28 Sept 2012

LFC considering 'tempting' offer for coveted £10m Serie A star. Good idea?

With Jamie Carragher winding down, and Daniel Agger still prine to picking up injuries, Liverpool could be in the market for another central defender in January, and according to new reports in Italy, the Reds are tracking Udinese defender Mehdi Benatia, and are considering making a 'tempting' offer.

Liverpool manager tried to sign the no-nonsense defender during the summer transfer window, but a deal could not be concluded.

In March - when Kenny Dalglish was at the helm - Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo confirmed that Liverpool were interested. He told Radio KK:

"Arsenal and Liverpool have contacted me [about Benatia], but there is no mention of a transfer fee. At the end of the season we will see how it goes"

Chelsea and Manchester United are also reportedly interested in the £10m-rated defender, and with Nemanja Vidic injured again, And Rio Ferdinand getting older, Liverpool could face stiff competition for the Benatia's signature.

Central defence may not appear to be Liverpool's immediate priority, but it's arguably an area of the team that needs to be addressed:

* Agger continues to get injured.
* Carra is not the player he used to be.
* Martin Skrtel continues to make defensive mistakes.
* The defence in general is not as solid as it needs to be right now.
* Sebastian Coates is not the finished article.

Liverpool fans will get to see Benatia in action soon during the club's Europa League double-header with Udinese next month.



Jaimie Kanwar


9 comments:

  1. never seen the udinese player. im sure rodgers can find a hidden gem somewhere in europe or even south america for a cheaper price. 10 mil for one defender i think is too much especially when we got wilson, coates, and even sama who looked pretty good in pre-season play. I dont like when we buy youth players like wilson and ayala and hardly give them a run in the 1st team and then loan them out or sell them off. I do realize that some of our backs didnt fit the bill but rodgers should be giving the youngsters some games in proper cups. I liked sama in the back he looked like a tough kid kinda like wisdom, they remind me of micah richards, strong fast and athletic.

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  2. I am quite happy with Liverpool's defence and, now with emergence of Wisdom and from what little i have seen of Sama i don't think we need to sign anyone else. Coates has impressed me so far this season and i would prefer to see him play rather than bringing someone else from outside. Maybe left back is one position we need more cover but otherwise i am quite happy with our defense.
    Goalkeeping is another position where we seriously need to think about as Reina has been a real disappointment since last season and his poor form has continued even this season. We need better backup than Jones and Doni someone who can compete for that spot.

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  3. If we bought a central defender he would have to be a very special talent as we have loads of cover in that position. I am not only talking about Coates, Wilson (who doesn't seem to make it) and youngsters like Sama, but also Kelly and Wisdom, who were centre backs at youth and reserves level and are thought to be slightly out of position at right-back. Speaking of which, how about signing a left-back and a right-back? Enrique hasn't convinced anybody this year and Johnson has nor real competition and might get injured.

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  4. we have plenty of defencsive cover we need goalscorers 1st if fsg buy a defender before a striker in january then we mite as well throw the towel in

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  5. If we sign a central defender, the only player we should be looking at is Yaroslav Rakitskiy at Shaktar Donetsk

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  6. I thought Wisdom and Coates can be good backups. 10 mil pounds for a central defender is not a wise deal as we are lacking of money now. I'm very confident that these 2 youngsters are not very much worse than the player mentioned here. It's time we groom someone out of the reserve or youth team. Play these 2 youngsters more often in the league and at the end of next season, 2 good central defenders will surely be readily available to replace Carra or even Agger.

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  7. Strikers please......David Villa and Mario Gotze

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  8. "Liverpool Manager tried to sign him during the Summer transfer window" ?
    with what, ? oh forgot, the £4mill Fulham turned down.

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