After a season of frustrating defensive mistakes, defenders will probably be at the top of Liverpool FC's transfer priority list this summer. Wholesale changes are required at the heart of the club's defence, and Athletic Bilbao star Fernando Amorebieta is one of the players persistently linked with a move to Anfield. Unfortunately, it looks like Liverpool are set to miss out on the Venezuelan international, who seems destined for a move to Arsenal.
The Reds appear to have recently reignited their interest in Amorebieta - nicknamed 'The Butcher of Bilbao' by the club's fans - and a report last week in Spanish newspaper AS claimed:
"Amorebieta is wanted by Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton. All three teams have been in touch with his representatives to make firm offers for the player"
Club President Josu Urrutia also hinted that the 27-year old is on his way out of the club. He told reporters:
“Amorebieta has no [contract] offer from Athletic. I said before that the club had offered a proposal, but after various conversations, Athletic withdrew the proposal.”
In an interview last night with Russian newspaper Izvestia, Carvajal suggested that Liverpool are now out of the running for the player's signature:
“We have had some contacts with Anzhi [Makhachkala], they were ready to make a good offer, but my client wants to play in England, so the transfer to Russia was not possible. We are in talks with Arsenal, he could join them in June.”
Clearly, Liverpool's offer didn't impress Amorebieta, or Bilbao. If it had, the 6'5 defender would be talking to the Reds right now instead of Arsenal.
Last summer, Amorebieta's agent - Gines Carvajal - confirmed that Liverpool had 'shown an interest' in signing the defender. He told Spanish newspaper MARCA:
"After the excellent season he had last year, several teams have shown interest in signing him, and one of them is Liverpool, which has shown the most interest so far"
According to The Independent, Amorebieta has a £26m release clause in his contract, but his current deal expires in June 2013, which means he's now free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club.
Amorebieta's controversial disciplinary record will be a problem for the club that eventually signs him. In the last 3.5 seasons, he has amassed 44 yellow cards and 8 red cards (!), so perhaps Liverpool have dodged a bullet here? On the other hand, the team lacks real steel and toughness in central defence, and Amorebieta would certainly help in that department.
Jaimie Kanwar
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The Reds appear to have recently reignited their interest in Amorebieta - nicknamed 'The Butcher of Bilbao' by the club's fans - and a report last week in Spanish newspaper AS claimed:
"Amorebieta is wanted by Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton. All three teams have been in touch with his representatives to make firm offers for the player"
Club President Josu Urrutia also hinted that the 27-year old is on his way out of the club. He told reporters:
“Amorebieta has no [contract] offer from Athletic. I said before that the club had offered a proposal, but after various conversations, Athletic withdrew the proposal.”
In an interview last night with Russian newspaper Izvestia, Carvajal suggested that Liverpool are now out of the running for the player's signature:
“We have had some contacts with Anzhi [Makhachkala], they were ready to make a good offer, but my client wants to play in England, so the transfer to Russia was not possible. We are in talks with Arsenal, he could join them in June.”
Clearly, Liverpool's offer didn't impress Amorebieta, or Bilbao. If it had, the 6'5 defender would be talking to the Reds right now instead of Arsenal.
Last summer, Amorebieta's agent - Gines Carvajal - confirmed that Liverpool had 'shown an interest' in signing the defender. He told Spanish newspaper MARCA:
"After the excellent season he had last year, several teams have shown interest in signing him, and one of them is Liverpool, which has shown the most interest so far"
According to The Independent, Amorebieta has a £26m release clause in his contract, but his current deal expires in June 2013, which means he's now free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club.
Amorebieta's controversial disciplinary record will be a problem for the club that eventually signs him. In the last 3.5 seasons, he has amassed 44 yellow cards and 8 red cards (!), so perhaps Liverpool have dodged a bullet here? On the other hand, the team lacks real steel and toughness in central defence, and Amorebieta would certainly help in that department.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Good tough defender. With financial fair play coming very soon a good player on a free is certainly worth looking at. I hope LFC are working toward such deals if and when they arise as they do save £'ss over the length of a contract. I.e transfer fee + wages + fees. This way it's a free transfer so it's just the agents fees and wages.
ReplyDeleteRelief!!!! Douglas (Twente) on free. Then splash the cash on Howedes and if available on Sakho! Sakho can double as LB as well.
ReplyDeletecannot belive we would not match arsenals wages so if he his going to arsenal must be for footballing reasons eg more chance of success or preferes london unless fsg are dragging there heels for a change
ReplyDeletereally dont want him at the club
ReplyDeleteHe's on a free and a fantastic player!
ReplyDeleteNo top player would join liverpool now. Mid-table club at best.
amor on a free or ashly williams for 10m ..plus hes older.....just about sums the reds up on the transfer front
ReplyDeleteDodged a bullet here I think. There are better alternatives out there.
ReplyDeleteBeing honest I think we're better off without him,people always complain about Skrtel conceding cheap free kicks,well this lad is worse...Do we need that?
ReplyDeleteActually, the one major difference now is that we are focusing on performance-laden contracts. So there's less guarantees. He may make 60k per week with us with incentives that can get it to 100k. But Arsenal may offer him 80k per week.
ReplyDeleteI'm using round numbers there only for the example. But the point is the same. We will offer less guaranteed but more potential.
I know nothing of him to be honest, so I can't really say either way.
ReplyDeleteBut I will say it would be kind of fun to have a guy nicknamed the "Butcher of Bilbao" on our team!
potential will be the death of our club,you can only make potential wages on the personal your playing with
ReplyDeleteTotally irrelevant to this thread but wow, Milan 2-0 up so far against Barca. Yoikes.
ReplyDeleteAgreed... If I was a player, I'm going for the guaranteed money.
ReplyDeleteWe need a hardman at the back for sure. this dude looks like a loose cannon though. Risky business.
ReplyDeleteThey're welcome to him. I wouldn't call it a transfer fail, I'd call it a huge success!
ReplyDelete