Liverpool are reportedly still interested in signing Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, and may face competition from Manchester United this summer if Reds boss Brendan Rodgers decides to make a move for the 22-year old midfielder.
According to reports today, Liverpool are still monitoring McCarthy has been regularly been linked with a move to to Anfield over the last five years.
Liverpool tried to sign McCarthy three times in the past:
* In 2007, the BBC reported that McCarthy rejected an offer from Rafa Benitez. Explaining the youngster's decision, his Agent, Bill McMurdo explained:
"They [LFC] agreed to meet Hamilton's asking price, but he has decided that he wants to stay for another year. I can't fault his judgement. He has only just left school and is from a close family"
* In 2010, McCarthy chose Wigan over the Reds, a decision that pleased Roberto Martinez, who enthused:
"I have always been a big admirer of James, and I was delighted when he made that rather strange decision not to go to a top, top club like Liverpool. I think that decision is being proved right now.”
* Liverpool entered talks to sign McCarthy in 2011, and a source close to the talks said:
"It [the transfer deal] is 90 per cent done, all sides now seem to accept it is going to happen and it's a matter of everyone trying to get the best deal"
Speculation over the €10m-rated midfielder arose again during the January 2013 transfer window, and when asked recently about interest from Liverpool and Arsenal, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez conceded that when the time comes, 'we'll never stop him from leaving'.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail former Wigan star Kevin confirmed that the Reds are still following the 22-year old. He said:
"His [McCarthy's] excellent performances at the heart of Wigan’s midfield, and comfortable step-up to international football, have caught the attention of Manchester United, Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool for the last two windows".
McCarthy has struggled to become a regular for the Republic of Ireland under Giovanni Trapattoni, and in March, the Italian offered the following assessment of the midfielder's strengths and weaknesses:
"James improves every game, but I still feel he can do more. Physically he is perfect, technically also. He can be a little bit shy and I have said this to him. He needs to command the play, but we saw that he can be a very important player for us"
If McCarthy came to Liverpool, he'd be competing against Steven Gerrard for a place in the team, so he'd definitely have to drop the shyness to which Trapattoni refers.
Worth a bid in the summer?
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
According to reports today, Liverpool are still monitoring McCarthy has been regularly been linked with a move to to Anfield over the last five years.
Liverpool tried to sign McCarthy three times in the past:
* In 2007, the BBC reported that McCarthy rejected an offer from Rafa Benitez. Explaining the youngster's decision, his Agent, Bill McMurdo explained:
"They [LFC] agreed to meet Hamilton's asking price, but he has decided that he wants to stay for another year. I can't fault his judgement. He has only just left school and is from a close family"
* In 2010, McCarthy chose Wigan over the Reds, a decision that pleased Roberto Martinez, who enthused:
"I have always been a big admirer of James, and I was delighted when he made that rather strange decision not to go to a top, top club like Liverpool. I think that decision is being proved right now.”
* Liverpool entered talks to sign McCarthy in 2011, and a source close to the talks said:
"It [the transfer deal] is 90 per cent done, all sides now seem to accept it is going to happen and it's a matter of everyone trying to get the best deal"
Speculation over the €10m-rated midfielder arose again during the January 2013 transfer window, and when asked recently about interest from Liverpool and Arsenal, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez conceded that when the time comes, 'we'll never stop him from leaving'.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail former Wigan star Kevin confirmed that the Reds are still following the 22-year old. He said:
"His [McCarthy's] excellent performances at the heart of Wigan’s midfield, and comfortable step-up to international football, have caught the attention of Manchester United, Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool for the last two windows".
McCarthy has struggled to become a regular for the Republic of Ireland under Giovanni Trapattoni, and in March, the Italian offered the following assessment of the midfielder's strengths and weaknesses:
"James improves every game, but I still feel he can do more. Physically he is perfect, technically also. He can be a little bit shy and I have said this to him. He needs to command the play, but we saw that he can be a very important player for us"
If McCarthy came to Liverpool, he'd be competing against Steven Gerrard for a place in the team, so he'd definitely have to drop the shyness to which Trapattoni refers.
Worth a bid in the summer?
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
The last thing we need is another overpriced average British player. No way Jose.
ReplyDeleteThere's no way man utd will actually sign him.
ReplyDeleteOne question - why do we need him ? With Joe Allen shelvey we have enough midfielders to fight for the 3rd midfield place ... If we really buy a new midfielder in central position, we need a quality player (Alonso, strootman, benat...) + we need defensive cover for Lucas. God please bring us diame!!!
ReplyDeletethere's no point in having all those midfielders fighting for a place if they haven't set the world on fire.
ReplyDelete*with Joe allen shelvey and Henderson
ReplyDeletehes Irish not british
ReplyDeletelol, i don't want macca either, but i would love a quality player like alonso.
ReplyDeleteComplete waste of time!
ReplyDeleteErrr....How many times does this guy have to show that he has absolutely NO interest in playing for LFC???
ReplyDeleteHe definitely seems a quality midfielder with lots of potential and current ability but do we really need another central midfielder?
ReplyDeleteTrapatoni's tactics have been shocking for Ireland
ReplyDelete2 workhorses in centre mid, no one encouraged to show any courage and retain possession
His comments on McCarthy are irrelevant. He has come out with ridiculous comments at every press conference.
The sooner he's gone the better
Diame Diame Diame
ReplyDeleteTechnically he's Scottish....with Irish heritage...!!!
ReplyDeleteJust what LFC need - another midfield nonentity to keep Lucas, Shelvey, Allen, Henderson etc company. What a joke the club has become.
ReplyDeleteCover for Lucas ? Might as well throw a cover over over Lucas for all the . . . . . Oh what's the effing point
ReplyDeleteThis kid is good. Id be happy to loose jonjo and henderson to make room for JM. He has actually bossed our MF in some matches.
ReplyDeleteThe axe will be swinging this summer-i just hope buck has the balls to get rid of those who have not done enough.
Please do not repeat same mistake in every season with making WRONG INVESTMENT and PLAYERS.LFC no need to sign this player.......get rid from him.
ReplyDeleteWhy not? Sir Al always has that sorta player in his teams, Fletcher, Carrick too, the sorta player that keeps the ball moving, retaining possession and getting it to the "wow" players. granted we (liverpool) dont have as many wow players as them, and that should be the first port of call - eriksen, alonso (if he really wants to come back, and we have the funds for either of them), but ours is gonna be a slow project, we are way behind where we were in say 2008 where it felt we were only one or two class players short of greatness, id say we are five or six short (mainly defence) and without that base of classy players it takes alot for top quality players to join, so we are stuck with getting the best of the rest (downing not young for example), and james mccarthy is one of those
ReplyDeletehe already has enough of those players.
ReplyDeleteI hope we don't sign this guy, he is so average, no creativity, buy at your peril!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Wigan season ticket holder. if a club came forward with a decent fee for McCarthy, I'd be happy, but not Liverpool please. He is very average. One of Wigan's weaknesses is a lack of creativity in central midfield, and McCarthy is the main man here
ReplyDeleteIn that clip, not once did I think..wow...Xabi Alonso...or....wow....Roy Keane...or wow...Steven Gerrard...I think it was a smart thing to do for him to go to Wigan but I think he's stayed there a bit too long and it's hampered his progress. Joey Barton maybe, without the attitude that is.
ReplyDelete