9 Jul 2015

Hamann: Liverpool must sign £25m 'superstar' who's desperate for Anfield transfer. Agree?

For (mostly) unfounded reasons, many Liverpool fans seem to be totally against the signing of Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke. Unflattering (and unfair) comparisons with Andy Carroll abound, yet it's interesting to note the growing disconnect between the apathy of the fanbase, and the unbridled enthusiasm of a whole host of ex-Reds, who collectively claim that the Belgian 'monster' is the perfect signing for LFC.

The likes of John Barnes, Jamie Carragher, and Dietmar Hamann have all urged Liverpool to sign Benteke, and Dietmar Hamann has now joined the growing chorus of approval. Speaking to TalkSport this week, Hamann raved:

“Christian Benteke is tailor-made for Liverpool. He will score 20-plus goals a season in the Premier League for Liverpool with the service he’ll get from Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firminho.”

Here is a selection of other views from Liverpool legends of the past:

John Barnes

"He would cause people a lot of problems. With Benteke, you need to be a little bit more direct. Would that be a bad thing? Not necessarily, balance is important. At times. Liverpool overplayed which really came off two years ago but didn’t last season".

Robbie Fowler

"I’d go for Benteke. I think he’s excellent. In terms of all-round play - strength, speed, physicality, finishing - I think Benteke could be the main man for Liverpool.”

John Aldridge

"Liverpool should pay whatever it takes to lure Benteke to Anfield. He is a proven performer and a real handful leading the line. He might not be a typical Rodgers type of player, but I think he would be great for Liverpool"

Ray Houghton

"Benteke’s a huge player, and he’ll fit into the style of play Liverpool. He’s big, he’s physical, and he can upset defenders. He has genuine pace, and he can score goals".

Stan Collymore

“Benteke can become a great European central striker, he’s a potential European superstar. Over the next four of five years Villa need to build a team around him.”

Jamie Carragher

“He [Benteke] has been a brilliant player for Villa but they’ve always been fighting relegation when he’s been there and he’s always been the one who’s dragged them out".

Brendan Rodgers

"[Christian] Benteke is one of the very top players at this level. He makes great runs and scores goals, and he caused us lots of problems."

Steve Nicol

"I'm positive about Benteke. I wouldn’t like to play against him. The guy is a beast [and] he doesn't get the credit he deserves for the talent he has with his feet. I'd be happy for Benteke to be at Liverpool next season."


Liverpool fans don't share all this enthusiasm, though. Last month, I ran a poll on the site asking fans if the club should sign Benteke, and only 42% of participants voted in favour of the deal. Hardy a ringing endorsement.

There are various negative myths being perpetuated about Benteke (and I plan to debunk them all in a later article), but for now, I'd just like to address the ridiculous fan-spread notion that Benteke's underwhelming FA Cup Final performances somehow means he's a bad player.

Below is a recent site comment to that effect:

"As for Benteke, he was nowhere to be seen in the FA Cup final. £32m for a man who goes missing on the big occasion".

Since when does ONE game define a player? Prior to the FA Cup final, Benteke smashed in 13 goals/assists in 13 games, yet that apparently means nothing to agenda-driven fans hellbent on denigrating the striker.

So Benteke didn't have a good game in the FA Cup final - big freakin' deal. Coutinho - Liverpool's 'Player of the Year' nominee - had quite a few ineffective games last season, but does that mean he's now rubbish?

Additionally, Gerrard, Coutinho et al were in the team when Liverpool got spanked 6-1 by Stoke - are they all poor footballers now? No, because one game doesn't define a player.

If Liverpool sign £25m-rated Benteke, I'm cautiously optimistic he'll consistently score goals. Yes, the likes of Lacazette and Higuain are preferable options, but there are no guarantees that those two will hit the ground running at Anfield.

If nothing else, Benteke - who is seemingly desperate to push through a transfer - is proven in the Premier League, and that gives him an instant advantage (though, admittedly, the same argument can be made for Adam Lallana, and Dejan Lovren).

All I can say is fans better get used to the idea of Benteke at Anfield. The Belgian is currently 2/5 favourite to sign for Liverpool, and it looks increasingly like he'll be LFC's next big transfer.

Author: Jaimie K


292 comments:

  1. A well reasoned article but still prefer Lacazette and by quite some margin too.

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  2. Everybody would prefer Lacazette but he is an unrealistic option and wouldn't come to is. Yes we might as well try and get him but he shouldn't be our only choice. He is playing CL football at his boyhood club so why would he leave his dream to play for a foreign team struggling to make the CL? It makes no sense to chase him but it's worth a pop. We just shouldn't make him our top target and not have any viable back up options like last year with Sanchez.

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  3. According to current news Lacazette is stalling on signing a new contract with Lyon and may be about to put in a transfer request, in which case and as you say, we should certainly have a go.
    My fear though, is that instead we will just get the news that we've signed Benteke and that will be that - I won't fib, I'd be pretty disappointed if it pans out like that (naturally though the Belgium would get my full support)
    Agree we need more than just one 'unlikely' option, but what about the other Strikers such as Adriano that have already fallen by the wayside.
    This summer has gone so well thus far and it just seems a shame to settle for what I think the vast majority see as a bit of a compromise, especially in what again the vast majority, including myself, see as the single most important position.

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  4. Benteke knows Rodgers would buy anything . . . Does Mourinho want Benteke ? Does Wenger ? Pellegrini maybe ? Aaah, maybe Van Gaal would put down 30M for him . . .

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  5. Lol dunno where you keep getting 25m from. The fee is 32.5m take it or leave it :) 😂

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  6. I'm not against the idea of Benteke in principle, I am concerned that he will be misused though.
    Yes he has patches where he doesn't score with Ings/Studge/Origi and Firmino we should have enough options to deal with any dry spells.
    However we would have to play to his strengths not necessarily crossing though that is a part of it, also playing ball to feet so he can batter through defenders rather than playing it ahead of him for him to try and run on to.
    If we are willing and able to do that then Benteke at the right price (18-22m) is a good shout. If not we're better off looking at a less well known option such as Ben Yedder from Toulouse.

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  7. I think the 2 flaws you refer to would be sorted at a large club.
    More strikers= less games (At villa its been all on him). Get him in i say.

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  8. The point is that we need a top class striker and Benteke fits that profile. It's something of a miracle that he's been at Villa this long. I do have some reservations about him, I'm not sure Rodgers really does too well with this type of player. Yet, while I would not have these reservations about Higuain or Lacazette, I'd still love to see us sign him, if just because he's actually realistically available. We can go on pining for the best strikers in the market, but I doubt we'll get them. Benteke on the other hand could possibly be wrapped up before the pre season tour begins and that could pay dividends on its own.

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  9. The problem is not Benteke the player.


    The problem is the price.


    32.5m or 25m is still too much.


    If we could get him for 18m, I'd be ok with that. I wouldn't be too thrilled because I still think he doesn't fit our pressing style of attack, but for 18m, it's a good value considering his overall skill and age.

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  10. Who said Benteke can leave for £25M? Pretty sure he can only leave for £32.5M JK. Anyway it looks like we will eventually sign him so guess there's not a lot of point harping on about the likes of Lacazette, Higuain etc. On paper Lacazette would appear to be the best option to go all out for but I would hope we have been told that isn't going to happen so Benteke is the next best option who has proven he can score goals at the highest level. Even if he does have a rough patch during the season we have Sturridge (if ever fit), Ings and Origi to come in so hardly short of options. It's inevitable he will end up at LFC so just sign him already and get him bedded in.

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  11. 32.5m and you haven't got the money.

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  12. We have the money he just isn't a £32.5m player and LFC know that. Personally wouldn't spend a penny over £20m on him.

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  13. Seems to be being commonly acknowledged that Benteke has 'patches' and also I believe it's factually correct that he does suffer injuries more than one would like. Following on from this, the answer is that we have enough cover:
    The problem with this is that Strikers thrive on confidence and momentum so as well as Benteke himself not being helped by an inconsistent season, I think it's foolish to knowingly start expecting to have to use all of your other striking options in this manor.
    We have Sturridge which, apart from already being unavailable for the start, is regrettably likely to then continue to suffer a high rate of injury. Add to that Ings and Origi who we all hope will hit the ground running BUT know we can not guarantee such and now, it looks like we may be about to sign a 'patchy' striker - seems like madness to me.

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  14. Are you guys really hoping to keep Benteke?

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  15. Noted what you say about the Champions' League and also that Lyon is his boyhood club (although many players have left their boyhood clubs for the sake of their careers (eg Rooney, Owen, etc). Those considerations apart there are some reasons to think that he would not reject us out of hand.


    The first is money. Liverpool are infinitely richer than Lyon and playing in a league which attracts much more commercial sponsorship than the French League: the financial rewards for playing for us would dwarf anything he can get in the Rhone-Alpes region.


    The second is his ambition to establish himself as a starter for the French national team before the Euros in 2016. Ahead of him in the pecking order he has Giroud, Griezemann and Benzema. He'll be aware that all of those players are working for much more prestigious clubs than Lyon and in much better leagues than Ligue 1. He might well believe that he would also benefit from being in a similar context. But here's the rub: if he moved to Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich (those are foreign clubs linked with him) would he be a guaranteed starter because that is a necessity in furthering his national team ambitions? Probably he wouldn't be. At Liverpool he would expect to be in the starting 11 week in, week out.


    To my mind, the difficulty for signing Lacazette will be less convincing the player himself than finding the money to convince his club to sell. On fans' forums it is frequently suggested that Lacazette would be available for somewhere between 20 and 28 million pounds. When asked earlier in the Summer whether he would sell Lacazette to Paris St Germain Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas stated 'only if they have 100 million Euros for the transfer'. All the cards are in Lyon's hands here because the player, despite his reluctance to sign a new contract, is already bound to the club for the next 3 years by the terms of his current contract.


    I think Lacazette is worth a pop but we should decide what the maximum we are prepared to pay for him is and make sure that that maximum features in a bid within a week. If Lyon don't accept that or don't give signs that just a little more effort might secure the player then we should recognise that there is no point in pursuing another wild goose chase and bring Benteke in. What we don't want to happen is a repeat of last Summer where we dilly-dallied and then ended up signing Ballotelli in desperation as the transfer window closed knowing full well that Balotelli was a huge risk. Lets get the business done early so that we don't miss out. A prolific centre forward is our absolute priority this summer and if we don't get one then our transfer dealings must be considered a failure.

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  16. I think Benteke will do well at Liverpool,but the 32 mill price tag is a killer,especially if he becomes a failure.

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  17. Really Jaimie? Your saying Benteke is 'reportedly' available for 25 mil and backing that up with a story in the Daily Mail (fail) from 2 years ago? If he was available for 25 mil he'd already be a Liverpool player

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  18. Why not go all out for Lacazette?

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  19. From my perspective his biggest weaknesses are his passing and his pressing. Otherwise I think he is a much better all-round player than he is often given credit for.

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  20. Just get a feeling that the 'Lacazette money' is there somewhere, if FSG really want it to be.

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  21. No. Benteke's profile does not fit one of a top class striker - a good one but not top class.

    Also, BR would need to change his current tiki-taka short passing style to accommodate him. The fact he did not do so for Carroll or Lambert, suggests he will not do so for Benteke.

    Which leads to the conclusion that BR would never get the best out of him.. so why bother?

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  22. I would have to assume we've been told this deal definitely won't happen. He's probably the most sort after (possibly available) striker throughout Europe. He is playing for his boyhood club who are in the champions league. I know there are reports he might want out but what makes you think he would leave to come to us, it's just not realistic. If he were to leave it will be for a champions league team... PSG, Arsenal or United I would guess.

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  23. Yep, at least go all out for Lacazette and make him feel wanted at Anfield.. with a path laden with gold..

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  24. Hi Case, I don't doubt FSG could find the money for a really expensive signing but the idea would grate with them. They put a lot of emphasis on getting value for money in signings (Andy Carroll signature aside). If they really had to pay 60 or 70 million for Lacazette would they consider that value for money? So I think it hugely unlikely, given what we know of FSG, that they would sanction such a purchase even though the club very probably could afford it.

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  25. Still, just go for broke... we have nothing to lose!

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  26. He will bring more strength and headers to the team. We will be more of a threat in the air, and i think even if he isnt scoring at times he will be battering them and being a foil which will open it up for more goals from our flair players (Couts & firm). Even when you think about it milner can score from deep;-) Theres goals in our midfield and he might be the man to remove the parked buses.

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  27. Agreed but who's to say we haven't already and been turned down. Truth is we can't attract that top calibre of player.

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  28. Yep, but only of BR plays a slightly longer game and with width/crosses - which he has never indicated previously, especially in the Carroll/Downing age.

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  29. Sterling should be Liverpool captain for the ten years to come: he has all the attributes of a natural born captain!

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  30. As with the way of the media, somehow there's always a leak either from our side or the selling side, and failing that from the player's agent.

    As there's been nothing, it may be LFC have been warned off as you suggest or we're simply biding our time to see how the Benteke deal goes.

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  31. I agree with everything except "The bottom line is that Benteke is too inconsistent and injury prone to be considered as a first team striker for a club aspiring to be in the CL."


    Yes that's true for a team like LFC, but what about a team like Chelsea or Atletico, who are much more physical by nature? Benteke's inconsistencies are almost always created because of not fitting in with the rest of the squad. When he's on form, he's a scoring beast. But when he's just in run-of-the-mill season form, he, like any other player, needs the help of the rest of the team. His skill level is on par with many CL teams. It's just that his skill set is specific to a certain style, which personally I don't think LFC have.

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  32. Knifing your friend and family in the back BR style !!!

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  33. Agreed. It would be a slight departure from their normal signings, but they did previously make murmurings about bringing in more quality and also in terms of their investment - Lacazette seems like a player who's value would only rise, whereas Benteke' maybe not so much.
    I have a feeling, as fickle as it sounds, that a lot of us may even be appeased slightly, if we at least read of a serious offer being made to Lyon.

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  34. I dont think we need to change tactics as much as some think. We have focal points all over the team now and i dont think we will play to any particular individuals strengths. We'll be coming at them from the air and everywhere with ben 10.

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  35. Fuck off Liverpool, at least BENTEKE attends training, and Stan wants him at villa, you and you great character can do one

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  36. Yes that's true there does seem to be a leak on every Liverpool bid either in or out, perhaps it never got as far as a bid as we were told in no uncertain terms that he would not sign for Liverpool. I don't know it's all a bit of a guessing game. I do, however, think that as Villa are refusing to budge over the £32.5m valuation of Benteke a £40m bid for Lacazette would do no harm whatsoever.

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  37. We really need a 20 goal a season striker. They are hard to come by. I think Benteke can be that man. If it means paying 10 million more than he is actually worth then it is a worthwhile investment if it makes the difference between making it in to the Champions' League and not making it into the Champions' League. By way of comparison Napoli are apparently holding out for 67 million pounds for Higuain and the only price mentioned by Lyon with regard to Lacazette is 100 million Euros. Given those types of prices 32.5 million is reasonable for someone of Benteke's goal scoring ability.

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  38. I thought/hoped exactly that last summer when we signed Balo. I know people will say that Benteke his much better but I'm not convinced, especially if we were to utilise him in a similar manor.

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  39. My little one watches Ben 10 like a hawk - does he not need to change into one the monsters to become effective..?

    So is that what Benteke will need to do ;-)

    Going back to BR, LFC have been at their best under BR, when the likes of SASAS make runs into space down the channels allowing other players to run into the space vacated in the centre to be fed in by SG or Couts. In all the time I've seen Villa player, Benteke usually prefers to stay central and bully/bash the CB's into submission - when he's in the mood.

    And when he couldn't care less, he is a complete tabby kiitten without the will to run let alone roar.

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  40. Not saying Mario and Benteke are similar players, BUT you are absolutely right that BR will not use them to their strengths, and do not suit his style of play.

    Under BR, avoid.

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  41. On 1 June, Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas responded to rumours that Liverpool were going to try to buy Lacazette by saying that a club like Liverpool couldn't afford to buy him. This highlights that the idea that Lyon will just sell him for 20-28 million as most fans' forums suggest is nonsense. Lacazette has 3 years left on his contract and his club don't want to sell. If they do decide to sell they can easily trigger a bidding war for such a sought after player.

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  42. Yes, 32.5 million seems to be the fee.

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  43. I'm not impressed by any of their evaluations. When was the last time they got one right? Aldridge is particularly guilty of over praise of players. Worse than Rodgers. The only one id take an interest in is Hamann. For 25million its worth a punt.

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  44. If you are going to write a Benteke to Liverpool story, don't write £25m. We've made it very clear that it's release-clause fee (£32.5m) minimum or nothing.


    No I didn't read the article, but I know it's not a Benteke linked to pool article. Merely a pool fan-fiction pondering the idea of signing him and what possible benefit he could bring to your *cough* club.

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  45. Whether its the reported £21m or £40m, whatever it is he is a far superior striker to Benteke that would suit BR's style of play. And for that reason alone, he should be our #2 target AFTER a DM.

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  46. I can see what you are saying but he was tired at villa. Carrying them solely most times.We've been a bit like that too, putting too much on certain players in recent years. How you question Fowler et al?

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  47. See ref to Lacazette as a better option than Benteke, if we can close out the deal.

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  48. He had a tendency to wake up and not be tired whenever LFC rolled into Villa Park...

    That says a lot.. ;-)

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  49. NeutralRed. I have absolutely no problem with him being our number 1 target but if we are serious about him we need to go for him straight away so we don't end up with the same situation as last summer where we panic buy another Mario Balotelli or worse still end up keeping the real Mario Balotelli. A top, top striker is much, much more of a priority than a defensive midfielder.

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  50. If our club merits a 'cough' then yours merits full-on tuberculosis!

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  51. If I had my way, and quite a few LFC fans, you more than happy to keep him ;-)

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  52. Hmmm....Benteke is a beast,Ive watched Villa for 50 years and havnt seen a better striker...at least as good a Andy gray,peter Withe,even the god that was Brian little.....seriously he is if anything too good for you..needs to go to champs league.Hes played in a villa team which is the worst ive seen in the sky years and scored one every other game.....Had little service and crap players around him,come back from a bad injury,and still he scores,.there is a reason all the ex pros rate him,he is that good....you scousers worry about style of your team etc..utter crap goal scoring machine on a par with Shearer,he scores whatever the style......

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  53. Has Randy sold up yet to the Chinese to get his pot of gold out of the EPL?

    Imagine the Villa have to learn Mandarin ..!

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  54. Our club is professional and likes to deal with matters in private. Yours likes to utilise the press to unsettle players and deals with matters in public. That is why it merits a *cough*.

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  55. At this rate we're looking like ending up with a B&B up front and let's not even consider where Origi could fit into that mix.

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  56. I agree with you that all matters should be done in private, and whichever club leaks is doing wrong. What's never proven though (which is a shame!) is who does the leaking.

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  57. Yep Benteke is a beast on his day - no doubt.

    The question is how many good days (when's he wants to be the beast) and how many absent days?

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  58. Either agents of the players (whether by player command or club command) or unknown members of club itself.


    All you need to do is look at Benteke's snake of an agent or Sterling's c*** of an agent (and it warrants a very justified use of the word "c***").

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  59. Couldn't agree more as you are preaching to the converted.

    But alas when there is so much money awash in the EPL, you are bound to attract the leeches.

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  60. 100% agree - and I've called out Lacazette for a while now.

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  61. Unless the new coaching stuff drum it into BR's head that he needs to adapt the style of play to suit the players on the roster!

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  62. The unfortunate thing is it will never tone down. Even mediocre players are used to £30,000-£50,000 a WEEK now, and they think somehow think they deserve more.

    You can argue that they have to have a superhuman level of ability and technique, but is it worth that much? Nope. Maybe an above-average salary of £40,000-£50,000 annually, yes.

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  63. Pretty sure yours does things in exactly the way ours and all the other Clubs do; it just doesn't attract as many column inches :)

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  64. In fact, I can think of one good thing about their salaries: it is good for the economy.

    Why? 99% of footballers are too stupid to understand how to tax-dodge.

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  65. The shame is the public (fans going thru the stalls, buying Sky subs, buying merchandise, etc..) are ultimately funding the EPL. So even the teams at the bottom can now dream to stay in the EPL even if it's for a season or two. No shame in that, but where is all the money being raised actually going to.

    I'd rather have a salary cap thus even out the chances of more teams being able to win the EPL, and charge a max say £20 to watch. This would make the league more competitive, raise the standard of the English national team and still be a lure for all the top players in the world.

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  66. Well you only need to look at Messi to see how much of a mess he made of his tax return!

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  67. I've been saying that for years, but somehow the associations think a club budget is the best way. In what world does a budget improve the game? The stumbling block lands with the players as they club can accept any bid but the player can choose to stay or go.

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  68. We need to vote each other on to the EPL board ;-)

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  69. Bore off you wanker. 25 million....no chance. Mid table shit Liverpool!!!

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  70. Maybe he has the 'Spurs stylee' in mind. I guess that could work.

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  71. Or we can make our own, with blackjack... and hookers! (hint: Futurama quote)

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  72. Somehow the wife won't take too kindly to the hookers! Never have understood women ;-)

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  73. I declare it boys-only.

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  74. If Origi fits in between B & B we could have 'BOB' up front. I really think from now on we should design our front lines so that their initials spell fun things: B & B, SAS, BOB, etc. That is definitely teh way forward in modern football!

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  75. No problem with us getting Lacazette. He would be my number 1 choice. If we can't get him, and get him quickly, then I have no problem with us going for Benteke- even at 32.5 million.

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  76. Defo will make it easier in the BR team talk:

    Right lads, for the first 10 mins of the game we're playing SAS, then B&B for the remainder of the first half before switching over to BOB in the 2nd half.

    And when we're losing and you guys are completely confused by my instructions we'll go for GOAL - Get Out A Lame excuse!

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  77. That's a plan - now how do we let Mr Fix-It Ayre know?

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  78. You know BR is the Greatest Of All Time!
    We probably shouldn't mention goats though.

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  79. Stories today are suggesting Liverpool will try to buy Marco Reus to replace Sterling. I think it exceptionally unlikely that he will come. If he did we would all welcome him with open arms. It's also not a bad idea to be recruiting a few Jurgen Klopp style players for later in the season, just in case....

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  80. Well Klopp is still sitting by the pool waiting for the LFC hotline to call ;-)

    Maybe no-one in LFC has his number! Can someone please oblige?

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  81. There is also a story today that City are backing out of a Sterling bid.b If that happens then maybe we can't even afford Benteke. If we don't a really good striker to keep alive until Studge returns there are more 6-1 thrashings to come when we field no offensive threat

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  82. You see I'd fail the entry test, as no-one would ever describe me as a boy - more an invalid ;-)

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  83. Not if we buy a decent DM..

    We may lose, but never again 6-1.

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  84. One good DM isn't going to hold off a team that has no reason to fear being scored upon.

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  85. Agreed - but we'll prob lose against the top 4, but should be able to hold our own against the rest of the 15 teams, until we either get Sturridge fit or find an upgrade.

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  86. Sorry, but I'm still chatting to me old mate Raheem on my line...

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  87. Well I have faith that Ings will work out well but he needs time to settle into the team too. As much as I don't think Benteke is a great match, I'd still rather have a reliable number one striker signed soon.

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  88. I'm guessing your talking about what to wear to the club on Saturday night - the new blue shirt or the worn red one?

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  89. I have a feeling if we don't sign a new #9 in this window and Sturrdige is not available, he'll continue to use the 4-3-3 formation with a false #9, ie play Couts - Firmino - Lallana up top.

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  90. Not a player we'd imagine to lead our attack but if the team behind him and himself are good enough we can make it work. Not the price we'd imagine the club should pay for him, but if we can make it work the price don't matter.

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  91. Now that Saido Brehino has ditched Aidy Ward, I'd be amused if we signed him instead of Benteke.

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  92. Honestly - not good enough.

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  93. Yeah, but you can always get a new one.. right?

    Especially if Mr Klopp gives it to you?

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  94. Unfortunately, the blue one hasn't come through yet- seems it's lost in the post

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  95. No way. If he wears a red one, I am not wearing mine anymore. I know it doesn't really matter if I don't wear it but club's thoughts should be similar.

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  96. I love the idea of a club having an owner with a name like Randy Learner or Kinky Teacher. Our club's owners names are so boring: John Henry, Mike Gordon- can't our owners afford proper surnames?

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  97. Did you have similar views when Suarez thru his wobbly?

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  98. Ought to be Firmino.

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  99. Maybe.. lets see..

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  100. Fair dood then ;-)

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  101. Man City and Sterling need to stop talking and acting like they hold the court/face cards.RS has two years remaining on his contract and City are no Real Madrid or Barcelona.B4lly tactics don't work on bigger clubs!
    When two clubs get drawn into big money transfer sagas the media are quick to label bids...
    The second Man City offer was 'take it or leave it'.They came back to the negotiation table with the 'final bid'.The forth should be called 'desperation'.The fifth will be 'we give up' there's your 50m.

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  102. Though I could live with him returning when Barca finds themselves a better one. A much better man he is, however that sounds. And this is not hating Sterling, it is just keeping my dignity as a Liverpool suporter. Owners should do the same.

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  103. Got to say, I agree with Barnes. Lacazette is a better fit for our system. Not that Benteke wouldn't score, but with Coutinho putting balls in the box, Lacazette seems better suited for this style.

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  104. By the way, anyone have any news on what is going on with the Swedish Defender we are supposed to be in for? Can't think of his name. I got a ton of posts about him last week, now nothing.

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  105. I think Ings Firmino and Coutinho would all play well off each other.

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  106. As much as I agree Sterling is in the wrong with a poor agent, there is something to suggest BR must also take some responsibility. Alledgedly 3 private conversations made public would wind up anyone.

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  107. Not absolving BR. Sterling's behaviour is inexcusable regardless.

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  108. 20 goals in 45 appearances...not good enough? He's fast. He's good on the ball and he's aggressive like Suarez. I think he'd be a great fit with better service from our MF...and apparently he doesn't get hurt much.

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  109. He's young and hungry...like Suarez was in Holland.

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  110. He dried up after the New Year

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  111. Just another thought and from a slightly different angle - Lacazette (only using as example) - if we signed him, then apart from when Sturridge is fit he would clearly be the main striker and play pretty much every game, thus helping the rest of the pegs find their best positions.
    If we get Benteke then to me at least the water regarding exactly which strikers should play where, when and how often, is rather more muddy.
    As we all know Brendan is highly skilled at finding everyone's best positions but we already have 2.5million midfielders and with the Belgium's addition and the retaining of Balo, we'd have five first team strikers...
    Would that really help to rebuild a tightly knit team or instead be too many pegs for even BR to mallet into the pitch.

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  112. Maybe some frustration with the lack of service?

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  113. Rem square pegs in round holes ..

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  114. They are looking for £3m for him, other than that no new updates.

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  115. Maybe.. but from a distance looks a one trick pony which defences have now figured out.

    Happy to be proved wrong.

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  116. Why not promote the lad from the youth team?

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  117. Studge, Benteke, Lambert, Balo, Borini, Origi, Ings. That's seven. Something has got to give. We have Ibe also.

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  118. Yep too many pegs

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  119. Must admit I forgot to include Lambert and Borini, although do think they will likely be gone come the start of next season.
    Didn't take Ibe into account because he always seems to be cup tied.

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  120. ...well now, if we're insistent about talking 'pegs' not 'talking pegs'; then an efficient household should always have clothing line pegs, whereas, on the other hand, an adventurous household should never be without tent pegs....


    ..to peg or not to peg that is the question....

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  121. ..we should just have a front line of seven..lets live dangerously... :)

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  122. Back to concede 50 goals a season..

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  123. ...in that case someone should give him a sandwich.....he'll waste away you know...

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  124. ..yeah, of course, but we'll score like 400 million... ;)

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  125. Well then.. thats OK then..

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  126. Well, I can only say that as a poor Angler, I try and use as few 'Bivvy' pegs as possible, although that is often something one regrets when trying to remove ones Bivvy from a Hawthorn tree at three in the morning.
    Is two pegs enough, and, yes - lets get the kettle on; is usually the fatal question/answer combo I go with :)

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  127. ...I thought you'd see my side and agree, mate with the drought we had to endure last year..any goals of an abundant nature, even if we have to give young migs there an emotional scarring for life, would be worth it...I just miss seeing 3-4 goals going in every game...


    ...I came home once when we'd played the arse in the early afternoon and was expecting the worse....then I saw through half-closed pinched eyelids that we'd won...by 100goals to1!!!!..you must remember that...?
    ..I just miss it man....

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  128. ...although that went over my head, i trust and respect your statement there Case...
    ...and because I care I will be surfing the interoceanweb for extra insight into the terminology held within your comment... ;)

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  129. ...aaah, bivvy pegs, yes..hawthorn tree..very pretty tree...
    ..getting the kettle on...sounds about right Case...

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  130. Cheers DinMan, don't go to all that trouble though, more important things at hand but; Bivvy - short for Bivouac, or, a green tent which retails for twenty eight times the price of the exact same tent in a different colour.
    Just to confuse the issue I actually use a brolly but it's quite large and still needs a few pegs :)
    Hawthorn is a nice tree, but not too kind to you if your a burglar or a brolly :)

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  131. There is a reason guys like Carra Fowler Hamann got media jobs and its was quite simply because they couldnt make it as scouts.

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  132. Very little about BR's tactics could be described as tiki-taka. That term is thrown around every time a team makes more than 3 passes before going to the CF. Our style is a high pressure, counter attacking style more reminiscent of Barca under Lucho than the tiki-taka under Pep******. Benteke is much better with his feet than either Carroll or Lambert, I'd be happy with little link up plays with him, Cou and Mino.

    ***** - Not trying to say we look like Barca in the way we play, just that the tactics are rather parallel.

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  133. Couldn't agree more. I've found much of the fan base are too quick to make assumptions based on things that they have read or the very little they have seen him play. There is a chance that people are against the deal for his price/the fact that hes not Lacazette rather than just not wanting Benteke at all. I'm 100% all for this deal, of course I'd rather Higuain or Lacazette but I won't be disappointed if Benteke is the next option.

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  134. Fair point but the random fans that are quick to provide negative opinions of Benteke are professional scouts? Given the facts available I can't see any way that signing Benteke would be a bad thing for Liverpool. His strengths far outweigh his weaknesses and he would offer a lot for the club even at his buy-out clause (which I'd rather we not go as high as but better that than no striker at all)

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  135. is this word association...
    'utd'

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  136. I think its very likely that we have already enquired about Lacazette, found out we can't get him so have moved to other options. If Benteke is first choice and Laca is second than thats questionable and I'd say 99% of fans would rather we sign him but at this current point in time Benteke seems an infinitely more likely transfer. Either way as long as we get one of them I will be over the moon.

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  137. My bad. Happy to use your definition of BR style.

    However point remains the style does not suit a Benteke style player as BR wont modify his tactics to accomodate.

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  138. Rooney and Owen left for the likes of Madrid and United, let's not kid ourselves, we are nowhere near the level that they were at the time.
    As for the money, we may be richer than Lyon but clubs like Arsenal and PSG are also in for Lacazette. We can't compete with them.

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  139. Not questioning Benteke, even though he sleeps thru some games.

    More worried BR wont know how best to use his talents.

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  140. Thats a worry I think a fair portion of the fans share about most of our players to be fair. BR does tend to try and fit players into systems that dont best suit them so I guess we will have to wait and see.

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  141. Only 8 of his 20 goals came before the New Year, 7 in the league, 1 in the League Cup. He scored 7 goals in the league in 2015, with an additional 5 in the FA Cup.


    He has however had significant dry spells in the league in both halves of the season (10 goalless games on the trot in the first half, 8 in the second), which IMO can just be put down to inconsistency due to youth, average WBA team etc etc. Hopefully I have proved you wrong ;)


    Having said that, while I think he would fit in our style perfectly, due to his great pace and movement along with a good finish, he supposedly has a poor attitude in the same manor as Sterling, what with the laughing gas and the speeding etc, although maybe getting rid of Ward is a sign that he is maturing. Anyhow, I think he would be worth a gamble for the right fee, circa £10-15m.

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  142. His name was Ludwig Augustinsson- in fact I think it still is. I think we are still interested in him but we want him to sign for Southampton first so that we can use our usual feeder club.

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  143. I dont know if benteke is quite the typical target man that people think, but i could be way off. Lets be honest i only really watch villa when we play them and i suppose if you only judge by those games, he is a long ball forward!

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  144. Brad Smith?


    Good question.

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  145. He had one dominant season and 2 decent ones, seems injured a bit for my liking so for 32m move along. look abroad

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  146. Sterling can't be lead the captaincy he misbehaving Rodgers pecking order Hendo should remain captain n Skertel the Vice captain.Sterling fits LFC plans and we must buy a proven striker like Higuain to boost the attack with firmino, coutino , Lallana to deserve champions league once again

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  147. Rumors saying BR is trying to bring Reus as Sterling's replacement. True?

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  148. Doubt it, Reus is Klopps trump card if he gets the call sometime in the future.

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  149. He was joking Azie,,

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  150. Yup, possible.

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  151. Reus has apparently just turned down Barcelona according to another rumour. I'd love us to get him: just can't see it somehow.

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  152. Lacazette, Illarmendi, Pedro and now Reus being linked with LFC. Any one coming in will be good.

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  153. Yes especially any of the players you mention. But of the 4 illarmendi looks the most likely, which I would welcome.

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  154. Striker is the most difficult position to fill, all or most of the good ones will already be with a top team, and those that are not, will be soon.
    Looks like Benteke is the only option.

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  155. He wants game time, and he knows he won't get that in Barca

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  156. We should have sealed Bacca when he was available.

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  157. illarramendi, Digne, and Benteke, would still make us a force to be reckoned with, unlikely as it is, that we would get all 3.

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  158. There is other options out there and some are young and not proven some in lower leagues thats if we arent afraid to take a gamble.

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  159. We did'nt think Ballo, Lambert, or Borini would fail, so I cant see us taking anymore chances,, I believe we will go for a proven scorer.

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  160. The thing is a lot thought Ballo was a bad buy Lambert was only 4 mill and not much of a gamble.
    The thing is players rise from the ashes each season and start banging em in for fun we should be trying to find those players.

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  161. Bit of a lottery though, hopefully there is someone out there, who we (fans) have overlooked but LFC have identified, fingers crossed, coz I cant complain about the business we have done so far.

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  162. A few updates on Lacazette. Firstly, he failed in his attempt to get on the cover of the French version of Fifa 16. That honour went to Griezmann.


    Secondly, according to the magazine France Football (not always reliable), Lyon have accepted a bid from PSG of 50 million Euros plus 10 million in add-ons for Lacazette (that works out around 43 milllion pounds sterling in total).


    Nevertheless, Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas was on RMC radio yesterday claiming that the chances that Lacazette stays at Lyon were very, very good and that he would meet with him when he gets back from holiday in around 10 days time.


    The Lyon supporters' website Olymipique et Lyonnais suggests that Aulas is trying to get Lacazette to go to Paris whilst appearing that he tried to keep him. Rumour has it that Lacazette is upset that Aulas announced to the press that his contract extension would earn him more than 50000 pounds per week but that the leak happened so that Lacazette might look greedy. (He'd probably earn close to double that if he came to Liverpool).


    Anyway, I'm sure you'll get twisted versions of these updates when the British press get wind of them.

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  163. He would earn four times that if he went to PSG.

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  164. Very probably!

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  165. Scared shirtless

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  166. I think the enthusiasm dwindles when you pay £32.5m (Coutinho £8.5m). Bentekes 'other' stat last season was 2 goals in 18 PL games.

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  167. Sorry but I beg to differ on your views about FSG. I think the downward trajectory of LFC is exactly because FSG have no idea about these three words: 'value for money'. I don't want to go anything beyond last summer. 117 mil pounds on players during last summer and who came good after one season? 20 mil pounds on Lazar Markovic, 26 mil pounds for Lallana and 20 mil pounds for Lovren makes me wonder what have those people in charge of player transfers been smoking. Here's a really good set of owners that are willing to plough their fortunes into the club we love, even though they are clubless about English football I supposed. Also we are not in any position, being it financially or attractiveness as a club, to sign any player in the price range of 60-70 mil pounds. We have to look up to Arsenal as a role model and not Chelsea or the two Manchester clubs.

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  168. Benteke is a far better player than Lacazette.

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  169. Just hope BR finally knows how to make square pegs into round pegs this coming season and but more importantly let's hope he does not create triangular holes for his round pegs.

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  170. Toll post is truly trolly

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  171. Well, at least we dodged the Jovetic bullet. Going to Inter. As for Benteke, as long as the money won't stand in the way of signing Illaramendi, Clasie or Pjanic, I just dont care anymore. If Rodgers is so in love with him, worst case scenario he gets Rodgers the sack.

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  172. Benteke Origi partnership..?

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  173. But if you asked all those ex players last season what they thought of Lallana before we bought him they would of highly rated him as well . Just because they are all Benteke fans doesn't mean there right and he would do well for us. If Mourinho , Wenger, van gaal, all thought he'd guarantee 20 plus goals a season then surely, SURELY they will be going in for him .is rather listen to those top managers then a bunch of ex reds with little if any management experience . Let's listen to Barnes he was a great manager , got tranmere rovers relegated . Dalglish is also a great ex Red and he thought Carrol was going to be brilliant and look what happened there. When you ask these guys when there in the panel before s football match what there prediction is 9/10 they get it wrong so just because there all convinced he'd be a great signing doesn't make it a 100% full proof signing. Not by a long way . How many signings have we made over the years where these ex reds have turned around and said , this guys useless ??? Especially British players ?

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  174. At £32.5m we need to walk away. If Benteke does not work out then we are bound to lose loads of money. The risk is just far to big.


    We may as well just keep Balotelli and ask him to finally grow up as he is wasting his talent away. An inform Balotelli is as good if not better than Benteke but the guy needs to get his head straight! Unfortunately the chances of that happening are next to nothing.


    For £32.5m we can look elsewhere for a player who can get us 20 a season.

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  175. Mignolet/New GK

    Clyne/Flano- Skrtel - Sakho/Lovren - Moreno/new LB

    Lucas/New DM

    Henderson/Can - Coutinho

    Milner/Lallana - Benteke(New ST)/Sturridge - Firmino

    Extra Subs: Bodgan, Wisdom, Gomez, Llori, Teixeria, Markovic, Ibe, Origi, Ings


    Excited for the new season.

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  176. No matter what the author of that article thinks, lots of LFC supporters don't want Benteke to join LFC. Go to the official LFC website and see for yourselves. So if he is bought by LFC he better start scoring fast because there is already a large ground swell of negative opinions about him from the supporters. Remember Benteke went on strike at Genk to push through his move to Villa. He also slapped in a transfer request to leave Villa for Spurs not so long ago. Benteke would do the same to LFC if he was wanted by a club offering higher wages. It's a no for Benteke, Lacazette would be a much better choice.

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  177. Looks like Gary McAllister will be our first team coach.

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  178. Really? That cannot be something bad.

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  179. Sure it won't be.

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  180. Then you have to ask why BR did that. Was it deliberate or just a slack jaw. If it was the former it shows a lack of respect to the player trying to pressurise him during contract negotiations and if it was the latter it casts doubt on BR's sense judgement and his ability to manage.

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  181. Lacazette is available for 28m ?
    Benteke is 32.5m .

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  182. Seems as if we only have 3 options left for a striker .
    Beneteke , Lacazette or Javier Hernandez ?
    LFC should have bought Bacca !

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  183. And whyyyyyyys that Case?

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  184. LvG is going to buy Diafra Sakho from West Ham .

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  185. Not sure why LFC did not put up more of a fight for Bacca ?

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  186. Give us more on him ?

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  187. LvG is putting in a bid for West Ham striker Diafra Sakho ?

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  188. Wow, classy. Coming onto a Liverpool blog and badmouthing the club and it's fans.
    Wishing Villa all the best for the season, Micah and Scott are good pickups, always thought they were too good to be on the bench at Citeh, I think some serious game time will show how good (assuming Richards' injury problems sort themselves out). Hopefully you dont sell Delph to City, I rate the kid and would have been happy if we followed through with our interest, but he'll just be a Sinclair/Rodwell if he moves.
    Anyways, all the best for 15/16 and stop being a douche, it makes you look like a douche...

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  189. I would have been mildly pleased if we'd looked into signing Giovani Dos Santos. Had an awful time at Spurs, but he's come along so far in the past couple of seasons. Could play up front or wide in a 3.

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  190. They are getting few and far between , LFC should have rapted up Bacca long ago .

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  191. Just HOPE that BR does not do what he did last season and wait untill the last day and do a panic buy .

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  192. I don't really understand all the negativity. and comparisons to Carroll are pretty laughable.
    I'd be happy with him signing, its just the fee that irks me. £32 million is a lot of money.

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  193. Nah all the evidence is pointing towards us getting a deal done early. I mean we had most of ours done before the window started!

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  194. It's the price that is causes the comparison .

    Most would take him at20m .

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