10 Aug 2013

Yes Please: CSKA still 'willing' to sell 'genius' £12m LFC target. Sign ASAP...?

In December 2012, reports from a variety of sources suggested that Liverpool were lining up a £12m (€14.7m) deal for Japanese star Keisuke Honda. Nothing came of the interest, but with The Japanese star's move to AC Milan now dead in the water, there's an opportunity for Liverpool to swoop in and snap him up.

AC Milan have conceded defeat in the attempts to sign Honda, and speaking to reporters yesterday, vice-president Adriano Galliani admitted:

"I called the president of CSKA and he said no to selling Honda"

CSKA Moscow president Yevgeni Giner is angry at Milan for their 'disrespectful' behaviour over the pursuit of Honda, arguing that the Italian giants basically tapped-him up, and then offered swap deal involving a comparatively inferior reserve player. He raged:

"CSKA are willing to sell players to Europe, but there are ethical norms of negotiations. We will never tolerate disrespectful behaviour. We have been waiting for Milan to understand the situation and stop it, but it didn't happen. Honda is not going to be sold to Milan, not for €5 million, not for €10m, full stop"

Honda has been linked with a move to Anfield several times over the past three years, and in March, the Reds were reportedly in contact with the Japanese star over a pre-contract agreement.

In July, CSKA general director Roman Babaev made it emphatically clear that CSKA would let him leave. He told Russian newspaper Sport Express:

"Our position is clear. We will let him [Honda] go if we receive a reasonable offer. His expiring contract affects his market value but there is a limit as to how low we can go. We are not worried if he ends up leaving the club on a free transfer. It is a difficult decision to make - part ways with Honda now or keep him until his contract expires".

So, to clarify:

* Honda is available.
* His contract expires in December 2013.
* CSKA will definitely let him go.
* Honda could even leave on a free transfer.
* Milan are out of the running.

Surely this is a no-brainer? Honda is a superb player, and given the contract issue, the Reds could probably snap him up for £5-£8m.

Arsene Wenger is a huge fan of €12m-rated Honda, and he lavished praised on the player after the 2010 World Cup. He raved:

"When they get the ball they can give it to Honda – and the magic starts. When they get that genius Honda playing up front, he had shown what a top class player he is. For me he’s the best performer of the competition so far"

Brendan Rodgers admitted this week that he still wants to sign 'one or two' attacking players before the end of the transfer window, and (IMO), this is a perfect opportunity to move in for an experienced, exciting player.

I would love to see Honda at Anfield, and if the Reds made an aggressive move for the Japanese international, I'm sure the deal could be concluded.

Should Liverpool pursue Honda...?



Jaimie Kanwar


41 comments:

  1. Would love to see him now that Downing is heard to be moving away from Anfield .

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  2. Yes, LFC should have aggressively pursued him, but it is probably too late now.


    It seems obvious that Honda has agreed terms with Milan, and probably already signed a provisional contract with them. The only open question is if he moves there now for a fee (sounds unlikely from your article), or in January for free.

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  3. Big YES! Not only will we get a top striker but he'll probably pay for himself x2 in shirt sales. A no brainier but probably won't happen.

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  4. Its been reported at goal.com that the Costa(signed extension) and Cissokho (Valencia wanted only a loan deal)deal are both off

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  5. Its been reported at goal that both Costa(signed an extension) and Cissokho (Valencia only wants a loan deal) deals are off

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  6. if Rodgers wants to use Honda as one of the more experienced players in the squad then yes, certainly, its a no-brainer. for £8M, he can definately replace Stewart Downing.

    But i think the club should focus on the £33M deal for Luis Muriel and Christian Eriksen. i believe these 2 will take our club to the next level. having stevie, glen, suarez, coutinho, sturridge, aspas, muriel, eriksen all in one team will surely scare the lights out of defenders come matchday.

    why no1 has bid the £15M asking price for Eriksen, i dont know, but we've been courting this guy for too long, we better just tie up this deal before e see him doing beautiful things for Barcelona or someone and we just cry saying why didnt we sign him.

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  7. Apparently Eriksen does not want to come to Anfield.

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  8. maybe we were never really interested in signing him at all

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  9. Apparently us and a whole lot of other clubs were interested in signing him but he talks to much like Suarez does.


    You wonder why Madrid have not even made an offer for Suarez yet seeing that he was crying for them to sign him at the Confederations Cup.

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  10. Good player, reasonable fee, the 'asian' factor. What more could you want?


    By the way, has anyone noticed our 'thin' squad is getting thinner? Players in: Mignolet, Toure, Aspas, Alberto. Players out: Reina, Gulacsi, Carragher, Wilson, Robinson, Shelvey, Spearing, Suso, Carroll. Possibly Downing. Four in, nine out. Need we be worried? Hopefully, we're making room for the 'quality' signings BR spoke of.

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  11. Robinson, Gulacsi, Wilson, Spearing and Carroll were not part of the squad last season.


    Robinson might very well be in the next two years or so though.

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  12. Yep, but essentially used as 1st team players in the past.

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  13. All the players we have brought in will be part of the squad this season...

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  14. when rogers said we where looking at honda ....he meant a lawn mower for the groundstaff

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  15. So what are you waiting for, go and mow the lawn!

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  16. standard chartered have long been wanting this to happen

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  17. they'll probably have to wait a little while longer for another such rumor ,coz this one ain't gonna happen

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  18. As a swap deal for Downing may be deemed as disrespectful, I'd be happy to just sell Downing elsewhere and ensure that we do not spend any more than that on bringing Honda in.


    I'm not sure he's the quality needed to propel Liverpool forwards, but I'd much rather have him in the squad rotation than Downing...

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  19. i am not happy for so call Rogers for Christ safe i never see a good player he buy this season that will help us in top 4 accept Mignolet...what is wrong with him, buy Eriksen,Ben afra etc.

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  20. Honda - I'd like him, but he'll still find his way to Milan I reckon. Doesnt really feel like we're going to be able to sign anyone because we're sorting Suarez out constantly.

    oh well. Riise is a free transfer. Theres a marque signing for you...

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  21. Yeah......we never seem to go for any of these guys lol

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  22. bitch please..he has agreed term with milan...he'l be at milan either this summer or on january transfer window..,

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  23. i think you have hit the nail on the head m8

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  24. Totally agree! Sick of being linked with Eriksen! Time to buy is now!

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  25. JK I can see you are Honda fan!!

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  26. On yer bike.

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  27. The amount of conjecture in the story is amazing. There is NO quote or actual link to LFC. In fact the only actual quote from a manager that is from another team is Wenger's 'raving' about the so-called target. Might have been better done as a story about Arsenal reigniting their interest in Honda as there's more to support that conclusion than the idea Honda is now a target of LFC.

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  28. Honda, Yamaha...i like them all, bring him in !!!

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  29. From a sales point of view Liverpool shirts sales in Japan will sky rocket but i dont think he is good enough to make it in the EPL.
    Liverpool really need to look at better than him if they are to progress but right at this moment nothing seems to be happening and there is holes to be filled.

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  30. Absolutely amazed we and no other prem team have put a bid in. At the price this is a low risk transfer with the potential of a big up side on and off the pitch.

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  31. Won't happen. If it was to be it would have been cemented already, this late into the window. There will be no further signings unless and until Suarez sells.

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  32. Owners interested if FREE OF CHARGE

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  33. That would be our signing of the season

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  34. We haven't improved our 1st 11 at all this year again! BR says he is building something there but how? By buying Spains second league best players ? Tottenham had some descent players brought in and Arsenal will get some more players eventually! We can't compete with the top 3 anyway! But for the 4th place we still don't have a strong enough team ! So again we are fighting for 6th place or 5th max this season! Unless we buy some experienced players till the end of the transfer window. Which is getting more difficult now as not many teams will want to sell their best players at this stage of the year!

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  35. Do not think Brendan has the authority to spend big now that fsg are planning to extend anfield, if anything the money generated by Suarez potentially agger, shelvey, and other as well as reinas wages will all line fsg pockets! Unless we spend another 30/40 million we will Finnish top8 at best Tottenham/ Chelsea/ Man city/ man utd/ arsenal and Everton are all building quality squads!

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  36. Think we should bring Sam alladyse (sorry about spelling!) to anfield! As director of acquisitions (buying players) this mans a genius lfc pay 35 mill for Andy Carroll and offered 20 mill for downing 55 mill and yet Sam will spend 23 mill for both he's just brought in a free international captain great prospect nicknamed Roland rat!!
    Whoever is in charge of bringing in players at lfc needs shooting!

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  37. I'd much rather look elsewhere than pick up Carroll and Downing for £23m tbh...

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  38. I haven't seen Everton do much tbh, and Man U will be a lot weaker without Ferguson to somehow cover the cracks in their squad (ignore the name Man U, and nobody would really be impressed by that lineup they've got out for the Charity Shield today!).


    However, I haven't seen anything to suggest we will be closing the gap on City, Chelsea, Arsenal & Spurs this year. And I'm sure that is what is concerning Suarez most at this point also...

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  39. We could compete for the Top 3 if we just showed a little ambition and common sense in the transfer market.


    Bringing in another 2-3 legit ballers would make a massive difference to the team again, just as the additions of Coutinho & Sturridge did last year

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  40. We need to start using are common sense we seem to be linked to Ericsson but so does everyone else so Honda seems perfect to bring in a marquee signing ! Possess all the right credentials for the premiership plus it will open up the Asian market more, anyone think riise back for a another season in left back due to the fact he's on a free!
    Marcus bent knocks in the goals also, keep downing for another season as he's got a good few seasons in him and believe in his quality he was player of the season at avfc! No sense at buying for 20 mill and selling for 5/6 mill no sense at all!

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  41. Most of the time this is all speculation lfc have never put a concrete bid for erikson or most of the other transfer targets named on sites like these! It all bullsxxit!! Tottenham where named as the favourites to land him, then ac Milan wait till August 31st then the truth will appear! Can not see any more marquee signings unless Suarez is sold! Probably 50 mill and buy someone for 20 mill with 30 mill being pocketed!

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