ACCORDING to various reports in Spain and England, Spanish Under-21 forward, Luis Alberto, is set to join Iago Aspas and Kolo Toure as Brendan Rodgers’s third signing of the transfer window.
The Reds, learning the lesson of last year’s heel dragging, have acted quickly so far in their efforts to attract talent to the club, and the courting of Luis Alberto is another example of Liverpool’s scouting network working quickly and efficiently to pinpoint targets.
The highly rated 20 year old is a product of the Sevilla youth system, but spent last season on loan at Barcelona, where he played for the club’s B team.
The Catalan giants have an option to make the deal permanent, however this must be exercised by June 13th and sources close to the club have hinted that the clause will not be activated.
Luis Alberto is a forward, who can operate centrally or in a wider role, normally on the left of a front three. The youngster is known for his comfort on the ball, his ability to make space and time for himself and his team-mates, his vision and his delivery from wide areas.
He is also something of dead ball specialist, as well as having an eye for goal, a fact highlighted by his 11 goals in 32 starts last season. However, it’s Luis Alberto’s ability and willingness to create goals for his team-mates that really catches the eye, and it’s a quality that Brendan Rodgers will be hoping the Reds can utilise to its fullest potential.
The Spaniard created 18 goals for his team last year, and with strikers such as Daniel Sturridge and (possibly still) Luis Suarez at the club, he should be well equipped to improve on that at Liverpool.
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Reports in Spain claim that personal terms have been agreed, between the player’s representatives and Liverpool Football Club, on a four year deal, with a fee the only thing remaining to be thrashed out between the clubs. Sevilla reportedly value the player at €9.5m, however it is likely that a deal could be struck for as little as €6m.
Luis Alberto has said about the proposed move,
“It would be foolish and deluded of me to say no to a club like Liverpool”.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports’s Spanish expert Guillem Balague remains convinced that the switch will take place, writing.
“Luis Alberto is the other Spanish player that is about to agree to join Liverpool.”
Should Liverpool conclude the deal as expected, the capture of one of La Liga’s hottest young prospects would represent a significant coup for Brendan Rodgers and the Anfield side.
Luis Alberto is, like Coutinho, primed to make an immediate impact on the Premier League. Technically gifted, comfortable on the ball and strong for his age, he’s the kind of exciting talent that LFC should be looking to bring in to help the current side progress.
You can catch up with Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 and on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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Iago Aspas – Kolo Toure – Luis Alberto
Not exactly dining from the top table , are we ?
And b4 all the melons start ranting about what fantastic players these are , ask yourself this – would these 3 interest any of the top 4 clubs ? We all the answer – NO
Even coutinho didn’t interest top 4 clubs. Now all top clubs in europe will like to have hime
Are we in the top 4? No, so stop bringing up the whole top 4 story every time we’re buying a player.
Arsenal are constantly in the top 4 but do you see them “dining from the top table” in every window? have some faith for once and let things happen.
I can understand the consept of buying young, gifted and potentially world class players. I understand how brendan rogers is trying to implement this theory. But why go out and spend 10-15 million on these particular B team players when taking a closer look at our under 21s team and promoting within can save the team millions…adorjan…txeriera…suso…sterling…sinclair…cody…ibe… i could go on. love BRs policy but we have enough youth to move forward with to pave the way for success