7 Aug 2012

Reds legend slams LFC's 'shocking lack of interest' in £5m striker. Fair?

In mid-July, Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov publicly expressed his frustration over his continued lack of first team action at Old Trafford, and reiterated once again that he wants to leave this summer. Berbatov also confirmed that he could be available for a knockdown price of 5m, and at such a low price, Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has admitted that he is 'shocked' that Liverpool haven't made an attempt to sign the Bulgarian.

Discussing Berbatov's transfer status on ESPN last night, Nicol admitted that he is 'really surprised that more clubs aren't in for him', adding:

"I can see Berbatov definitely starting for Liverpool, who are struggling up front. Why are they not even interested? The lack of interest to me is shocking. I know people say his style of play is languid, but coaches don't care about that; it's what you do on the field, and Berbatov scores goals, and makes chances for others. Why wouldn't you want him?"

I totally agree with Nicol here - with his superior technique and trickery, Berbatov would fit right into Brendan Rodgers style of football, and the thought of seeing him interchange with Suarez and Borini as part of a front three is very enticing.

Berbatov is growing more and more disillusioned at United, and he recently voiced his dissatisfaction by posting the following on his personal Facebook page:

"I want to play, I want to help, but for unknown reasons its not going to happen, or my chances will be limited, so it's better for everyone if we say goodbye.

"I am tired of speculation. I read the papers and I see they say 10 million pounds is my price. I go and talk with Sir Alex, and he says to me 5 million. Who is telling the truth"


So, Ferguson told Berbatov that he can leave for 5m? If that's the case, then Liverpool should surely get in there with an offer. Yes, it might be turned down but the club should still give it a shot.

Realistically, a potential deal seems doomed though considering Berbatov's desire to play in the Champions League, but to be honest, if he's not a first-team regular at Man United, how does he expect to walk into the first team of another top club?

A recent survey on this site showed that 60% of the 7000 fans who took part would like to see the the Bulgarian in a Liverpool shirt.

Jaimie Kanwar


43 comments:

  1. lazy overpaid too old manc scum.... would rather give chance to youth player

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  2. There is always a reason behind it. Berbatov must be asking for a 2 year contract worth £10-12 million in wages. On top of that £5 million for transfer. 
    Someone must be mad to spend that kind of money on 31 years old who has zero resale value.

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  3. Fergie would never allow it to happen, so its a non starter. I wouldn't want him either...he doesn't work for the team, and that would go against Rodgers philosophy. Too old, spits his dummy out often, lazy ... No thanks.

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  4. United don't sell to Liverpool - pointless discussion!

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  5. stupid Liverpools must sign players
    stop being linked with the player then other teams come and snatch the player right under liverpools noses

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  6. Nicol has definetly come out of his shell since Kenny left. He's slamin everything and everyone now that his good mate isn't there anymore. Thought it was hypocritical of him to have a dig at Rafa for buying an injured Aquilani but failed to mention his good mate bought an injured Carrol also.I think his exact words were who does that? Mmm .Anyway he should know more than most Liverpool and United don't do buisness .

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  7. Reminder: all posts containing personal insults/derogatory comments about rival players/managers/rival fans/other posters will be deleted.

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  8. 4200 FANS said they like to see him at LFC ??? must be man u fans .

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  9. 5m for a proven FWD is consider really CHEAP!

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  10. why would we go fo him?even for a 1m Fergie wouldn't let him come to Liverpool....in fact if Pool shows interest then he might be priced at much more than that, maybe even 20m... 

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  11. rather than trying out all the 'potential' players - why not give this man a chance. Do not forget that - in past seasons -  he was among strikers who hit form that consequently brought the title back to Old Trafford. Between Hendo and Berbatov - I will surely pick Berbatov. 

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  12. Another pointless polemic!

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  13. Jamie, didn't you say months ago that Liverpool could sign Berbatov for free? In fact on this very site you refused to listen when a number of people, myself included, told you United had extended his contract by a season by right. You claimed that because it hadn't been announced on the United website there was no contract. Can you now admit you didn't know what you were talking about?

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  14. Agreed Man Utd probably won't do business with us, and his wages are likely to be hefty. However he has said he is prepared to reduce his wages for first team football, he is a proven premier league scorer, had United used him more last season they would have won the league. He is also a complete bully he murders lessor sides, the Wigan's of the league etc. and that is where we came undone not just last season but for the last couple of years. It would get my vote if possible!

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  15. this idea of everybody yearning for their favourite players to join liverpool is really calamitous...liverpool cannot buy every player who is available in the market let alone for free....there are kind of players we need in order to get back on track,this why have never been happy with rumours linking us with some overrated players with very little experience in major competitions  

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  16. You have just said the exact sentence ! How on earth Nicol got it in his head that we are going to do busness with you!
    His head needs an adjustment I say.

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  17. At least you admit that there will have to be a fee and that SAF has a say in the transfer. Will never happen.

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  18. Apparently with only one player coming in and about four leaving Liverpool so far it is more accurate to state that Liverpool cannot buy any player . From what we see it has been hard to make any signings at all for BR. I would be happy with Berbatov because he is a technical player a big man who possesses a delicate touch on the ball.

    The down side is that Sir Alex would never sell to Liverpool because of the intense rivalry. Berbatov would combine well with Borini and Suarez. The Bulgarian scored a hat-trick in a game against Liverpool a couple seasons back.  I think he would be a good sound investment that can help spring us back to competitiveness once again. Just like Nichols I don't know why Rodgers has overlooked him.

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  19. too old once was good but spend 5 mil elsewhere

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  20. So it's Liverpools fault that the press link so many players to Liverpool? The truth will be that Liverpool have genuine interest in only a fraction of the players they are linked to - the rest are linked by agents trying to increase the profile of their player and newspapers trying to sell papers / get web hits.

    And even where Liverpool have a genuine interest it is right that they work to a budget. If another club values a player above what Liverpool do, they may well get them.

    Liverpool are often criticised for over paying (sometimes it appears quite rightly - with hindsight!). It appears that taking a more cautious approach also leads to criticism. They can't win can they?!?

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  21. United fans say he is lazy and over-payed, not exactly an insult for the guy who said it's not his job to run, others should do it for him as he is CF .   

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  22. steve nicol loves the sound of his own voice, what a stupid comment for obvious reasons. hes in a mickey mouse league for a reason,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hes becoming rather clueless

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  23. The lack of interest is simple really as united would not even entertain selling to us. Remember the Gabriel Heinze saga, Berbatov is contracted to man u for another year so any interest we may or may not have had in him is irrelevant as Taggart would reject our offers out of hand. Steve Nicol should perhaps engage brain before wagging his tongue.

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  24. remember heinze benitez actually triggered the release clause and sir alex got some court to over rule it

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  25. Joint top scorer in the premier league the season before last.

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  26. I dont think he would be the worst buy we could make this season and he does no where the net is. As for saf not allowing it the worse he can do is say no and how much worse off would we be. And according to saf we are no longer one of there main rivals so he might let us have him.

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  27. I truly rate Berbatov as I think he has that Inzhagi-like killer instinct/

    BUT - to say he fits BR's philosphy is simply not true.
    Rodgers's philosophy includes the "resting on the ball", meaning - working hard to get it.

    This includes a massive need for pressure from the forwards, and Berbatov tend to work hard only when his team is in possesion. 

    I wouldn't say that's neccesarily a bad thing, but it does not fit with BR's plans.

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  28. I've just done my own little poll, and 100% of Liverpool supporters said they wouldn't touch him. Strange that.

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  29. Too many reasons why not and Nicol seems to be playing the fool or devil's advocate. United wouldn't want to sell to us, wages would be high, he'd want CL football, his work ethic may not fit the system, he needs to want to come here ... it's a long list of counter-points that Nicol seems willfully ignorant of. You need far more than talent and trickery to be useful to Rodgers and I think JK and Nicol together seem to miss this idea completely. Rodgers demands hard work from his players, absolute 100% commitment for every second they are on the pitch. Even putting all this aside and perhaps we establish that Rodgers is interested, who is to say we haven't already made an inquiry? Just because it's not in the papers doesn't mean it's not possible. 

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  30. As good as he is technically, and I'm a big fan of him personally (I'm often a defender of players who get labelled 'lazy') he would not fit Rodgers' system. He lacks mobility (nevermind work rate) which is just as important to play in a Brendan Rodgers team.

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  31. Nicol might as well have said sign Messi, same chance of him coming to LFC, as Berbs. We have a manager, Nicol should button it.

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  32. United wont sell to Liverpool so that is basically the end of the discussion.

    Also Brenden Rogers wants players who will chase and close down if the ball is lost, he wants to win the ball back within 7 seconds. Can you really see Berbatov playing in a pressing team? 

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  33. No, they can't win. And with the players they've got that simple fact will be all too apparent this coming season. What a tragedy that the only time they had money to spend it was wasted in such a shameful manner. Now they've got nothing to look forward to except another thoroughly rotten season. Still, the Olympics has been great.

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  34. so he's for sale for £5 million now and not a free agent like you suggested earlier in the summer. Not quite the know it all you like to think you are jamie.

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  35. So it's ok for the author to personally insult our own players, but we are not allowed to on this site? Interesting

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  36. Between Hendo and Berbatov? What does this have to do with anything? They are completely different players, one is a midfielder, the other is a striker, why are you comparing them?

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  37. I can't remember the last time we "consistently" dominated the so called lesser sides. There was a period under Rafa where we were racking up points for fun but we normally upped our game against the better teams only to throw points away to the likes of West Brom and Wigan.

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  38. When we were going for Heinze Liverpool were in the top 4 and posed a threat. Now we have descended to new lows with a 30+ point gap with the top 2 teams Ferguson may even throw us a bone out of pity.  

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  39. In terms of retaining possession, Berbatov has the touch to be able to do so and cope with the tiki taka.

    Our problems last season in particular were having work horse fwds like Kuyt and Suarez but no killer instinct when it mattered.

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  40. Yes as long as its the MF doing the pressing and Berbatov doing the scoring.

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  41. This is absolute non story he is lazy and over rated also United would not sell to Liverpool does nobody remember the Heinz saga

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  42. A united flop , you can keep the reject 

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