3 Mar 2013

'It's up to him' - LFC plan talks with €12m star Wenger once called 'a genius'

In December 2012, reports from a variety of sources suggested that Liverpool were lining up a £12m (€14.7m) deal for Japanese star Keisuke Honda. Nothing came of the interest, but with the summer transfer window only a few months away, the Reds are reportedly keen on tying up a pre-contract deal for the exciting CSKA Moscow attacker.

Honda has been linked with a move to Anfield several times over the past three years, and according to one report yesterday, Liverpool want to 'thrash out a pre-contract deal' with the attacker over a summer switch to Anfield', and the club plans to 'sound out Honda for talks in the next few weeks'.

Speaking to reporters this week, CSKA Director Roman Babaev conceded that the Japanese maestro is on his way out of the club. He confessed:

"We tried to get him [Honda] to extend his contract, but we can’t force him. It is up to him what happens next"

After losing out on the move to Lazio in January 2012, Honda - nicknamed 'Keizer Keisuke' (Emperor Keisuke) during his time in Holland, made clear his disappointment at the collpase of the deal. He told reporters:

"If moaning about it would get me a move I would have a moan. I waited until the end of the transfer window and I could have gone to the Italian championship. I was hoping for a better future"

CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky recently complained publicly about the Japan International's 'anonymous' performances and lack of form. He told the Russian Press:

"Honda can decide the result of a match on his own, but unfortunately games like that with a performance from him haven’t happened. Today we expected a certain contribution from him, but it never came"

€12m-rated Honda may be out of form but he's still managed to score 9 goals in 20 games for CSKA this season, which is a creditable return for a player whose heart is clearly not with CSKA anymore.

Arsene Wenger is a huge fan of Honda, and he lavished praised on the player after the 2010 World Cup. He raved:

"When they get the ball they can give it to Honda – and the magic starts. When they get that genius Honda playing up front, he had shown what a top class player he is. For me he’s the best performer of the competition so far"

It's clear that Honda needs to a new challenge to reinvigorate his career, but would he be a good fit for Liverpool?

With 29 goals in his last 101 games, he is hardly prolific, and there are other attacking midfielders out there with a much better creative return for a similar amount of money.

Having said that, I would love to see Honda at Anfield - he's an experienced flair player, and Liverpool can always use more of them. Plus, he'd be available on a free.

Worth a bid?



Jaimie Kanwar


52 comments:

  1. My favourite player in the world cup 2010. really hopes he comes to anfield.

    ReplyDelete
  2. all im gonna say is SET PIECES! sign him

    ReplyDelete
  3. it would be a massive bossman signing..we must act quickly and should tie up a contract asap

    ReplyDelete
  4. liverpool4life5651:39 pm, March 03, 2013

    I would sign him, looks good, also it will enable us to break the asian market more in which will give us more global fans, which means more shirt sales, means more money for transfers :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lets hope he isn't as bad as Adam.

    ReplyDelete
  6. im a big fan of the guy as he offers us something different....im not worried about his form in russia ...lets be honest no matter what there paid who wants to play in that leauge with them fans 

    ReplyDelete
  7.  yah it would be nice to see a corner where the ball gets in the box

    ReplyDelete
  8. Would be perfect for the CAM role. I sincerely hope these rumours are true because I think we missed out when we bought Allen instead of Ramirez.

    ReplyDelete
  9. On a free he adds an experienced name to our squad roster, very flexible position wise, good set piece ability and the shirt sales may pay for his contract. At 26 hes not too old either.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Experience and a bit of quality.....
    Available on a free; surely speaks for itself.....

    ReplyDelete
  11. Surely spurs must want him now, lol

    ReplyDelete
  12. Surely spurs must want him now, lol

    ReplyDelete
  13. All you ever talk about is should we buy this that player,criticizing whenever you got the chance,picking someone's comments and make a debate out of it,i think you are one sick miserable anti liverpool fan JK.

    ReplyDelete
  14. :-)     lol


    unrelated I know, but just read something that made me smile; "how many CFC fans would do a straight swap right now with Sturridge for Torres?"

    ReplyDelete
  15. One person's opinion

    ReplyDelete
  16. actually it is stimulating discussing about these topics.
    We thrive on this BS. You should try it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Standard Chartered has been putting the pressure on the club to sign an asian for sometime now. S  He is a talented footballer. I wonder where he will fit in and would he come in to sit on the bench?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Right side of midfield. He is much better than downing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. He'd be a quality signing plus the money liverpool would make from the shirt sales etc in Japan would justify it by itself,the fact that hes a quality player just make it an even better reason to sign him

    ReplyDelete
  20. ABSOLUTELY wonderful player. the fans will adore him. definately world-class and can change games on his own. if he was excited about going to lazio just imagine if we went for him. we need to tie this deal up as soon as possible. always wanted him and it looks like my dream is coming true. get in there BR. YNWA

    ReplyDelete
  21. I agree we should sign him, but doesn't it make you think that the likes of Shelvey should be moved on! I'm watching the North London derby, we cannot afford to keep the likes of Shelvey!

    ReplyDelete
  22. On a free, why not? I'm sure (although I don't think Japan is a market to rival China, South Korea or Thailand) he'd pay back a chunk of any fee we pay him through shirt sales etc.

    I'm not sure he has the pace to be a top player (or is sufficiently technical to make up for his relative lack of pace) but he'd give us an option. Between him, Coutinho and Downing, we should be able to get a decent return and turn out a balanced side. That would let us spend on getting the defence in order.

    Also, if it doesn't work out, I feel as though his re-sale value would be reasonably high.

    ReplyDelete
  23. The Mirror were speculating that Stoke would be prepared to pay up £7mil for Shelvey, and if that was the case, I'd definitely take it.

    It just sounds like a vaguely plausible rumour to me though, rather than something actually sourced from sources.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This guy...this is not my kind of guy.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I heard his corners are worth 10mil at least ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  26. ive heard rogers is sending a sushi chef from a top London restaurant to sell the tika taka dream of anfield to him

    ReplyDelete
  27.  sounds like joe cole

    ReplyDelete
  28.  im glad you meant jk i thought you was referring Jc

    ReplyDelete
  29. As much as I like Shelvey and what he could potentially turn into, I think signing Honda then going for Eriksen to fill the hole which Shelvey was supposed to fill would be great transfer business.

    If our young players aren't fulfilling their potential quickly enough to help the team progress and start challenging at the top of the table, then they should be sold with "Barcelona-esque" clauses - e.g. 50% sell on fees, ridiculously low buy back fees and such like. That way, if they do turn out really good (Tom Ince), we can either bring them back or profit further from subsequent sales.

    ReplyDelete
  30. My thoughts exactly.

    Also, keeping Shelvey, whilst he isn't terrible and certainly could still make it, blocks the path for Suso or Teixera.

    ReplyDelete
  31. ...insanity later.

    ReplyDelete
  32. While I agree that would be nice, I think that Barca has a bit more ability to insert such clauses given it's stature and the track record of its academy.

    It's widely know that LFC often must sell to buy, and for that reason it may prove tough to drive a harder bargain with teams by adding those kind of clauses.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Well that's bound to fail... Everyone knows sushi in London is rubbish!  Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Funny this topic should arise as I was thinking of Honda just the other day.  He was a hot property coming out of WC '10 and it really surprised me that he never moved to a bigger league or club.  For me it does raise a few questions as to why that is.  I've barely seen him play, I'll stipulate that, but it just makes me a little cautious.  LFC has been so hamper by bad transfer dealings the last few years that now every move made is that much more important.  Getting him on a free would be great but we must be sure of the player!

    ReplyDelete
  35. It will prove tough now that you've told everyone!

    Traitor!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I saw the same rumour too. TBH I hope it goes through, for his age his close control isn't that good, range of passing not that great, not particularly fast. Strengths passion, decent body strength, sort of has an eye for a goal.
    His technical ability lets him down big time!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hahaha brilliant !

    ReplyDelete
  38. I just couldn`t resist that one lol

    ReplyDelete
  39. I hear he has a good engine

    ReplyDelete
  40. He has been linked to us for passed 3 years . Just his agent doing his job

    ReplyDelete
  41. Can peanut make it happen? I hope so...sign him! But looking at the endless list of playmakers we are linked with, i will take all these reports with a pinch of salt.

    ReplyDelete
  42. ChampsWinnerTraore7:25 am, March 04, 2013

    Would be an excellent signing though his wages might be an issue however the shirt sales from the asian market shouldnt make it a problem

    ReplyDelete
  43. would be a great addition

    ReplyDelete
  44. Honda would be a fantastic signing. Good skill, good attitude, good commercial value in regards to shirt sales. I said so when he was at VVV and of course was ridiculed because he was "only" in the Dutch league. It would be like Stewart Downing with actual skill.

    ReplyDelete
  45. No No No! Honda still in CSKA! :Р

    ReplyDelete
  46. talented player and wouldnt be a bad move for liverpool in terms of moving further into the asian markets

    ReplyDelete
  47. Some of you are forgetting the Home Grown rule thats coming in.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Honda is talented player,but i think he cannot fit with LFC system of playing.LFC please bring in Siem De Jong or Thomas Mueller.It is very worth.

    ReplyDelete
  49. ChampsWinnerTraore9:07 am, March 05, 2013

    Muller would not come to liverpool

    ReplyDelete
  50. Sell Shelvey buy De Jong. Sell Skrtel buy someone else.

    ReplyDelete