6 Jun 2013

Watch out, Lucas: €12m LFC target admits 'time is right to leave'. Bid...?

Defensive midfield is (arguably) a major transfer priority for Liverpool this season, and in recent weeks, the likes of Mohamed Diame, Gokhan Inler and Juraj Kucker have all been linked with summer moves to Anfield. The latest name to enter the fray is Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue, who this week confirmed his plans to leave France this summer.

According to TMW today, Capoue is being monitored by Premier League trio Liverpool, Arsenal and - inevitably - Tottenham Hotspur, and it seems that the 24-year old will definitely be available this summer.

When quizzed about his future last night, €12m-rated Capoue told French newspaper L'Equipe:

"If Toulouse want me to stay, that is good, and it makes me happy. However, this is football, and I feel that now the time is right to leave".

Capoue almost left Toulouse for the Premier League during the January transfer window, but his price-tag scuppered any potential deal. His Agent, Mino Rinola, told L'Equipe:

"At lot of English clubs wanted to hire him. Toulouse chairman Sadran was not keen to sell during the winter window. The fee demanded was a barrier on each occasion, but we held some polite talks. We will see what happens in the future."

Liverpool were linked with Capoue the latter stages of Rafa Benitez's reign, and at the time, the France International revealed an ambition to move to the Premier League. He told SkySports:

"It is good to be linked with prestigious clubs, but I have only just started in the top division in France and I need to prove myself before moving abroad. I do like English football, I watch it a lot, and maybe one day I will play there, who knows?"

Most fans would probably agree that Lucas needs some serious competition this season. Is Capoue a good option...?





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67 comments:

  1. 12 million for competiton lets get the players for positions were there is little depth 1st agger or toure could cover lucas better than allen did last year

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  2. We are linked to every player that wants to leave his club. What happen to Rodgers saying we are going to make signings early in the market . Man city spent 50 mil in one day .
    The best model in football today has to be Fc Porto I read that article on the players they bought under 4Mil and sold them over 20mil and there in champions league every year . I suppose that's all we Liverpool fans want is Quality signings to move forward .

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  3. Mr. Point Of View12:23 pm, June 06, 2013

    on some uk paper bla bla bla we r looking at tevez, since last mgnt admired him, ideal replacement for LS?


    my view : tevez give me a feeling he always got problem with his boss !

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  4. Cmon man....Allen started last season pure quality. He looked a bargain at 15M in todays crazy market. The start of last season we played all the big boys and he was the best player on the pitch. Yes his form dipped and I only hop the shoulder injury had a huge part to play. He will be bac to his best next season.

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  5. Wish people would stop banging on about Joe Allen.


    Over-compensating methinks!

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  6. A good option, yes. The best option, no.

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  7. No, we don't want to be in the CL every year. We want to WIN it. Porto qualify out of a competition about as exciting as the Scottish one. If we want to model ourselves on someone, it should be Bayern Munich or Barcelona.

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  8. SPL vs Liga Sagres..Come on buddy.

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  9. True, but Portugal has a far inferior league in my opinion though so the risk of failure is slim compared to the PL. We couldn't get away with spending 4mil on a player for fear of our owners being called tight. According to a lot of fans we're also too big a club to be known as a selling club. So we're stuck with spending 10, 15 and 20 mil on players that are considered safer bets. However when they don't work out immediately, they, along with the manager and owners get slated. Joe Allen is a prime example, very good for Swansea, entrenched in the new managers philosophy, started off very well, being hailed by many pundits as a natural in our team. He had a dip in form and got slated by fans. Unfortunately I feel we're in a catch 22 with buying players, if they work out, they're great players, manager gets hardly any credit. If they don't, the manager is rubbish and the owners are tight.

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  10. liverpool4life56512:46 pm, June 06, 2013

    He only young aswell 22/23 he will play a big part over the years for Liverpool, some fans get on players back for no reason no idea why.

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  11. we hardly score any goaqls when hes on the pitch i bet we scored more goals when he was not on

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  12. As for who will win it, it's the same. There's Porto......and that's it. I think Rangers *spit* will be back winning the SPL before Benfica or Sporting will..

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  13. liverpool4life5651:01 pm, June 06, 2013

    Not a main concern at the moment, Lucas will have a full pre season behind him. So will Allen who can share the CDM role. Positive Allen will have a better season next season. :-)

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  14. No City havent actually signed anyone yet as the window isnt open until 1st July. They just do their business in public

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  15. I wonder if Lucas will be with us next season. Wouldn't be surprised to see Rafa making a bid for him. Lucas might want to join up with him again after all of the faith he showed in him when a lof of fans were giving him so much grief. Could be one to keep an eye on.

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  16. Bayern Munich and Barcelona!! Do me a favour we are a mid table side in the prem. What planet are you on...Even that lot over the park are run better than us.

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  17. He is more offensive than Lucas. You have to remember when Allen was playing we were using Suso. Shelvey, Sterling etc etc......

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  18. Would be best thing Rafa had done in transfer market for us if he took our no.21 to Napoli .

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  19. Once again half you people Choose part of a comment and turn it to your own twist. The point Is there spending ? that's who they buy ? and that same player how much they sell him for Great policy. Like eg us Liverpool we bought him now what looks like good price 8m if we were to sell him tomorrow 20mil now people don't have to come on and say no your wrong he 18 mil . Porto buy cheap and Hulk Carvahlo Falcao Guarin Rodriguez Moutinho sold at massive profit but played champions league

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  20. I am more interested in Everton as are most Liverpool fans. They look to be in great shape with a quality manager(who we couldn't get). I really do fear the future with Brendon(David Brent) Rodgers as our manager. We have to be realistic we are going to be outside that fourth spot for a few years. We just cant even finish above Everton never mind Man U, Man C ,Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs. We are a million miles away. Deluded!

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  21. And both clubs had their spells of poor results in their history as well. I didn't say we are at that level, I said we should model ourselves on them to get to that level.

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  22. more than competition i would say back up ........

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  23. The last word and the first line of your comment compliments each other.

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  24. Strange reply as I don't see any relevance to what I posted.

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  25. There is no way anyone can Guarantee success of all the signings. FC Porto had some good players in recent times but there must be some players who didn't make it even in Porto and they would never be mentioned in media because no one really cares if they buy a flop player but if Liverpool buys one bad player, it will hound them for years to come.

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  26. haha, its toffee trolling.

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  27. Don't discount Brendan Rodgers' presence though.


    If you recall, in the "Being: Liverpool" documentary last year, Rodgers made it a point to single out Lucas as a key player for him, especially as he worked his way back from the injury in 2011.


    As much faith as Rafa showed, Rodgers also seemed to show a great amount of faith in him as well.

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  28. I never watched the documentary as I thought it was a stupid idea. In that case, he might be close to BR also but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him link up with Rafa again.

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  29. I was against the FSG method signings or no signings Couthino showed me there is maybe the keys word is maybe , To the madness once I seen the article only 1 week ago off the players bought cheap at Porto and names it was mind blowing. But in saying that I cant see us getting better with cheap chance buys I could be wrong yer fine.AS someone said up top allen started first ten game good rest very bad that's what u get from Swansea buys coming to Liverpool big club. borini really never did anything .

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  30. A stupid idea indeed.


    Something else to keep in mind: Lucas just inked a new long term deal. So if he's to leave, it's going to cost Rafa.

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  31. I still didn't quite get over us missing out on Yann M'Vila. Having said that, I surely repeat myself when I say that I hope that we at least get a proper back-up for Lucas, if not an upgrade. How far is Coady in his development. Isn't he meant to be able to play as a defensive midfielder? That would solve the back-up question, and leads me to Capoue. Is he better than Lucas? If not, we shouldn't sign him.

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  32. His tackling is very suspect for a defensive midfielder. I know, he isn't a defensive midfielder, but that's position we are talking about here.

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  33. Porto, as well as other Portuguese clubs, have it easy signing Brazilians (don't know whether it's South Americans in general) due to their heritage. They don't need work permits for instance.

    Obviously there are quite a few Portuguese clubs with really good scouting of South America. Their league and country seems to be a springboard into European football.


    Given that they don't have those work permit issues the same way we have them, it seems unfair to compare us to them. We cannot go out and buy a few young Brazilians in the hope that they will turn out to be great. We don't have a relatively weak league to blood our youngsters. The Portuguese league has been dominated by a few clubs for ages, with little change amongst the top teams.

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  34. That's probably why he wrote that we should model ourselves on them. I would like to throw Ajax into that hat, too. They can't compete with the big boys in Europe, but their youth development is top notch. It's a very well run club.

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  35. But the point is there system works off the money they spend who cares about the league they make great return on those type of players . Who ever heard of this Spanish guy what ever his name is that is linked to us that fighting relegation . No one but Porto now once again (eg) buy players like the ones we are now linked with it works for them . why would it not work for us Coutinho ? still believe we need 3 Big signings with those porto type buys cause we just haven't got the owners that want to spend money on Eg Lukaku navas Isco because we are not that attractive anymore , so the madness might be all we can do.

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  36. My point is that he may have a close bond with Rafa seeing as he supported him in the darker days for lucas when a lot of fans were giving him serious stick. I don't think Lucas wants to leave us but if one Manager could tempt him, I reckon it would be Rafa.

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  37. It's all about the league they play in. Crewe are great at developing players and selling them for a lot of profit, so are Crystal Palace and others. We though play in one of the top leagues already. As soon as we come in for a player, his price seems to double, at least. That's one thing. Another is, that it might be just a tad easier to revive a faltering career in a weaker league and in a team at the top of it, too. Furthermore, it is easier to look good in such a league. No disrespect to the Portuguese league, but, for example, Spearling looked really good in the Championship, but pretty much out of place in the Prem. My point is that you can't simply copy what Porto or a few other clubs are doing, because the boundary condition may be just quite different.


    I am all for Liverpool buying young talent, and we did so, or thought we did so, for ages. Remember the French gems Houllier brought in. They've never quite made it. Some of the youngsters that came in during Rafa's reign just start breaking through, but surely not all of them will make it. Even the signing of Pennant was a bit like what you are asking for. An alleged talent not really fulfilled at a relatively cheap price. Didn't work of in that case.



    Coutinho didn't cost 4m. He cost a decent fee, though it looks quite a bargain right now. As you use him as an example of what we should do, what are you complaining. We seem to be doing what you are asking for. Or do I miss your point entirely?



    I am all against saddling the club with debt. It should spend what it earns. That's re your dig at the owners, just in case you wondered.

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  38. He's welcome to try it. Would be interesting to see at what price we are willing to part company with Lucas.

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  39. hes more offensive 1 goal that took six deflections to find the net and no assists lol hes offensive to watch in a lfc shirt

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  40. Lucas' tackling may be not the best, but he's head and shoulders above Allen in that department. Generally I agree with you, and that's why I ask for an upgrade on him. I can't really see Allen making that position his own. He's our smallest player, isn't he, and hasn't got that big a frame either. I, too, like Allen and have defended him, or rather outlined the positives he brings on here on numerous occasions, so don't get me wrong. I simply can't see him as a defensive midfielder. He's rather the Alonso in the Alonso/Mascherano partnership. Lucas, though, isn't the Mascherano. You surely get my drift.

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  41. most people saying we need defenders and all that is true but i have looked at the modern great teams and it really hasn't been the issue of having a good defence its more like having a deadly front man. we have to pick one this transfer season. a biting attack or a solid defence. biting attack will keep the opposition defending rather than attacking keep in mind....

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  42. The most offensive things to watch concerning Liverpool shirts in the upcoming season will be the design of the away kit.

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  43. agree warrior can stick that one i will not be buying it

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  44. Lets just get Gary Medel and forget about it :)

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  45. What do you mean you people?

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  46. Yeah, why not.

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  47. I do think LFC is modelling themselves on Borussia Dortmund.

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  48. If Allen is going to continue as a DM for us, it will be very difficult for him to change the opinion that he was a waste of money.


    Tbf, it will be difficult eitherways, but particularly so with him in a role for which he is so clearly unsuited...

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  49. Capoue has been my preferred option for new blood in central midfield over the past couple of years. He's much better on the ball than Diame, but still offers the physicality and drive through the middle of the pitch that we so desperately need.


    I think that he'd play Lucas out of the first team, rather than just be competition for a place tbh

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  50. tbf Man U and Chelsea have built their title winning teams around very strong defences in recent years.


    You can have match-winners at both ends of the pitch really. I agree that having multiple goal-scoring options is very important though

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  51. liverpool4life56510:28 pm, June 06, 2013

    Fact is we started the season rubbish, and Everton started the season brightly YET we finish 2 points behind them? Next season we would of gelled also new players would of came in. So we will start better, also I rate Rodgers higher than Martinez.

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  52. liverpool4life56510:30 pm, June 06, 2013

    I don't see it that way, a CDM can still create things he young he can adapt his game also he needs to build up abit more then he will be fine

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  53. M'vila was a perfect case in point of the media narrative driving fans transfer targets. In 6 short months he went from being a player that was regularly being touted on transfer discussions as the difference maker for CL teams, to a player being mooted as needing to "prove himself" at QPR for 6 months before such clubs should take a risk on him!


    Coady looks to be going backwards imho, in the same manner as Suso has, and Pacheco et al before them. This season should be considered as make or break for both - stick around in our reserves for much longer and their chances of making it at the top level could be over already, even at such young ages (which isn't so young for pro footballers anymore...)

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  54. It's obviously a positive if a defensive midfielder can create also, but the priority should be his ability to stop opposition attacks. And Allen's severe lack of physicality means that the only option for him to stop oncoming attackers is to regularly commit the most blatant of fouls (and even that is often not enough!)


    He needs to adapt his game to be a more effective attacking player, as he is never going to be strong enough to be a top quality DM imo

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  55. I think that he was made to play in a more defensive role than he is used to

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  56. I don't get the connection between Yann M'Vila and QPR at all. Rubin Kazan took that risk without him having to play for QPR at all.

    Coady is 20. Yes, he should get more games and soon. A season's loan in the Championship probably wouldn't do him any harm. Can't see Pacheco (22) making it with us anymore, and even less so Spearing (24).

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  57. As long as we don't switch our club colours to theirs, that's fine with me.

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  58. yes but he played worse when he played were he wanted to

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  59. During the last transfer window, when M'vila was clearly available and Redknapp was vocal in his desire to bring him to QPR, all of a sudden fans all over the internet decided that the guy was no longer good enough to be a legitimate target and should be allowed to go to QPR to prove his worth.


    Yep, Coady and Suso are the same age as Coutinho. By this age, Pacheco had looked a better and more proven prospect than either, but took too long to make the break through, and at 22 he is now being written off by all and sundry. The current kids should definitely look to learn from his example...

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  60. This is why to this day I'm not clear why we bought Allen. His sort was never a priority, no hindsight needed. For the last 3 seasons we've cried out for an enforcer in the Diame/Dembele/mulumbu/Wanyama mould. My fear is if we don't address this before next season it will be like trying to stop a forest fire with a water pistol, we won't cope!

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  61. And we all know what happened to QPR next.


    Actually, when Pacheco played behind the striker, he looked pretty good, much better than up front or out wide.

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  62. QPR would've got relegated whether he joined or not. The point was about the way in which fans flip-flop over players depending on the media narrative at the time - before the season he was deemed to be world class by all and sundry, and 6 months later apparently he was only good enough for a bottom end PL side.

    I still think that Pacheco is a decent prospect (I'd definitely play him before I'd play any of Henderson or Shelvey as attacking midfielders), and as I said, he'd proven more than any of our current youngsters as a kid, but it does sadly look like his career is going down the toilet

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  63. Exactly - he doesn't have the physicality to be a dominant DM, the athleticism to be a dominant CM and as yet has not shown the creativity required to be a quality AM either.

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  64. Spot on! Fact is he's a very poor Michael Carrick & I don't rate Carrick at all!

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  65. Ah, the media. Well, I hate the media, because they don't inform people properly, but mislead them instead. I still think that M'Vila is a fine player.


    Yep, would have been interesting indeed had we retained Pacheco as an impact player off the bench and loaned out Shelvey. Pacheco hasn't been released yet, so maybe our coaching staff still have hope for him.

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  66. Lucas is absolute shite. He would never get near a title winning side or even a top 5 side. We have the most loyal and supportive fans but where Lucas is concerned - he is never going to be good enough for Liverpool FC. If we continue to accept him in our team then we are accepting that we are a shite team with the lowest standards our football club has seen for years and years and years. If we keep playing him then we will stay around 6,7,8th in the table. Rafa stuck with him when losing Mascherano and Alonso, Roy stuck with him and Kenny stuck with him......If Rodgers doesn't address the issue then he'll go the same way - out the door.

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  67. tbf Carrick was quality at Spurs - he just plays a far more limited role at Man U
    And Allen does have some quality about him, just not qualities we should have been prioritizing. He won't be going anywhere anytime soon though, so hopefully he comes back to prove us wrong next season!

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