18 Nov 2014

Done Deal? LFC close to signing 'incredible' €20m Barca star. Ayre flew out to Spain in December 2013 to negotiate

Liverpool are once again being linked with a move for Barcelona star Martin Montoya, who came close to signing for the Reds during the summer transfer window.

According to reports today:

* Liverpool are on the verge of sealing a January deal for Montoya.

* Brendan Rodgers is confident of signing the Spaniard ahead of Inter Milan.

* Montoya will allegedly cost £8m.

The story so far:

MAY 2013: Spanish newspaper Spanish newspaper Sport alleged that Liverpool had 'enquired about the status of Montoya' and claimed that Brendan Rogers is a big fan of the Barca player'.

SEP 2013: Montoya's agent, Jose Maria Orobitg, told FCInterNews: "The renewal [of Montoya's contract] has not yet arrived. Inter Milan, Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool are interested"

DEC 2013: The Guardian claimed: "Liverpool have opened talks with Barcelona over the transfer of Martín Montoya. Managing director, Ian Ayre, met Barcelona officials in Catalunya [last] Thursday to discuss a possible fee".

Montoya's new long-term deal with Barca contains a €20m buyout clause, but reports this week claim that he could be allowed to leave for £8m, which seems rather improbable.

That said, Montoya - described by former Barca boss Tito Villanova as 'an incredible player'- is clearly fourth-choice right-back at Barcelona, and according to Spanish newspaper Sport, the the Spaniard is desperate to quit the club. A recent article claimed:

"The straw that broke the camel's back for Montoya was the match against Almeria, where Adriano was chosen for right side of the back four. Montoya felt 'humiliated' according to the his representatives, who have decided to look elsewhere"

It looks increasingly likely that Glen Johnson will leave Liverpool sooner rather than later, and if the Reds sign Montoya, the right-back position will be well and truly covered, with Montoya, Manquillo, and Flanagan all competing for a place in the team.



Author:


56 comments:

  1. Curious to see how the overall budget for January will work out...


    I just can't imagine FSG is going to open up the piggy bank too much more after all that was spent in the summer.


    8m could conceivably be a large chunk of the budget... and it'd be going to a position that one could argue we are in decent shape for now. At least relatively speaking to other positions in the team.

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  2. if you count wisdom Liverpool have 4 right backs at present do we really need another when we don't even have a goalie who can catch a cross

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  3. Right... assuming the budget is going to be a bit tight in the winter, wouldn't we be better served going after a position in more desperate need of an upgrade.

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  4. Nevergonnacrackthecode6:22 pm, November 18, 2014

    Ian ayre,brendan rodgers,colin pascoe ,joe allen,balotelli, sakho,mignolet,lucas,borini ,johnson,lambert,


    all out first

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  5. I think that we got to buy a few players this winter and in the summer transfer window loan some players sell some of them and buy two to three marquee players that's all and should make sure that we are in the top 4 and we are going through the group stage in CL this year

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  6. WHILE AYRE IS THERE HE SHOULD SIGN PEDRO AS WELL BECAUSE WE NEED HIM.

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  7. Why are some fans so anxious to see BR leave? Have we all forgotten the miracles that he performed last season? Don't all Liverpool fans OWE Rodgers another full season in charge to prove to everybody that he wasn't a one season wonder? Of course he deserves SOME leeway.

    As for Sakho, Mignolet, Lambert, Allen, Borini and Lucas, they are all good squad players and are NEEDED for squad depth. Balotelli, again, needs more time, you can't judge him on 2-3 months of football with us. We need patience and Balotelli will prove himself.

    Just don't be too rash and just be a bit more patient. We waited years for CL again and BR is the first manager to deliver again, just give him the rest of the season then make your verdict.

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  8. We are going down the George graham school of transfers. He once had 11 senior center backs on the books in a season. I really believe we have certain young players just to move them on. We loan them promise them the world whilst picking up loan fees and then sell them on. We are the equivalent of an estate agent profiting from extortionate fees, rent and then eventually the sale. I intensely dislike estate agents.

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  9. If nothing else your consistent. Now show us the team / formation we should have, that would be good for a change.

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  10. It is not that we are eager, it is just that he has failed to fix our defence, if anything they are worse, he does not play players who he has signed for a hell of a lot of money, he gives players a chance, they play well and then he drops them, he insists on playing Balo in front by himself when it clearly does not work, he insists on playing Gerrard as a holding mid which he clearly can not do, the list just goes on and on.

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  11. Suarez & Sturridge performed miracles last season.


    This season is showing that Rodgers was just along for the ride.

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  12. I think he heard you.

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  13. Pieter Engelbrecht6:57 pm, November 18, 2014

    apparently is fifa holding back liverpool champion league money.any truth in it?

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  14. I give up. Citing: uncrackability.

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  15. Presumably Johnson is off.

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  16. Agreed. As much as I'd like to believe that it was Rodgers' managerial genius that took LFC to the brink of the title, the clear reality is that SAS carried the club for the whole season.

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  17. Take the 2 best strikers out of most teams and they'd struggle. Yes I know he only signed Balotelli as a replacement but what can he do if none of the real top level Strikers wanted to play for Liverpool. Liverpool need a few seasons back in the Champions League to really re establish themselves. Do you think changing the manager now will make it more likely that we'll qualify for next year? I don't think so. We have never then a club that constantly swaps managers. Why should we start now? Do we want to turn in Spurs? Is that really the way forward?

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  18. And Alonso was the only reason Rafa did anything because when he left the team fell apart. So by your logic it wasn't Rafa but Alonso. Genius.

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  19. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:22 pm, November 18, 2014

    except you forget half the team was injured

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  20. Need a goalkeeper and a striker first - don't need another right back especially £8m for fourth choice. Mind you we paid £18m for PSG's fourth choice centre half so it wouldn't surprise me.

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  21. Who happened to captain France. Little bit different I'd say.

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  22. Noticed there was a poll yesterday re. new manager for LFC ..... i think you're the man for the job,and when the goals don't go in you could just keep sacking other people !

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  23. It's not a question of taking the 2 best strikers out of the team...


    It's a question of the fact that he seemingly has no alternative solution for the players he does have.


    Especially given the fact that he went out to buy all this "depth" this summer and refuses to play half of them.


    The manager doesn't make his money when his best players are on the pitch. He makes his money when his best players aren't available to him.

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  24. Nothing I've read to indicate that's the case. Just that it may be a possibility.


    Though if someone else finds a source saying otherwise, I'd be curious to read it.

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  25. but he isnt even using balo right your better walking bare foot rather than wearing odd shoes

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  26. That statement makes me uncomfortable.

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  27. imo rafa took two very average liverpool teams to Cl finals......i want Rodgers to turn it around but i dont think he has the minerals to make the big decisions

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  28. I partially agree regarding getting more out of what he has but if you take the best players out any side for a considerable time and the team will struggle. Bedding in so many new players + champions league football - 50 odd goals from last season = Difficult times. That's exactly what we're having.

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  29. if we dont start getting results our season will be over come new year

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  30. Well that's it then. We'll get rid of Rodgers. As for the metaphor would that not depend on the weather, ground conditions, distance you had to walk etc. Just a thought. Think I'd do a lot of thinking before getting rid of those shoes.

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  31. I'm a Rafa fan mate I just don't think all the info is in to be writing any reports on Rodgers.

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  32. Yes apparently a board member is being removed too. Richard I thick his name is. Richard Penis.

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  33. What's concerning to me is not the lack of execution of the players. Simply put, Rodgers can't control that.


    What concerns me is the fact that the players are not put into positions suited to their strengths. And that's on Rodgers. He's trying to fit square pegs into round holes, whether by position or strategy.

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  34. Did Rafa have an opportunity to spend upwards of 100m to replace the players he sold?

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  35. He's trying to figure out his best team. We've signed so many new players that's understandable. Tactically Rodgers will come good. Look how he managed to get Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling working together last season. That didn't happen overnight. He needs more time and a bit of patience.

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  36. 120m spent. No reliable world-class strikers. No reliable goalkeeer. No reliable holding midfielder. No reliable centre-halves. Enough right-backs.

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  37. The problem there is that too many players have regressed even though he is already familiar with their strengths.


    And the other problem is that he's stubbornly sticking with players who are underperforming and/or he's continuing to play them to a strategic disadvantage (i.e. Balotelli).

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  38. Regression verses being out of form. The only difference is the perspective people have of the situation. As for sticking with under performing players, what choice has he? At CB Sakho has been injured most of the season. Anyone seriously considering Toure would want to get a grip. Both the nee fullbacks have played regularly. In midfield Can has been injured most of the season, Lallana missed preseason and is only getting up to speed. Lambert was bought an an impact sub/ squad player. That's the role he's played. Balotelli is a better bet than Lambert but he needs a pacy partner upfront. Not a Lambert.

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  39. Please tell me the reports just going out that Sturridge has re injured himself are rubbish. Please be wrong.

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  40. I've read that also- last time it was jogging this time probably breathing- so now we have Lambert and Borini- wow!

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  41. No but he took over a fourth placed team took them to second and spent near forty million replacing two players and came seventh.

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  42. Without losing his two top scorers.

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  43. so while Ayre is in spain signing Montoya Johnson is signing another contract for half he's wages.

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  44. Think this deal is long dead. To sign Montoya on top of Flanno and Manquillo would create unhealthy competition IMO. It wouldn't be possible to keep all three of those players happy

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  45. Agreed, and the argument is that we sell Glen and Jose, leaving us with moreno n flano at Lb, Manq and Monty at Rb, but this is putting alot of faith in youth... Very risky IMO

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  46. Not to mention, none would be picked in any other top half of the table side's first XI, bar Moreno. Flano and Moreno have enough potential to really solidify the LB spot, Moreno to link with the attack, Flano for more of a left sided Steve Finnan (for lack of a better comparison). At RB, Manq is decent, but shouldnt really be a first teamer right now, he's got some progressing to do yet. We should be looking at an experienced RB to mentor Manquillo and push him. Piszczek would be my pick, but he'll probably cost the moon, but someone like Dani Alves could probably come on the cheap and Abate from AC is decent and I believe may be on the out. I'd like to put on my FIFA hat and say De Sciglio, Carvajal or Aurier, but we dont really need to spend that kind of money on this position when there are glaring gaps in our squad. People are pointing at the GK and DM positions, also maybe a class CB, but with this latest crushing news about Studge, I'd be going in for a striker, whether Origi is coming back or not. I'm not putting my faith in the belgian, although I think he has alot of raw talent. We need some goals!

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  47. I would consider this deal only if the price is right and Flanno moves to left back to compete with Moreno. Sell Enrique, Johnson and balotelli. Sign Montoya and Bony and Bergovic the goalie......

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  48. Agree with this completely. I think Ian Ayre's negotiating skills leaves a lot to be desired. Seems like every club we buy from seems to get the upper hand from the deal. Add to that the whole debacle of new players not suited to fit into the system thanks to Messrs. Rodgers and Pascoe and what do we have.

    11th position in 11 games with 14 points. Top 4 looking like a dream right now, unless we go on an unbeaten run of 10 games or so. Hardly likely with our leaky defense especially with Rodgers stating recently that a defensive specialist not required to help out. His arrogance will have a price, no CL next year and the revenue that it brings.

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  49. Montoya is better than all of them, though.



    I love Flanno, but if he wasn't Scouse we'd be berating him for being technically bereft and slow. He's a good player and earned his spurs last season, but he's no Cafu, and I don't think we can rely on him to consistently dominate against the likes of Ronaldo and Reus. Good player for the squad, though, and his passion is a breath of fresh air. Not meaning to insult the guy; I'm just saying we can improve the depth at fullback by signing Montoya.

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  50. Piszczek would be perfect. Poor Borussia Dortmund and Klopp. Wish they could keep their best players.

    Your FIFA hat threw out some good players, too, especially De Sciglio. He might lob in some good crosses to Balotelli, too - better than Manquillo and Johnson do at the moment, anyway. I feel I need to declare that I do not hate Johnson like some fellow supporters.

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  51. If this is true SACK B R TODAY - Bloody rediculous - he has Moreno Wisdom and Flannagan to name but 3 - is the guy BONKERS ?????? Sick of hearing about GRANDPA ALVES as well - SACK B R

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  52. Why does he take so long to "figure out his best team"? Look at Koeman, how long has it taken him to do that? It shows BR is out of his depth and that SAS did the miracle for him last season. When he was called in to actually strategise beyond SAS' contribution he failed e.g. vs Chelsea at home and vs Crystal palace.

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  53. Lambert has not had any such "impact". Lallana has shown glimpses but just that one goal alone so far, and I think no assist as well, shows we wuz ripped off by that 25mill

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  54. Why can't (insert name of current Liverpool manager) do as well as (insert name of flavour of the month manager)? That's a good question. Surely the Liverpool manager should be doing better than (insert name of flavour of the month manager). Sound familiar. I'll now list perspective new managers:
    1) Flavour of the month 1.
    2) Flavour of the month 2.
    3) Rafa.

    It's all getting a little repetitive.

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