16 Jan 2013

Game on: €5m star rejects new contract after talks with LFC. Anfield Bound...?

Last week, the Agent of Lazio star Modibo Diakité confirmed that Liverpool had had made made contact over the possibility of a January transfer to Anfield. A contract dispute has held up negotiations over a new deal with the Serie A club, but now, it appears that Diakité has decided that he definitely wants to leave.

According to a report today in Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport, Diakité has rejected a new contract. The report states:

"Claudio Lotito [Lazio Owner] and Vladimir Petkovic [Lazio manager] are disappointed that Diakité has decided not to renew his contract, which means he can leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

"It remains a possibility that he may be sold before 31 January if Liverpool will make Lazio an offer"


The powerful Senegalese star has been linked with the Reds several times over the last month, and Ulisse Savini, Diakité's Agent, recently confirmed Liverpool's interest in the player. He told Calcio Mercato:

"It is true that Terek Grozny are very interested in the player. Liverpool have also made an enquiry, and we are only considering immediate solutions."

Liverpool FC boss Brendan Rodgers has reportedly spent the last month trying to thrash out a deal for the 25-year old , and last week, the Reds held a second round of talks with Diakité in a bid to resolve differences over salary and contract length.

€5m-rated Diakite recently fell-foul of fans over his contract situation. Two of the defender's cars were torched, an incident rumoured to be the work of the Lazio 'Ultras', as retaliation for Diakite's contract stance. Responding to the incident, Savini said:

“The lad is obviously very shaken by what happened, not so much for the loss of the cars as the incident which was unpredictable and unthinkable. He immediately realised what was happening when he saw the flames from the window.

“I don’t want to think that the contract dispute could have anything to do with this. It must’ve been the actions of a crazy arsonist.”


Sebastian Coates reportedly wants to leave Anfield to get first team football, and given his recent shaky performance against non-league Mansfield, a new defender would probably be a welcome addition at Anfield.

Worth a bid?



Jaimie Kanwar


79 comments:

  1. Mansfield game wasn't yesterday :-)

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  2. Lazio fans are crazy!
    We could do with some back up in defence, and he should be pretty cheap too.

    Then just snap up Sneijder and we are good :-P

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  3. Would prefer to keep Coates, given the choice but we still need a backup, Carra still looks good but we should always have a contingency, and the other lads are young.

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  4. Rodgers must have a thing for clumsy defenders. First that cluts from Norway, now this guy....Williams....

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  5. If that's the best video you can find of this guy then I PRAY we don't sign him. He looks slow, cumbersome, rash, positionally erratic, poor technically..... Surely there's no way we'd sign this guy - he looks awful.

    I remember playing against Atletico Madrid a few years back and being hugely impressed by their then center back combinatiojn of Dominguez and Perriea (I think he was called). Neither had the height of a typical premier league centre half but both were excellent posiitonally, lightning quick, had great a great leap and could use the ball. The modern centre half.

    Surely with Rodgers' emphasis on playing out from the back, ability on the ball is paramount - even at centre half - and this Diakite fella clearly does not have this in his locker.

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  6. Is BR aware that Andre Wisdom  and Martin Kelly are actually CENTRE BACKS playing as right backs?
     

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  7. Greg | Liverpool Kopites1:43 pm, January 16, 2013

    Looks strong and powerful. But clearly has a poor touch so I don't see how he fits into BR's idea of a defender in his 'system'. Could end up like Assaidi in the sense that if he's signed, shipped out after six months or so.

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  8. LOL! I've always said we should play Kelly at CB and Wisdom too.

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  9. Jamie you changed the layout..was it buggy?

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  10. Just a quick comment on the pattern of player we have been buying (right age, right price, resale value taken into account etc).

    Speaking with friends who support a variety of teams, nearly all of them (except City fans who due to being the richest club in the world are not overly concerned) about this) have commented to me repeatedly the past few months on how sensible and forward thinking our policy wrt buying such players are.

    Let's hope it bears some immediate fruit too and if Buck can find us some measure of consistency soon, we may be able to push for a Thursday night cup place or (dare we dream a little too hard) a Champions League position!

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  11. Where is Kelly? He's not still injured is he?

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  12. He's big which is good...but at 194 lbs I'm questioning his quickness.  We do need better center back play because we spend so much itme in our back third passing it around...which I will never understand.  It just embooldens the other team.

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  13. I know right! Them Ultras...SHM!

    Sneijder yes please! We could offer Downing as a deal sweetener ;0P

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  14. What do you guys think of trying to sign Lampard?

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  15. you got all that from one video if so you have talent

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  16. yeah he is still injured but shouldnt be too far off making his return

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  17. Goodness that boy is unfortunate with injuries. I don't think we can really count on him to be honest.

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  18. Hmmm that's interesting. I don't mind the policy as long as it bares fruits in the long term. Arsenal has this policy but have not won any trophies since 2004.

    So we have to be careful.

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  19. The Italian league looks to quick for him.  He'll Sh@t himself if he feels the gale force breeze of the prem.

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  20.  is chopper harris back!!?? This guy looks awful apart from the last clip where he brought the ball out past hal way line without getting a nose bleed.. concern is how many yellow and reds he will get and as BR suggested he wants players who can play multiple roles. so 1. defend like a thug 2.a penlaty giver to cover Martin Skrtel!!

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  21. And lets get Snieder!!!!!! he will kepp downing as he plays two roles.. A stevie nicol he aint..

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  22. How could they refuse the talents of Downing!

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  23. He would be good for any team, Chelsea are crazy to let him just leave for free.
    But if we did go for him, we may aswell for for Sneijder instead, he is better(IMO) and younger. Yes he would cost more, but I dont think wages would be too different.

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  24. Recycled article. :-)

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  25. Which word is it that lead to my comment being moderated?

    First try. Recycled

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  26. Which word is it that lead to my comment being moderated?



    Second try. article

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  27. I've had the insolence to post the word "r€cycl€d" and it got moderated. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

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  28. I might be wrong, but don't think that a player, who turns 26 in March and has played around 70 games in seven years (in total, not per season) is anything else than wasting money. He most likely will not improve us. And we've discussed this alleged transfer target at length on this site a week or so ago anyway.

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  29. This guy has hardly kicked a football in competitive games in the last seven years. If we need back-up we will find someone more suited elsewhere.

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  30. If we sign this player, I will start to doubt the sanity of Rodgers.

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  31. You played against Athletico? Who are you?

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  32. I really don't know who comes up with ludicrous rumours like this one, but I would be very, very surprised if Rodgers was interested in him.

    And you are right, of course, about Kelly and Wisdom.

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  33. We didn't win a trophy after 2006 until last year, and didn't exactly spend prudently. Arsenal though have a new stadium to show for.

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  34. I agree! One thing he can guarantee is goals.

    Interested to know why we are not moving to Sneijder? Maybe he is demanding 200K a week?!

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  35. My guess is weekly wage and his age.

    Have we actually been confirmed to be in talks with him?
    Rumour is that he is holding out for either us, Arsenal or some other PL team.

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  36. Sir....reveal yourself!

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  37. Yea most likely. Would be such a statement if we pull this off!

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  38. He's Scoogy Doogy

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  39. Read somewhere that he actually is on 200k a week, probably Euros. That would still make him our top earner, I guess. And it's not the kind of wages a club outside the CL can afford.

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  40. Wow is that his record? That is poor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  41. Well, according to Wikipedia it is, until last June. So I've checked another site (transfermarkt) and he's played 82 minutes this season in a cup game, but he's been injured for four months, too. He's only been a regular last season. I think we're better advised to look at he guys we already have in his position.

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  42. another nobody but he might be on a free transfer definetly fits fsgs criteria ,could see us signing him and selling agger or skirtel to the highest bidder,no doubt 

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  43. I`m not keen on him, nor the link to Snejider. I know we aren`t CL team right now, but the rumours over players are somewhat of a anti-climax. I`m happy with Sturridge, and if we got Ince, that would be good. But I would still prefer for us to try and get someone with a better background that the types we seem to be going for. I appreciate we aint going to sign Messi etc, but there must be some better options out there than what we are being linked with? The players we seem to be linked with don`t look much better than what we already have. 

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  44. So, how many players have FSG signed on a free transfer if it is their criteria. Looking forward to read your answer.

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  45. WOW! He is not worth that much. A very good player but his goal scoring record outside Holland is not great for an attacking Mid. At his age Gerrard was bursting goal nets.

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  46. Rumour has it that Galatasaray bid 7.5m Euros for Snijder. Guess that can be considered cheap for a player of his reputation. But there must be a stumbling block of some sorts with him, because otherwise more and bigger clubs would be right after him.

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  47. Just read that Guardiola will take over at Bayern in the summer. Benítez may keep his job for another six months then, until the usual sacking at Chelsea.

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  48. There actually cowards most of them, my dad was in the navy & said the italian naval ships only had guns on the stern for when they were leggin it, lol

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  49. I don't think we will challenge for the league in the next 5-10 years (if even ever again - sorry to be harsh but a large dose of realism is required here).

    When I talk about fruits borne of the policy, I am referring to Champions League participation on a regular basis and the extra income that will bring in so we can compete with teams at a similar level (Arsenal, Spurs, Man U, Juve, Inter, Milan, Bayern, Ajax, PSV, Gala etc...) to ourselves as City, PSG, Chelsea and Real will always easily outgun us (and the other teams mentioned above) financially, even when the Fairplay Rules come into play.

    Bearing this in mind, we are in a very good position going forward with our policy.

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  50. John Bishop is now the second best comedian in Liverpool - IAN AYRE reckons we have the best balanced squad in the Premiership - I assume he had 12 lagers before being interviewed

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  51. agree m8 were not expecting messi just better than the drivel we are constantly linked with and buy if we could sign snejider or someone of the same pedigree then at least it would show a mark of intent,by fsg,also the buy them young policy would be alright if we were buying the top young players eg hazzard,eriksson ect ,but were not were buying from the second tier there as well

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  52. Bring in Sneijder and make Allen fight for his place.

    I can't understand how bringing a proven world class player can be a bad decision.

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  53. LOOL! Classic comment Ray!

    Gold!

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  54. I do agree with that. For me the buy them young thing should mean at 15/16/17/18 age, when they are still cheap. Which to be honest we have been doing for a while anyway, and it is working as a few are coming through now. If FSG want moneyball, that is it right there. Players like Sterling, Wisdom, Suso etc were all cheap as chips and look like they can become pretty good, and worth a nice price. Buying 21 year olds, who are the best, usually are anything but cheap. Snejider like you said, at least makes us look like we want to compete. I think sometimes you have to do that to also make other players, and your existing ones stay. Take Suarez for example, if you were him, and the club you played for was going for players who weren`t that great, would you really want to spend the rest of your time at that club? I do like the youthful side of things right now, and it can be exciting to see some great youngsters, but none have come from signings as of late, but from signings made when they were a lot younger. Aiming to go mainly for younger players, is ok, as long as it is not the set in stone. We also need older players.

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  55. I heard that too. Might be his wage demands? 

    I wouldn`t mind him joining, but I dunno if Rogers is looking for anyone in that area right now. We have too many mids right now, some of which look good some really don`t. Maybe it needs a re-shape, with some shipped out to give space for others to come in, and maybe Jan is the wrong time for that, and the summer would be better

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  56. i dont mind if there 15 or 30 as long as they bring something to the playing field apart from suarez fsg have never even gone for a signing of intent,and in all truefulness i think they new torres was going before they signed suarez

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  57. I would imagine they did. Firstly all deals take more than just one day to sort, so I think it was just being stalled till the price was right.

    I think Sturridge was a good signing though.

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  58. time will tell with sturridge it just seems to me that fsg look at a player see other big clubs are looking at him,then walk away admitting defeat before they even try,if you dont put your toe in the water your never going to get bitten

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  59. he certainly had something ,i hope it was legal,and if it was he should sell it he will be a billionare

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  60. That's probably why Inter try to get rid of him. Well, they try to get him his wages lowered. And I doubt pretty much that he will earn as much in Turkey, so he will realise that, unless Man City or PSG come in for him, he will have to play for less money.

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  61. I think we should`nt bring in players like Snejder who are just in it for the money and will show no love for the club or fans no mater where he might end up. He would be a good signing though if he stays of injuries, if he takes a large wagecut, if he doesnt argue with the coach/players around him, if he fits in to the teams playing phiosophy. To many ifs for my taste, but maybee BR can live with the uncertanty. I understand that players like Stivie G are hard to come by, but why dont we at least look at a player like Arda Turan for instance. A player who has publically stated he would love to play for Liverpool. I realize the days of loyalty for clubs are long gone, and those kid millionares have started to belive the hype. This should not ba an excuse for signing selfpromoted diva though: "Treat soeone like a god a for while and he will end up feeling devine"

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  62. Arsenal will fight them tooth and nail for this England SUPERSTAR!!! Lol!

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  63. Sneijder could be a player that turns things around a little bit faster than expected. We have young talent but it is quality and experience that is going make us cl spot contenders as fast as possible. 

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  64. I think we should sign a stronger defensive midfielder than Lucas. Snijder is a very good player, and would surely enhance our play right now, but he would also block the way into the first team for Shelvey and Suso.

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  65. Think it's known that Torres handed in a transfer request on the last day of the transfer window. Chelsea obviously had an offer rejected before that.

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  66.  done rate this guy ........and Ince was woeful against fulham as well

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  67. have ant of you even followed snidys career...he has done diddly squat for 3 seasons ...this guy is finito 

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  68. the block is he has been crap for 3 seasons

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  69. torrez is finished as well f

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  70.  Does anyone on this forum actually follow football...snider has done nothing for 3 seasons and is injury prone...dont take my word for it do your reasearch its a click away

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  71. As far as I can tell from all the stories it's not a problem with Sneijders attitude and problems in training or on the pitch. It's been reported that he's been told take a pay cut or you don't play. Now I'm sorry but if my boss turned round and said listen your going to have to take a pay cut if you don't you'll not get your holiday, perk of the job etc. I can assure you my nose would be put out of joint. He'd be an excellent signing for Liverpool to problems are with how much we'd be able to pay him, we've just got rid of two highly paid bench warmers in Cole and Sahin so do we take the gamble and start forking all that money out again but on one player?

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  72. Could you print Savini's comments in the original Italian, JK?

    I'd love to know the Italian for 'crazy arsonist'. It is probably mostly in the hand movements.

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  73. Well it's obvious as to what you are referring to. I didn't mention it directly but it was pretty clear...Haha nothing we can really do about it...

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  74. About as unfortunate as Kewell, Anderton and Kirkland. Very good defender, local lad but we can't rely on him. I think if he wants to save his career he should start looking for a move abroad.

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  75. Well if we sign him he's obviously the right player at the right price. Unlike wasters like M'Vila who cost the small fortune of 7 million pounds. If we sign this guy, the writing is on the wall for Liverpool Football Club.

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  76. You are being sarcastic here, right.

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