The transfer window is not officially open yet but former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes that Manchester City have already made the best deal of the summer.
In his column for the Daily Mail today, Redknapp predicted that Fernandinho would be the 'best midfielder in the Premier League' next season. He enthused:
"£34m Fernandinho is a sensational capture for Manchester City, and he is already the signing of the summer.
"He is an expensive investment for a player who has just turned 28, but it’s not as if City are hard up.
"Fernandinho can become a monster. He can do the lot. He can play one-twos at real pace, drive at opponents, tackle, intercept, win the ball and set up a breakaway. He is what City have been missing".
That's a bold prediction from Redknapp, but he may have a point. Yaya Toure aside, City lack strength and steel in central midfield, and his addition will definitely help the club in that department. Additionally, it's a smart move because City will now have cover when Toure is away at the African Cup of Nations.
Fernandinho is precisely the type of central midfielder Liverpool should be targeting to challenge Lucas. He's a defensive midfielder with a 'box-to-box' element to his game, which means that - unlike Lucas - he offers something else to the team other than protecting the back four.
Hopefully, though, in a few months, we'll all be hailing someone like Henrik Mikhtaryan or Christian Eriksen as the 'signing of the summer'.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In his column for the Daily Mail today, Redknapp predicted that Fernandinho would be the 'best midfielder in the Premier League' next season. He enthused:
"£34m Fernandinho is a sensational capture for Manchester City, and he is already the signing of the summer.
"He is an expensive investment for a player who has just turned 28, but it’s not as if City are hard up.
"Fernandinho can become a monster. He can do the lot. He can play one-twos at real pace, drive at opponents, tackle, intercept, win the ball and set up a breakaway. He is what City have been missing".
That's a bold prediction from Redknapp, but he may have a point. Yaya Toure aside, City lack strength and steel in central midfield, and his addition will definitely help the club in that department. Additionally, it's a smart move because City will now have cover when Toure is away at the African Cup of Nations.
Fernandinho is precisely the type of central midfielder Liverpool should be targeting to challenge Lucas. He's a defensive midfielder with a 'box-to-box' element to his game, which means that - unlike Lucas - he offers something else to the team other than protecting the back four.
Hopefully, though, in a few months, we'll all be hailing someone like Henrik Mikhtaryan or Christian Eriksen as the 'signing of the summer'.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Only seen his ex team in Europa but for that money, Vidal would have been great. Really rate him.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of our system, in relation to what type of defensive midfielder to play in front of our defence, I'm not sure Fernandinho's type would be that suitable. In the other central midfield positions in our system, maybe more suitable. The main defensive midfielder doesn't have to be a energetic box to box player in this system. Probably one of the worse kind for the main DM in our system me thinks, as I would have thought it is better to have one that doesn't venture too forward as gaps left by full backs and when the CBs go narrow-wide need to be marshaled almost constantly by the main defensive midfielder in this system.
Anyhoo, could see this new buy releasing Yaya from the start of games, in terms of being allowed to get forward in that destructive manner, instead of Mancini waiting till 60 minutes to see whether City were struggling and then push Yaya forward as was often the case.
a note on mikhtaryan. has anyone seen him vs chelsea for example. all his touches, movement, passes and so on.... he scarily plays very very much like joe allen : o almost s copy with his anniying back passes. just look it up on youtube snd see
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had one of those midfielders for ages well since marsharano left us. We need a drive from midfield fer looks good in the Dutch league :-)
ReplyDeleteIago Aspas - ST 25 - Celta Vigo - £7.7M : confirmed
ReplyDeleteKolo Toure - CB 32 - Man City - FREE : confirmed
Tiago Ilori - CB 20 - Sporting Lisbon - £3M : we've bidded
Henrikh Mkhitaryan - AM 24 - Shakthar - £22M : interested
Mohamed Diame - DM 25 - West Ham - £3.5M : interested
Keisuke Honda - AM 26 - CSKA - FREE or £3M : interested
Thomas Ince - RW 21 - Blackpool - £7M : talks
total: £46.2M
we get these signings in and we can push for every competition
sell downing for £7M, coates for £6M, carrol for £15M, skrtel for £12M, spearing for £1M. total: £42M
in relation to this article i think signing diame will be the key to us getting top 4. he can be our fernandinho/yaya toure. whilst he will protect our back 4 with his power, strength and ability to win back possesion, he will also drive at defences with his skill and pace. real box-to-box player
you obviously know nothing if your comparing mkhitirayan to allen. allen is garbage and mkhitaryan is gold. 30 goals/12 assists in 42 games. joe allen could only dream of stats like that
ReplyDeleteOn the ince deal it be cheaper for us because we have 35% sell on clause :-) but I agree with your points :-)
ReplyDeleteyh i know but blackpool want 10M for him. with 35% off it will be about 7m. id really love to see him back, massive ability and potential. next gareth bale/ arjen robben
ReplyDeleteBlackpool can't put stupid price tags on players who has a year left on his contract he worth 7 million, if he doesn't leave this summer then in January he price will be even lower or he can run his contract out and we pay little sum for him like they did to us :)
ReplyDeleteBold indeed. Every transfer is a risk. There are some high profile big money failures to be had. Robinho, Shevchenko and a few more.
ReplyDeleteWho'll be paying 6m for Coates?
ReplyDeleteConcerning Lucas, well, Hodgson gave him more freedom to play and he did quite well in that box-to-box role.
ReplyDeleteHe has one year left on his contract. Lets wait and see whether someone is willing to pay 10m for him.
ReplyDeleteAspas deal looks like it hit the brick wall because we was talking to the wrong people.....
ReplyDeletewe should be able to get that for him. full international, copa america winner and still young.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to mention Popadopulousousoss!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on Diame, I would actually say that it would border on negligence on BR's part if we didnt get him or someone like him! Someone like Yossaf mulumbu or Wanyama could do the trick too, we are so lightweight it's scary!
ReplyDeletethe man got bullied all over the park when playing against chelsea and did nothing of note to say he's worth that amount of money.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that a kamikaze midfielder would be disastrous but we need a physical presence able to drive forward & tough tackling. Currently we're too lightweight & the likes of Toure, Benteke, Lakaku would slice through us due to our very weedy defence!
ReplyDeleteno money for him. plus kelly is coming back and must be given a chance. if the defence isnt 100% come january we'll sign another 1. as for now tiago ilori is 6ft 3 and lightening quick and martin kelly is also 6 ft 3 and quick due to being a right back. so a centre back partnership alonside daniel agger should be up for grabs for one of those 2
ReplyDeletelol really? who was he talking to? the local baker or something lol.
ReplyDeletevery nice pick of players. I`m guessing you are working on the idea that Suarez stays though right? If he does and we signed Aspa, we would have a lot of strikers. I would also keep Skrtel for at least until Jan. He may not be great but if Toure and llori don`t settle at least we will have someone who can step in.
ReplyDeleteI agree to an extent. I'm all for a box to box midfielder but just not as the main defensive midfielder. In terms of box to box midfielders or someone with that drive from central midfield, I wanted Dembele last summer and still want him, even though it won't happen now.
ReplyDeleteYeah aha, we was talking to a agent who wasn't his contracted representatives, it's a story in the mirror lol
ReplyDeletetorres [cfc]
ReplyDeleteActually I'm more concern about who is leaving the club now. When is AC
ReplyDeleteleaving? We need the money from his sale. Apparently, he's now greedily
asking for a 25% pay rise despite having problem keeping himself fit for
a full season. It will be horrible if this black mark in the
history of LFC and eternal laughing stock in history of football is
staying. The earlier we get rid of him the better and I sincerely pray
that West Ham does not pull out of this mindless deal. Next, if we can
sell SD for 7
mil pounds, it will be a terribly good deal, considering his age and
impact made the past 2 seasons. Not sure who is going to buy Assaidi, Spearing and Coates as there are no news at all who is interested in these players. Seriously think Coates will not cost anything more than 3 mil pounds. Lastly. hopefully no more jokes such as
handing in of transfer last minute and make panic buys after that.
I expect Spurs to sign him in 1 day.
ReplyDeleteAll I care about is how this will affect our chances of signing Henryk. Shaktar are a very rich club and cashing ridiculous money for a 28 year-old is one thing but I doubt they want to sell all of their star players in the summer.
ReplyDeleteAssiadi is going to Portugul as part of the Tiago Ilori deal I think.
ReplyDeletehahahaa that what they do best last summer. Lucky non of them really shine under AVB
ReplyDeleteDempsey was ok. Sigurdsson just like Borini is still a prospect. They were also after Allen who is again still a prospect for us. Lets see next season. I am positive about Borini
ReplyDeletei personally do see SUSO ...either of them need more time
ReplyDeleteLiverpool won't be spending 20 million plus on any player. Unless Suarez goes. The fans have to hope Rodgers can get lucky with the cheaper options, like he has with coutinho. Leave the current big hitters to fight for the top players. Its unfortunately where Liverpool are right now.
ReplyDeleteI agree on the speed part. When was the last time Liverpool had a real quick centre half? long overdue. Even toure is quicker than what is already there.
ReplyDeleteAs long as club is making step by step progress I am quite happy. But if we finish 7th or below 7 then there is a problem.
ReplyDeleteI would like to keep Skrtel and Coates. Coates most definitely.
ReplyDeleteIf we can pay 3.8mn for Llori then why not?
ReplyDeleteIf we can find more deals like Couthino and Sturridge then there is no need to go buy players for 20 million and up.
ReplyDeleteThis Aspas guy will be another shrewd purchase. For 8 million pounds you cannot really go wrong and his wages will be minimal.
The likes of City and Chelsea are digging a very deep hole for themselves They lure big name players by offering ridiculous wages. What are these two clubs going to do once wage caps get introduced?
How did he score 28 goals then ?
ReplyDeletenothing, It'll be awarded in bonus payments which arent part of your salary. theres ways round everything, just like the FFP bullshite :)
ReplyDeleteTorres, indeed. Anyway, does the rest of your message look only so weird to me, is it my browser, or is there something else wrong?
ReplyDeleteFollowing that logic, someone will pay 45m for Carroll.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity that Shelvey was unable to show that form on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteCarroll deal wasn't based on his market value instead it was need of that hour. Newcastle demand for Carroll = Liverpool demand for Torres. Both were inflated. It was a one off deal, bad eg to compare really. But yeah, everything depends on how interested clubs value him.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the problem I see facing us. He isn't that famous, that well-known. And he hasn't played a lot of football since he's joined us, too. Should we be unable to sell him for at least what we paid for him, I'd rather like to see him go out on loan, maybe to one of the promoted clubs. He probably could do a job for them and either enhance his value or his worth for us.
ReplyDeleteSpearing did pretty well in the Championship. There should be takers, if he is willing to move a division down permanently. I doubt it, though, because he seems to be very determined to make at Liverpool. Anyway, we would probably be lucky to get 4m for him, unless one of the relegated clubs want him. They get those parachute payments for three seasons I think and therefore have a bit more money available.
ReplyDeleteI would like to keep him or send him on loan. I rate him.
ReplyDeleteIf we can keep our form of the second half of the season, I am confident we will finish higher than 7th. That is unless we sell Suaréz and replace him with a Aquilani-like transfer.
ReplyDeleteDon't know whether I still rate him. He didn't perform very well when he played. But I rather like him and therefore I, too, would like him to stay with us.
ReplyDeleteThat Fernandinho signing reminds me of RVP last season.
ReplyDeletePricy, no resale value, but I think it will be the decisive factor in the league next season.
You definitely CAN go wrong with an £8m signing - every signing has an opportunity cost. On top of that, all the small signings add up, which is where you end up with LFC having a massive cumulative spend in the Premier League era, and very few era defining signings
ReplyDeleteI'll still continue to argue that Aquilani was a quality player, and better than either of his replacements last summer (Allen and Sahin)
ReplyDeleteThe signing of Fernandinho and return of Mourinho just makes it even more imperative that we get somebody like Capoue in this summer - physicality in the middle of the park looks set to become more of an important factor in the Premier League again next year than it has been in the last couple...
ReplyDeleteWell, I didn't mean to question his ability at all. He was brought here carrying an injury, the guy who had signed him got sacked and the three following managers didn't quite fancy him. We eventually sold him on a massive loss.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I watched him, basically in pre-season, he impressed me. His vision and ability on the ball was very, very good. I often had the feeling, though, that the guys around him were to thick to anticipate where he's going to put the ball next. Or they simply never thought that what he tried to do would come off.
It's just everybody uses Aquilani's name as the epitome of failed transfers at LFC, when in fact he never failed us on the pitch.
ReplyDeleteOur manager's chose to keep him on the bench for reasons that we'll probably never know, but it wasn't due to his on pitch contributions as during his rare starting appearances he was easily one of the better players on the pitch more often than not
True that.
ReplyDelete