomed.

As I mentioned, Villarreal’s current situation would mean that Rossi would probably be available for around £8-9million come January, and while there may be more popular options available to the club, I think that Rossi’s age, style and value would certainly make him a rather attractive prospect and might well be an option that the Reds would be foolish to pass up as his stock is only going to shoot up again once Villarreal make their return to La Liga.
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