26 Jun 2015

Transfer Boost: Agent confirms £21m goal-machine wants to sign for 'Liverpool'. Anfield-bound?

On Wednesday, Sevilla Sporting Director Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo (aka Monchi) confirmed that Liverpool target Carlos Bacca will leave Sevilla if an interested club 'pays his buyout clause' [€30/£21m] and now, Bacca's agent has specifically confirmed that the Colombian is interested in a move to Anfield.

When asked last night about Liverpool's interest, Bacca's agent, Jose Barila, told The Guardian:

"Liverpool and another English club have shown an interest. They must meet the release clause but at this stage nobody has.

Barila then confirmed that Bacca will consider a move to Liverpool:

"Before he went to Chile, we wrote down a list of clubs that fit that description and Liverpool was on that list."

So, Bacca is happy to sign for Liverpool, but the Reds are seemingly stalling on making an official bid. Why? The following may be a possibility:

* Christian Benteke is probably Brendan Rodgers' preferred striker target, as he's younger, Premier League proven; less of a risk, and has more sell-on value.

* Bacca is probably second choice, and Liverpool are waiting to see if Aston Villa will cave and come down on their asking price, which is currently £32.5m (Benteke's release clause).

* The Telegraph claims today that Liverpool are set to up their offer for Benteke to £25m, which again suggests that the Belgian is Rodgers' top striker target.

* If the deal for Benteke fails, Liverpool will probably make an official bid for Bacca.

It's a dangerous game to play as another club may snap up the Colombian in the meantime. Plus, if the Reds aren't pulling out all the stops to make Bacca feel wanted, then he may end up rejecting the club anyway.

Footballers need to feel wanted, and if Bacca feels like he's a second or third choice, I doubt he'll sign.


Of the two, I'd take Bacca in a heartbeat:

* Scored 20+ goals in five of the last seven seasons (Averages a goal/assist every 1.5 games)

* Unlike Benteke, who is increasingly injury prone, Bacca is a man of steel; he's tough as nails, and is robust enough to make a successful transition to the Premier League.

Given Daniel Sturridge's ongoing injury problems, it's irresponsible to pay £25m+ for a player who's spent 214 days injured in the last two seasons. Granted, it's entirely possible that Benteke's injury problems are behind him, but is it worth taking the risk?

To be fair, I like Benteke; he's a powerful striker, and his creative record (62 goals/assists in 102 games) is excellent. For £20m (max), he'd be a top signing, but anything more than that and it's too much of a risk.

Some fans are doing the big Belgian a massive disservice by comparing him to Carroll, Lambert, and Balotelli. Benteke adapts to the way Villa play - at Anfield, I'm sure he'd quickly adapt to the way Liverpool play, and he'd probably find it liberating after being typecast as a target man at Villa Park.

Benteke is a skillful player, with good technique, and great finishing ability, and if he can smash in 49 goals playing for Villa, imagine what he could do with gold-plated service from the likes of Coutinho and Firmino...

Benteke or Bacca: Who's the best fit for Liverpool?

web polls


Author: Jaimie K


67 comments:

  1. Excellent article.
    Yes dange dangerous.

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  2. Bacca without a doubt

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  3. Nicolas Chamberlain5:54 pm, June 26, 2015

    Sign Bacca. We don't need a striker like Benteke.
    Overpriced, static; another Carroll.
    Why is it that we always go for a type striker when almost anyone can see that it will be a waste of money!?

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  4. Price, ability and fitting in there is no comparison here. If we sign Benteke then he is going to wait for crosses that ain't going to come.

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  5. 100% agree, defo leaning toward Bacca of the 2 and really feel pursuing Benteke will put Bacca off massively. Vietto no longer an option or is he headed to Athletico?

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  6. Would rather have Kevin Volland than either of them. Could fulfil two roles in the squad that need filled, striker and a left footed right winger. Very fast and great finishing ability, not to mention the fact that he already knows both Firmino and Emre can. He would be perfect.

    Potential attack next season- RW-Volland F9-Firmino LW-markovic/Ibe

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  7. Pieter Engelbrecht6:01 pm, June 26, 2015

    we have spoken

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  8. You're just peddling the same old tired myth about Benteke.

    He doesn't just wait for crosses, and most of his goals are not headers. Last season, for example: 9 of his 13 goals came from shots (7 right foot; 2 left foot), which means 70% if his goals are non-headed.

    So please, change the record.

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  9. Vietto has been confirmed by atletico. Unfortunate as he would have been perfect. I think Kevin Volland would be better than both baca and benteke now though.

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  10. You're right, I was reading somewhere this morning that a greater percentage of baccarat goals come from headers than bentekes. I still would prefer Kevin Volland to benteke though, he's far more suited to the system and would already have chemistry with Firmino and can.

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  11. you can put your foot on a cross as well as heading one

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  12. Reminds me of man Utd chicharito, can score loads of cheap and lucky goals but doesn't have the ability to create something out of nothing..., nor really commit defenders.

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  13. Yes watching the U21., Volland looks a great prospect, had not seen him b4, he looks class.

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  14. Benteke is a target man at the end of the day. I am not saying he cannot run with the ball but his physique is his biggest atribute. His pass completion is at a very poot 67%. Chancees created only 33. Key passes 31. Even his shot accuracy is lower than what Sterling had.


    Without supply of the ball Benteke is a sitting duck = target man.

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  15. Yeah, watching that pass from Emre can to him for the goal just made me think it would be amazing at Liverpool

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  16. you can say he can't run with the ball, he' just awful with the ball at his feet and often get dispossessed every time there's a bit of pressure, not to mention his awful passing.

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  17. This proves nothing. Suarez's passing accuracy was 69% at Ajax, and he rarely got above the mid-70s at Liverpool.

    Strikers often have lower passing accuracy than the rest of the team.



    Why are you comparing Benteke to Sterling, anyway? It's an invalid comparison as both play in different positions.

    Sterling played upfront only a few times last season.

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  18. Often dispossessed - based on what?

    * Last season: Benteke lost the ball 1.9 times per game.


    For comparison purposes:


    * Sterling lost the ball 2.2 times per game.

    * Sturridge: 2.6 times per game


    * Balotelli: 1.6 times per game


    * Costa: 2.6 times per game


    * Aguero: 2.7 times per game


    As the stats show, it's total nonsense to criticise Benteke for being 'dispossesed every time there's a bit of pressure'.

    Like Logan, you're just peddling a myth without the facts to back it up.

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  19. Sterling was our main striker last season?

    Yes maybe the passing accuracy is in your favour but Benteke is not going to work in a pass and move system.

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  20. I’ve never seen Benteke as a player who can take us places. A poor man’s Dorgba. He played well his first season as most defenders, Cara especially, gave him too much respect and too much space because of his physicality.This past season they were ready and his goal droughts were evidence of it. He had ONE good month last season in April and that’s what saved him and fueled this ridiculous demand for 32mil. Without those April goals Villa would be struggling to fetch 15mil.
    I’m growing to like Bacca; honestly don’t know much about him but the numbers and value add up. Read a piece on Sky today I think you should all take a look at about where he came from and a couple of quotes from him. With all these footballers being motivated by money and all his attitude is a breathe of fresh air. This is a guy who can become a KOP hero not only because of his goals, but because of how he conducts himself and his “never give up or settle” attitude.

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  21. No, he wasn't Liverpool's main striker last season! That is another spurious myth.

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  22. He compared their shooting accuracy, whether you're a striker or not a shot is still a shot. If anything Benteke should have better shooting stats than Sterling as he's closer to the goal, playing as a center forward.

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  23. How do you know that Benteke is not going to work in a pass and move system. You make these sweeping generalisations with nothing to back it up.

    Suarez worked, and he had equally suspect passing accuracy.

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  24. Ings? Benteke :-o

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  25. Compare Sterling and Benteke's end product, then we'll talk. Despite his alleged shooting accuracy issue, Benteke has 49 goals in 101 games for a relegation team. The shooting accuracy thing is a giant red herring - end product is what matters, and Benteke scored one goal every two games.

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  26. Ings loses the ball 2.1 times per game.

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  27. Based on what i've seen from his time at Standard de Liège and his game with the Belgium national team, he's really bad if you put him in a team that want to play some passing football (i'm from Belgium so i've seen quite a lot of him)

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  28. Bacca will not have a great sell on value - but he has 3-4 good years left in him. At 28 yrs of age, he is in the prime of his career. We only need to be firing on all cylinders for 2-3 years and be part of a team that will hopefully be challenging for the title.

    Robin Van Persie was a similar age when he moved to Utd and won them the title

    If the rumours are true & he does have a £21m buy out clause - I think that fee is quite reasonable because a 20+ goals striker is £30-40m in today's market

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  29. Jaimie, Benteke is like an Abrams tank. The likes of Coutinho and Firmino will be running circles around him. It ain't going to work.

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  30. Standard Liege? That's in the distant past. It has nt relevance now. Plus, what you've 'seen' is no match for the actual facts, which are: Benteke does not lose the ball as much as you suggest, and he retains the ball better than the Premier League's best strikers.

    The idea that Benteke is often dispossessed is a myth, and the statistical facts prove this.

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  31. Possesoion score Jaimie, compiled by Squawka.


    Benteke just will not fit the way we want to play.

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  32. Why is it baseless?

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  33. What are you on about? The stats I'm using are from OPTA, not Squawka. I don't like that site, and never use it.

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  34. Well agree to disagree then.

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  35. It probably is the same. But I will leave it here.

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  36. Still thinks Lacazette is a possibility.... Offer him 180/week and pay Lyon everything we get from Sterling sale i don't see why they won't consider.
    We should go all out for this guy, he has ridiculous pace and a game changer to., if falcao of this world joined newly promoted AS Monaco why not try hard for this guy?

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  37. If there is limited money in the coffers, would rather avoid both and get a free in Luiz Andriano. Benteke is a good player, but we'll have a situation we have now with Sturridge (frequent injuries).


    Surprised JK is vying for Benteke, he always use too say we have 'unhealthy competition' in with some positions the year before... so why root for unhealthy players too join?


    Bacca with the type of goals he scores is like a Van Nistelrooy with acceleration. He could work for us as Lallana, Coutinho and Firminho are very creative. But got this gut feeling Bacca will be like Soldado in the Prem.


    If we get Luiz Adriano earmarked as our option, and Konoplyanka to replace Sterling. We could get illarramendi (not imposing though).

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  38. Looks like we got 4m for Coates-offload another few and keep on keepin on

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  39. The stats do not suggest that. You're trying to twist the stats to fit your view.

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  40. You should be lobbying for Bacca, so then you could call yourself Chewy Bacca!!!

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  41. Regarding Soldado, he is, well was a fantastic striker. His record before he joined Spurs is great.

    The problem he had at Spurs is the same as Balo is having now at Liverpool, he is being played out of position in a formation and tactics which goes against his strengths.

    If you look at Soldado's goals and stats before he joined spurs the vast majority of his goals were scored within the 12 yard box. He played very much like Fowler.

    At spurs he is often having to pick up the ball 20 - 30yrds away from goal because of the way they play.

    The same happened with Torres. The team, tactics and formation was built around him when he was Liverpool which is why he was scoring so many goals.

    The way Chelsea play was the opposite hence he struggled badly.

    If we sign Benteke the same thing will happen to him.



    A player can be doing brilliantly at one club and looks a great signing but then fails after a move.


    The reason being that in his previous team the formation and tactics were built to get the best on of him and in his new team that isn't the case.

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  42. Maybe it had something to do with AS Monaco making him one of the highest paid sports star in the world at that time and most of it being tax free.

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  43. sign bacca and rondon almost as same pris

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  44. nice picture tho

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  45. Bacca is a ruthless finisher, he puts the ball in the back of the net one way or another. That is exactly what we have lacked. Sterlings tip toed finishing was often embarassing, Balo hardly got into the box, Lambert also, Borini was in a cage and Sturridge was injured but Sturridge is prone to squandering one on ones. We need back in the CL as soon as possible and a quick fix is needed. 21.5mil for a seasoned goalscorer is IMO a decent price. The thought of Coutinho, Lallana and Firminio providing Bacca assists excites me. Although I still think Sterling should be sold on next bid and we should go all out for Lacazette. Lyon's president made a mockery out of us so maybe we should make a mockery out of him. Use Stevie's and GJ's wages as bait.

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  46. During the 2013/2014 season the suarez/sturridge partnership set the premiership on fire. As a Liverpool fan that was the best LFC I have so far seen. BR is now stitching together a squad that mirrors that of 2013/2014. Daniel Sturridge was a U -boat commander in Liverpool's wolf pack attack. The arrival of Carlos Bacca will inject fear in our opponents. Why is JK suggesting that Sturridge is no longer relevant? On the 8th of August my greatest wish is for him to lead the attack against Stoke not Ings. Maybe Bacca will kick start his Anfield carrier against Bournemouth. A fit Sturridge will cause more problems for defenders. Is Bacca a good free kick taker? Who'll be the penalty taker? Hope it won't be Hendo.

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  47. ..can someone explain the picture...?!?

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  48. For me Fowler and Collymore. I loved those two with a passion

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  49. This is the first time in a longtime I've agreed with JK. Benteke the beast has more to his bow than Carroll-pace, strength, skill, mobility, works the width as well as being a target man. I think he'll complement Sturridge well, not to think of the psychological boost to Origi. Another "Big brother, little brother relationship!"
    People judge Benteke on the cup final, a tad unfair. This guy puts fear in top 4 teams which is what we need.
    Bacca is the better finisher of the two and will get more goals. I just get a slight Fernando Morientes feeling about him due to him being less athletic.

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  50. I wasn't a Liverpool fan then. Guess that was after the '85 Champions league final when Mrs Thatcher banned English clubs from European competitions.

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  51. Benteke does not adapt to the way Villa play. Villa adapt to the way Benteke plays.

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  52. I like Bacca but LOVE Lacazette and his contract issues present a small window of opportunity to sway him our way. He should be chased, balls out, win or lose its worth trying. Should pursue a big boy DM to release forward and let Lucas have some competition. Shall we go on a Bender?

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  53. Toni,
    Agree 100%; especially now with his contract issues at his home club!!!!!

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  54. Exactly!!!!!!!! he time is now and the discord may not last forever at his club...........

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  55. Option C: None of the above.
    Lacazette or Aubameyang please FSG, lets at least throw a ton of money at them and see what they say before we settle for the next tier down.
    We're doing so well so far and seems a shame with all the window still to go and plenty of mercenary money heading our way to not at least try and buy the cherry for our attacking football cake.
    Failing that - a few have mentioned Volland over the last week or so and he seems a much better proposition to me.

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  56. what about berahino? think he looks the most suited to our style of play to me out of the strikers rumoured, and young enough that he could improve vastly, when to me he already looks on benteke's level

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  57. Volland can play as a striker yeah.. but he played for the most part as a RAM for Hoffenheim, so I don't see him as an option for the role over a dedicated striker, even one I don't really fancy in Benteke....

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  58. You seem to forget the club Benteke plays for, and that of INgs for that matter... The whole team losses possession, It's not Benteke or Ings specific... I don't facny Benteke, but how about judging him honestly.

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  59. Strikers don't need to be possession hounds, thy need to score goals.... If I had a Striker with good possession and not alot else, I would be, erh! we have a sh1te midfielder here....

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  60. I thought you were basing your opinions on what you had seen....!

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  61. I don't often agree with Jamie, don't much like Benteke either, but what difference would it amke if he has circles run around him by his teammates.... Who cares what his passing and possession stas are like... He scores goals, the primary job of any and all strikers... We don't ask them to be defenders nor midfielders, we ask them to score goals... If he stops doing that, then I would join you in moaning like a little girl... Point is though, he isn't even a LFC player....

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  62. Silly move by him considering he wants to play for Real or Barca in the future... A move to LFC or similar would have left those options open, chances are, he'll have to move again before he can ever move to Real...

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