7 Jun 2015

Anfield-bound? BR wants €15m powerhouse who 'dreams' of transfer to 'awesome' Liverpool

Liverpool continued to be linked with a move for Juventus centre-back Angelo Ogbonna, who is seemingly on his way out of the club after being reduced to a bit-part player for much of the season.

In May, ESPN reported:

"Sources have told ESPN that Liverpool and Tottenham are both considering a move for Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna [who is] high on their wanted lists".

Last night, ESPN 'sources' claimed that Liverpool scouts attended the Champions League final in the hope of watching Ogbonna in action.

The Reds' scouts were left disappointed, though, as Juve boss Massimo Allegri left Ogbonna on the bench for the entire game, which makes it the 19th time this season he's been an unused substitute.

Ogbonna has been linked with Liverpool several times over the last few years, and last season, the 24-year confirmed the Reds' interest:

"I am flattered by the interest from clubs. Liverpool is a dream club, it is awesome that they are interested in me. I love the Premier League and one day I might play in that league".

In October 2012, Anfield Scouts were dispatched to run the rule over the Italian, who has spoken many times of his desire to play in the Premier League. Indeed, speaking to Tuttosport last season, Ogbonna made this clear once again:

"I would go abroad willingly. I would like to experience other cultures. English football fascinates me, and the style is similar to Torino's one. And I speak English."

Ogbonna is definitely for sale. When asked about the 6'2 defender's future in December, Juve Sporting Director Fabio Patarici told reporters:

"We have never thought about giving Ogbonna up [to someone] on loan and we have never taken the idea of releasing him into consideration, but if someone wants him, they will have to present us with an offer of €15 million".



Given the mass of quality players at Juve, it's no surprise that Ogbonna has struggled to hold down a first-team place, and €15m is a palatable fee for a proven international defender approaching his prime.

Having said that, 'proven international defender approaching his prime' is a description that also fits Dejan Lovren, and he has failed to make the expected difference for Liverpool this season.

Unfortunately, despite his professed admiration for Liverpool, it seems likely that the Italian may - despite his apparent affection for the club - reject a move to Anfield. Prior to his move to Juve, he told reporters:

"A move abroad? Why not? My dream is to play in a Champions League Final.”

That's Liverpool out of the running, then!

After missing out against Barcelona, Ogbonna will be massively disappointed right now - he came tantalisingly close to achieving his Champions League 'dream', only to be ignored once again.

That CL snub may convince Ogbonna to move on this summer, but a transfer to Liverpool will not sate his ongoing desire to feature in European football's biggest game.

Author: Jaimie K


40 comments:

  1. voice of reason7:08 am, June 07, 2015

    we have enough Left footed CBs imo Lovren was an unnecessary buy when Sakho is by far our best defender imo

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  2. This is the guy from Torino we were linked to before right?

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  3. Unless and until we buy a quality defensive m/f player we will have defensive weakness whatever players we buy. BR believes that more attack minded box2box players can protect the back 4 as well. Among all the players we are rumoured to be interested in nowhere is a specialised dmf. A midfield next season of Henderson, Kovacic and Milner will be completely inadequate to protect whatever back 4 we end up with.

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  4. Pako Ayestaran set to return to the club as assistant manager.



    Now that would be a move in the right direction.

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  5. Rodgers did not fancy Sakho and signed Lovren who is actually right footed btw. Skrtel and Toure are also right footed as well as Ilori.

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  6. Yep. A specialist DM has been needed for years now, someone who can break up play. Wanyama, Kondogbia, Schneiderlin, Obi Mikel. Emre, I suspect is too slow, Allen is a soft touch. At this rate we should consider keeping Lucas.

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  7. I agree, the defence gets all the blame which is not always the case. Things do seem to have gone quiet on this front. It is no secret that Rodgers doesn't seem to think Lucas is up to the task so I think he'll be gone this summer.


    Does he see Can as a defensive midfielder, obviously is more physical than Lucas and showed he was very composed when more central.


    If not who to go for, I liked Carvalho but not sure that's an option.

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  8. We will have to keep Lucas if not other DM's are signed but if Rodgers stays then is he going to make use of Lucas?


    Rodgers does not believe our team requires a defensive midfielder and is why Gerrard was deployed to control the midfield and we all know how that ended up. We will be screwed if Milner is asked to do the same.

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  9. Agreed. it looks like we are getting more experienced people around Rodgers which is a great move. I also like the rumour of getting Hypia in as a defensive coach.

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  10. Truth is we don't know how Emre will do in the middle, as we haven't played him there. At the moment we are soft touch in the middle.

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  11. If new coaching staff is being brought in against Rodgers will then we would still need confirmation on whether he has accepted that he no longer has full control. Normally it is the manager who picks his backroom staff. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall in the review with Rodgers.

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  12. If it is true I wonder who in the club proposed that and therefore who is in charge?


    I cannot see how foisting assistants on BR is going to help the team. You need everyone pulling in the same direction and not an assistant who may have one eye on the main job.

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  13. How can you sensibly proceed with a manager who is not in charge. The team and fans will know that as will the press and opposition it is just another daft move on top of many previous daft moves by FSG.

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  14. Not all is done yet but I said yesterday that having a manager acting like as a puppet will be a very daft idea.

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  15. Definitely!!!.............top man and won the treble at Maccabi Tel Aviv last season.....................Alex Inglethorpe promoted too?, maybe Steve Heighway will take the Academy Directors job to replace him??....................... :-)

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  16. When BR gets the boot we have a top coach in Pako to see out the season, giving us time to find a Klopp or Ancelotti???.

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  17. Would not be entirely out of the question but not sure Pako would want to sign just for one year. It is also not out of the question that Pako could become DOF. He has loads of experience, tons more than Brendan.


    We shall just have to wait and see how it all pans out but FSG making changes shows they mean business.

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  18. Alex Inglethorpe was the Spur's Academy Director before Liverpool took him, another bright fella, Steve Heighway is back around the club too..........changes afoot.

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  19. I don't think we should be in any doubt that FSG are in charge. Although Rodgers has the title Manager he is more a Head Coach. He doesn't have full control of transfers or transfer policy, he now hasn't got control of picking his back room staff.


    What he will have control of is picking the team and tactics etc, this is very similar to the European model and from bits I have read it is how FSG run the Red Sox.


    As they are all employed by the same boss they should get on and do what they are paid to to, the same as you and I. Do you like all your work colleagues? Maybe not but you still work with them in a professional manner.

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  20. I dont know Stuart there is no mention on what role may be played Pako is clever he may add something to the teams repertoire.

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  21. He sounds well qualified I just see it as another slap in the face for BR. But a word of caution of course these are just rumours as a result of the vacuum left by FSG's decision to get rid of two assistants

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  22. Yeah i know i was thinking that myself also thinking we need a knowledgeable defensive coach.

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  23. I don't think normal workplaces are generally a good example of how to run a football team but hey if it works for a different game with a different history it may work with LFC. We could be seen as pioneers ;-/


    I remember our bosses at work telling us all the changes were cutting edge and and we were at the forefront of modern management. What could possibly go wrong?.

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  24. Strange way of doing business though......imo

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  25. Headline talks of midfielder story talks of CB. SITE BLOCKED.

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  26. Kovacic deal is nearing completion.., it seems Rodgers wants to play him as a DM. So this fabled committee hasn't learnt anything? 30M (plus maybe Lucas ) for another potential? What is going on? Miky Marsh got the boot whilst Fallows is untouchable says all you need to know

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  27. Yep. The one we should have signed in the first place other than wait till he joins another team where he fails or succeed and buys him on the expensive side. Typical lfc
    Same thin with Lovren and if we can vietto

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  28. Muhammad Ibrahim12:10 pm, June 07, 2015

    We have been a soft touch in the middle of midfield for 2 seasons now. We needed someone like mobile CDM. We need to get young mobile cdm

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  29. I do have my concerns but I we make out that football is a completely different and sometimes we need to look at different environments to make things work.


    So we'll go with cutting edge and hope it works sooner rather than later.

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  30. Muhammad Ibrahim1:35 pm, June 07, 2015

    Timo Werner,
    Johanes Geis,
    Mateo Kovacic
    Simone Scuffet
    L.Vietto
    Willam Carvalho


    Buy young up and coming players, a few are bound to work. Send out on loan that cant work in the PL and they should keep much value.

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  31. Very true mate, IMO we should be looking at the French league for the next Makalele, Viera, Pogba, Schneiderlin, Kondogbia. I've said
    this for over 5 years and it's controversial but IMO the evidence is overwhelming. The most effective, dynamic, athletic DM tend to be Black. Now you do get White players eg Matic, Lucas, Roy Keane, Schneiderlin and Petit who are fantastic in that position but the overwhelming majority have been black. I would be scouting the European leagues for such players. Arguments against this is that it's racist, I disagree. If I had to choose a swim team, more than likely it would be 100% white. The other one is that, African players play in the ACON which hasn't stopped Chelsea or Man City winning.

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  32. I was also thinking... he's just coming off a managing gig is he not? Maybe FSG see him as another potential successor to BR if he fails come Jan. They would already have their man within the system, even if only for interim.

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  33. voice of reason4:04 pm, June 07, 2015

    oh my bad Left sided CBs then but i still dont understand why he did not rate Sakho.. and i dont rate how he treats players he does not fancy at the club

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  34. Of course we need more experience coaching staff, but most important is bringing in a top class manager. Because this guy is so off the mark you would not believe. Completely out of his depth how he still remains is becoming clearer by the days, he appears to fit FSG ideology....they have their Yes man in place......so the failures were his back room staff, so once again the Imposter has side stepped the axe, but for how long is anyone's guess.

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  35. Gano1, let's just keep our fingers crossed that this happens sooner rather than later.

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  36. Hypia or Steve clarke

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  37. Right on baby!

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  38. If he picks back room staff like his transfers it is no small wonder that his staff were under-classed as well.......

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  39. I don't think these moves by FSG are daft at all. Skilling up the coaching staff is smart and they are giving BR a chance to run the field team, grow from stronger people around him or perish....

    American football have head coaches who in turn have offensive and defensive and special teams coaches...... FSG obviously feel BR is a bit over his head which appears true given his loss transfers and bizarre tactics, insisting people play out of position. If people interchange positions then I get it because it makes defending tougher but having Markovic and IBE as right back makes no friggin sense at all right?

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  40. How's about Lars Bender..

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