Earlier this week, Ajax director of football Marc Overmars confirmed that Liverpool scouts are regular visitors to the Amsterdam Arena, and with midfield maestro Christian Eriksen seemingly on the way out of the club this summer, the prevailing theory is that the Reds are watching the youngster with a view to making a move during the upcoming transfer window. Is there any truth to this, or is it simply press speculation?
In an interview with De Telegraaf on Thursday, Arsenal legend Overmars said:
"We've seen the list of foreign scouts who visited our games and Liverpool was often present"
When quizzed about Overmars' comments in his pre-Aston Villa press conference yesterday, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Reds scouts had visited Ajax, but refuted suggestions that Eriksen is the player under consideration. He told reporters:
"I don't think he did [mention Eriksen]. If you read what he [Overmars] says, he says that we’ve had scouts at their games, but we could’ve been watching anyone; we could’ve been watching someone from the other game"
Strictly speaking, Rodgers is right: Overmars made no mention of Eriksen, he just stated that Liverpool scouts had visited the club, and given Ajax's history or producing top class players, this is absolutely normal.
On Eriksen's immediate future, Overmars added:
"We want him to stay here for at least two more years, but the day he leaves us, he will be ready to play for the very best. He’s a player even the biggest clubs in the world could do with having in their squad."
On Friday, The Mirror claimed:
"After watching him [Eriksen] play for his country against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria over the past week, the Anfield club are ready to take the plunge with a firm offer"
The Eriksen transfer saga has been rumbling along for more than a year now; the £20m-rated Danemade countless public statements on his future, and his latest comments are typically non-committal:
"I don’t know if I will be an Ajax player after the summer - we will see what happens. I don’t exclude anything. I haven’t received a detailed offer of a contract extension yet, but my agent has had talks with the club regarding that matter.”
Fellow Dane Daniel Agger is a big fan of Eriksen, and in May 2012, he told Ekstra Bladet:
"Eriksen has the potential to become world-class. There are no boundaries to what he can achieve. He really is a weapon for us [Denmark]. He adds creativity, and always wants the ball. He's also capable of taking set pieces with both feet. The way he kicks the ball is truly unique".
It doesn't look like Liverpool or Man United have a chance as Eriksen seemingly has his heart set on a different club, as he revealed last year:
"If I got an offer from Liverpool now, I believe I would reject it. If I did move, it would have to be Barcelona".
In an interview in February, a senior Ajax source (quoted by The Independent) confirmed that Eriksen 'wants to play in the Premier League', adding:
“Liverpool and Spurs are scouting him almost every week. Arsenal are no longer interested and Man United are not on the scene. The club will not let him go cheaply so there is a long way to go but it seems likely he will move to Tottenham or Liverpool.”
If the Ajax source is correct, then it looks like another Spurs vs. Liverpool summer transfer smackdown, and at the moment, it's LFC 0-2 Spurs. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself in the upcoming transfer window.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In an interview with De Telegraaf on Thursday, Arsenal legend Overmars said:
"We've seen the list of foreign scouts who visited our games and Liverpool was often present"
When quizzed about Overmars' comments in his pre-Aston Villa press conference yesterday, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Reds scouts had visited Ajax, but refuted suggestions that Eriksen is the player under consideration. He told reporters:
"I don't think he did [mention Eriksen]. If you read what he [Overmars] says, he says that we’ve had scouts at their games, but we could’ve been watching anyone; we could’ve been watching someone from the other game"
Strictly speaking, Rodgers is right: Overmars made no mention of Eriksen, he just stated that Liverpool scouts had visited the club, and given Ajax's history or producing top class players, this is absolutely normal.
On Eriksen's immediate future, Overmars added:
"We want him to stay here for at least two more years, but the day he leaves us, he will be ready to play for the very best. He’s a player even the biggest clubs in the world could do with having in their squad."
On Friday, The Mirror claimed:
"After watching him [Eriksen] play for his country against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria over the past week, the Anfield club are ready to take the plunge with a firm offer"
The Eriksen transfer saga has been rumbling along for more than a year now; the £20m-rated Danemade countless public statements on his future, and his latest comments are typically non-committal:
"I don’t know if I will be an Ajax player after the summer - we will see what happens. I don’t exclude anything. I haven’t received a detailed offer of a contract extension yet, but my agent has had talks with the club regarding that matter.”
Fellow Dane Daniel Agger is a big fan of Eriksen, and in May 2012, he told Ekstra Bladet:
"Eriksen has the potential to become world-class. There are no boundaries to what he can achieve. He really is a weapon for us [Denmark]. He adds creativity, and always wants the ball. He's also capable of taking set pieces with both feet. The way he kicks the ball is truly unique".
It doesn't look like Liverpool or Man United have a chance as Eriksen seemingly has his heart set on a different club, as he revealed last year:
"If I got an offer from Liverpool now, I believe I would reject it. If I did move, it would have to be Barcelona".
In an interview in February, a senior Ajax source (quoted by The Independent) confirmed that Eriksen 'wants to play in the Premier League', adding:
“Liverpool and Spurs are scouting him almost every week. Arsenal are no longer interested and Man United are not on the scene. The club will not let him go cheaply so there is a long way to go but it seems likely he will move to Tottenham or Liverpool.”
If the Ajax source is correct, then it looks like another Spurs vs. Liverpool summer transfer smackdown, and at the moment, it's LFC 0-2 Spurs. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself in the upcoming transfer window.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
an absolute must this summer gerrard isnt getting any younger hendo and allen are far from this guys class we need to buy proven talent no more potential
ReplyDeletePhenominal player!!!
ReplyDeleteJaimie, 'pre-Southampton press conference' do you mean Aston Villa? Please excuse me if I'm wrong. Eriksen stating that he would reject Liverpool if we made an offer could be misleading. As I remember Coutinho saying he did not want to leave Inter when questioned on a potential move to LFC and still signed for us. Also in regards to Eriken signing we have a fellow countryman in Agger would could persuade him and Suarez would he played with also. Well fingers crossed anyway....
ReplyDeletegreat player yes please
ReplyDeleteThanks Jamie for letting me post again!! That was the longest 2 week ban EVER!! I will be good from now on :)
ReplyDeletecant see where the money is coming from if im honest...10% ticket increase suggests the honeymoon is over .....and we need a centre back before a midfielder
ReplyDeletei think you got it wrong hes probley going liverpool so its liverpool 2 spurs 0 and its a aston villa pre conference
ReplyDeleteI hope to god Agger is tapping him up...
ReplyDeleteagree with you m8 but its nice to dream
ReplyDeleteme two but alas i think its a pipe dream but what a statement of intent it would be plus keep suarez
ReplyDeleteI think he'll go to a club in the CL to be honest.
ReplyDeleteWould be a good signing, we will have funds to buy him 15-18 million, sell Carroll,spearing,skrtel, hopefully west ham take up the 19 million for Carroll.
ReplyDeleterogers has made carrolls position at anfeld unattainable and other clubs know this ....why pay 17m when you can pay 5m for the same player ...another masterstroke in management by rogers.....rogers being the genius he thinks he is has completly devalued all the players he wants to move by letting the world and his aunty know he wants them out at any cost ...well the cost is you get peanuts for them when you are desperate for money...in the echo again today saying allen has been playing in pain ??? yet hendo has been left out....and you think this guy will lead us ....what a joke
ReplyDeleteoff topic...great to see Carroll put a team to the sword which has out played and beat us twice...only 22 yet borini deemed better what a joke
ReplyDeleteYeah, well done to Carroll for scoring his 5th goal in 19 appearances this season. Stunning striker rate. Well worth 35m. Wish we'd kept him now as we'd probably be 4th in the table with his goals.
ReplyDeletehes scored more than borini...ill leave that with yer
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're right. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
ReplyDeleteagger may well be..as rogers doesn't talk to players he signs?but maybe thats a good thing ......as Eriksen wont have heard of him or his plan ..or his metality..yet hes the most mentally weak of the them all ...by refusing to sub poor players when you are getting hammered by relegation material....what a joke
ReplyDeleteNo, rodgers said to him he isn't going to get much games, west ham came in for him, agreed on the 19 million, it was andy carrolls choice to go because he wanted first team, also we are not stupid to sell for less than 15 million. You can't blame Rodgers for anything, he done right and gave him a choice, sit on the bench or you can go on loan.
ReplyDeletelike ive stated earlier there is a subtle difference between competition and knowing where you are wanted..ps if thats the case why has nolan quoted he wants to return to Liverpool and prove himself plus how can anyone believe anything rogers says he has lied in the press repeatedly...this week hes come out saying he has faith in hendo ...yet he played injured players before him ....the guy is full of shit ...ive spent my life round blaggers and this guy is a blagger
ReplyDeletehes scored at least as many as borini and allen put together
ReplyDeletePersonally i'd say its Liverpool 2 Spurs0 when you see what they got and we missed!
ReplyDeleteHope that makes him appealing for West Ham to make the move permanent. £35m. Still can't fathom it.
ReplyDeleteStarted nearly 3 x the PL games Borini has started this season, in a team that is geared to playing hoofball to his head. That isn't even taking into account Borini has played quite a bit on the wing. Carroll may or may not be better but certainly not £20m+ better. I'd rather not have either of them but I'd rather waste £10-15m, instead of £35m. Still cheeses me off that Carroll move.
ReplyDeletefunny how all the excuses come out for rogers signings ...fact hes scored more than borini ...thats all im stating
ReplyDeleteYou've also stated 'funny how all the excuses come out for rogers signings' as well as other bits, regarding Rodgers, Carroll, etc. Funny reallly as when you tie those bits in, you are stating quite a bit more than simply 'hes score more than borini'. Football is a little more complicated than x scores more than z.
ReplyDeleteif im gonna beat anyone with a stick its rogers lol
ReplyDeleteThe thing about Borini is for the majority of his playing time he was out on the wing,Hes NOT a winger which is the main reason hes only scored one goal,Perfect example Papis Cisse played out on the wing most season now when hes played centrally again he suddenly picks up from...
ReplyDeleteIf we got him he'd be another Coutinho type coup....young proper quality player,the type we need to bring us up a level
ReplyDeleteWell. if he can score a couple more until the end of season, we could negotiate for a better price. Of course the ridiculous 35 mil we paid is a write off.
ReplyDeleteAC seems to score when the season is almost over.
Eriksen is a skillful player. Downing, will be off loaded I think this summer.
ReplyDeleteRumors have surfaced that Xabi is available for 8.5 mil and contact has been made by us. Any truth to this or is it just paper talk?
I'm not happy about this all-caps 'ever'.
ReplyDeleteBan him again, I say.
sorry m8 you can play borini where you want he still will not cut the mustard at lfc imo
ReplyDeleteLFC must working hard and seriously want to sign him.All out to make sure he sign for LFC.He will be great player to replace for Steven Gerrard.
ReplyDeleteAh Im not sure its time to pass judgement on him yet,like hes a clever player who makes very intelligent runs,its just he never got the pass he craved,with the likes of Cout now his runs may well come in useful.
ReplyDeleteeach to there own i think hes a dud time will tell
ReplyDeletelol you very well could be right but I think its too early yet
ReplyDeleteif lucas did it for coutinho (a steal) let's hope its the same process
ReplyDeleteImo Borini is better than Carrol i personally hate to see a team spraying the ball all over the field which is what we would have to do with Carrol look at what BR has done even though we have had a mixed season Suarez is in line for BPL player of the year when we were playing long ball football under kenny did we have any players for BPL player of the year (excluding Adam of course)
ReplyDelete