27 Feb 2015

Anfield-bound? Alonso tells 'fantastic' €32m playmaker to sign for Liverpool. Reds favourites to seal the deal

In November, Liverpool were linked with a move for Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi, and with speculation about the Spaniard's future mounting again, ex-Red Xabi Alonsi is reportedly trying to convince the midfielder to sign for LFC

According to the Daily Express:

* Alonso has 'told' Illarramendi to reject Arsenal and sign for Liverpool 'at the end of the season'.

* Liverpool are 'frontrunners' to seal a deal for the 24-year old.

Alonso - to whom Illarramendi is often compared - is convinced that his compatriot has what it takes to succeed at Madrid, and in a recent interview, he told Cadena Cope:

"Illarra is the future. It's a giant leap, but I have no doubts about him. Real is like a bull and you have to be ready for it, and Asier will be."

Some info about Illaramendi:

* Cost Madrid €32m.

* Plays as a central/defensive midfielder.
* 31 apps for various Spain youth teams.
* 77 apps for Madrid over the last two seasons.
* 17 apps in the CL for Madrid.
* Current deal expires in 2019.

Given the sheer number of top quality players at the Bernebeau, it's hardly surprising that Illarramendi can't hold down a place in Madrid's star-studded team. It's no disgrace to play second-fiddle to the likes of Modric, Kroos, and Khedira, and given the tough competition, a move away is probably a good idea.

The harsh reality is that the signings of Kroos and Lucas Silva will block Illarramendi's progression at Madrid; those deals are arguably a minor vote of no-confidence in the young midfielder, and if Ancelotti was happy with his options in central midfield, he wouldn't have signed the duo. It's that simple.

Unsurprisingly, Illaramendi doesn't want to leave one of the world's most successful clubs. When asked in January about his future, he told reporters:

"I want to stay at Real Madrid. I'm very happy at this club and in this city [and] I'm only looking towards [Madrid]"

Ancelotti does seem to rate Illaramendi, though. In September, he explained what the midfielder brings to Madrid:

“We put Illarra in to avoid risks. He’s more defensive-minded, and e wanted to control the game and he showed he was up to the task. He helped us come back in the game".

Italian legend Arrigo Sacchi is a big fan of Illarramendi, and when asked last season about the midfielder, he raved:

“I was blown away by Illarramendi. He's a fantastic player. He can defend, he gets forward well, he reads the game well and can go long or short with his passing. I think he has a lot to offer Real"

That's a glowing recommendation from a true legend of the game, but with Silva getting games ahead of him, Illaramendi's future at the Bernebeu is looking shaky. Indeed, according to Thursday's edition of Spanish newspaper Marca:

"Asier Illarramendi's situation at Real Madrid has taken a turn for the worse since Lucas Silva's arrival...and his days at Real Madrid look numbered".

This season's dismal European performance underlines the urgent need for Liverpool to sign a couple of quality, Champions League-experienced midfielders, but is Illaramendi a viable summer transfer target?

Author:


48 comments:

  1. Well Liverpool really need a defensive midfielder for next season i don,t know much about the player hopefully he is worth the price we wait and see

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  2. Lars Bender thank you very much plus another GK and a prolific striker. Players who will take us to the next level.


    I really am not going to be jumping up and down if Ings does join as he ain't prolific but unfortunately is the only type of player we can attract with Rodgers at the helm.


    So unless we sell Sterling to raise a decent amount of cash and appoint someone who has the ability to attract top names then how are things going to improve when looking at our pathetic display in Europe this season. Ings ain't going to take us to the next level. Simple as that.

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  3. Lars Bender plus another GK and a prolific striker like Lacazette. Players who will take us to the next level.

    I really am not going to be jumping up and down if Ings does join as he ain't prolific but unfortunately is the only type of player we can attract with Rodgers at the helm.

    So unless we sell Sterling to raise a decent amount of cash and appoint someone who has the ability to attract top names then how are things going to improve when looking at our terrible display in Europe this season. Ings ain't going to take us to the next level.

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  4. Well if we cant get Bender then Illaramendi would be a great get anyway just the type of quality we should aspire to.

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  5. 77 appearances doesn't sound like can't hold down a place to me...Great talent but I wouldn't quite compare him to Alonso. He's more of a mixture between Mascherano and Alonso imo. Without being as great at specific things as those two.

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  6. Problem is that we wil get neither in our current situation.


    We have built a very useful squad now but if we are going to sign players from now on they have to top drawer. That is the only way we will move to the next level. What is the point in signing Ings when Origi is joining the squad next season? How will the signing of Ings benefit Origi's progress?

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  7. Exactly Loges i have been saying the same for a while the part about Ings i said the other day actually.
    We are in trouble getting players if it were possible for Alonso to talk this bloke around it would be a step in the right direction.

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  8. I expect Borini, Lambert and Balotelli to be moved on in the summer so Origi, Ings, Sturridge plus another main striker like Lacazette and we'll be sorted

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  9. I think Illarramendi is possible if we make CL. Heck, I'll even go as far and say it's ideal for both parties involved. However, there will be plenty of competition and if we don't get 4th, all we have going for us is Xabi's word, which probably won't be enough...

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  10. I will go as far as suggesting to keep Can in Defense (if he is ok with it especially now that Toure's contract expires) and bringing in a central midfielder (maybe two), a CF, and GK.


    Hopefully, we should be able to finance the purchase from the sale of all deadwood at Anfield (Borrini, Balo, our loanees, etc...), taking Johnson, Gerrard, off the wage bill, and CL Money.

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  11. Without a doubt Stering was awful, followed by Sturridge. It was obvious both players where having a nightmare, but Rodgers doesn't like Balotelli so he made him the scapegoat.

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  12. Doesn't matter who we buy we'll still play like what a small club should play in Europe, Thanks to BR, Having lots of players who can't score goal,Thanks to BR, Wasted $100 mils on transfers, Thanks to BR, No world class players have the confidence to play for Liverpool, Thanks to BR.......we want Rafa Benitez.

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  13. If I remember correctly...i was saying that BR might as well stay as lfc manager by qualifying for top 4 because united..arsenal and Spurs all were struggling for form. We may still qualify for top 4 and BR may still remain at the helm...whether we like it or not. So there is a chance for BR although i would like fsg to sack him

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  14. I have been a br critic for sometime now...!!

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  15. I was laughing because people were debating about penalty taker and not the real issue. We shouldn't have left it on penalties...BR is very naive and still has lot to learn in terms of transfers, tactics, man management..etc. Unfortunately, he is learning at Liverpool's expense. He might well become a good manager at some other club due to his learning curve at Liverpool but he is not proven and experienced enough for a successful run at a club like ours at this moment

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  16. Thanks partner.

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  17. I think if we're to argue that anyone should have stood up before Lovren, it is Kolo Toure. Kolo scored two against Middlesbrough earlier this season and scored one in the AFCON a few weeks ago.

    He was the most experienced player on the pitch, and if anyone should have taken one, it's him.

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  18. could not agree more! Sterling bottled it......... While sterling has lots of promise he is far from being worth 130 grand a week, the boy should maybe stop believing his own over hyped press........ No blame on Lovren from me

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  19. Illaramendi, Pjanic, Bender, Khedira, Imbula are all good options for DM/CM. We do need at least one more central midfielder with Gerrard going. If Lucas stays (which I hope so) and we buy one of the above, plus Emre Can, we potentially have 3 DM's . There is also Rossiter who I hope we phase in to the first team. That said one of the above would be a good quality addition which we need 2 or 3 of those

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  20. I'd prefer that we go all in and just splurge the money on Paul Pogba.


    Unrealistic? Yes.


    But the bottom line is that if want a guy who's going to be a direct replacement for Stevie, he's the best option in that he's already immensely talented and he's still so young that he would be here for years.

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  21. No we don't want a direct replacement for Stevie because that is impossible.

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  22. That is a poor view in my opinion Jamie.
    What is slating a young player going to achieve?
    I have never seen Raheem take a penalty... have you?
    I don't understand why Kolo Toure did not take one as he took one in the African Nations up final... which has far more pressure attached to it and scored.
    There is a frenzy being whipped up by Liverpool fans that because Sterling has not signed a contract then he deserves criticism for everything.
    It might be just as simple as he is terrible at penalties.
    I have a lot of respect for Lovren after that miss though. His LFC career has been poor up to now but at least he had a go... That takes guts.
    Who knows whether Raheem was even asked to take one?
    I agree with the idea that the most confident ones take the penalties.

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  23. And if you ask BR neither is Balo :)

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  24. From where are you? The story about Simunuc is correct, But i'm from Serbia and leave the war behind us. It was 20-25 years ago. If i remember correctly Lovren (croat) was the biggest defender of Markovic (serb) when he was sent of against Basel.

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  25. Impossible? Yes.

    Again, I said "best option".

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  26. Lovren is a fucking overrated wanka

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  27. Lets not get get all hooked up on Sterling not taking one, where is it stated that anyone should take one over another player... Fact is Lambert could easily have missed that penalty like he did his first LFC penalty, I remember Shevchenko missed an important penalty... If you have the balls to step up, more to yah! If you don't fancy it, let someone else take it..... My only gripe is the fact that it was the last and most important penalty, had he taken the 2nd, less pressure, he may have scored and we'd be blaming someone else, or cheering Lovren for helping the teamout under immense pressure...
    Penalties, they suck.

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  28. Oh please your bashing Lovren for no good reason, the "Storm" and CROATIAN war of Independance have nothing to do with that! If he were Montenegrin you'd be heaping praise, Jeez, you're discredited!

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  29. Finally some common sense :)

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  30. That must be why he was voted the best young player in Europe then.

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  31. I can't believe you are comparing Lovren to Sakho and leaning towards Lovren! We miss Sakho almost as much as we miss Lucas.

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  32. Sterling was utterly rubbish last night, so he probably would have missed anyway, should have been subbed off after 20 minutes, along with Sturridge, neither of them can pass the ball, although that could be said about any of them yesterday, utter rubbish! Rodgers was worse than his players, any one watching that game could see we were going to concede (except Rodgers). All we needed was a draw, so why play THREE strikers,

    when 4-5-1 would have sufficed? Rodgers, tactical genius? you're having a laugh, Besiktas, average at best, took the p**s in the second half, Allen and Can were'nt getting anywhere near. Lovren is cr*p, Toure needs a Zimmer frame. Rodgers should donate his wages to charity, because he certainly did'nt earn them.

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  33. My word get the knives out!!! Hang Sterling, hang Lovren; hang Rogers. Do you sleep at night after writing this diatribe?

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  34. Just my two pennies worth and to satisfy the conspiracy theorist in me, but i reckon Lovren was chosen on purpose to throw the match. ....Hear me out, think about it, why have a defender that has been in and out of the squad take a pen? Is he known for his penalty taking abilities? No, I found his selection highly illogical .... (Twilight Zone music....).

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  35. Bang on m8! He's a disgrace to our club. Rodgers played 3 strikers
    in a game we did'nt need to win.

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  36. Good thing we didn't lose to Ludogorets then......

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  37. Jeeze sure let's not pay sterling so much and lose one of our best players and most desired young talents in europe. Because he didn't say "yes after missing my last and not having a great game, I feel confident in taking a penalty, despite not being known for my shooting"

    Lay off him, if Rodgers asked who is confident. 5 players just may have haopened to say they are totally confident, before raheem. And offering first 5 or not doesn't really matter cos it means ur the sudden death penalty taker under more pressure.

    First 5 is just those most confidence. So stop knocking a kid! For not having the most. Tbh I only get annoyed when players don't hit the target (the goal) professionals shoild be able to ensure they do

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  38. I believe you're wasting your time explaining, Orme. If he can accept Steling not taking a penalty in a shoot-out, then he can accept Sterling not ever scoring even if he plays upfront.

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  39. Wow, dining a different tune so soon?

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  40. Maybe you have, but recently your stance was 'give him until end of the season before we think about sacking him'...now all of a sudden he should be sacked after losing an EL tie?

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  41. I never said that. Everyone knows I want him to be gone.

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  42. 'If he doesn't make top 4, sack him'

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  43. That's because I know he won't be sacked if we finish top 4. See...I want him gone but I know that won't happen any time soon.

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  44. Fair enough, Sterling bottled it. But has it ever occurred that Sterling might just be shit at taking penalties? Finishing from open play is a very different skill and often relies on instinct. It's why some strikers are shit at penalties (e.g. Suarez). In fact, one's finishing ability means nothing when taking a penalty (Allen, Lucas), it's about nerve, pressure. Sterling is 20 years old - you can hardly blame him if he didn't feel confident. Let's not forget he played shockingly bad during the game. And just because he earns or is about to earn 100k p/w, that doesn't mean anything if he still can't take a penalty.

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  45. Montenegro. I couldn't care less about someone's nationality and I don't hold a grudge as war never actually hurt me directly. But I hate those people talking about the storm and Srebrenica as those were good things because as you say they have friends from that 'other ' country and common people continue to be stuck in the past over those statements...

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  46. He is supporting worst kind of nationalism and that is why I 'bashed' him. That simple. People in my country are still arguing over Storm, Srebrenica and stuff like that because people like Lovren and Bora Djordjevic keep defending those.

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