In January, the Agent of Liverpool target Josip Iličić directly denied speculation linking the Palermo attacking midfielder with a move to Anfield. The Reds have been linked with a move for Iličić several times over the last year, and now, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has all but confirmed that the Slovenian attacker will leave this summer.
On Monday, Zamparini seemed resigned to losing the coveted attacker. He told reporters:
"Josip Iličić is a player for big clubs so I really doubt that he will stay with us.
"He has already told me that he will leave if he gets an offer from a big club. And I don't doubt that he will get one."
Last week, Palermo director Giorgio Perinetti sounded a note of caution about Iličić, but also confirmed that the club is willing to sell. He told Radio KK:
“Iličić is a great player, but he can be inconsistent. I can say for the moment there are no negotiations taking place, but if [clubs] decide to make us an offer, it would be a pleasure for us to deal with them.”
In October 2012, Liverpool sent scouts to watch Iličić play, and when reporters quizzed Amir Ruznic - his agent - about a potential move to Anfield, he said:
"Iličić to Liverpool? I do not know anything. I have not spoken to anyone about this possible transfer Palermo, but I know they do not want to sell him. I recently met with the [Palermo] President Mauricio Zamparini and he does not know anything about it"
In an interview with Radio Radio in November, Zamparini slapped a ridiculously inflated price tag on him. He said:
"We must not sell our players. I would not give Iličić away, not even for €30 million [£25m]"
Zamparini has a reputation as a tough negotiator, especially when dealing with rich clubs; indeed, last summer, he persuaded Paris Saint Germain to splurge £34.3 million on Argentine star Javier Pastore. Having said that, I think it's safe to assume that a €25-€30+ price tag for Ilicic is verging on delusion.
With Palermo now relegated from Serie A, Iličić will definitely be on the move, and buying clubs will the superior bargaining position as the player himself is likely to force through a move.
Possible summer target for Liverpool...?
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
On Monday, Zamparini seemed resigned to losing the coveted attacker. He told reporters:
"Josip Iličić is a player for big clubs so I really doubt that he will stay with us.
"He has already told me that he will leave if he gets an offer from a big club. And I don't doubt that he will get one."
Last week, Palermo director Giorgio Perinetti sounded a note of caution about Iličić, but also confirmed that the club is willing to sell. He told Radio KK:
“Iličić is a great player, but he can be inconsistent. I can say for the moment there are no negotiations taking place, but if [clubs] decide to make us an offer, it would be a pleasure for us to deal with them.”
In October 2012, Liverpool sent scouts to watch Iličić play, and when reporters quizzed Amir Ruznic - his agent - about a potential move to Anfield, he said:
"Iličić to Liverpool? I do not know anything. I have not spoken to anyone about this possible transfer Palermo, but I know they do not want to sell him. I recently met with the [Palermo] President Mauricio Zamparini and he does not know anything about it"
In an interview with Radio Radio in November, Zamparini slapped a ridiculously inflated price tag on him. He said:
"We must not sell our players. I would not give Iličić away, not even for €30 million [£25m]"
Zamparini has a reputation as a tough negotiator, especially when dealing with rich clubs; indeed, last summer, he persuaded Paris Saint Germain to splurge £34.3 million on Argentine star Javier Pastore. Having said that, I think it's safe to assume that a €25-€30+ price tag for Ilicic is verging on delusion.
With Palermo now relegated from Serie A, Iličić will definitely be on the move, and buying clubs will the superior bargaining position as the player himself is likely to force through a move.
Possible summer target for Liverpool...?
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
please no eriksen is better and would not cost much more
ReplyDeleteon another subject as west ham stayed up whats the problem with him signing for the agreed asking price,surely if fsg are the shrewd buisseness men we are led to believe they would have made the terms of the loan fail safe or at least put a clause into the contract that west ham have to pay a loan fee of say 5million for carrolls services if the tried to go back on the deal
ReplyDeleteAgree
ReplyDeletei doubt we will be making any signings like eriksen in the near future 10 to 15 million seems to be our limit
ReplyDeleteHe is a good player, however If we are to increase our attack I would rather get Henrikh Mkhitaryan in. We already have some great attackers and almost all are still young and not at or near there peak, adding another could mean (minus players leaving) we could be set up in attack for the next 5-7 years if not more. While I would like FSG to sign some more expereinced players, I think that is more needed for the defense and DM role. The attacking role is one where pace is so good and that often comes with youth. I would imagine we could get Henrikh Mkhitaryan for 15mil or maybe less, which should be covered by the amount we could get for Carroll if we manage to sell him. We would have a attack littered with skill, pace and link up play all in young players. We could then use the rumoured 20mil kitty for a new CB and new DM. I`m sure we will sell a few bit part players which could be used to top up the amount we have for the CB and DM.
ReplyDeleteIf we signed Eriksen like Jason suggests below, then not only would we have one amazing front line, but also one filled with amazing bench, rotated players so would have strength in depth. I don`t think we will get Eriksen, or that the budget would allow us to get both Eriksen and Henrikh, and if I had to choose between the two I would go for Henrikh, purely as we have a few who can play the AM role already i.e Hendo, Countinho, Shelvey.
However, Fantasy football time (purely for my own fun at listing a amazing team). If we did sign these players below, we would look great, not just the first 11, but also in depth. I have tried to keep it realist and not included Eriksen as he seems to be on his way to Dortmund
Sign
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (21 years old) - 15mil
Victor Wanyama (21 years old) - 15mil
Toby Alderweireld (24 years old) - 11mil
Three players, cost = 41mil maybe less.
Sell
Carroll - 12mil
Spearing - Free
Shelvey - 5mil
Skrtel - 8mil
Assaidi - 1 mil
(not included Allen as cant see Br selling him, and kept prices low as chances are we wont get as much as we would want for any of them)
Total = 26mil back
Net Spend = 15mil (do able)
First 11
--------------------------Reina-----------------------
---Johnson--Alderweireld--Agger---Enrique--
---------------Wanyama---Gerrard---------------
-----------------------Coutinho---------------------
-----Mkhitaryan----Strurridge---Suarez--------
Front players to rotate.
Other players to swap per game etc
Hendo,
Sterling
Wisedom
Kelly
Borini
Allen
Downing
plus more
Have to agree on this one, if they didn't want the terms as they were written ie £18m fee if they survive, then they shouldn't have taken the loan, which as it happens, saved their necks...
ReplyDeleteWhy should they be allowed to renegotiate? Just to deny Newcastle?
Well, plenty of interesting AM available this summer so let's see who we get. Mkytharian also gets my vote.
ReplyDeleteI don't know this lad from Palermo so can't make any comparison but I am still having doubts about Eriksen (at prices being quoted). Not doubting the lads quality, he is definitely a skillful player but he does seem to drift in and out of games quite a lot and his body language sometimes reminds me of Babel. If things aren't going his way, the shoulders slouch and he seems to lose interest. Just one of those nagging feelings that the PL really might not suit him. If we could get him for 12 milion, it's probably worth the risk but when I see quotes of 16-20 milion, it worries me. I wouldn't pay that for him. Would much rather the other Danish lad Fischer but he probably won't move for another year or two. If we do sign Eriksen, I hope my gut feeling is wrong.
ReplyDeleteWanyama , no more than 15m , we should also look at Diame to release more funds
ReplyDeleteSpearing was playing well on loan, would fetch a few mill. 3-4 maybe. I like the idea of quality 1st teamers and keep most of the present lot . Douglas for free would be good.
Rather get Diame and Tello than Wanyama.
west ham offer 12 mil for carroll add Diame thats deal done. apparently barca wants Pepe 15- 18mil Tello is priced at 8 mil . which leaves us 10 . arsenal wants Benteke 10 mil should get him . leave us little from those transfers put towards Eriksen. Fsg are mabe putting up 20 mil which we can get some defenders why not
ReplyDeleteIn other news, Remy arrested on rape charges. So I think we can rest assured that JK will stop promoting him on here :-)
ReplyDeleteYea I saw that, not nice.
ReplyDeletei would not worry to much about your gut feeling i,am dreaming that we might sign eriksen or someone of his ilk we sign potential not proven players lol
ReplyDeleteThe market will be set by the number of teams in the running for him. That's the only way that Palermo would get any leverage, playing one bidder against the others.
ReplyDeleteIf the bidders are limited, it gives us a better opportunity at a lower price.
I don't think we'll be splashing anything north of 15m for someone not named Eriksen.
except west ham do not want to pay the agreed price lol so why did we loan him them without having a price set in stone
ReplyDeletei dont think we will splashing out anything north on anyone this summer
ReplyDeletebut surly fsg should have a watertight agreement or we have paid his wages and if he was injuried whilst playing for them they could just send him back lol the mind boggles
ReplyDeleteShould we really consider signing inconsistent players when we are craving to be more consistent?
ReplyDeleteNot nice, but "suspicion" doesn't have to say anything. My guess would be that nowadays there are equally as many women out there, who would come up with claims like that, if a rich and/or famous enough guy came close enough to them, as guys who think they are famous and/or rich enough to ignore a "no" from a woman.
ReplyDeleteIf i remember there was that artical that there was 18 mil buy clause. (not true) but there willing to pay 12 mil how true it is i dont know . so if it is 12 put Diame in it done. then buy Benteke
ReplyDeleteInnocent until proven guilty, surely?
ReplyDeleteMy guess concerning Erikson would be that he will have agreed a deal with Dortmund, who can offer CL football, long before we have done our deals and know how much money is left over. And he might well move at a fee we wouldn't spend or couldn't afford, too. Dortmund just earned themselves something like 38 million Euros for Götze and need to replace him.
ReplyDeletewest ham are trying it on they want him for nothing ,and now they have used us trying to renague on the deal hope they go down next year
ReplyDeleteAgree thats the first thing i agree with you today . I cant see us signing erikson . But if Rodgers picked a dimaond with Coutinho . Aston villa with Benteke west ham Diame looks good newcastle with Cabeye all did not cost much why cant we find someone in the central midfield . thats the biggest players for our future right now cause gerrard not getting younger . If FSG are going to go for that one big player It has to be ISCO 100% but like jason said we wont sell that money again reallycause of the carroll waste.
ReplyDeleteexcept if your names suarez lol;-0
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why the media always names people on suspension. Imagine if he was not guilty at all, the damage it would do to ones reputation?
ReplyDeleteIf guilty then by all means. If unsure then they should hold off until proven guilty.
Oh man! How I wish!
ReplyDeletethey name them to sell their story they are not bothered about peoples lives ,at least if hes proven innocent he will get a big liabel payment off them
ReplyDeleteHe couldn't even do that.
ReplyDeleteAll they are reporting is that he's been arrested, which is a fact.
They haven't said he's guilty or innocent. If they did say he was guilty and he was then found innocent, he could go to court.
Like I said, the only player I think we would is if we got Eriksen who seems to be in the 17-20m range.
ReplyDeleteThe wild card is if we sell Suarez because we should fetch around 40m for him if he's sold. If that's the case, FSG is going to have to spend otherwise more fans will end up with your mindset about them. And, for the first time (in my opinion), your thoughts on them would be wholly justified if they cashed out on Suarez and didn't reinvest.
fair point well raised. Diame is a good player too and will be cheaper like you said. I just think it shows with just a little work the side can look really strong. I`m not into selling off every player who don`t make the first team as I think this reduces are depth, which has been a problem for years and years. People like Downing and Borini are good to have just in case players need a rest or are injured.
ReplyDeleteyeah I do agree on that. There has been a few loan deals with price fixed option to buy after which we seem to have got haggled down on. Aqua was another.
ReplyDeleteFrom the rumours it seems the deal is all done, just waiting for sign off or something.
ReplyDeleteThe short answer is nope, and the long one is also nope.
ReplyDeleteimo we should get say 5 million upfront and if at the end of the loan they do not want the player we get him back and they have lost their money
ReplyDeleteyes your right
ReplyDeleteeven if we sold suarez i still do not think fsg would sanction 20 million on one player again
ReplyDeleteOnly time will tell, one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for him, people will automatically assume he's guilty just because he's been accused/arrested. Even if he's found innocent.
ReplyDeleteits going to be a big summer one that i think will end in disappointment for the fans that think fsg are going to back us big time
ReplyDeleteeriksen would cost about £16-20M. excellent talent but this is still abit too much for a player that hasnt left the dutch league despite his CL exploits. plus coutinho is better than eriksen, and his quality is proven, we got him from inter milan, not ajax. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is 24 with 30 goals/11 assists in 46 games. 30 goal-midfielder who will only get better, he'd cost us £14M, or even a little less. definately off eriksens ilk or better. Thomas Ince is 21 with 18 goals/15 assists in 44 appearances. wonderful stats for a former player of ours who's so young and talented. but theres much more to his game than just goals and assists despite the fact he has so many. Ince loves counter attacks and has a great engine to accompane great technical ability, silky skills and electric pace. like robben and ronaldo, hes a player who takes full advantage of a counter, running into spaces and this is something downing just cant do, despite his good work rate which im sure LFC fans appreciate. Ince would cost us £6M but with the 35% we get off his transfer he'd only cost us £4M.
ReplyDeleteso roughly £18-20M for two players with massive potential and ability for the present and future. a price which would get us eriksen. would you prefer eriksen or these 2 players who with the help of coutinho, suarez, stevie and sturridge will lead us back to the champions league
I'd take Diame, young Dan Potts (excellent prospect) and £5m.... deal!
ReplyDeleteYou surely know that my question was a rhetorical one.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be very close to certain that he'll move there.
ReplyDeleteBut Isco probably won't come cheap or as a bargain, relatively speaking. I actually don't know what Benteke cost, but Diame was a free transfer, Cabeye was cheap and Coutinho a bargain at 8m.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Coutinho might be the replacement for Gerrard. He surely is a different kind of player, but with a comparable offensive input.
yes and yes ;-)
ReplyDeleteIsco wont come cheap but thats a for sure world class player for future .benteke buy Aston villa is priced at 10-12 mil .
ReplyDeleteIt's near impossible to set the price in stone when the club is trading a donkey.
ReplyDeleteAlways has me beat this one too i reckon Rodgers was that desperate to get him off the books that he raced in and took it.
ReplyDeleteSo now it depends on whether Newcastle make a competitive offer as to how much the club will get.
Rumour has it that Isco won't come to us at all, but will rather follow his manager to Man City.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure whether we really need Benteke.
Why are all your posts questions? Worth a bid? Summer Target? Is it because everything you post is just rumours and gossip?
ReplyDeleteNo i never said he is coming to us or linked to us all i was saying future wise he is the next big thing in midfield . And We need 100% look now at stevie gerrard replacment long term . And you would be only person that doesnt think we need one more front man . And before you say it Borini is shit. what we need if pepe wants to go let him go so keeper two massive africain defenders replacment that can cover for lucas if injured . As i said midfield one more front man . everyone has diffrent opinion .
ReplyDeleteNo need to get animated.
ReplyDeleteWell, I never said that we don't need another attacker. What I said was that I don't think whether we need Benteke.
Don't know if we need African defenders in particular. Thinking about our past defenders, I think European ones like Hyppiä, Henchoz, Hansen, Carragher and others did quite well, too. I have no bias whatsoever from what continent our future centre-back comes from. As long as he is good enough he may come from outer space.
I mean more athletic big strong boys .
ReplyDeleteand only HE could have saved West Ham's season...coz the way they play it!!!
ReplyDeleteand we never chuck high balls into the box lol
ReplyDeleteWho has ever been innocent according to the media before proven well just have to wait see.
ReplyDelete