1 Jan 2013

'He's the best' - Dzeko hails 'fantastic' £10m star who was 'flattered' by LFC interest. Bid?

With Pepe Reina seemingly on the way out of Anfield, Liverpool are in the market for a new goalkeeper, and along with Jack Butland and Michel Vorm, Stoke City stopper Asmir Begovic is one of the leading contenders to replace the Spaniard. The Reds have been linked with the Bosnian international several times over the last few months, and Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko believes Begovic is destined for great things.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Dzeko - who has nine goals and three assists for Man City so far this season - enthused:

"He [Begovic] is in fantastic form. Stoke have the best keeper in the league.

"I know him better than most people because I have trained with him [for the national team] and [he] is a great keeper who will go on and play for a bigger team."


I wonder what Joe Hart thinks about Dzeko's comments! Begovic is in brilliant form this season, and he's one of the main reasons Stoke currently have the best defensive record in the Premier League. In mid-December, the 25-year old keeper revealed his happiness at being linked with a move to Liverpool. He told Reporters:

"It is very flattering. It's positive feedback from other teams that people are looking at you and mentioning you with those teams. It's no secret that everyone has their own ambitions and they want to be playing at the highest level possible"

Begovic cost stoke £3.5m in 2010, and he's now rated in the £10 bracket, which is arguably good value for money.

I would rather Liverpool bought Begovic than Butland, that's for sure. The Bosnian is experience in the Premier League, and would be ready to go straight into the first team, unlike 19-year old Butland, who would probably not be ready to be Liverpool's number one for a few years at least.

On the subject of Dzeko - During a recent discussion on LFC TV on Sunday, the subject of new strikers came up, and Dzeko was one of the names mentioned as a possible striker signing in January. Liverpool legend David Fairclough approved of the idea, and was full of praise for the Bosnian International. He said:

"He [Dzeko] is hugely influential, isn't he. All respect to him – he’s scored 7 goals in 8 games, which is fantastic, and he wants to play regularly. Could we afford his wages though?"

The reality is that - as Fairclough suggests - Liverpool probably couldn't afford Dzeko's wages, and considering the fact he is the Premier League's 6th most expensive player (£27m), his transfer fee would probably be prohibitive.

There's always the option of a 6 month loan, and that could be possibility, and it would probably be a more attractive option to the player himself than an outright sale. Would City allow a player of Dzeko's calibre to leave on loan though? I doubt it.

Yes, Dzeko is a big, tall striker like Andy Carroll, but that is where the similarities end. The Bosnian has great technique, balance and composure, all attributes Carroll lacks, and, most importantly, he actually scores goals (!)

Jaimie Kanwar


49 comments:

  1. liverpool4life5657:37 pm, January 01, 2013

    Both very good players.... Would love them both at Liverpool but highly unlikely dzeko would leave city for us :)

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  2. He scores many many goals without any doubt, but why would mancity offer a league-rival their backup stiker? this would never happen imo.
    As likely as LFC signing Cavani ;)

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  3. Same with Begovic, why should he join us? hes playing in a team where he doesnt get many goals, he fits in wonderful and the team is in a better league position than us..

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  4. I just want reina out now and dont want it to drag on....the stoke goalie looks good ..but we may pick up butland cheap.......as for dzecko hes way out of our league in fee ans wages...if we can buy begovic for what we sell reina it will be a good deal as hes 5 years younger and can actually make a save at the near post

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  5. you have lost me begovic is a goalie thats why he doesnt get many goals.....please dont try and compare stoke with liverpool  its like comparing valencia to barcelona.....trust me if begovic gets a chance to come to merseyside he will

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  6. Lol the sooner United stop winning things year after year the better, only then do fans open their eyes and realise history means naf all and gets you sweet fa.

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  7. Why would Arsenal sell their top scorer to Man U? Money. If we could sign Dzeko, maybe even throw Carrol into the mix, we should definitely go for it. He would sign because we could pay his wages and he would play more for us.

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  8. Dzeko would be a dream signing, really can`t see it happening though. In regards to the keeper, as bad as it sounds I haven`t seen enough of him to say.

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  9. i know but stoke are a team that defend and get the fewest goals... Thats not only because of the goalkeeper, its because of the team that is playing on the pitch, they are playing very very defensive, and thats the greatest thing for a GK, getting as few as possible goals.. Thats what happening to Begovic right now, so i dont think he would come to us.

    Im not even pesimistic its just my personal opinion.

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  10. 100% spot on. money talks. CL, don`t matter if you have enough money to offer in wages, however I don`t think we would do that, it would make a mess of trying to get the wages down, and unsettle the team, but in principle I agree with your point that money makes players sign

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  11. Cavani, and Suarez, now that would be mint!

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  12. they sold him because his contact was about to expire

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  13. Most of what I've seen of Dzeko was in Germany. He's scored shed-loads of goals, but it was his strike partner Grafite who did all the work. Always thought that Dzeko is a very lazy player. Don't really like him and don't rate him that highly. David N'Gog could score 7 goals in 8 games for Man City as there are many great players around him who provide him the required ammunition.

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  14. Agree with most of what you say, but find the bit containing Valencia quite unfitting.

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  15. I do not think it is so much the Dzeko's transfer fee that will bother FSG. They showed in the winter and summer of 2011 that they will produce the cash to buy players but Comolli burnt their fingers with his negotiating skills.

    It is what the player will cost the club on top of the transfer fee that lingers in their minds. When FSG bought the club they couldn't understand why LFC had a astronomical wage bill with very little return in success over the years i.e. Trophies. What the squad was worth compared to the outlay of wages was what made them have sleepless nights. That is why they were so adamant to reduce the wage bill and is also one of the reasons why LFC was in the hole financially before FSG bought the club. 

    There is no way we will even think of signing a player like Dzeko and not because of his transfer fee but because of what he will cost the club after paying the transfer fee and what he is earning at City will make many clubs run for the hills.

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  16. would like both and as for the wage issue what clubs can afford to pay them,only a select few and most of them do not have the prestiege of lfc

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  17. If we could get Begovic we should not waste a minute - even if we take a loss on selling Reina. The way he dominated his area against us was like Schmeichel at his best; every ball into the box, he claimed with authority and knocked over any opponent in sight. I first saw him play for Pompey against us at Fratton Park when (I think) we lost 2-0 to a couple of Frederic Piquionne goals. Despite only playing because Shaka Hislop was injured or suspended, he made this one incredible reflex save in which the ball was deflected at the last minute, clawing the ball away to prevent a certain goal. It was better than the save he made against Sigurdsson the other day. To be that big, a great shot-stopper and excellent on crosses all at the relatively youthful age of 25 is one thing - but to possess reflexes like that makes him the bargain of the century. We should run not walk to Stoke's bean counters.

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  18. yanks to tight to buy a top draw keeper, especially as they will poss be spending else where.
    but we all been there before on these transfer windows and nothing might happen as most jans

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  19. CL winners then ;)

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  20. Begovic is a really talented keeper, who would not want to leave Stoke for Liverpool? Our position is temporary, our class and prestige is permanent!!

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  21. Liverpol are on their way up, albeit finally!! Stoke may get relegated next season! Harsh reality! Begovic is rightly flattered to be linked with Liverpool and would be a very able replacement for Reina!

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  22. Well spotted!

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  23. Id like to have him, without any doubt :) but im just not so sure this would happen, but if it does, it would defineately help to ged rid of our defensive errors.

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  24. Would be a good move if Begovic comes over, but can he tiki taka and be mobile? Similarly for Dzeko - regardless of whether we can afford his wages or not, even if he can score goals, he still has to tiki taka and be very mobile...

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  25. Cool bro, get some sleep, lol! Good night.

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  26. Eden Dzeko is the epitome of how a big man should play. At 6ft 4in he posses a lot of agility for someone his size. Good in the air and comfortable playing with his back to goal. He is infact the complete opposite of Carroll. Dzeko scores big goals in big games can't say enough about the Serbian. He would be a positive addition to Liverpool or any team. He has been prolific in front of goal even from his days at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. Can't see this one happening though.

    Asmir Begovic is a great keeper. I think that Stoke will not be parting with him anytime soon. He is in fine form and Liverpool would have to really pay up to get him. It is clear that we need young blood in our keeper pool. I love Jones and Reina but I think that they are have past their prime. I think that we can let Reina go and keep Jones as we bring in a younger keeper, either Butland or Begovic.

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  27. Eric the only difference here is that Van Persie actually wanted wanted Man U when Juve deal broke down due to match fixing allegations. Don't think that Dzeko actually wants Liverpool. Everyone thought he would be the first one that Mancini would  get rid of after Tevez came back into the fold, but now it seems more likely to be Ballotelli. It is good that we are linked to Dzeko but I do not believe it is ever going to happen. We do not in our current incarnation compete for big name players.

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  28. Absolutely, I would just add that this has been going on even before fsg. We spend to much on players whose market value does not reflect what we pay. Add to that wages and agent fees - its just crazy. 

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  29. brad friedel,david james and the new butland 7m kirkland all top keepers but couldn't take the pressure ov the kop havn't the club got enough worrys without pepe being sold and if pepe is that bad who are daft enough to buy him 10 teams for 15m/20m unlike joe cole or carroll but carroll, hendo, and downing would all do well for arsenal or a team inform  so so would coates and reina but liverpool need to get rafa back and limit it to 3 players for the 1st team and stop swaping players and bosses about like a game of footy manager 

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  30. You're absolutely right. The one factor that matters is, does the player want to join. Not money. The question at hand was, why would Man Citeh sell to a "rival". The answer is, the players wants it to happen and the "rival" offers enough money.

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  31. Did transfer window open today btw?  Getting Begovic would be a coup. he is terriffic goalkeeper. Lets do a straight swap and send reina to stoke.

    Anyone has any news about sturridge deal? propably not finished? no change of fielding him against sunderland tonight? Sturridge deal being the only one of the ones we are linked to, that i have been exited about. hope it goes trough.

    if we sign Di Santo, i will be massively dissappointed.

    anyone else hoping we are doing business in silence like with the Assaidi deal. and targetting better players. lets show some ambition with this transfer window instead of buying from wigan and swansea!

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  32. sorry m8 so what your saying is fsg will not sign expensive foriegn players again big transfers normally mean big wages

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  33. AB is a good keeper. watched him against Mancy. made some crucial saves. But let in 3 goals though. 

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  34. My new years resolution is to only speak positively about Liverpool, the players, coaches the staff and the fans.  So please, can you follow my lead and stop slating players such as Cole and Carroll.

    Is it Joe Cole's fault that the old hierachy at LFC offered him a ridiculously high wage and probably signing on fee to join them when we were crying out for a playmaker?

    Is it Andy Carroll's fault that LFC paid £35m for him?

    The answer to both is no.  If I was offered 90k a year to do my job for another company, I would move in a shot.

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  35. Scott carson also springs to mind

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  36. liverpool desperately need a striker (someone like loriente maybe or even ba) but most important 2 wingers say munian and walcott)

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  37. I would not mind having both of them @LFC but getting  Dzeko @20 M should be a priority and he is better than Sturridge and Ince together or three unproven players which seems the way we are dealing in transfers these days.Moreover one or two players will definitely be out so i believe it will balance out .

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  38. "Flattered" is a polite way of saying "no thanks".

    When a girlie tells you she's flattered it means she wouldn't if you were the last man on earth.

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  39. No, what he is clearly saying is they will not spend money on wages over 100k for a player who is in his mid-late 20s and has no profit because of that. I would love for us to buy all the top talent in the world, but not at the price of being hugely in debt like we were under H&G. FSG in your eyes can't win, they spend money smartly and keep us out of debt and you say they aren't spending enough, if they were to spend out of our means and put us in huge debts, they will be touted as the new H&G and people will want them out. 

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  40. He knocks over every opponent in sight just the rest of his Stoke teammates. And yes Begovic is a top keeper, but Reina is different class and getting back to his best. His distribution is second to none. his shot stopping is amazing. By his own admission, he hasn't been on form, but he is getting that back and I don't believe Rodgers wants to sell him. I see us buying Butland as Butland is one for the future and would offer competition to Reina and keep him on his toes.

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  41. We already have a top draw keeper, his name is Jose Manuel Reina and he is getting back to his best.

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  42. How can Reina be past his prime when as a goalkeeper, they reach their prime going into their early to mid 30s. Reina is heading into his prime. Ideal example is Mark Schwarzer, when he was at Middlesbrough, he was up and down, had a blinder, then had a howler, since he moved to Fulham, he has been solid more times than not and is now 43 and is still a solid keeper. David James being another example. Keep faith in Reina, he is coming good again. As someone said, form is temporary, class is permanent, and Reina is pure class.

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  43. they are the new h&g,same package different wording,so i take it you will be happy for a season in the champions league once in a blue moon because believe me thats were we are heading there here for a profit and that is all,they may not make the same noises as h&g but there motives are the same

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  44. You are saying they should stop swapping bosses and yet you want them to bring Rafa back? Can't have your cake and eat it too.

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  45. Same goes with Downing and Henderson, I have said all along, had these players been signed for less with less wages, people wouldn't be constantly on their backs. It's because they were signed for so much, which is not their fault, that the expectations are so huge.

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  46. if his prime is based on age alone then he can play for many more years like VanDerSaar did for United. Reina's plays like he is past his prime. To me if you are on the higher end  of thirty you are getting past your prime. He is clearly not at the top of his game anymore and it is clear to see. He doesn't come out for crosses as much anymore and he has made some embarassing mistakes that he shouldn't be making at his level. He is 30 or there abouts and will never challenge Casillas for the number 1 jersey in Spain. I think that says it all.

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  47. yeah an unhappy player who is on the books getting paid is not best for the club. You want everyone on your squad to give their best and to believe in your cause.

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  48.  I agree 30 is only middle-aged for a 'keeper and he does seem to improving, but I think his shot-stopping is regressing and he seems to get beaten at the near post a lot. His distribution is the best in the league, but he can be bullied. Anyway, he played well tonight against Sunderland, so hopefully it's onwards and upwards. I just fear United will nip in and sign Begovic and have Schmeichel mark II for the next 10-12 years.

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  49. Dzeko would fit into LFC much better, he would be much better in pair with Suarez then he is with both Tevez & Aguero. Dzeko is ultimate team player and strike with technical abilities worthy of Balkans football school, Suarez although selfish as any striker of South-American football mentality is still more of a team player and much less selfish then Aguero and Tevez.
    Dzeko is modest, respectful and comes from home with perfect upbringing, well-mannered and refined guy, not a spoiled super-star, ultimate professional - nothing would stand on his way (to LFC) if clubs could make an agreement and if he's dully paid for what he's worth !
    (Carrol can't be offered to champions, there is no place for him in best clubs in the league !)

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