Over the years, Liverpool have wasted ridiculous amounts of money on the wrong players, and this continual dereliction of duty has (arguably) contributed to the club's failure to consistently qualify for the Champions League. Between them, Benitez, Dalglish, and Rodgers have wasted an incredible amount of money on dross, and many fans (myself included) are still unable to comprehend the thought process behind the decision to splurge £35m on Andy Carroll. I never thought the tomfoolery of the Carroll deal could be topped, but I'm pleased to report that Manchester United have now superseded Liverpool as the the transfer market's biggest buffoons.
At 6pm this evening (GMT), French newpaper L'Equipe claimed:
"Monaco have accepted a Manchester United bid of €80m [£58m] for the transfer of striker Anthony Martial. Monaco refused offers of €50m and €70 m before accepting the incredible [€80m] offer".
Le Parisien further claims that Martial is already in the UK, and has agreed personal terms with United.
€80m? Martial is 19 years old, with less than 50 senior games to his name. To put the transfer into perspective, consider the following:
* Martial will cost more than a whole host of proven top-class performers, including Zidane, Ibrahimovic, Sanchez, Higuain, Ozil, Aguero, Rodriguez, and Cavani.
* He'll cost only €8m less than Luis Suarez, who is has proven himself to be one of the world's top strikers.
Liverpool have wasted money on young players in the past (£20m on 20-year old Lazar Markovic, for example), but nothing in this universe of abject stupidity.
After splurging £60m on Angel Di Maria, and £13.7m in one year on Radamel Falcao's £265k-a-week wages (not to mention spending £30m on another teenager in Luke Shaw), you'd think that financial prudence may he on high on the Glazer's agenda, but clearly, that's not the case.
According to France U21 boss Pierre Mankowski, Martial is 'unstoppable', but spending €80m on potential is a gargantuan risk, and unless the youngster turns out to be Messi mk2, there's no way he's every going to live up to that price tag. It's a ridiculous, and irresponsible transfer fee, but it could turn out to be good news or Liverpool.
* Man United will almost certainly be Liverpool's main challengers for a place in the top four.
* Both teams are struggling for goals right now, and when it comes to the crunch, goal will be a deciding factor in the fight for a Champions League place.
* Liverpool have Benteke (proven in the Prem), and if Daniel Sturridge manages to stay fit, that's two excellent, experienced strikers capable of weighing-in with a shedload of goals.
* If Man United complete this signing, that'll give the club Rooney and Martial, and unless the youngster hits the ground running and scores 20+ goals in a new league (unlikely), United will continue to struggle up-front this season.
* In short: in the battle of the strikers, Liverpool should come out on top, which means the Reds have a superior chance of beating United into the top four.
As such, I really hope there's no last minute hitch to this deal. It's gloriously satisfying to see United getting it so wrong in the transfer market, and wasting so much money along the way.
If United were spending €80m on Cavani, Higuain, Benzema (or another striker of that quality), I'd be worried (just as I was when Ferguson signed Van Persie), but €80m on a unknown? Bring it on!
With any luck, Martial will crash and burn in the Prem, which will then contribute to Van Gaal's team dropping out of the top four, with Liverpool (hopefully) capitalising.
Of course, there's always the possibility that Martial will turn out to be the signing of the season, but the chance of that happening is negligible...
Right?
Author: Jaimie K
At 6pm this evening (GMT), French newpaper L'Equipe claimed:
"Monaco have accepted a Manchester United bid of €80m [£58m] for the transfer of striker Anthony Martial. Monaco refused offers of €50m and €70 m before accepting the incredible [€80m] offer".
Le Parisien further claims that Martial is already in the UK, and has agreed personal terms with United.
€80m? Martial is 19 years old, with less than 50 senior games to his name. To put the transfer into perspective, consider the following:
* Martial will cost more than a whole host of proven top-class performers, including Zidane, Ibrahimovic, Sanchez, Higuain, Ozil, Aguero, Rodriguez, and Cavani.
* He'll cost only €8m less than Luis Suarez, who is has proven himself to be one of the world's top strikers.
Liverpool have wasted money on young players in the past (£20m on 20-year old Lazar Markovic, for example), but nothing in this universe of abject stupidity.
After splurging £60m on Angel Di Maria, and £13.7m in one year on Radamel Falcao's £265k-a-week wages (not to mention spending £30m on another teenager in Luke Shaw), you'd think that financial prudence may he on high on the Glazer's agenda, but clearly, that's not the case.
According to France U21 boss Pierre Mankowski, Martial is 'unstoppable', but spending €80m on potential is a gargantuan risk, and unless the youngster turns out to be Messi mk2, there's no way he's every going to live up to that price tag. It's a ridiculous, and irresponsible transfer fee, but it could turn out to be good news or Liverpool.
* Man United will almost certainly be Liverpool's main challengers for a place in the top four.
* Both teams are struggling for goals right now, and when it comes to the crunch, goal will be a deciding factor in the fight for a Champions League place.
* Liverpool have Benteke (proven in the Prem), and if Daniel Sturridge manages to stay fit, that's two excellent, experienced strikers capable of weighing-in with a shedload of goals.
* If Man United complete this signing, that'll give the club Rooney and Martial, and unless the youngster hits the ground running and scores 20+ goals in a new league (unlikely), United will continue to struggle up-front this season.
* In short: in the battle of the strikers, Liverpool should come out on top, which means the Reds have a superior chance of beating United into the top four.
As such, I really hope there's no last minute hitch to this deal. It's gloriously satisfying to see United getting it so wrong in the transfer market, and wasting so much money along the way.
If United were spending €80m on Cavani, Higuain, Benzema (or another striker of that quality), I'd be worried (just as I was when Ferguson signed Van Persie), but €80m on a unknown? Bring it on!
With any luck, Martial will crash and burn in the Prem, which will then contribute to Van Gaal's team dropping out of the top four, with Liverpool (hopefully) capitalising.
Of course, there's always the possibility that Martial will turn out to be the signing of the season, but the chance of that happening is negligible...
Right?
Author: Jaimie K
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