20 May 2013

Transfer Swap: LFC to dump Downing to get 'brillliant' £15m star. Good deal...?

In April, Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic admitted that he is 'happy' to be linked with a summer transfer to Liverpool, and with Pepe Reina continuing to be linked with a move to Barcelona, the Reds are planning for life without the Spanish stopper, and Begovic is reportedly top of the list of potential replacements.

According to a report in The Mirror over the weekend:

"Brendan Rodgers will try to jump the queue for Asmir Begovic, if Pepe Reina rejoins Barcelona.

"The Anfield boss Rodgers is prepared to offer Stewart Downing to Stoke as part of a bid for keeper Begovic".


Brendan Rodgers claimed last week that Reina is 'not for sale', but there's no smoke without fire, with Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claiming that the Spaniard is 'waiting for a call' from Barcelona, and would he 'happy' to make the move. At the beginning of May, Stoke Boss Tony Pulis told ESPN:

“He’s been brilliant this year, but no-one’s rung me up to ask about Asmir and if they did the price would be...I can’t even think. They’d have to spend a hell of a lot of money to take him away. I couldn’t even give you a price because I haven’t even thought about it"

Speaking to reporters in April, Begovic revealed his delight at being linked with several top Premier League clubs. He said:

"Of course I'm happy. Everybody is happy when he is linked with such clubs as Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. I'm glad my name is mentioned in these stories, because this is the proof that I'm doing well. We will see what will happen at the end of the season.

The arrival of Jack Butland at Stoke seems to suggest that the Potters are preparing for life without Begovic, and in a recent press conference, Potters Assistant Manager Dave Kemp told Reporters:

“Will Begovic be sold now Butland’s here? Not necessarily, but if there is a situation where Asmir moves on to a top club offering big money and we didn’t have a Jack around, we’d say, ‘What a mistake that was’. It’s a guarantee, it’s insurance.”

Fellow Bosnian Edin Dzeko believes Begovic is destined for great things. Speaking to Reporters in early January, Dzeko enthused:

"He [Begovic] is in fantastic form. Stoke have the best keeper in the league. I know him better than most people because I have trained with him [for the national team] and [he] is a great keeper who will go on and play for a bigger team."

Begovic cost Stoke £3.5m in 2010, and he's now rated in the £15m bracket, which is (IMO) slightly overpriced.

How good an option is Begovic? Is he a serious contender to replace Pepe Reina...? A swap with Stewart Downing would make sense, and after his good form over the last six months, he probably looks like an enticing prospect for Stoke.

I seriously doubt, however, that Downing would make the move, and who could blame him? From Liverpool to...Stoke City? He'd probably be happier to stay at Anfield and be a squad player.

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40 comments:

  1. Why not? Tello for reina and downing for begovic?
    IMO Tello is an absolutely upgrade to downing while begovic has the qualities to replace reina! Would be happy with both those deals

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  2. Excellent deal, no doubt! Watch on footballwatchnet our last game in full and its highlights

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  3. oh my... now we're talking. I would definitely take this. Downing is much more suited to Stoke anyway and would definitely walk into the side. And whilst I prefer Reina; this isnt such a step down and obviously much better than Jones; not to mention hes younger than both so has time to grow. No hard feelings Stewart, but I think its time to go.

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  4. I don't see how a swap deal would make sense! It would just leave us short on the wing and needing to replace Downing and imo we should be trying to strengthen that position as it is.

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  5. Why are you perpetuating this rubbish that The Daily Mirror keeps printing. BR says he's not going Reina himself says he's not going, and BTW Jaimie neither is Suarez, much as you'd like him to.

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  6. I would only sell Reina if he asks to leave but would be happy with Begovic as LFC keeper. Tello and cash for Reina then that cash and Shelvey(not Downing) for Begovic

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  7. Where the hell is Suarez in this article? Get off JK's back.

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  8. Just asking isnt pepe at 15 mil and tello at 8 mill just asking . only last year clubs in premier league wated pepe for 18-20 mil.
    Downing for Begovic would not be stupid .

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  9. heard a rumour that reina and suarez have cancelled the places for there children in the nursery that all the players use .from a good contact .watch this space looks like suarez on his way as well

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  10. if this rumour is true rodgers is upsetting the squad again why get rid of a player who as played most of the season,why not get rid of one of rodgers duff signings,i cannot understand why a manager would want to get rid of a player he has picked for most of the games yet keep players he doe,s not use ,also eriken says we have two weeks to sign him or he will sign a new contract,well m8 you might as well sign a new contract ,the commitees on holiday for a few months

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  11. Yup Downing is in good form. I would rather send Shelvey on loan plus 10 mill ( Reina's value) for Asmir.

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  12. If liverpool were in love with Begovic and the scenario of Reina leaving and Downing actually moving i think it would be a good move.

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  13. if thats true rodgers has his excuses for next season already ,not that i think he needs one fsg will not get rid hes hear for the long run :-(

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  14. Is Begovic better than Reina? I don't think so. As I have said before, only sell Reina if he actually wants to leave.

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  15. STEWART DOWNING has improved from last year but still isn't really scoring or assisting like he should be.3 goals and 5 assists in the league playing 29 games.
    COUTINHO has got 3 goals and 7 assists in 13 games.We need more players like that who make a big impact!

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  16. Yep Tello and £5m for Pepe then £5m and Shelvey for Begovic

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  17. We have got worse players to get rid of and probably better goalkeepers in our range, but it seems as a good offer...

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  18. If you dont like when Suarez dives, you will hate any Barca player...

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  19. off topic all those balls that get knocked into the box and there no one on the end ? watched andy carroll last nite on motd played well again .hes our player lets get him back it gives us another option. if he dont come back west ham must pay the 17 million that was agreed and not get him on the cheap or 12million and diome. but lets play hardball no one leaves on the cheap we are not a charity

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  20. Mike Aitcheson2:06 pm, May 20, 2013

    Why didn't I think of that? £12m plus Diame will do for me!

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  21. Let's bring back that goal machine AC you say,no that ship has sailed.The money would be much better.He plays well for WEST HAM because of how they play.We have a different style it's called good football.
    You make a good point though, we should hold out for that 17m because WEST HAM want him badly with NEWCASTLE and surprisingly MONACO if you believe what has been reported,both waiting in the wings!

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  22. Well now rodgers has a reason i suppose when we dont go good next year. haha

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  23. Yeah bill get off his back, it looks like Pete is on his back to me, I'm not judging if man love is what your into though Pete

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  24. NonEventHorizon7:27 pm, May 20, 2013

    When was the last time anyone saw a pure swap deal happen? Always talked about but never happen! Please someone correct me and tell me about the multitude of player swap deals that actually transpire every transfer window or I'll just consider this Football Manager-esque

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  25. I believe Tello signed a new contract recently, with a €37mill buyout clause.

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  26. Downning is not going any where and i prefare Julio cesar in QPR than any other keeper.

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  27. Rogers if he can pull the two swap deal is being very intelligent!
    Reina wants to go to Barca, so if he pushes with a transfer request we will have to! To get Tello instead would be fantastic! This guy was Pep Guardiolas up and coming! He is another Coutinho but with even more pace and scores more goals!
    Then a swap for Downing and Begovic replaces Reina! Tello is a winger so both IMO are upgrades that will have a smaller wage bill too which is what FSG are aiming to do!
    Add Ince as well, and we would have youth and pace on the wings and up front!

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  28. Good solution.....B.Rodgers only having limited transfer budget.With only 20 milion,what kind of players he can sign in??We all know that American owner,John Henry are too stingy and do not uderstand about world of football.What happen deal with OOREDO now?? We all still don't know about news progress.I hopes OOREDO can helping LFC to climb the victory very well and succes.It is not easy to get high quality players with bargain price.No point while you have opportunity and chance to sign high quality of players but you must step down because you don't have a lot of money.You must travel around the world the scout young players but same case too draw the money and gambling,gambling....When it is succes,you can smile but when it is failure?? Crying?? Yes need another budget money.So stupid repeat same mistake and mistake.You never learning from mistake.If you draw high budget to get Christian Tello and Eriksen,DO YOU THINK NEXT SEASON WE NEED TO BUY ANOTHER WINGERS YET??? LFC will be suffer because to wise spending for F.Borini and look to his performance now??You need another striker or attacker.I don't understand how management style of thinking.Slow acting and always missing target players to another clubs.

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  29. Someone needs to let me know when Downing leaves Anfield for the last time so I can make sure I'm at the gates to shush him. The spanner.

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  30. I'm all for the addition of Tello; however I think it is important to hold onto a player like Downing for matches that will require a lot of defensive work to be done. Reina has said he is happy at Liverpool and I believe he is, I think if an offer did come from Barca he would like to move but they said he is not their No.1 target so hopefully he's not

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  31. All of this assumes that Downing would actually be prepared to go to Stoke. Henderson refused to move to Fulham as part of the Dempsey deal, and Salif Diao saw his contract out... in fact I think he claimed squatter's rights... You can't kick players out if they have a contract and refuse to leave and you CAN keep 'em even when they want out, if you're stubborn enough.

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  32. I dont think thats true. I read it was £10m

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  33. Why so negative all the time Tony?

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  34. I have a right to a opinion if you dont agree to it thats you choice. you dont agree with mine and thats fine.

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  35. would even take a Swansea ball boy in exchange for Downing

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  36. Yes as is everyone I just dont understand all the negativity from you no matter what the topic!!

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  37. Mate I dont have to like rodgers or FSG I have a opinion of what i think of both parties wrong or right . Get over the fact i dont have to agree with you.
    Im a rafa fan (eg) rafa bought coutinho to inter people might not know that .I dont believe there is no diffrence between hicks gillett and FSG . Maybe of late my opinion of FSG has changed especially with the signing of sturridge and coutinho . they them self are not happy with rodgers because they were happy to sign sturridge start of year not january window.
    But in saying that Ian ayre in the documentry said (I wont buy the player in i dont believe he is at right value) his words. first half off the year Rodgers got it very wrong but second half of session it got better. But in saying that . Rafa what he did in chelsea under the pressure from fans to get them champions league amazing . Do i belive that with rodgers even next year we will be in champions league No. Are we going to be worse ofF No . Are we going to be better just little.
    I dont have to agree with you?

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  38. There is a very fine line, sometimes, between giving an opinion and just down right moaning!! Yes we all get it your a Rafa fan dont like Rodgers or FSG but do you really have to put it in almost every single thread on here "daily" Quite frankly its boring and is everything thats wrong with modern Liverpool fans!!

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  39. are you Hazard?

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  40. Tello is good and would be a wonderful replacement for Downing.

    I am also hoping that BR replaces Lucas. Gerrard can play behind, while they can fetch Eriksen.

    They should really look at replacing Enrique with Digne. And if possible, Glen Johnson as well.

    Would be a great summer if they can pull it off.

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