In April, Sky Sports claimed that Liverpool submitted a 'formal offer' for Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen^, and new reports today suggest that Vermaelen is interested in a move to Anfield.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport:
* Vermaelen is be open to a move to West Ham, unless Liverpool or Inter Milan make an offer for him.
* Barca have put him up for sale, and will sell for €12m.
Vermaelen - described by Luis Enrique as a 'top-class' player - may be 'open to a move', but he is one of the most consistently injured players in Europe, so it'd be absolute madness for Liverpool to even consider a transfer.
Vermaelen's injury stats:
* 722 days missed through injury over the last five seasons (Averages close to 5 months out injured every season)
* 146 games missed since 2011/12 (For Arsenal and Barcelona).
* Barcelona: 64 games missed over the last two seasons.
* Averages 24 appearances per year over the last 5 seasons.
Given Liverpool's massive injury problems last season, and issues with persistently injured players (Agger, Sturridge, Sakho etc) it's negligence to contemplate signing Vermaelen, who is rarely fit enough to play consecutive games.
In my view, it's not even worth having Vermaelen as a stop-gap squad option. Instead of splurging €12m on a perpetual sicknote, the Reds are surely better off saving the money and promoting a young player from the Academy?
^ Reportedly on £52k-a-week
According to Spanish newspaper Sport:
* Vermaelen is be open to a move to West Ham, unless Liverpool or Inter Milan make an offer for him.
* Barca have put him up for sale, and will sell for €12m.
Vermaelen - described by Luis Enrique as a 'top-class' player - may be 'open to a move', but he is one of the most consistently injured players in Europe, so it'd be absolute madness for Liverpool to even consider a transfer.
Vermaelen's injury stats:
* 722 days missed through injury over the last five seasons (Averages close to 5 months out injured every season)
* 146 games missed since 2011/12 (For Arsenal and Barcelona).
* Barcelona: 64 games missed over the last two seasons.
* Averages 24 appearances per year over the last 5 seasons.
Given Liverpool's massive injury problems last season, and issues with persistently injured players (Agger, Sturridge, Sakho etc) it's negligence to contemplate signing Vermaelen, who is rarely fit enough to play consecutive games.
In my view, it's not even worth having Vermaelen as a stop-gap squad option. Instead of splurging €12m on a perpetual sicknote, the Reds are surely better off saving the money and promoting a young player from the Academy?
^ Reportedly on £52k-a-week
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