12 Mar 2015

Sign 'The Viking'? LFC chase €11m powerhouse whose 'family are Liverpool fans'

Despite increased defensive solidity over the last few months, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is still reportedly keen on signing another central-half this summer, and it appears that Lille defender Simon Kjaer is back on the Reds' transfer wishlist.

Kjaer - nicknamed 'The Viking' - has been linked with Liverpool several times in the past, and according to Danish newspaper BT this week:

* Liverpool scouts watched €11m(£7.5m)-rated Kjaer during Lille's 1-0 victory over Guingamp on Sunday.

* Scouts from Juventus and AC Milan were also in attendance.

After the game, Kjaer offered the following response to questions about his future:

"This summer I have two years left on the contract with Lille, and then we will see what happens. But right now I think all of nothing else but to win games for Lille. "

Some info about Kjaer:

* Averages 30 games a season.
* 44 apps for the Denmark national team.
* Two-time Danish player of the Year.
* Current contract expires in 2017.

* Oct 2014: Kjaer's admitted that he's interested in a move to the Premier League: “I will not be moving just for the sake of playing in the Premier League. Everything would have to be perfect to realise a move to England. I wouldn’t be moving there just for a bigger pay check for example”

* Nov 2014: When specifically asked about Liverpool's interest, Kjaer told reporters: "My family are Liverpool fans and a move to Liverpool would make my family happy. It is always nice to hear about big clubs being interested. I would choose the club that is the best place for me to play my football"

* In his first season at Lille, Kjaer helped the club achieve one of the best defensive records of any club in Europe, with only 26 goals conceded in 38 games (21 clean sheets.)

* Between September 21st and December 3 (2013), Kjaer helped Lille keep 11 clean sheets in a row.

* Overall, since signing for Lille, Kjaer has helped Lille keep 35 clean sheets in 70 appearances (50% of games), which is a superb achievement. The Dane is justifiably proud of that achievement:"A lot of people call us the clean-sheet kings and it has been fantastic for me since arriving last summer to be playing my part of the wall we have built"

Some seriously impressive defensive figures here. Kjaer clearly has an affinity for Liverpool, and he'd also be comparatively cheap. A potential replacement for Lovren?

Author:


44 comments:

  1. Hmm I'm not so sure about a couple of things.

    Firstly, perhaps we were checking on the progress or reported lack of progress of Origi?

    Secondly, the French league is no preparation for what he'll face in the premiership.

    Thirdly lille set out not to concede therefore are likely to keep more clean sheets than a team playing more expansive football.

    New centre mid, striker and potentially wing back for me. .....

    Finally, anyone remember kjaer v Everton in europa? Both he and lille were terrible defensively. Interesting how both kjaer and lille struggled v premiership opposition.

    I'd still like to see Llori in action here before acquiring another CB. All are doing well now in BR's new system so don't think acquisition in this area is a priority.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mr. Point Of View7:12 am, March 12, 2015

    Maybe scouting other player

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kjaer was good in the first leg against Everton, and from what I hear Lille were in the middle of a 14 or more winless run when they lost in the second leg, so I guess the whole team was under performing and not just against Prem opposition
    Not sure if he'd be any good in a back 3 though, and he was a flop when he played for Wolfsburg

    ReplyDelete
  4. Interesting thanks

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just imagine if you were unfortunate enough to have the name Chelsea Clarkson

    ReplyDelete
  6. How can anyone (let alone 500K) support him without knowing any of the details? He is quite humourous in a sarcastic way so he can do anything he likes?

    ReplyDelete
  7. If ever a night proved HOW RIGHT JOHN HENRY IS NOT TO OFFER SILLY MONEY THEN IT WAS LAST NIGHT Chelsea were simply awful pathetic cheats totally outclassed by 10 men for 90 minutes PREMIER LEAGUE WAGES ARE A TOTAL JOKE

    ReplyDelete
  8. It is a preaparation for what he will face in the EPL acctually, look at Eden Hazard, straight from Lille to Chelsea and the rest is history. He is the type of player wee need to replace Lucas and make BR finally see that Allen is no Welsh Xavi

    ReplyDelete
  9. very good
    And captain of MU .

    ReplyDelete
  10. absolutely agree

    ReplyDelete
  11. wait you want to replace Lucas with a CB?

    ReplyDelete
  12. "How can anyone let alone 500k support him without knowing any details" I didn't start or sign the petition you'd have to question one of his supporters.
    The show and Clarkson being suspended is a clear indication he did something wrong. "He is quite humorous in a sarcastic way so he can do anything he likes?" That doesn't give you a license to allegedly punch someone.Or continue to get away with overstepping the decency line with offensive comments.
    Jeremy Clarkson will be very hard to replace.He's the Top Gear captain and the dynamic with Hammond and James May is perfect.
    I can't think of anyone on British TV that jumps out as a good replacement.
    Looking at it from a business point of view.The show is a big worldwide money spinner for the BBC.Could they possibly overlook the alleged severity of this incident by giving him a big fine and final warning to ensure the shows success and profits continue?

    ReplyDelete
  13. There is bigger problems facing England than Clarkson how about their beloved cricket team geez Bangladesh i cant help but laugh.
    Every time they are down about how bad their football team is they can take solace that it hasnt hit the lows of the cricket team.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Greg, I watch plenty of sport but not cricket.I heard they were going through rough times because TalkSPORT rambled on about them yesterday or the day before.
    They hardly ever change from football topics so it must be really bad.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like Toure, I hope he stays.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Agreed. To be honest it's a bit of nonsense he has done far worse things.


    No doubt they will get together with him and agree a contrite statement with a slap on the wrist so that the money can continue to roll in.


    Later on in one of his many autobiographies he will retract his earlier apology and give a completely different, though no more accurate, version of events.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Good player as is or example Balde Keita, but don't think we have room for Central deenders or wingers in our team. Especcialy i we are talking about regular football. Though it might be a good idea to buy Keita and than sell Sterling for 4o-50 millions..

    ReplyDelete
  18. this guy was all the rage a few years back and then he ends up an lille. No disrespect intended why did he end up at lille? If he was that good there would of been much better/bigger suitors after him

    ReplyDelete
  19. Is that a guy or a girl?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Was great at Palermo, moved to Wolfsburg, flopped at Wolfsburg, loaned to Roma and flopped there, Lille buy him for cut price and he refinds form.
    Basically, Lille bought him as a flop. Lille did win the french title a few years back too, so there are worse clubs

    ReplyDelete
  21. And why would we try to replace the amazing Lovren...

    ReplyDelete
  22. In the USA, Gary Neville was calling the game and noted on multiple occasions how Chelsea were not hustling and how they were just walking around the pitch.


    It was a pretty shocking display of effort from them. It's one thing to go out and not play well. It's quite another to look as if you don't care.


    It was almost as if they felt like the win was in the bag because they could move on with a 0-0 draw. Just perplexing.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Agreed
    Not
    Agreed
    Agreed
    Agreed.
    It depends on various factors- similarities of previous and future club's tactics, position player plays, healthiness of the EPL club, the player himself.. Even Belgian league can be a good preparation for EPL under certain conditions..

    ReplyDelete
  24. Me too. Johnson is the one who should be leaving ,he's a liability on and off the pitch (which everyone is aware ) if he eventually signs new deal ,then BR must be dismiss 4dat. Johnson is atrocious!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I don't think we need any new CBs with Ilori and Wisdom to return. Even Toure looks like he might stay 1 more year.

    RWB, CM and STR will be ideal with possibly a backup GK

    ReplyDelete
  26. BR is known for his clever use of words, in a nutshell he'd like GJ to stay as cover and to have that experience in the squad would be a good thing, but BR also knows he only stays on LFC terms not GJ terms.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Get rid. Play comes to a complete stop everytime he gets the ball in opps half. We could get 2 players in on that wage alone

    ReplyDelete
  28. Johnson:- waste of space.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Agreed. I'll get the ball rolling by auctioning off some of Can's locks, as distasteful as it feels to commodify that kind of spiritual experience.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Selling Lovren after just one season for the amount we bought him for doesn't make financial sense. Given that we've only recently discovered some category of defensive solidarity, Lovren's poor form up to this point owes much to the defence's overall lack of cohesion and integrity. Do we need defensive reinforcement? I think so, particularly if Can is to be inserted into midfield when Gerrard leaves. Having a season at the club to back him up, I support Lovren to come good, after all, one does not go from being a good defender at one club to being a pile of garbage at another without something needing to be resolved.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Chelsea are knack erred. Mourinhos mistrust of his wider squad will come back to bite him. He doesn't rotate like many other managers and you can see the effects. Plus they were poor tactically.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Woh there Mr Atkinson.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Why is he a liability off the pitch?

    ReplyDelete
  34. So Johnson genuinely believe he's still worth 120k per week? by rejecting 60 recently offered? Give me a break

    ReplyDelete
  35. Although he has disappointed so far, I'd prefer us to stick with Lovren. A lot of very good defenders have failed in their very first season at a club. Vidic didn't hit the ground running at United. Kjaer has the making of a good defender, but for now we should be focussing on our current players. Maybe bring in a young centre back who can pass, to learn from Skrtel, Sakho, Lovren and Can on the finer details (Ilori's meant to be good with it at his feet, but he's not exactly set the world alight at Bordeaux, my money would go on a player like Sven van Beek). If we stick with three at the back next season, I'd like it to be (left to right) Sakho, Skrtel, Lovren. Can has done a good job so far, but he's going to be an even better box-to-box midfielder, driving from deep. Plus Can is a bit suspect with crosses to the far post, they almost always drop over his head to a player coming in behind him.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Somebody like Keita would feel like a wasted purchase. Sterling counts as a home-grown player and we know how valuable that can be. We've got Origi coming in and the fact is that neither he or Keita have been hitting the back of the net or getting assists recently. At least when it comes to centre backs, we've not got much in the way of back-up players, Toure will probably leave (his salary could be spent better elsewhere), Wisdom isn't good enough, likeable that he is and although we have versatile players like Can, we need more consistency at the back. That said, Kjaer's not the man to go for as far as I'm concerned.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Funny how I said the same thing bout Henderson to you the other day.

    ReplyDelete
  38. He's smoking the media pipe.What do you expect him to say? Glen sucks and we don't need him anymore!!?

    ReplyDelete
  39. I don't believe we will stick with the 3 in the back for the next season. Nor that Toure is leaving. So Skrtel and Sakho as regulars, Lovren as third choice(or third starter if we do stick with this formation), with Toure stepping in if needed. Flanno can be third in back three, Can too, obviously.. All right, we might use another CB in case of injury, but you only bring player like Kjaer to be a starter, and we can not guarantee that.
    And regarding Keita, it is not about him specifically, Konoplyanka, Anderson, a good winger that costs around 20 mill(or free). Because Sterling could be expensive and in my opinion is replaceable. Homegrown yes, but I think we have enough of those..

    ReplyDelete
  40. Yeah but your wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  41. And you're right I suppose.yeah, okay. Good luck with that mentality.Sure it'll get you far.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I agree that Kjaer isn't what we need right now. I'm fully of the view that we need a player who's a regular starter, but young and has shown that he's a good passer, which is why van Beek is my top choice.


    Although we do have a few home-grown players and Ibe looks like he could be a ready made replacement, most aren't also considered trained at the club. Flanagan might end up proving me wrong, but I worry about anybody with any issue with their knee. Despite that, he's fearless and clearly loves the club, an asset I wouldn't get rid of.


    Anderson would be great, I think he's the real deal and although he's had a small knee injury, it's not been serious enough to worry about. I see Konoplyanka as the Quaresma type, all flash without making the grade. Too much of a gamble for me.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I was going to put a winky face. Probably should have. There are no definites in football. I was talking to someone who thought Lovren was our best CB he just has had a dip in confidence. It's hard to say anything with absolute certainty, especially as we all suffer from confirmation bias. All of us.

    ReplyDelete