30 Jun 2013

Coutinho or Assaidi Mk2? - LFC make €10m offer for exciting Italy U21 attacker

A few weeks ago, Anfield legend Steve Nicol revealed his frustration with Brendan Rodgers' apparent preference for signing/targeting (comparatively) lightweight attacking midfielders, and with the summer transfer window officially opening in a few hours, the former Reds defender will definitely not be impressed with Liverpool's latest transfer target.

According to Sky Sports Italia, Liverpool have put in a €10m bid for Jorge Luiz Frello Filho - aka Jorginho - who currently plays for Serie B side Hellas Verona.

Here are a few details about this little-known player:

* 21-years old.
* Born in Brazil but grew up in Italy.
* Came through the Verona youth academy.
* Chose to represent Italy at international level.
* Joined Verona last year from Serie D side AC Sambonifacese.
* Would be eligible for a work permit straight away.
* One cap for Italy's U21 side.
* 2 goals in 41 apps last season

Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester United and Manchester City are also reportedly following Jorginho's progress, and along with Liverpool, their scouts have watched the youngster in action several times.

Last month, Italian newspaper Gazetta Dello Sport reported that AC Milan had agreed a deal to sign Jorginho, but Verona President Maurizio Setti swiftly denied the story. He told reporters:

"Jorginho? There is interest from Milan but no deal has been agreed. Plus, we want to keep him for another year."

Given the Brazilian's versatility (he can play Attacking midfield; Defensive mid; Central-mid playmaker, or Right wing), Rodgers' (alleged) interest is hardly surprising, but €10m for a massively inexperienced 21-year old? At least Coutinho played at the top level before moving to Anfield, though if Jorginho can replicate his fellow countryman's impact then I'm sure the inflated transfer fee will be quickly forgotten.

Earlier in June Steve Nicol told ESPN:

"I’m getting worried now because every player that’s linked with Liverpool is an attacking midfielder. Can you imagine Lucas, Allen, Coutinho, Sterling and Mkhitaryan against Stoke away? Lucas? You need a squad that’s got strength, size, pace and ability. Liverpool are building an army of attacking midfielders"

An 'army of attacking midfielders'? Where's the problem? :-) That's certainly preferable to having the likes of Jay Spearing taking up space in the centre of the field.

To be honest, I'm all for having a team filled with skilful Brazilians, so bring it on, but if the Reds actually sign this guy, hopefully the fee will be at least 50% cheaper than the €10m reported.





NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)


55 comments:

  1. Do your research well enough, he is not an attacking midfielder , he is a central midfielder, like a Paul Scholes, that's exactly what Liverpool needs. if they want to rely on Jordan Henderson, then they are just wasting their money. Henderson is trash, Hope he is sold.

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  2. The person who writes all these articles seems like such a pessimist

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  3. I can't believe we're even talking about Spearing. I was under the impression that he only wore red because KD owed his father some money...a lot of money. He stinks. He looked like his shoes were nailed to the pitch most of the time. I think Hendu is a hard worker and his heart is in the right place, but I don't see him helping us back to the top four. His field vision is awful. I STILL want to see some more big, fast, strong, mean defenders getting signed but there's no such thing as too many good mid-fielders.

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  4. An army of attacking midfielders you say? hrmn if we can win every game 5-4 im all for it!!
    GOALS GOALS GOALS!!!!!

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  5. I love this site - I'm so excited re the new season - keep up the good work JK

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  6. Jaimie, you do realise that Stoke will fall to shit under Hughes?

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  7. Regurgitated story.

    Not like you Jamie.....

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  8. Its great isn't it? :)

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  9. Throw in as many attacking players as possible and Joe Allen and you will get results like Southampton (away). You need balance, too many basic mistakes cost us big time.

    I know it's paper talk but you can honestly never count out Rodgers on these types of transfers. I'm sick of these inexperienced, second division, unknown players being linked - We already signed one. We have plenty of raw and inexperienced talent working hard for their chance.

    Bring in experience, or nothing at all.

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  10. I really dont see what his problem is,most of our midfielder's lack goals in their play....generally speaking so how would us being linked with goalscoring midfielder's be a bad thing? (although that guys stats are pretty poor goalscoring wise)

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  11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gt1Kk3qHQ0

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  12. I don't understand why people constantly demand goals from our midfield. Let the attacking third score the goals. Gerrard will always pinch a few goals and so will Henderson. There's no problem with our midfield. Do you expect 10 goals from Lucas/Allen? Come on....


    This guy is just the latest of many inexperienced and unproven players to be linked to the club, and I have no doubt that Rodgers fancies this type of player. What's worse is the rumoured price of 10m for a player who was playing in Italy's FOURTH division not too long ago.


    We need to sign players that will actually make a difference - because we already have the likes of Sterling and Suso. Buying youngsters from other clubs is not required right now.

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  13. We need players in every position capable of scoring goals....If you dont understand that Im not going to bother attempting to participate any further in this.And where did I say I expect 10 goals from anyone?

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  14. Does Steve Nicol recognize that we play Stoke away only once in an entire season, not every week. I'll gladly lose to Stoke away, if we win all other matches.

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  15. Can't have too many good players!!!

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  16. Of course any player can contribute to any phase of play, attack, build up or defence. Agger will get a few headers, Enrique can pop up and score. I understand you but that is besides the point. It doesn't mean we need a team of 6 or 7 attackers and have no balance. Look at the Southampton game. Why sign this guy when we have Suso and Sterling?


    You don't expect 10 goals from anyone, I was just saying...Put Lucas in the box and I'm sure he'd bury a chance, but that's not his primary focus.

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  17. fair point sir, balance is the most important element in the team, and fielding 4 attacking players every game is not the answer. This is make or break for Rogers, who is nothing more than an experiment, just wondering if it is going to work out or is it going to blow up in our faces, sooner or later we will find out

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  18. Its not about the individual stats. Its about the style of play. From the signings this summer, I can tell that Rodgers is taking Liverpool up a notch in the finesse department. Long gone are the times where a fast strong player could have an impact on the team. Its all about brains and how skillful and efficient you are with the ball at your feet.

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  19. If we get Henrikyh ( which would have me excited as when we signed Torres) than surely we wouldn't need to sign this guy, unless we sell shelvey and downing.


    Love to see us go and get Diame, will be like having spartan in the spine of our team

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  20. another not needed signing ahhhh

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  21. He's scored 4 goals in 73 games, in serie B. One of them, judging by the youtube scout, from a penalty. I'm not impressed really. I'm growing increasingly underwhelmed of our transfer dealings this summer

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  22. Mr. Point Of View9:20 am, July 01, 2013

    hahaaahaa im with ur point

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  23. Mr. Point Of View9:30 am, July 01, 2013

    off topic : any1 ever tot bring back TORRES ??? i know mayb some fans will brand him as betrayal and etc. I do think LFC will more great if we had this type of Striker instead of more and more coutinho coming in...


    Of coz priority will be a CB

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  24. Who we need is Paulinho! He controlled the midfield yesterday!

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  25. Yeah, sure, but if you put together a team to counter Stoke's strengths, you'd rather win one and lose 37.

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  26. Wow there is a surprise A negative comment from you AGAIN!

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  27. Are you serious??

    Your growing UNDERWHELMED with ASPAS, Mignolet, Toure......

    WOW glad your a LFC supporter :o)

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  28. Agreed with Stevie Nicol. We need to buy players based on power, strength and physique as well as talent. Look at Bayern, their midfield is immense.

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  29. so you think this is a good use of our money ,i take it lol

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  30. what if he is just because your happy with any old crap ,it does not mean we all have to be

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  31. liverpool4life5652:49 pm, July 01, 2013

    How is aspas,mignolet,Toure "any old crap" mignolet-best younger keeper in the prem will only get better, Toure-experience head will bring alot to our team. Aspas. 12 goals 7 assist last years in a stuggling team. Put him in a better team he will do better. Now Mkhitaryan on his way.... Then another 3 more signings.

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  32. Touré, I've already said was a masterstroke. It will be painful though if he's the only defensive addition and so far it looks like he will be. Other than that: Mignolet is good but not an improvement on Reina imo. Aspas, how can I be excited about a player I've never seen play. Actually, how can you?

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  33. liverpool4life5653:11 pm, July 01, 2013

    We are still in talks with sporting Lisbon about llori, also carra said there 3/4 more signings to go. Hopefully two new CBs,Mkhitaryan, and most likely another midfielder :-)

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  34. stop banging on the mkhitaryan drum you sai he would be here last week i will be glad when he signs,for us or anyone just so you can put a sock in it

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  35. are we just gonna play a side of midfielders then ???

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  36. That's why they're Bayern mate. There are not many players who are technically very good like our signings and also have a physique like the Stoke guys so please leave Bayern alone. I see them of whole different level and to have players that they have we're not quite at that level yet.

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  37. I don't think we need this guy and we should go for the defensive signings now. I really want us to sign Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

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  38. liverpool4life5654:24 pm, July 01, 2013

    I didn't say he was going to be here last week that's a lie.... Again Jason tut tut. He is signing for us.... Coming in this evening. When he does sign, are you going to put your vendetta against FSG and Rodgers down too? Should hope so.

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  39. And Llori gets your blood pumping does he?

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  40. liverpool4life5659:30 pm, July 01, 2013

    Nope he young big talent though but Mkhitaryan does :-)

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  41. He's a big, young talent because BR says so? Or because you've seen him play all of his 12 matches for Sporting's first team? Mkhitaryan is a fantastic player but we haven't signed him yet. Like I said, underwhelmed by what we've done so far. It doesn't look like a serious push for top four to me. Actually, it's starting to look like Jason Carr was right about the owners all season which, to be honest, I could not have imagined. I really thought we were going to splash the cash on three or four household names who would immediately improve our first team. For now, it doesn't look that way though. It looks like we're back to signing Downing quality players with the difference being that now we're paying Downing prices in stead of Zidane prices.

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  42. I believe Aspas and Alberto qualify as front three players and not as attacking midfielders. Neither do Touré and Mignolet so I'm not sure what Nicol is on about..

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  43. Pandle;
    You hit it right on the button. I like that e are going after youth and scoring but we need 2 big-boy efenders, 1 tough physical midfielder and 1 big boy striker to team with Sturridge if Suarez leaves or not. Borini is too fragile. At Midfield, Joe Allen loses the ball too easily, can't bring himself to pass forward and couldn't put the ball in the ocean from the beach.

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  44. mustafe dhimbiil7:50 am, July 02, 2013

    I am very happy this signing

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  45. I have to agree, to me he is a not needed signing. Henrikyh, Diame and Pap would be needed signings :) (IMO)

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  46. we seem to be signing the same type of player over and over again,all for the future ,and nothing for the now

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  47. What worries me is that so many of us say it and see it but the people that matter don't act on it.

    I agree to an extent with signing young players and using academy players (when good enough) but football is about competing with other teams. And this can't be done to the level we want when they (other clubs) buy right now players and we buy 'in 2-4 years' players

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  48. And to add to that i genuinely don't think we are far off from having a squad to challenge for top 4.Need to look at signing 3-4 proper players (experienced, hungry and talented)

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  49. liverpool4life56510:09 am, July 02, 2013

    You can't judge the signings before they've even played. give them time :)

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  50. agree m8 we could challenge for top four but we do not seem to be buying players that will help for next season,another unfruiitful year me thinks

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  51. Yes you can. They have played before. At teams struggling against relegation and in a reserves side.

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  52. "another unfruiitful year me thinks"
    Well lets be honest Jase you're gona say that no matter what anyways... :)

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  53. no your completly wrong if we keep suarez sign hk and another defender we could make to four next season ,and if we are not even close rodgers would have to go

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  54. I think we have a decent chance as it is,Now should Suarez go we'll need a serious replacement,but hes not irreplaceable though

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