19 Nov 2014

New Striker: BR to make fresh bid for €20m 'menace' who broke Belgian transfer record

Liverpool are reportedly planning a substantial offer for Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who plays alongside recent Reds signing Lazar Markovic for the Serbia national team.

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola today:

* Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, and AC Milan are all interested in signing Mitrovic in January.

* The Belgian club is willing to listen to offers.

Liverpool were linked with Mitrovic over the summer, and at the time, his Agent, Nenad Jestrovic, confirmed that the Reds made an offer. He told reporters:

"Liverpool were willing to pay €13m for him [Mitrovic]; Rubin even offered €20m, but Anderlecht didn’t want to hear about a transfer. He is still young and will have a lot of opportunities to leave in the future. I’m sure that price will be even higher when he moves somewhere else."

Some info about Mitrovic:

* 18 goals in 32 appearances for Partizan Belgrade.
* 1 goal in 6 apps for the Serbia national team.
* 11 goals in 21 apps for various Serbia youth teams.
* Two league title medals (for Partizan and Anderlecht)
* Most expensive transfer in Anderlecht's history.
* 2013: UEFA Under-19 Championship winner.
* 9 goals/2 assists in 20 apps this season.

Former Liverpool attacker Milan Jovanovic insists that Mitrovic is destined for great things, and in a recent interview, he raved:

"He [Mitrovic] is a real top finisher – a menace in the box, and he's built for the top"

Urgh. Not another young, inexperienced player with the potential to come good at some undetermined point in the future. You only need to look at the impact of similarly-aged players like Lazar Markovic, Luis Alberto, Fabio Borini et to see that this is a bad idea.

Granted, Daniel Sturridge's injury problems becoming increasingly acute, and a new striker in January is arguably Liverpool's biggest priority, but after the utter failure of most of Rodgers' signings in the 18-22 range, Mitrovic is not the answer, especially if - as his Agent suggests - the price will become exorbitant.

Additionally, if Liverpool sign Mitrovic, where does that leave Divock Origi, who is the same age? Can the team support both strikers? If, hypothetically, Mitrovic coes in and does well, I can definitely see Origi going back out on loan next summer.

If FSG are mad enough to give Rodgers more money, then signing Mitrovic for €20m+ will (IMO) be tantamount to negligence. The pressure is well and truly on for Liverpool's boss to get it right in the transfer market, and gambling big bucks on a 20-year old striker is arguably unwise at this stage.

Author:


91 comments:

  1. I think we'd probably be better off looking for a loan option in January. I'd rather us overpay for a loan in the short-term than overpay for a permanent deal as we panic and buy someone unsuitable during the difficult January window.

    Doesn't Huntelaar's contract run out in the summer? Maybe we could pick him up for a few mil.

    ReplyDelete
  2. No more money for Mr Rodgers to waste please!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wouldnt trust BR to sign his own name

    ReplyDelete
  4. huntelaar sounds like a very good option for a loan deal,

    ReplyDelete
  5. Have you got his number? I'll get the wheels in motion.

    ReplyDelete
  6. i think the injury to sturridge has all but signed Rodgers p60 ......that coupled with a woefull defence means we are going to struggle in every game and i think even the lesser teams will come at us knowing in effect they will have a back 4 marking one player

    ReplyDelete
  7. hes more of a target man than a runner ...i hate to sound negative but i look at the team and i dont think it will matter who we bring in because ultimately Rodgers will fail to utilize him in the correct position ...heres a test for everyone when we play our next game look at the players and positions and count how many are actually being used to there best ability in there known best position

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:05 pm, November 19, 2014

    not another young player
    i want experienced goal scorers
    such as higuain or martinez


    but by the position we will be in by January they on join us






    rodgers you have broken liverpool
    i hope you face a cruel punishment in hell

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:07 pm, November 19, 2014

    roy hodgson cracks me up

    “It’s really bad news,” Hodgson said.

    “The only positive with that is we don’t play again until March.

    “It’s a big blow for Liverpool. Hopefully by March he will be okay.”

    ReplyDelete
  10. How can spending money on a player for £20 million be tantamount to negligent? If he's been scouted correctly and they believe him to be worth the money then how is that negligent. The closest you got to being right was when you mentioned FSG and money but you got it the wrong way round. It would be madness not to give Rodgers money. Either give him money or fire him. They are the only choices. So which would you prefer? What's in the best interest of club?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:11 pm, November 19, 2014

    i would not trust brendan rodgers to manage nasa


    he is a bad man and more importantly a bad manager


    after the city game i sad rodgers had to go everyone criticized me on here , they said i was knee jerk and a wind up merchant


    but look i was right about rodgers
    he is not the man a liverpool manager needs trophies to his name
    look at mourinho and wenger compared to rodgers and lfc fans thought we could compete with them




    i was right before and i am right now
    there is no better choice then either conte or rafa benitez
    would love either


    RAFALUTION!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I wrote on here pre season that we must buy two top strikers with Suarez going and Sturridge prone to injury - we never so it's no good blaming bad luck it was bad planning. not the first time no strikers were bought when Brendon first came -strikers win games not midfielders.

    ReplyDelete
  13. No arguments from me mate I never wanted him in first place I'm a Simeone man myself

    ReplyDelete
  14. I watched Lalana play in the game before Scotland and I could not believe it, he continually passed the ball then ran into the most congested positions no wonder he cant score or do much else - the idea is to find space be available for a pass. we would have a great player on our hands if we could cross Balotelli with Borini - yes a Balloborini would do us fine.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yes he took them from outside the top 6 and broke them all the way to the Champions League. Do read what your posting? There is an expression that springs to mind. It is better to stay quiet and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. You speak out a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:21 pm, November 19, 2014

    roy hodgson British man failed
    kenny daglish British man failed
    brendan rodgers British man failed




    ferguson was the last great British manager


    i suggested to logan clark but second thought bad idea , unlike rodgers i can own up to my misjudgments


    i would be a better manger as well , i won the premier league with doncaster on fifa


    but seriously sign a nice foreign name a garcia ,
    a rodrigueze a martinez etc


    i want a FOREIGN MANAGER
    fsg will probably get alan pardew though

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's negligent because of Rodgers' atrocious transfer history. He's signed lots of promising young players, and they've all failed (bar Coutinho and Sturridge). He just splurged £20m on Markovic, and that hasn't worked. Spending more money on untested young players is a mistake.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Seriously, grow the hell up. Your stupid comments are really getting on my nerves, and if you continue to post nonsense like this (i.e. 'face a cruel punishment in hell'), and the other similar comments I've deleted today, then you will be permanently banned. State your views in a constructive manner.

    ReplyDelete
  19. can we like pay you to stop ?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nevergonnacrackthecode9:28 pm, November 19, 2014

    im sorry but can you understand my situation

    i looked forward to this season so much

    now its blowing up in our faces

    please don't ban me i love this site

    Im sorry man

    ReplyDelete
  21. thank you... no seriously thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Markovic has been at the club how long? Bit early to be writing him off is it not. I agree the money shouldn't be spent on an unproven striker but it would be madness not to give him money. We are crying out for a Striker. FSG have to cough up cash or fire him. They can't just leave it the way it is.

    ReplyDelete
  23. i can try to get his number...but you and the rest of the sunny gang many also need to stalk and creep him into signing for LFC. i hope thats cool..

    ReplyDelete
  24. I think what Jamie is Arguing for (and I completely agree with him), is that BR History of buying young players is not doing him any favors. I can probably name close to 10 youngsters (one for the future) BR bought (some for a lot of money) that did not work out.

    ReplyDelete
  25. You're welcome here like anyone else, but please curb the emotional attacks on Rodgers. Criticise him as much as you like, but please do so constructively. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  26. i could jusify your viewpoint if we where paying 3-4m for these players but when you are in the 20m range, you need to be seeing not only potential but also here and now quality

    ReplyDelete
  27. BR knew Suarez was leaving and Sturridge is prone to injury. He should have insisted on two strikers. He only has himself to blame if he gets fired.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Markovic is not the problem; Rodgers' decision to spend £20m of vital transfer cash on a 20-year old with no Prem experience is the problem.

    If a manager spends £20m on a player, then fans have the right to expect him to make a contribution to the team. If said player fails - as Markovic has so far - then that is the manager's fault for failing to spend the cash on a player capable of making an impact.


    Markovic may develop into a good player next season, but that's not good enough. You don't spend £20m a player who might come good at some undetermined point in the future, especially when it's absolutely imperative to get the transfer business right in order to build on a great season.

    Once again, Rodgers bought the wrong players, and Liverpool are now paying the price.

    ReplyDelete
  29. im not sure if id go as far as hell but i have heard rhyl is pretty dismal this time of year

    ReplyDelete
  30. have you aspirations to be a poet crack,because i always expect you posts to rhyme due to how you spread your sentences out

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hahahaha Royston Vasey

    ReplyDelete
  32. Nevergonnacrackthecode10:42 pm, November 19, 2014

    no a statistician

    ReplyDelete
  33. Okay if Markovic isn't a problem. Then why spend 2 paragraphs stating the problems with him to date. I understand your argument. I agree to a certain extent, my issue is with saying FSG should give no more money. How could persevering with what we have, no further signings, benefit the team?

    ReplyDelete
  34. i think most fans just wanted one or two genuine world class players rather than a scatter gun approach that doesn't actually improve your initial 11

    ReplyDelete
  35. if a car wont start it doesn't matter how much petrol you put in it still wont start....

    ReplyDelete
  36. Way ahead of you, lad.

    You wouldn't believe the stuff this fella throws out.

    ReplyDelete
  37. They have to give him money or fire him. One or other. They can't just do nothing. Petrol or no petrol.

    ReplyDelete
  38. feeling so wrong and right man

    ReplyDelete
  39. I would agree that spending money on more untested youngsters would be a mistake but with the news of Sturridge fresh injury we simply MUST buy another striker in January. It would be negligent not to

    ReplyDelete
  40. Can't see how this will help but his number is on the back of his shirt

    ReplyDelete
  41. Ahhhhhh solved, its obviously short of diesel,

    ReplyDelete
  42. We bought 3 Strikers, Ballo, Lambert, and Orogi, and the 3 have contributed equally to our cause this season so far.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Perhaps we are just after a fee.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Suarez was untried and untested in the Premier league and wasn't a big name until he came to Liverpool and flourished, he cost £20 million plus. On the other hand Lambert was tried and tested in the Premier league and yet he has looked way out of sorts when given the opportunity to play. So many players who you would have expected to flourish in this league regardless of price tag or age have failed miserably and moved on. Who knows if the next £20 million plus younger player is the next super star or the next failure. Unfortunately their is only one way to find out, buy him and see what happens, other than that see where mystic Meg has disappeared too, she must be looking for work.

    ReplyDelete
  45. The amount of players who are sub standard at lfc is alarming,the amount of money spent on these players is really puzzling,lfc must have the poorest scouting system ever where do we go from here ?

    ReplyDelete
  46. He will be grateful for the best deal he can earn for himself. Fair enough.


    I would have preferred not to make any offer, and instead offload him during the upcoming window.


    Benoit Assou-Ekotto was refreshingly honest when he said he plays for the money. He was widely derided but I respect his candour.
    It's the kind of professional attitude I can understand, as long as he (BA-E) also realises he is a performing asset and does his utmost in training and games. (All players suffer form slumps. This does not mean they should be paid less that particular period)

    ReplyDelete
  47. I actually think this is a good idea. #1 teams are reportedly interested, so it guarantees a fee. #2 Flanno is injured. Johnson isn't ideal, but at least he can backup for both sides. #3 Experience. If anything, it will keep our locker room from completely imploding, even though our play on the field already has. If the locker room goes, then we have no chance at improving, let alone winning.

    ReplyDelete
  48. i know its like they are deliberately letting go of easy targets who would suit us to the "T" and are hell bent on signing bizzaro players from out of nowhere... it has been this way for a very long time now... i was somewhat encouraged when we went for guys like costa but i guess it was a false dawn...

    ReplyDelete
  49. LFC have now 2 games to play for,
    Both are in the Champions League!
    If we qualify to the next round? ...that will be the most important for $.
    But things have to change!


    We will clearly not be successful if we continue with the same tactics and same deployment of personnel.


    My suggestion:


    Mignolet
    Sakho and Toure with Moreno and Manquilo
    Leiva, Can, Henderson
    Gerrard, Sterling, Coutinho


    Bring Gerrard back to where he can cause damage!

    ReplyDelete
  50. He's better than nothing. If they can sell him, get a small fee and replace him then that's fine, but I think people are underestimating the cost of what it would take to replace Johnson. Manquillo might show more energy on the pitch and as fans we love that but Johnson is more technically reliable, he doesn't often give away the ball in dangerous areas and he knows the Rodgers tactical set-up perfectly. Sure, if Liverpool have 10-15 million to spend then I'm sure they'll get a replacement and Johnson can leave, but if the idea is that we just let him leave for nothing and this will supposedly have no impact on the team ... that's not very smart.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Markovic is a manifestation of the problem that is Brendan Rodgers in the transfer market. That's the point. It's not Markovic's fault. He can't magically give himself more experience to improve his performances. He can't lower his price tag. The problem is Rodgers spent 20 million on the kid, which rightfully creates expectation that he will immediately perform.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Jaimie I don't think he's even 12...

    ReplyDelete
  53. Johnson is a rubbish defender but he has actually offered more direct assists than Cafu during Cafu's entire career if im not mistaken.

    I'm waiting to see what SG gets offered to be carted out every week next season. If SG gets full whack then so should Johnson. The present day Johnson and Gerrard leave a lot to be desired so if SG gets offered £60,000 too, it WOULD be too much, but would reflect that both offer more in experience than in performance.

    bring on Yannick Bolasie! :0

    ReplyDelete
  54. Brendan is Irish i dont think thats British.

    ReplyDelete
  55. This is what you can expect from Rodgers. Manager from a previously small club will only sign mediocre players. We need marquee signingS to save the season. The key thing now is whether FSG will trust him with the money. I seriously doubt it. Think they will go for another Manager

    ReplyDelete
  56. Suarez did most of that. BR just took the credit

    ReplyDelete
  57. Won't qualify. Nothing strange there.
    Won't win any of the two.
    One defeat vs. Ludg.
    One goalless draw vs. Basel
    Predictable as hell.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Another day, another unproven gamble. Does anyone remember that BR promised us marquee signings? He can't possibly have meant Lallana. Fact is we ended up with zip.

    I don't believe BR is stupid but he must be stubborn beyond reason. We are seemingly destined to stay at mid table unless something changes substantially. I don't see the current scouts, front office and manager with the track record that will lead us forward. Truth is, Suarez made everyone much better and we gravely miss his work rate and creativity.....

    ReplyDelete
  59. Yeah, no more gambles. Either find a proven player and spend the money required or don't bother. The club doesn't need another development player who has a "future". There are players out there who are under or around 25 and have already established themselves as quality.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I can't believe for a second that Rodgers rates Johnson in any way at all. Maybe it was just telling Johnson "we know you are just interested in the money otherwise you would have signed a new deal ages ago, so be looking at potential suitors who will be prepared to offer us a small fee to finally get rid of you in January".
    Johnson has always been over rated, but he cost £18 million so over all these years he has believed he was actually a great defender.
    Roy Hodgson knows he's a liability, i'm sure Brendan Rodgers does, let's just hope not everyone does otherwise we will get lumbered with him until the summer.

    ReplyDelete
  61. People spoke hesitantly about Torres too, I remember quite a few Liverpool fans being unsure if he was going to be the superstar that some predicted. Have Liverpool ever signed an established and proven player?

    ReplyDelete
  62. 4eva LFC, LFC 4eva6:12 am, November 20, 2014

    This is clearly a sign that BR should not be incharge (if this is true) Johnson has reached his point of exit get what ever we can for him and move on.

    ReplyDelete
  63. If Johnson is unhappy with a 50% pay cut, maybe he should double his effort in games... Just how much does he think Roma or anyone else for that matter are going to pay him... I bet it won't be close to £60k per week.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I never had that expectation and said, before Markovic played a single game, that he would be a development player this season, a bit like Sterling in his first main season as a senior player for Liverpool. He'll improve through the season and get a few goals and assists. Fans need to look beyond the price and put a bit more intelligence into their expectations of a player. He came from Portugal with some not terribly impressive stats. He has a base set of skills and some good pace but there was never any doubt in my mind that he would need time to learn his role in the team. If I can come to that conclusion without even having seen him in a competitive game for Liverpool then anyone else can do the same. Wilful ignorance is not an excuse for having unrealistic expectations.

    ReplyDelete
  65. We have Flanagan too.

    ReplyDelete
  66. We do. He's a good backup for the left back spot too seeing as how Enrique is still struggling with injury. But in terms of reliable full backs, even with Flanno back, if we just let Johnson go we'd only have Manquillo, Moreno, Enrique and Flanno. I'd rather keep Johnson and include him in that rotation rather than get rid of him because ... well, I'm not sure why.

    ReplyDelete
  67. That's what I keep saying. FSG are not idiots, they are not going to hold back money our of spite or to prove a point. They will do what is best for the team going forward. Missing out on fourth place and a consecutive CL season would be a big big miss for the club. That's exactly what will happen unless we supplement our set of strikers with some serious talent. Acknowledging that Rodgers is not doing a great job but at the same time expecting him to make do with what he's got makes no sense. If he's not doing a good job then he needs help, not restrictions.

    ReplyDelete
  68. I've got a tooth extraction in an hour and wish Rodgers would go as quick. Sturridges' thighs have sealed Rodgers' fate - he'll be on his horse and down Anfield Road at a gallop, when the Yanks can line up a replacement (oh, please return RAFA!).

    ReplyDelete
  69. right and now when we are down in the dumps BR has to take all the credit for that ? nothing goes to the players ?

    ReplyDelete
  70. What form? World class? This is exactly what's wrong with our team BR doesn't know what a good player looks like- please take Johnson and go away. Both your times are up

    ReplyDelete
  71. greed? how would you deal with having your salary cut in half? jeepers, lets just hope stevie's salary will be halved too

    ReplyDelete
  72. If some peoples salaries were cut in half (those hard working investment bankers perhaps) they would hardly notice. It's a strange world but the only one most of us have.

    ReplyDelete
  73. What is said (and done) privately often differs from what is put out in the public domain for obvious and sometimes good reasons.


    He seems now to have the blame for Liverpool's defensive woes but I thought he was playing also when we had a good defensive record but then my memory filters out the bad over time.

    ReplyDelete
  74. I think that glass of yours needs topping up after you've fixed the hole that is

    ReplyDelete
  75. Seriously, do you think we have a shout?

    ReplyDelete
  76. Ah yeah he's Irish now :)

    ReplyDelete
  77. Always 'til it's impossible

    ReplyDelete
  78. Yeah it was only last year he was British,,,,

    ReplyDelete
  79. Especially if it's a Diesel engine...

    ReplyDelete
  80. rodgers has the rest of this season to turn the teams play around imo, if not, two out of 3 seasons were poor and most of his buys v poor. rodgers needs a wake up call, think he rates himself too highly. luis was the reason we were great, luis was the reason sturridge was great, luis was the reason stevie was great last season. rodgers is a good coach, but has years to go before he has the experience necessary to compete in the CL

    ReplyDelete
  81. Get a grip Brendan lad!!! Johnson Must move away for both his and our sake. He's slow, looks overwieght, and cant be arsed. has poor positioning, can't/won't head the ball. Easier Catch than VD in a Phuucket whore house.
    And isn't worth half his stupidly high????wages???? Barely puts in a shift.
    Sorry, my money is hard to come by. I Don't want it wasted!!!
    PS buy Southampton's defensive coach and chief scout!!!! 50+ isn't us!!?

    ReplyDelete
  82. Sorry, but in my view, the only 'wilful' thing here is your apparent insistence on ignoring the overall point. Rodgers spent £20m on Markovic - when that amount of money is spent on a player, there is an expectation created that said player will contribute. Age etc is irrelevant. If Rodgers doesn't want that expectation, then don't spend £20m on a player who isn't going to contribute for a long time.

    Rodgers said over the summer that he'd only be buying 'capable starters'. He hasn't done that. Markovic is not a 'capable starter', and he's made zero impact. Consequently, LFC is missing out on £20m worth of football benefit on the field. If BR had spent that money wisely, another player might've scored/created 5-7 goals by now (like Tadic or Pelle at Southampton, for example), an the LFC might not be in 11th place.

    That's the problem with wasting big money on players 'for the future'. Rodgers deserves serious criticism from FSG for spending £20m on Markovic, especially when it was so important to kick on after last season's success.

    ReplyDelete
  83. I'm not side stepping the point, I'm disputing it. Fans who have an expectation that a player is going to make a certain contribution because he cost X amount of pounds are just being ignorant and choosing to ignore the actual factors that would determine how effective he's going to be. It's an undeniable FACT that the amount of money you spend on the player will not change who that player is. Are you seriously going to dispute that? Of course you can't. I made a perfectly clear and simple demonstration that fans have a choice. I personally chose to look at Markovic's background and history as a player. Based on those facts I determined that he would not make a significant impact at the club this season. Some other fans, yourself included it seems, looked only at his price tag and chose to expect something else. So what point are you trying to make? That it's sensible to ignore relevant information when evaluating the worth of a player and come to unreasonable conclusions just "because he cost that much"?

    ReplyDelete
  84. Ah... the art of negotiation.


    If we said that we wanted to get rid of him, why would Roma offer us anything substantial for him in January?


    This is all about trying to maintain a decent price for him so that we get as close to market rate as possible.


    Unfortunately, I think that rate will be relatively low when it's all said and done.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Cause damage for who?

    ReplyDelete
  86. Can you believe he rates Skrtel, Sterling and Allen so highly? then rating Johnson must be feasible.

    One of the only reasons we did the Johnson deal is because Portsmouth still owed us a hefty chunk from from the £12m they owed us for Crouch. If we didn't do a transaction in some way we would never have received a thing. As the Americans were broke and intent on destroying the club most of our transfer funds that season were tied up in Portsmouth.

    ReplyDelete
  87. It's not ignorance at all. The expectation is not that Markovic should be a world-beater; it's that Rodgers should spend £20m on a player capable of making an impact. When that player fails, the ire is vicariously directed at Rodgers, via the player.

    Sorry, but for whatever reason, you still don't get it. It's not about Markovic - it's about the loss of utility to LFC, caused by Rodgers wasting £20m on a player who isn't going to make any significant contribution this season.

    You are (yet again) just making excuses for Rodgers. Markovic is a waste of money, and Rodgers deserves major criticism for that. It's almost December, and he's made zero impact for LFC, and consequently, the club is in 11th place in the league.

    Markovic's age is irrelevant, as is his alleged future potential - LFC needed a proven player *now*, and Rodgers totally blew it, just like Houllier did in 2002, and Benitez in 2009.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Noooooooo......eff him off as soon as!

    ReplyDelete
  89. Opportunistic article. Which manager proposes a pay cut to a player who he rates highly. Obviously, he can't come out and say the player is shite in a press conference. Think before you ink mate!

    ReplyDelete
  90. come on, are you serious? it would be a massive impact on anyone's life to have their salary cut in half. no matter at what level because people live to their income. and we don't know what else he has invested money in etc etc. maybe I've missed your point?

    ReplyDelete
  91. I am not advocating cutting anyone's salary in half just noting that some people earn so much money that even if it were halved they would find it difficult to spend it all.


    Some business men earn billions and CEOs hundreds of millions per year. You can only eat so much food.

    ReplyDelete