28 Feb 2013

Confirmed: Exciting £20m LFC target to 'leave this summer'. Replace Suarez...?

In October 2012, The Guardian reported that Liverpool were interested in Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, and after months of speculation, the Bundesliga giants have officially confirmed that the Polish star is definitely leaving the club.

Speaking to Sky Deutschland last night, Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc confirmed:

"Robert [Lewandowski] will not renew his contract, he will leave either this summer or in the summer of 2014".

The 24-year old's contract expires in 2014, so almost certainly leave this summer, or Dortmund could lose him for free the following year.

£20m-rated Lewandowski is definitely interested in playing in the Premier League, as he confirmed recently:

"I haven't had the chance to play in England but, maybe, one day. What I like about British football is that it is fast and hard. For sure it would be interesting".

The Pole is also linked with a move to Bayern Munich, but on Monday, Franz Beckenbauer insisted that the German giants do not need Lewandowski. He told Sky Germany:

"It's not really necessary. A big transfer doesn't make any sense to me. When I look at the current squad, I notice that on every position Bayern have two, if not three options. Of course I would take Lewandowski. However, assuring him that he's guaranteed to play could be difficult."

Lewandowski's Agent, Cezary Kucharski, also confirmed this week that he'll be leaving this summer. He told a Polish radio station:

"Robert has made his decision. Only he decides when he will make his decision public, though. Those who have followed Robert's career will realise that he's never stayed at a club for longer than two seasons. Read between the lines and you'll know what this means"

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol would love to see Lewandowski at Liverpool. In December, he told TalkSport:

“I’d be happy if Liverpool were being linked with Lewandowski. He’s got just over a year left on his contract and Borussia Dortmund would let him go".

Prior to his move to Manchester United last summer, Shinji Kagawa criticised Lewandowski in public for the 'selfish' nature of his play. He barked:

"Lewandowski's game is not based on interaction with the others, but only to himself at the opposing goal to score. He doesn't cooperate with other team members. He never notices better positioned players on the pitch, so I get no passes from him. But it cannot be helped. He is precisely this kind of player"

If Lewandowski is going to be available, should Liverpool think about making a bid? Is he the type of player who would fit into Rodgers' team? Could he form a good partnership with Luis Suarez and/or Daniel Sturridge, or even replace Suarez if the Uruguayan leaves?

His stats are quite good, but he's had only one great season for Dortmund so far, and his games-per-goal-ratio has decreased after making the step up to the Bundesliga:

* 41 goals in 82 games for Lech Poznan.
* 60 goals/20 assists in 120 games for Dortmund





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34 comments:

  1. I don't know if you just wrote down the wrong stats Jamie, but 41 in 82 and 60 in 120 are the exact same goal to game ration.. So his ratio hasn't decreased. I assume you just made an innocent mistake. Also don't think this guy could replace Suarez. He'd be a like for like option with Sturridge.

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  2. great player but wont join us as he is good enough to play Champions League and is being coveted by top clubs around Europe.

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  3. Im a fan, and would like him at Liverpool. But probably wouldnt happen.

    Utd are rumoured to be after him...

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  4. Let's hope Bayern signs Lewandowski!

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  5. He won't join us since he's likely to consider it a step down.

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  6. As far as reports in Germany are to be believed, Lewandowski will join Bayern München in the summer. He won't replace Suarez there.

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  7. Its looking more and more likely Suarez will leave if that quotes are true about him saying he'd 'consider' offers,I mean I wouldn't blame him for going but after all the support the club and the supporters have given him I'd be pretty disgusted to say the least.

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  8. Prob some truth to that in the sense that he's younger and should come considerably cheaper than Luis.

    If Jaimie's mention of 20m is correct for Lewandowski, I would have to imagine the lowest Suarez would go for is 30m and it's probably on the high side of 35m.

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  9. We can't blame Saurez for leaving he's been a great servant, but I did hope he stayed one more year to help us really go for 4th place. No player is bigger than LFC but we must get a sizeable wedge for him & spend it wisely. TBH I prefer a Lakaku/Benteke.

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  10. News flash: Robert Lewandowski likes it fast and hard!

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  11. Just read that LFC are suing Bild for publishing false reports of the Suarez quotes.

    And back on topic: Utd are after this guy and have been for ages. Bayern are reportedly looking at signing him too and, as we're not going to be able to offer Champions League football until 2014 at the very earliest (barring capitulations by Arsenal & Spurs), I very much doubt he'd be  interested in coming to us. However, having said that, Ajax were giving Suarez CL football every season and he still signed for us, so we still can't rule it out.

    Anyway, if he does go to Bayern, then I reckon we should put a bid in for Gomez and/or Alexis Sanchez.

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  12. I'd be disappointed if we let Suarez go, but even more so if it was for less than 40m.

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  13. Is that true. We are suing Bild.

    No Gomez please.

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  14. I'll try and find a source on the Bild story/rumour.

    Why not Gomez, though?
    He scored about 40-odd goals last season.

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  15. That's because he was hungry and chewed on a player. 

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  16. 40mil is a decent amount. let the man walk. he will realize that he will be walking alone if he leaves

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  17. NOOOOO im Polish and we hate this guy because he misses glaring oppertunities for the national team. PLEASE NOO

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  18. I don't think that Gomez is worth any fuss.

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  19. Completely agree.  I'm just not sure of what leverage we have over him other than length of contract.

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  20. £40M?!!!! He'll no. At least £60M. No more bending over and getting screwed on transfers. It's been going on for too long now.

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  21. Length of the contract he has signed less than a year ago should do. Also having a look at what prices top talent goes these days. 40m would be a bargain.

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  22. I think as a player, we can all agree that Suarez is a quality player. Messi and Ronaldo are the absolute top bracket of attacker. Suarez isn't there but is exceptionally good in his own right. His importance to LFC is the same as Messi's and Ronaldo's to their teams.
    Therefore, there are only two strikers who could fill his void in my opinion who have the ability now, to replicate Suarez's importance and we are very unlikely to attract them- Falcao and Cavani.
    If LFC want to build around Suarez, like Rodgers has previously stated, then to show him of the club's ambition we got to be looking at players like Jovetic, Alexis Sanchez, isco, muniain etc
    We've bought far too many average players for ridiculous fees. I won't list them as we know who they are. I don't think it's 'rocket science' to evaluate a player's fee and wages against ability, but we get it so wrong so often.......

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  23. I hope so.  I really want him to stay and I think that if we could bring in another player to complement him up front it will only make him that much better.

    I'm just concerned that the team will look to sell as his value will never be higher on the market.

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  24. The thing about Gomez is that he needs to be set up,hes a great finisher but he cant create chances for himself,which is what my issue with him is,now if Suarez and Gomez could play together that would be interesting to see but Gomez would not replace Suarez

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  25. I had thought something like that regarding Torres when he still was on fire, but then came Chelsea waving with 50m when he wasn't on fire anymore. I believe Suarez will be worth 40m+ for years to come.

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  26. I don't think we'd be in the running for him. Seems like Bayern and United are the front runners.

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  27. BR on the media constantly linking Suarez with a move away from Anfield:

    “There’s no getting away from it, Luis has been brilliant this year, but I haven’t seen anything different that would make me feel he wouldn’t be here.

    “I had a great conversation with his agent a couple of weeks ago. He came in and rolled it out that he was so happy here and he was keen over the next couple of years for the club to progress.
    “I’ve made him sort of my architect within the group. Him and I communicate a lot so I get a feeling. It’s not like I don’t talk to him.“Is he deserving of that Champions League level? Of course he is, but I would be confident enough that he will be here because he is enjoying his football.“He’s playing well, he’s doing really well. Hopefully we continue to keep a great player like that.“His desire is to see Liverpool progress and that’s why he signed last summer. I don’t feel, or see, anything different that would change my mind.“This is a club that he loves. He is enjoying working this way. If we can keep supporting him and getting the team moving forward, then he seems happy and content.”

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  28. Good point. Might as well make the most out of it

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  29. I would love, love, to see Lewandowski line up for us. But he would not replace Suarez. He's a targetman like Sturridge.

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  30. Lewandowski going to bayern suarez gona stay. Sort out defence and get another striker and we can hae a great squad. This site is so negative.

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  31. Read this: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/suarez-i-m-extremely-happy

    Interview on official website with Suarez.

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  32. "First and foremost, I'd love to be.
    "From the point of view of being at such a big and successful club for so long like Steven and Carra, they are players who have given so much for the club, I'd love to be able to do the same."But when it comes to speaking, the accent and the way the Scousers talk, I think it's going to be very difficult for me!"No one who saw the Uruguayan's passionate celebration following his 25th goal of the season against Zenit last week will be in any doubt as to how much the club means to Suarez.He added: "I always say the same thing, every kid or young player growing up dreams of playing here at Liverpool, and today, here I am, highly privileged doing just that."I enjoy every minute to the maximum because it's a great opportunity that my life has presented me and for which I am very pleased."I'm here at a club where I always wanted to be and where I always wanted to play, and for that I'm extremely happy."Suarez is the first Liverpool player since Fernando Torres in 2009-10 to score more than 20 goals in a season - a feat he achieved three times in Holland with Ajax.Given the standard of opposition in the Barclays Premier League, does he consider this season's form the best of his career?"I don't know if it's my best form but I do know that I continue to feel comfortable and happy in a side where my teammates help me a lot," said Suarez."That's an important thing for a player. I also think that when you feel good out there on the pitch it shows that things can go well."A player always has something he can improve upon or something new to learn."Recently I've been featuring in positions that I'm not so used to playing in, which I'm happy about because I'm learning how to play in another role which is a good thing for me and will also benefit the team."Suarez has scored 18 goals in the league this season - one fewer than Manchester United forward Robin van Persie and four more than both Michu and Gareth Bale."Of course it's a dream for any striker to be the top scorer in the Premier League, but to be honest it's not one of my main aims," he said."My focus is getting the team to the highest possible position in the league. For sure, I'd be delighted if I were to win the award and even more grateful to the club and my teammates because it would be thanks to them that I would be receiving any accolade."But for now, with quite a few games to go in the season and many other quality goalscorers in the Premier League, it's too early to be thinking about any award."Meanwhile, Suarez's contentment on Merseyside was reiterated by Brendan Rodgers on Thursday.The boss enjoyed a productive chat with the player's agent recently."I had a great conversation with his agent a couple of weeks ago," Rodgers told reporters from the national press."He came in and rolled it out that he was so happy here and keen for the club to progress over the next couple of years."I've made him sort of my architect within the group and he and I communicate a lot so I get a feeling. It is not like I don't talk to him. Is he deserving of that Champions League level?"Of course he is but I would be confident enough he will be here because he is enjoying his football. I was talking about the future and development and he was reciprocal in his conversation that he is loving it here."He has really enjoyed the season - the most productive since he has been here. He is enjoying the style and the way of working. His desire is to see Liverpool progress and that is why he signed last summer."I don't feel or see anything different that would change my mind."

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  33. Firstly, Lewa is definitely going to Bayern. Secondly if u look at the stats u've used, you'll see his goals per game average has remained constant since his move to the Dortmund. Thirdly, Suarez will stay at LFC for at least 1 more season and probably longer. 

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  34. No going to happen. Suarez may leave for Champions League football but a top player will not sign with none on offer.

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