Despite having a raft of attacking midfielders already in the squad, Liverpool are reportedly considering a big-money bid for Benfica winder Nicolas Gaitan, a persistent target for Manchester United during the Alex Ferguson era.
According to various credible sources, including Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, and The Independent:
* Liverpool are currently 'in talks' with Benfica over the transfer.
* Talks started on Thursday, and Benfica are holding out for the €45m release clause to be activated.
* Liverpool are trying lowball on the price, and hope to get the Argentine for a reduced fee.
* Atletico Madrid and Monaco are also monitoring the situation.
This is not the first time Liverpool have been linked with the 'excellent' 26-year old. Soon after Rodgers arrived at Anfield in 2012, Portuguese Newspaper Jornal Record reported that Liverpool were planning a £14m bid for Gaitan, and would move if the deal for Joe Allen fell through.
Gaitan - along with former team-mate Lazar Markovic - helped Benfica win the Portuguese league last season, picking up 9 goals/assists along the way, which is hardly impressive for a player allegedly worth €45m. Gaitan's stats for the last four seasons:
* 25 goals/49 assists in 177 appearances.
* Goal every 7 games.
* Assist every 3.6 games.
* Goal/assists every 2.4 games
Gaitan's goal stats are clearly not good enough, but his assist rate compensates for that somewhat. Be that as it may, €45m is a massively inflated fee for a player who is regularly ignored by the Argentina national team, and (IMO), there's no chance Benfica will get that figure.
One plus point is that Gaitan - nicknamed 'El Zurdo' on account of being left-footed' - is only 26, which means his prime years are still ahead.
Worth a bid?
Author: Jaimie K
According to various credible sources, including Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, and The Independent:
* Liverpool are currently 'in talks' with Benfica over the transfer.
* Talks started on Thursday, and Benfica are holding out for the €45m release clause to be activated.
* Liverpool are trying lowball on the price, and hope to get the Argentine for a reduced fee.
* Atletico Madrid and Monaco are also monitoring the situation.
This is not the first time Liverpool have been linked with the 'excellent' 26-year old. Soon after Rodgers arrived at Anfield in 2012, Portuguese Newspaper Jornal Record reported that Liverpool were planning a £14m bid for Gaitan, and would move if the deal for Joe Allen fell through.
Gaitan - along with former team-mate Lazar Markovic - helped Benfica win the Portuguese league last season, picking up 9 goals/assists along the way, which is hardly impressive for a player allegedly worth €45m. Gaitan's stats for the last four seasons:
* 25 goals/49 assists in 177 appearances.
* Goal every 7 games.
* Assist every 3.6 games.
* Goal/assists every 2.4 games
Gaitan's goal stats are clearly not good enough, but his assist rate compensates for that somewhat. Be that as it may, €45m is a massively inflated fee for a player who is regularly ignored by the Argentina national team, and (IMO), there's no chance Benfica will get that figure.
One plus point is that Gaitan - nicknamed 'El Zurdo' on account of being left-footed' - is only 26, which means his prime years are still ahead.
Worth a bid?
Author: Jaimie K
No, they want too much money. Give Jordan Ibe the game time instead.
ReplyDeleteHave to say I'd be a bit surprised if we went for Gaitan when we could probably buy 'the magic dwarf', Shaqiri at half the price.
ReplyDeletewhen are we going to strengthen the defence? we can only play 4-5 midfielders per match
ReplyDeleteLovren is in.
ReplyDeleteLovren is having his medical over the weekend. They still want Bertrand, but I think Rodriguez/Rojo is the way to go- too many unproven players may hold us back
ReplyDeleteThis story is a NON STARTER
ReplyDeleteHope its not Bertrand - so average
ReplyDeleteWe should be using a big chunk of our remaining funds to buy a really top quality left back. You would think that would be out top priority now.
ReplyDeleteNope! Shaqiri for £16M instead. Swiss newspaper said we have made a £14.3M bid!
ReplyDeletejamie i admire your sincerity when it comes in enlightening these issues(wrong and rights of transfers) i have read alot about your work, and saw mates calling you all sorts of names because of your stand and may be, you critisize much. but as an african and an oversea die hard liverpool fc fan i realy like your statements because they make sense to me. iam really so worried about our leaky defence not reinforced once again. 1.we cannot depend on enrique as our left back next season because we all know about his status(injuries and form) 2. i never liked any bit of johnson's work attitude and am not gonna forgive BR if he doesn't get a better LB and RB(backup for flano), no CB problems now that we are on the verge of signing lovren. i would want BR to give IBE the breakthroug this time, cos the kid proved his worth and is sending the signal. and we need one marque world class star even if he doesn't do good[rues, vidal, or even arda]. to add to the lsit a good back up keeper to compete with migno.. cassilas is signing for arsenal, why didnt we go for him....
ReplyDeleteAnd lastly coutinho is our star and who ever we sign, HE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE PRIORITY.. HE SHOULD ALWAYS START UNLESS we need tactical change....
How are we in talks? Your rubbish headers and articles are just pointless. Referencing other sites or people and no professional thoughts of own. Stay behind your computer
ReplyDeleteshaqiri please..... he will make it in the premiership given his low COG and pace.... 14.5 i dont think but probably 20 will do... with good wage and game time promise
ReplyDeleteBertrand NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
ReplyDeleteBertrand NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Bertrand NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Lovren fee finally agreed. Great news. Going to be one of our most important signings.
ReplyDeleteNot quite sure what you're trying to say.
ReplyDeleteI think we have enough weapons without having to go for Gaitan and Shaqiri (never thought much of Shaqiri tbh although just heard Huntelaar maybe still available which would be another good move). We should get a monster midfield destroyer, someone who sits in front of the back four, gets the ball and just gives it. i think he's gonna go with what hes got for full backs, not sure the Moreno deal is going to happen. Johnson is going to be playing for a new contract so should up his game, Enrique will be on the left Flannagan and Kelly can both play back up (not saying thats cool). Lovren is a good signing if it happens we need someone shouting in the backline. Rojo looks like a red card waiting to happen if his style of play in the World Cup is anything to go by. I wonder if Reina is actually staying and this maybe a coup in itself if he does stay. Maybe when we start selling surplus players we'll get a better idea?
ReplyDeleteI know. I get the distinct feeling he's trying to tell us something but for the life of me I can't work out what it is.
ReplyDeleteHmm. Given the ambivalency of the post, I think we'll put him down as a 'maybe'.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest though I think are pretty well covered at LB with Enrique seemingly back to full fitness as backup for your Nan
ReplyDeleteCan't see there being any truth in this one and absolutely no way for that price. Personally I don't really see room for him in the squad eithet
ReplyDeleteHa ha, yes. She's always available for selection. Though she's a bit stiff, naturally.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need Gaitan, he a wide player that can operate in the central areas. We already have enough players to play those positions. We cant have another situation or having a excess number of players that play in the same position - like we already do in the CB position (Skrtel, Agger, Illori, Coates, Sakho, etc)
ReplyDeleteWe need a real quality young CM, as the likes of Lucas, perhaps Allen will not make the cut against the top teams. I personally want Junior Malanda, or the star signing of Pogba. Vidalwoudl be great but 40 mil for a 27 year old for a club in our position is a bit too much imo.
Really can't understand what everyone's problem is with Bertrand. I think he'd be decent for us. Everybody seems to be rooting for us to spend £20m on a untested Spanish full back but I bet most people haven't actually seen him play. He's good going forward and pretty quick but he gets pushed off the ball easily and I think a bit reluctant to put his foot in. Whoever BR chooses I'll trust his judgement.
ReplyDeleteLATEST: Adam Lallana will miss start of season. suffered knee injury. may be out for around 6 weeks. Not the news we wanted to hear all along. Was the reason due to having double training session?
ReplyDeleteNews has it that he will miss the first 3 games of the season.
ReplyDeleteAsh you need your own site .
ReplyDeleteHe played virtually the whole season at Villa, to say he was ordinary, would be over complementary ..
ReplyDeleteLigament damage? Looks like he has a touch of the 'Enrique's'.
ReplyDeleteI saw a few Villa games in which he played including the 2.2 draw at Anfield and he was solid. I watched him play in the CL final where he had a great game and I've also watched the couple of England games he's played in and he was decent. Isn't their any chance that BR could realise Bertrands full potential just like he did with Sturridge?
ReplyDeleteOne game and the champions league final don't make a player. As for internationals, Diouf ... Stevie Wonder could see Sturridge was quality. He can also see that Bertrand is not.
ReplyDeleteChampions league and international football is the highest level, if he has performed well in both those formats that clearly shows he has potential.
ReplyDeleteFunny that Villa haven't enquired about keeping him? Or anyone else? .. It's all about opinions, I really don't feel he's worth a go.
ReplyDeletewe dont need more wingers specially when ibe can provide emergency service we need striker i hope we sign JACKSON MARTINEZ of porto
ReplyDeleteBertrand is a little uninspiring but he's a decent enough player. At worst adequate backup, at best he could be another sturridge. If we sign him, I'll maybe be a little underwhelmed but it won't be the end of the world. Plus Brendan knows him very well.
ReplyDeleteI've been saying it all summer but I still think we'll end up getting Moreno
Shaqiri is half the player too
ReplyDeletehell yes....sign him up....he is another suarez with ball skills and if he is to team up with old matemarkovic we have a new duo.....bring it on....take him any day over shaqiri
ReplyDeleteI wish lfc sign a player of Luis Suarez's kind if material,a ruthless player who will seldomly bite the opponent in order to instill fear on them,an agile player with a heart of a lion,an instinct killer when he gets the ball from Sterling and Coutinho,lastly a player who will prove to the FA and Fgsons that Lfc is 4ever
ReplyDeleteCurious as to why Rodgers rates him so highly though. Never seen Bertrand do anything to warrant it; as you say, he seems average.
ReplyDeleteYes a good young player.
ReplyDeleteFirmino
ReplyDeleteCassilas is rubbish. I look forward to Arsenal vs Stoke. Our defense will be much stronger for having an extra man in midfield due to Suarez's departure. I don't believe we will play with 2 up front any longer.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't really make much sense. 26 year olds for high prices have no excuses to not be the finished article and Gaitan isn't 100% convincing. Unless Liverpool are getting him at a massively reduced fee it doesn't add up to a good deal. It could just be that Liverpool made an enquiry. We know that they identify a large number of possible targets and if they are still pursuing Shaqiri then this guy is a similar player. Whatever the case the fee is absurd.
ReplyDeleteI think we should buy Shaqiri, as he is cheaper and plays in a similar position.
ReplyDeleteSign Lukaku and Benzema in liverpool's attacking force , sure liverpool are the champ for the next season.
ReplyDeleteIs they anyone coming through youth ranks that might cut the mustard? If so might make sense to sign a proven although not to exciting left back as long as financially it's correct
ReplyDeleteHow did Gaitan do in the World Cup? And how did Shaqiri do? I believe Shaqiri outperformed Gaitan by quite a lot.
ReplyDeleteSo you would put Argentina and Switzerland in same bracket. Btw Shaqiri didnt impress me at all. Only 1 left foot and that left aint as good as James Rodriguez. pity
ReplyDeleteCoutinho should always start if and only if his form warrants it, if it doesn't, we should start with another player. We don't need a marquee player, we need players who match our style of play, if that happens to be a "marquee" player, then so be it, but what exactly makes a marquee player? Would that be a player who made the Europa League team of the season in his first season for his new club? If so, we have that player, Lazar Markovic. Would it be a player who was one of the most creative players in the best league in the world? If so, we have that player, Adam Lallana. Now I'm not saying these players are necessarily marquee players, but what I am saying is what makes a marquee player? Is a marquee player all about the fee? All about their wages? All about the club they are bought from?
ReplyDeleteYou mean like Emre Can? We already have him.
ReplyDeleteI rate Sturridge and Remy much higher than that pair. I am not so sure nnow though whether Lambert is sufficient backup so would not mind one or the other if we can sell Borini
ReplyDeleteSo his other foot is a righty? Well, that's a bolt out the blue..... someone should tell BR!
ReplyDeleteput that money on Rues
ReplyDeleteA player of Suarez's kind but only better. Should be easy to find. :-)
ReplyDelete