28 Jul 2012

'It's a priority' - LFC offer €18m for exciting Argentina star. Replace Downing?

With the departures of both Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez over the last month, vacancies exist in Liverpool's squad for proven attacking midfielders, and with the new season less than a month away, time is running out to bring in the right players. Liverpool recently lost Gylfi Sigurdsson to Tottenham Hotspur, but according to renowned Portuguese newspaper Jornal Record, the club is set to make an offer for an even more exciting player.

I think most fans would agree that Liverpool's attacking options need bolstering, and today, the Record claims that the Reds have put in an €18m offer for Benfica attacking midfielder Nicolás Gaitán.

The Argentine international has been a long-term target for Manchester United, but interest seems to have cooled over the last couple of months, leaving the doorway open for approaches from other clubs.

As confirmed by Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira recently, Gaitan is definitely available this summer:

"The sale of players is the priority for Benfica but only if it is helping the club. Our aim is to break even and make around 50 million euros in the summer through sales"

Last month, Jose Iribarren - Gaitan's Agent - also suggested that the 24-year old could leave Portugal soon:

"If there is a transfer of Gaitan, you must address this subject to Luis Filipe Vieira. Any player would like to play for a a top European club. Gaitan's future will be decided in the near future"

Gaitan reportedly has a ridiculous €45m release clause (!), but with Benfica's well-publicised financial problems, and the President's wish to 'break even' this summer, the club could well be forced to sell the attacking midfielder for much less.

He's definitely not worth more than €20m right now IMO. In two years at Benfica, he's grabbed 13 goals and 25 assists in 92 games which equates to:

* One goal every 7 games
* One assist every 3.6 games

It's not a bad record, but it's certainly not prolific either. Having said that, Gaitan would (IMO) be a much better option than the likes of Stewart Downing and Milos Krasic. What do you think?



Jaimie Kanwar


49 comments:

  1. Hell of a lot better than Downing and would easily become the best winger at the club should they sign him.  That said, why not just promote Sterling and Suso?  If they're good enough then they are old enough, look at Fabregas and Michael Owen and the other young under 20's plying their trades around the world today. I feel we could save £18m if we just give the young ones a go.

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  2. Who gives a flying fcuk about YOUR opinion ya bellend

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  3. Sounds expensive, I think Liverpool would rather go for Ramirez.

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  4. Buying Downing for £20 million was the worst piece of business Kenny did.   If a player is playing for mid-table club till he turns 27 then definitely he is not worth 20 million. Any idiot can understand that. 

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  5. sign him and ramiez. left and righ winger superb combiantion. 

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  6. Definitely sign him up as he is the kinda player we have been dying for, I wud promote suso and sterling and give them a cameo apperiances till they settle in, as if we don't they will end up leaving like Tom Ince and toni Silva who where in my opinion as good as or not better on the ball than downing

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  7. riera was better than downing, shall i say babel as well?

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  8. Sign gaitan AND Ramirez. No brainer. These two or downing and cole?!!!!!

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  9. liverpool fc did not lose siggurdson to spurs he was never ours to lose the correct statement should have been hoffenheim lost him to spurs. As for this player yet another one who will never touch the "this is anfield" sign

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  10. can someone please tell me why people make such a big deal out of release clauses? they mean nothing other than a maximum that a club has to pay for them, not a minimum. i just dont get why reports say things like 'the £100 miilion release clause may prove a stumbling block' (ie. hulk, neymar, and other stupidly high release clauses). surely a player without a release clause is more difficult to sign if anything, because its completely up to the club how much they want for a player. maybe off topic but i get so annoyed by how often people say release clauses have any impact at all. anyway, i would love any of the foreign attacking players we have been liked with like gaitan, ramirez and mirallas. speaking of mirallas, thats a perfect case of a release clause only been in effect if its low and therefore helps the buying club. rant over

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  11. not gonna happen for 3 reason:

    1. we gonna play 4-3-3 hence no room for winger
    2. brendan's policy of signing only young recruit
    3. he 24-years too old and £18m too expensive

    of course dempsey recent link make no.2 policy void but if only the price is right

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  12. 433 uses two wingers each side of a striker. We have worrying lack of options in this area.

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  13. liverpool4life56512:19 am, July 29, 2012

    Yes get this guy he is brillant saw him last season... Downing isn't going either rodgers has said he has also said carroll isn't going. Get in this guy..ramirez.mirrales of a cost of gaiten-14-16 million ramirez-16 million mirrilas-6.8(buyout clause) line up-reina,johnson,skrtel,agger,erinque, midfield-gerrard,gaiten,lucas strikers-suarez,borini,ramirez...bench- jones,coates,downing,mirrales,henderson,stering...brillant YNWA!

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  14. O for God's sake wake up he isn't coming this summer (at least) and he certainly is not a wide player,he's a languid playmaker who's style is a questionable fit. How abou we find ourselves  right winger and no Michel Howard doesn't count! 

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  15. WTF? Ramirez isn't really a winger and is left footed. Do some research insteadof going on a name. And he isn't coming

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  16. But not an idiot like Dalglish,its gut wrenching to
    think of the players we could sign if BR was
    given the money that the `idiot` got.And you
    will still get the clowns who will chant his name
    whenever we lose.... 

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  17. If you have say Suarez, Borini, & Sturridge, why do you
    need wingers.

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  18. Mirreles will never come back to Liverpool,
    and i very much doubt BR would have him
    back a complete bottler.

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  19. NonEventHorizon4:46 am, July 29, 2012

    I think he means Kevin Mirrilas, not the Chelsea clown

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  20. Did you watch him the other day, he is lazy and defo not the kind of player we need, we need a left-back, a winger and no more, Sterling could be an option after his perfomance.  Gaitan has always been an option, but why did he not play Aquaman?  KD made a mistake but is not an 'IDIOT. that makes Castello not one of us, please learn to put through your thoughts without upsetting  other pple, we are LFC & we love the LFC way mate, grow up, should you not be watching baseball or american football? Do not offend us as I guess you are a gringo mate!

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  21. Ola gringo stop your disrespect, go watch americano football or baseball, you do not call King Kenny an idiot, which you are, please give us a break mate you only know about 'soccer' eeyy! We do not need the likes of ya mate! Give respect! you would get som'

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  22. He's good, but I hate it when these people think getting tripped over is a highlight, regardless of whether it shows skill on the attacking player's behalf or not.

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  23. Downing ain't going anywhere. All you haters will have to get used to that fact. Rodgers will get the best out of him.

    Rodgers has also spoken about Andy Carroll and said that the player is happy at Anfield and is not looking at forcing him out so it looks like Carroll ain't going anywhere either but stranger things have happened.

    Aquilani will defo be moved on. We just have to many central midfielders and with Aquilani being over 100k a week on wages and our pursuit to sign Joe Allen, Aquilani will be surplus to requirements. Rumour has it that Fiorentina have made a 7mil bid for him. Let's get rid of him and cash in straight away!!!

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  24. Gaitan would be brilliant for LFC if we can afford him

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  25. I think we would be better of trying to sign Nuri Sahin. Watch him. A Xabi alonso with more skill, pace and can put in a tackle in.

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  26. rodgers is hardly going to openly criticise hios own players,just because he has backed them doesn't mean he wouldn't sell.and since we are dealing in rumours-rumours are that we'd sell downing for ten mil.west ham,vilal and sunderland are all interested.

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  27. meant to be going to arsenal on loan,a very good player.

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  28. Any one at this point is better than the options we already have. This season will be a beginner season for Suso and Sterling off the bench, there time will come for a greater share of first team opportunities, but for this season we should go for this guy. 

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  29. He's would be the marquee signing. The boy has got skills and I would be a happy supporter if he signs for Liverpool. 

    Gaitan will be able to unlock most defences and would give the club that extra creativity along with Suarez.

    Shelvey looking good pre season along with Stirling.

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  30. speaking of upsetting ppl why do you try to make north america sound like an inferior place to be.Lets not forget where the bank is !!!

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  31. Ramirez will be on the move after the Olympics.

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  32. welcome to liverpool YNWA

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  33. 4-3-3 doesn't have to have wingers. Chelsea played 4-3-3 with Anelka - Drogba - Sturridge. Borini played on the right of the front 3 for Roma, and Suarez has played (most effectively many would argue) on the right of the front 3 for Uruguay. Some strikers like Bellamy and Suarez are very suited to it. 'Tiki Taka' emphasises keeping the ball on the ground, rather than wingers pinging in cross after cross.

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  34. A goal or assist every third game is a pretty decent return.
    Either way I don't think he can do worse than Downing. I would take him if he wasnt too expensive. around 12m sounds fair.

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  35. If Villa take Downing back who might we get in Part- exchange ??

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  36. Part - exchange? Just give him back for free (!)




    Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note

    -------- Original message --------
    Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: 'It's a priority' - LFC offer €23m for exciting Argentina star. Replace Downing? | Liverpool-Kop.com

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  37. Nice little banter Jamie u shud do it more

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  38. uh anyway Jamie-if we win Europa league wont we get more money than qual. for CL

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  39. Gaitan would be an incredible addition.

    I wouldn't worry about his stats, any games I have seen him play in he has been class. Pace, vision, can beat players. Exactly the type of player we've needed for years and exactly the type of player Man Utd have been snapping up for years.

    Original story talks in Euros when discussing his release clause, why does this article assume 18m is in sterling?

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  40. Watching UAE v GB here on recording, hope BR is watching, these UAE guys are class.

    Passing and movement is amazing. 34 minutes gone 1-0 to GB.

    2 centre mids are streets ahead of GB. CF is excellent

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  41. Defensively terrible though

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  42. Omar Abdulrahman. Wow, what a player! Up there with Ozil and Modric.

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  43. £14 million or €18 million is the price from source quoted by author.

    NOT £18 million

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  44. His stats aren't a true reflection. He's not an out and out winger but has been forced to play there, under Rodgers he'd have more freedom. I'd prefer Gaston though.

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  45. Really like this player but i'd sooner have Gaston Ramirez. Come on Mr Henry lets get the pair of them signed!

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  46. Dont be stupid - theres more talk of Ramirez than Nico. Languid playmaker bwahahaha

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  47. Because Aquilani is a lazy SOB who only came to Liverpool for a paycheck. Hes LFC most expensive flop ever 17M plus extras and 100K a week for what? Shut up with the why did Aqua not play. He is a liability.

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  48. Yes he will move but it won't be to us. He's overpriced and a huge gamble for the EPL given his languid style. A manc asked a great question Would the Liverpool fans demanding he come be so interested if his name was Gary Rodgers and he played for Norwich? I think not given the comments about him, he's a playmaker not a winger!

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