15 Jun 2012

Sign him! Heldt confirms 48-goal striker can leave for £16m. Replace Carroll...?

It's almost a cliche to say it now, but Liverpool desperately need to sign a prolific striker this summer, and solving that problem will hopefully be the club's top transfer priority over the next two months. With that in mind, Schalke general manager Horst Heldt revealed yesterday that Dutch goal machine Klass-Jan Huntelaar has a relatively affordable release clause in his contract. Should the Reds pursue him?

Liverpool were strongly linked with a loan move for Huntelaar during the short-lived reign of Roy Hodgson, but a deal could not be agreed at the time.

In an interview with Bild yesterday, Heldt was asked about Huntelaar's availability, and he seemed to suggest that the striker may be available for the right price:

"Huntelaar has a €20m [£16m] buyout clause in his contract, and rich clubs can afford it"

£16m for a player who grabbed 44 goals and 10 assists last season, and has a history of scoring goals wherever he goes? Surely this is a no-brainer?!

For that price (which is less than half what the club wasted on Andy Carroll), Huntelaar - who is still only 28 - would be a massive bargain, and Liverpool would be mad not to activate the buyout clause and bring him to Anfield. Some stats:

* 48 goals and 10 assists last season
* 194 goals over the last 7 season
* Averages 28 goals a season
* Last season: Goal every 96 mins (league)
* Last season: Goal or assist every 76 minutes (league)
* 58% conversion rate

Whether Huntelaar would want to make the move is another story, but it's got to be worth a try, surely?



Jaimie Kanwar


54 comments:

  1. Without Champions League football it'll be difficult to attract players of his calibre.

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  2. Agreed, but LFC attracted Luis Suarez without CL football so anything is possible.

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  3. Been following his career since his move to Ajax, always wanted Liverpool to sign him. But there's a pattern here. Van the Vaart, Sneijder and Huntlaar were players that we could have gotten while they were at Ajax but we didn't even bid for them I think.

    Would be a nice addition to the team.

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  4. Saying that, the only time he has played in one of the big leagues for one of the big teams, namely Serie A for AC Milan, he couldn't cope. He seems to like the tag of big fish, but when the pond grows, he seems to drown

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  5. PLEASE GO AWAY KANWAR, YOU COMPULSIVE BORE 

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  6. at least he is a good penalty taker. That would certainly be an improvement of what we had last season.

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  7. Pedram Entezari Maleki2:28 pm, June 15, 2012

    Proven striker. Wanna see him playing in our new red shirt.

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  8. Lots of top strikers have underperformed in Italy; it's not really an indication of quality IMO.

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  9. But the schalke boss also said Klass Jan would only leave for a top club which means champions league football, something liverpool cant offer this season.

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  10. Always nice to have a player or his undoubted quality, but...

    Doesn't always translate, the scoring in the Dutch league to over here, but I think he'd do pretty well either way

    Don't think 35 mil is wasted on Carroll quite yet. If we keep him a few years and he comes good, then it's good to have him. It took Lucas one or two to find his feet, and Carroll may be coming good now (showed good signs at the end of last year). Plus we'd take a massive hit if we did get rid now. And he adds a different dimension to whatever we're gonna get anyway.

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  11. To be fair the Bundesliga is of a higher standard than Serie A anyway. We should move heavan and earth to sign the boy!

    Carrol out, Huntelaar and Rhodes in!!

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  12. Am I the only one who thinks Rossi and Nilmar cud be the bargain liverpool needs. I heard Villareal got relegated. Surely they will sell the two for a joint 20 million pounds

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  13. Pie in the Sky. You are not going to get rid of Carroll - he is here to stay.

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  14. Huntelaar and Rhodes - that would be the stuff dreams are made of :-)

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  15. Iheard PSG are lling to buy himfor 12 million pounds

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  16. Rossi is about to retire and Nilmar is overrated

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  17. he is good and a reliable striker. we wud love to see him the reds shirt

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  18. Shame about Rossi aint it was such a great player

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  19. According to news, Liverpool have recruited Ex-Man city scouting duo. Don't know if it is good news or bad for Liverpool.
    Especially after experience of  spurs waste - Comolli.

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  20. Sorry have to agree with Gaz....Huntelaar has failed at all major clubs he has signed for....Real Madrid and AC for starters....!!! It's no surprise he ended up somewhere like Schalke with no other major interest in him at that time....One good season for them means feck all....As proven with the Dutchies at the Euros...when he has been needed he has bottled it big time...!!! Thanks but No Thanks....!!!

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  21. Most of the highest rated young players from the Dutch league have gone on to be highly successful internationally, especially in the last decade.  RvP, Robben, Kuyt, Huntelaar, Suarez, VdV come to mind.  The only dud I recall was Alfonso Alves (for whom Middlesbrough paid like 10M). 

    Instead of Huntelaar (who would be a great addition), it might be a lot smarter to bring in Luuk de Jong.  He is only 21, has had terrific productivity numbers for 2 years in Holland, and is cheaper than Huntelaar.

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  22. "Every player wants to play for Liverpool. The magnitude, the size and the history of the club, and the quality of the people here in the city, means people will want to come and play here."
    No, not me, but Brendan Rodgers said it. Not exactly a Shanks quote, but pretty darn good.

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  23. Gawd i am having multiple orgasms at the thought of someone as prolific as Huntaleer playing for Livepool. Haven't been this excited about a prolific goal scorer since Benitez brought Torres to Liverpool. I think that I would be really happy with a striker with qualities of  Huntaleer or even Dempsey at our club . For these guys scoring goals comes as easy to them as breathing pure oxygen comes to most of us.

     KJH has been getting it done in more ways than one for both club and country. He has led the line for the Orange for some time now and has played for the biggest club teams. He had brief stints at both Real Madrid and AC Milan. The reason he did not make it at those clubs contrary to annoying comments made above by Gaz  the reality is simply that these two giant clubs suffered from an embarrassment of riches in the striker department. Klaas Jan really was really not needed and couldn't really get too many starts so he did the only logical thing and forced a move. Shalke was turned out to be perfect for Huntelaar and his true colors came shining through. 

    I don't know what Brendon Rodgers is thinking or who all his targets are but he will be a fool to pass up on a target like Huntelaar. He brings experience at the highest level . Here is a list of positives and negatives for getting Hunterlaar:

                         Pros
     
    (1) comes with a lot of experience from playing at big clubs and is a          fixture on Dutch national team.
     
     (2)Posses a high foot-balling IQ. Great understanding of the game. Performed well playing with Raul should do well with Suarez. 

      (3) Not shy in front of goal. Is a natural finisher. Great positioning off the ball in the box to enable himself to find goal scoring opportunities.

     (4) strong hold up play,  ability to keep possession till help arrives. Plays a lone striker very well when needed. Has done that for Holland.

     (5) Posses a great shot and can hit them sometimes from 30 yards. Always nice attribute for a striker. Also posses a nice delicate touch.

     (6) Good header of the ball , good target man in the box

     ( 7) I believe he is a product of the Ajax youth system so you know he has had a great education

           
                        Cons 

    (1) Could want Champions League foot-ball and Liverpool would not fit his needs.

    (2) at 28 he would have not have the pace he used to have ( I don't think that should matter if he knows where the back of the net is)

    The Pros out weigh the cons so he is a good bet in my book.

    We have been linked with so many strikers this window. It is hard to know what to believe. If Liverpool can make this move happen or even that of Dempsey it would be a great statement of intent. 16million is a good price for a top quality striker. 

    People like Carlos above wants us to wait for Carroll to come good while the other clubs continue to strengthen and pass us by. We should no longer be held hostage by the likes of Andy Carroll. If we have the opportunity to get a quality striker at half the price of Carroll by all means lets go for it.

    I will get on my knees tonight and say a powerful prayer to the powerful "god of all foot-ball " where ever he might reside to give us the wisdom to make the right choice and turn our club around.

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  24. Rated young players??? Alfonso Alves was 28 at Middlesbrough

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  25. The facts speak for themselves

    248 goals in 377 games in club football and 31 goals in 55 internationals

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  26. I just don't like Huntelaar, no way I would ever replace Carroll with him and 16 mil. is no bargain. 

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  27. "Torres out, Carroll in? Yes please! Make it happen!"

    The above quote was brought to us by Jaimie Kanwar via Twitter on 31 January 2011.

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  28. great! now we can scout players in the 25- 50m pound bracket. very important!

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  29. we dont need him,Carroll will be better next season because BR will set up tactic for him,to attack space and not to fight with defenders what he did last season when we had not game plan,just played wild footy. Barneta can come for free,Kalou also. Sell Adam,Cole,Maxi. maybe one star would be good to come,like Robben. Krasic is very good anyway.

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  30. no guarantee that carroll will be better next season.i'd like to hope he will be but that shouldn't stop us strengthening our forward line.

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  31. Seriously? Was it followed by an "Oops"?

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  32. Huntelaar is class, no doubt about that, where as Carroll has a lot to prove BUT i still think we should keep him (good goal tonight...), looking forward to the summer transfers tbh, i think we will definitely be a stronger outfit next season, i agree that our forward line could do with some strengthening though, for sure.

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  33. Didn't know Huntelaar did that well. Wow!

    Don't think we will do it, but snap him up!!!!

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  34. Because of dispute between rival tv companies,there is no coverage
    of Euro 2012 here in soccer mad Thailand, but have just seen big Andys
    headed goal from Stevies terrific cross, but what an header,as good as it gets.Never mind Huntelaar, BR has got to give Andy a chance.The days
    when we go out & pay millions for a player are overThats not the way
    BR works.Our no1 priority is to get the midfield right,if we do that
    success will soon return to Anfield.

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  35. Jaimie always get the stats wrong as like what he did with Joe Cole's assessment in the previous post. So I wont be surprised if this stats is over exaggerated. Come on, Jaimie. Do your homework abit.

    As for Hunterlaar, no major clubs coming in for him, even Real Madrid quickly dumped him, says a lot for me. He's not a hidden jewel.

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  36. Christ, surely dreams are made of Messi and RVP. I mean we might as well dream big!

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  37. Totally agree. Stick with Carroll he is better younger and will come goood if people like JK stop knocking him. Last night proved with the right service he will score goals. The only thing I do agree with JK (never thought I'd say that) is we do need another striker but not at the expense of AC

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  38. Wake up and stop dreaming. Rodgers was only making the 'right noises' when joining the club. There's only two ways Huntelaar would play for Liverpool - if LFC get into the Champions League or if he gets his wages trebled. Do we really want another overpaid ARROGANT (and believe me, he's got an ego) player in the team, who doesn't really want to be there?

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  39. No_rule_no_fear9:48 am, June 18, 2012

    There is no doubt about the quality of huntelaar bt he is 30 now and dat does not fit into FSG's plan of buying young players and spclly given the price tag....however i dont mind who liverpool sign and wats d age of d player as long as dey come in and improve d team...

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  40. Deleting statements of fact now!
    Did or did you not respond to the imminent arrival of Andy Carroll with a tweet that said: "Yes please! Make it happen."

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  41. why replace carroll????

    u are always replacing people........fkn support them will ye for once ;-)

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  42. Carroll is not a Liverpool-type player. If we want a team that's set-up to hoof it long to a target man then that's great, but is that what fans want? I doubt it.

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  43. true Niall but remember money speaks louder than cups nowadays. no harm in going for a bid...if he is interested he will...at least we tried...

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  44. I don't particularly want Huntelaar, I was just trying to illustrate that Liverpool is still a top club to play for. 

    So. Kenny was a 'dinosaur' for having no media savvy. But our new manager says positive stuff that the media will lap up and it's just 'making the right noises'?

    Ho hum. Time for bed.

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  45. what the f**ck is a liverpool type player? can you remember Tony Hateley or John Toshack. Get out of the past and move with the times.

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  46. Carrol has underperformed in the prem this last season, it's also not really an indication of quality,,, touche

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  47. Falcao isnt going to play Champions League football next season, but has still committed his intent to help progress his clubs position!

    Players will commit to clubs where there are strong ties and a history of success; Money is not a bad motivator either...

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  48. Huntelaar strength is having balls played into the middle. His movement is almost non existent. So if Carroll is not a Liverpool type player as you say what sign a similar one. Illogical! Listen to people who play the game and are involved on a day to day basis JK. They all rate Carroll. Are they all wrong and you right?

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  49. carroll will be better next season, lets just hope the support and attacking play is better for him. our midfield and lack of tactics were just shocking putting it polite.

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  50. He might sign if we offered him massive wages and no one in the CL wants him. Everyone says that top players only want CL but, they cant all play in the CL.

    Last year we tried to get Altintop on a free but he wanted to "play in the Champions League"!! so he went to Real Madrid. Last season he played 5 matches in all competitions and in 3 of them he came on as a sub in the last 10 mins. He did play the whole 90 mins against APOEL in the CL though so he got his wish I guess.

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  51. they where in the europa league at the time and ajax wen out of the cl in the group stage

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  52. ok suddenly ,without champions league football,LFC are not a big club,who are you trying to kid?

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  53. got that right .Italian football has gone downhill over the last 10 years and couple that with all the match fixing allegations it's no yardstick at all.

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  54. Well how come Rooney is considered "world class".

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