During the January transfer window, multiple reports claimed that Liverpool planned to make a bid for Udinese defensive midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu. Nothing came of the interest, but the Ghana international admitted that he'd love to join Liverpool, and reports this week suggest that the Reds will go back in for midfielder this summer.
Liverpool's European scouts have personally recommended Badu to Rodgers, and according to reports in Italy today:
* Liverpool are 'leading the race' to sign 23-year old Badu.
* Badu is valued at €9m, but Udinese hope the World Cup will drive up his price.
When asked in January about Liverpool's interest, Badu made it clear that he'd love a move to Anfield. He told reporters:
"It has always been my dream to play in England. We played against Liverpool in the Europa League last year so I know all about them. I would be very happy to join them. The chance to play for such a big club is something I couldn’t pass up."
Some info about Badu:
* Can play in midfield or defence, and that versatility is almost certainly an attraction for Rodgers, who seems to be obsessed with players who can operate in several different positions.
* 2011: Voted Ghana’s best player in Italy.
* 2012: Nominated for FIFA goal of the year award for his strike against Guinea in the 2012 African Nations Cup.
* 2012: Shortlisted for the Puskas Goal of the Year Award, alongside Newymar, Falcao, Lionel Messi and several others. Responding to the nomination, Badu enthused: "I was not expecting it and it came to me by surprise. I'm happy and privileged to be nominated among all these big names like Messi, Falcao and Neymar and others"
* 2012: Nominated for the African Player of the Year award by the Ghana Football Association, and praised by the GFA Chief as 'outstanding'.
* Has some lofty career ambitions, and he revealed in a recent interview: "I want to be remembered as a player who won the African [player of the year], the European [footballer of the year], or a Champions League medal. I know it is a long road but I’m ready to make the dream come to reality."
* 7 goals in 48 appearances for Ghana.
Reds fans have repeatedly called for Brendan Rodgers to sign a tough, physically imposing central midfielder, but Badu is the same height as Sterling and Coutinho, so is he the right choice for the role?
If Liverpool are to sign a defensive midfielder, perhaps it should be a big, strong unit, not another small(ish) player who can be muscled off the ball?
Having said that, Javier Mascherano isn't the biggest player, and he did a good job as a defensive midfielder for LFC, so perhaps it isn't really an issue...?
If Liverpool are planning to sign a dedicated defensive midfielder, what does this mean for Lucas? As well as being increasingly injury prone, Lucas has lost his automatic starting place to Steven Gerrard, and is now limited to camoe appearances.
Signing a new DM may be a sign of Rodgers's decreasing faith in Lucas's reliability.
Author: Jaimie K
Liverpool's European scouts have personally recommended Badu to Rodgers, and according to reports in Italy today:
* Liverpool are 'leading the race' to sign 23-year old Badu.
* Badu is valued at €9m, but Udinese hope the World Cup will drive up his price.
When asked in January about Liverpool's interest, Badu made it clear that he'd love a move to Anfield. He told reporters:
"It has always been my dream to play in England. We played against Liverpool in the Europa League last year so I know all about them. I would be very happy to join them. The chance to play for such a big club is something I couldn’t pass up."
Some info about Badu:
* Can play in midfield or defence, and that versatility is almost certainly an attraction for Rodgers, who seems to be obsessed with players who can operate in several different positions.
* 2011: Voted Ghana’s best player in Italy.
* 2012: Nominated for FIFA goal of the year award for his strike against Guinea in the 2012 African Nations Cup.
* 2012: Shortlisted for the Puskas Goal of the Year Award, alongside Newymar, Falcao, Lionel Messi and several others. Responding to the nomination, Badu enthused: "I was not expecting it and it came to me by surprise. I'm happy and privileged to be nominated among all these big names like Messi, Falcao and Neymar and others"
* 2012: Nominated for the African Player of the Year award by the Ghana Football Association, and praised by the GFA Chief as 'outstanding'.
* Has some lofty career ambitions, and he revealed in a recent interview: "I want to be remembered as a player who won the African [player of the year], the European [footballer of the year], or a Champions League medal. I know it is a long road but I’m ready to make the dream come to reality."
* 7 goals in 48 appearances for Ghana.
Reds fans have repeatedly called for Brendan Rodgers to sign a tough, physically imposing central midfielder, but Badu is the same height as Sterling and Coutinho, so is he the right choice for the role?
If Liverpool are to sign a defensive midfielder, perhaps it should be a big, strong unit, not another small(ish) player who can be muscled off the ball?
Having said that, Javier Mascherano isn't the biggest player, and he did a good job as a defensive midfielder for LFC, so perhaps it isn't really an issue...?
If Liverpool are planning to sign a dedicated defensive midfielder, what does this mean for Lucas? As well as being increasingly injury prone, Lucas has lost his automatic starting place to Steven Gerrard, and is now limited to camoe appearances.
Signing a new DM may be a sign of Rodgers's decreasing faith in Lucas's reliability.
Author: Jaimie K
His speed and strength is very good and he will make a good box-to-box player. However, I doubt, Badu's technical abilities will suit BR's style. His passing accuracy and dribbling skills to get out of tight situations are not well developed. He also lacks aerial abilities. Put together, I don't think Badu is the right player for LFC who should be looking for first-team quality players, preferably with CL experience. Get Lars Bender!
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not mash is 5-10. That's not that small. Plus he is solid.
ReplyDeleteMakelele was an inch smaller than him. Height has nothing to do with strength. The only thing he won't be able to do is help out with defending corners. The advantage though of these smaller players is that they tend to be more mobile and can handle the ball faster which, in a league where you get about .0003 seconds to play the ball in midfield will come in handy.
ReplyDeleteI actually thought that Lucas looked quite good against West Ham when he was marauding forward.
ReplyDeleteHe's been a very good defensive midfielder for us, but I'm hoping that he can provide some flexibility and be able to move around the midfield, which would provide some depth for us at multiple positions.
Y not Momo diame?
ReplyDeleteHe'll come cheap, is strong, can score a few goals too. Decent squad player at least
Not necessary decreasing faith on lucas as we need depth for next season fighting in every cup competition.
ReplyDeleteWhat never made sense to me...
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I have ever heard someone say anything bad about Diame.
He's supposed to have a release clause for 3.5m.
But nothing has come of it. I don't get it. There must be a lot more to it than meets the eye.
I think it's likely that he can do that, especially if he works on it over the summer. When he was at Gremio he played as more of a box to box midfielder rather than a true DM, and I read somewhere that he also got some game time as an attacking midfielder there.
ReplyDeleteIf Lucas can convert to back to his Box-to-Box days, he would be that steel we are missing upfield with Allen or Coutinho. Henderson has size on his side, but as shown vs city his tackling is suspect. Badu, Lucas and Gerrard deep would be good coverage, and Lucas can play higher up more often against teams like Stoke or West Ham, or even Chelsea with Matic bullying guys in the middle...
ReplyDeleteSize might not matter, like you say Mascherano isn't big. Claude Makelele was also short, an inch shorter than Badu. The role requires a certain strength, but I think it's more about intelligence and discipline than size. Though of course, if someone had all of those things (cough, Nemanja Matic) they could be a total powerhouse.
ReplyDeleteMy question about Badu, who I'm not deeply familiar with, is how is his range of passing? Rodgers calls that role the pivot for a reason, for him it's not just a role for someone to break up play and pass the ball short and sideways or backwards. I can't see him bringing in a midfield destroyer just to destroy, that player would also have to be an adept distributor.
Lucas Killer, Qu'est que c'est?? Pa pa-pa-pa pa-pa-pa paaa!
ReplyDeleteAnswer, no. Squad needs depth, 3 cups and the league requires a lot more players, we've been lucky with injuries. Would be hard to see everyone stay fit over the season - so another DM can come in, and won't been the end for Lucas - he still has a role to play, I believe.
Exactly, the 'PIVOT' which you are referring to i.e Gerrard dictates the play so a player like Badu will be nothing but a rumour.= as he clearly does not have the ability of a PIVOT.
ReplyDeleteExactly, the 'PIVOT' which you are referring to i.e Gerrard dictates the play so a player like Badu will be nothing but a rumour as he clearly does not have the ability of a PIVOT.
ReplyDeleteBEST OPTION WILL BE FERNANDO REGES OR OSVALDO ALONSO OR LARS BENDER...IF WE DONT GET ANY OF THE ABOVE THREE...THEN BADU IS NOT A BAD OPTION
ReplyDeleteMakelele wasn't exactly a big lad either. I trust Brendan to get the right type of players now the purse strings will be a bit looser
ReplyDeletegotta cut down the salary.
ReplyDeleteyes there is no goal keeper who is error prone but my point is we need a keeper like Buffon,Neur,Muslera,Cech,Handanovic,Sirigu,Valdes type of goal keeper who can handle champions league pressure...i doubt mignolet/Reina can handle that pressure...no offense tough for our goal keepers
ReplyDeleteBuffon, Neur, Cech, Valdes have all been around for a very long while and reached GK peak, which is later than outfield players usually. Handanovic is crap, and Muslera and Sirigu are good, but not at the level of the others. Reina was one of the best in the world for a while, but has declined since, and Mignolet is on the opposite side of the development curve (on his way up). Both Navas and Ruffier would be a significant step down to Mignolet, so I don't see the point in that. Maybe Navas for a #2 as many other top clubs are considering. While Mignolet might not have the potential of Ter Stegen or Courtois, he is still a very good GK "prospect" (usually world class peak isn't till 30-35). If we were to replace Simon, I'd only do it for someone like Ter Stegen
ReplyDelete5-10 isn't exactly tall for a man either is it
ReplyDeleteI just watched Diame flail uselessly against Arsenal. Diame is not worth the effort after what I saw. He has no vision, no game smarts and never seems to be near the action. Andy Carroll is such a one trick pony that I swear he actually has hooves...because he sure doesn't use his feet for anything.
ReplyDeleteWell there goes the whole "I don't know if I have ever heard someone say anything bad about Diame" bit
ReplyDeleteHe can't even get into the udinese team. if BR wants a defensive midfielder then go for the player who's keeping badu out of the udinese team... The brazilian Alan... now he is a class player. For me the best defensive midfielder in serie A... or ideally get someone with prem experience like jedinak from palace or diame.
ReplyDeleteYou know what that means, Low centre of gravity and better leverage. And good change of direction skills when defending. Height doesn't equal strength. But the thing is, why when we buy a player it means something bad for the other player. Injuries do happen, suspension do happen. The squad needs competition everywhere, especially if we are going to add maybe 10-15 games potentially to our schedule next season
ReplyDeleteRomulu
ReplyDeleteI agree with what all you said above, but what do you think IF we go onto get Begovic in the summer? :D
ReplyDeleteThen I think we'll have 2 really top goalkeepers fighting for no1 and I'll be delighted with that
ReplyDeletePlease no!! He is not good enough, plus the guy is barely 5ft 6!! ..ish.
ReplyDeleteComplete agree, i have watched him (Diame) on a few occasions this season, he gives the ball away too much for BR to be interested in him, his positioning when defending is suspect and his discipline is generally poor. Not a BR player at all.
ReplyDeleteWhy? As they say you get what you pay for and long term if we want to get back on our perch we are going to have to pay the market rate or at least close to it. Short term, you can buck the trend but if you want to keep and attract the best you also have to pay them what they are worth. The very top clubs have little between them and if you attract one or two extra special players to an already very good squad that can make all the difference.
ReplyDeleteWehave slipped behind in terms of income in recent seasons and consequently our spend on wages has also gone down . To compete at the top of the game we need to increase both. CL will help but we need more punters through the gates and that means a larger stadium PDQ