12 Sept 2013

'I will leave' - £12m maestro confirms he has 'many' transfer 'choices'. Sign him, LFC

Reports over the last month suggest that CSKA Moscow attacker Keisuke Honda will join AC Milan during the January transfer window, but in a new interview with week, the Japanese superstar denied that he's already signed a deal with the Rossoneri, and confirmed that he is still open to all transfer offers. With Liverpool needing an attacking midfielder, there's clearly a window of opportunity for the Reds to pull off a genuine transfer coup.

Honda's CSKA contract expires in December, which means he will be a free Agent very soon.

When asked earlier this week about the alleged AC Milan deal, the 27-year old told reporters:

"I will leave my club at the expiry of the contract. Milan? They are an option, but not the only option. When the time comes, I will make a decision. I have many [transfer] choices, and I want to compare as much as possible".

In August, CSKA Moscow president Yevgeni Giner revealed his anger at AC Milan's 'disrespectful' behaviour over the pursuit of Honda, arguing that the Italian giants basically tapped-him up. He raged:

"CSKA are willing to sell players to Europe, but there are ethical norms of negotiations. We will never tolerate disrespectful behaviour. Honda is not going to be sold to Milan, not for €5 million, not for €10m, full stop"

Soon after this, AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani basically conceded defeat in his attempts to sign Honda. He told reporters:

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

Honda has been linked with a move to Anfield several times over the past three years, and in December 2012, reports from a variety of sources suggested that Liverpool were lining up a £12m (€14.7m) deal for Honda.

Then, in March, the Reds were reportedly in contact with the Japanese star over a pre-contract agreement. At the time, CSKA director Roman Babaev told reporters:

‘We tried to extend his [Honda's] contract, but we can’t force him. It is up to him what happens next.’

Clearly, with Honda willing to consider all options, there's an opportunity for Liverpool to swoop in and snap him up. It would be amazing to have Honda at Anfield, and I sincerely hope the Reds pursue him in January. Where are the downsides?

* Experienced, top quality attacking midfielder for FREE.
* Entering the prime years of his career.
* Offers something different to LFC's current attacking players.

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"

In the summer, Brendan Rodgers admitted that he planned to sign 'one or two' attacking players before the end of the transfer window, but none of the Reds' moves came to fruition. Liverpool fans go on about 'marquee' signings, and Honda fits arguably fits that description.

Should the Reds pursue him...?



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28 comments:

  1. What are his stats like in Russia? I don't think its right, continually re-quoting a 2010 Wenger quote.

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  2. I think that if we can have great run through December where we are still in Top 4 contention, it will go a long way towards helping the team improve in January. It will give the owners reason to spend even more... and it will give prospective players a reason to come here.

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  3. With CSKA in the CL, it means he will be cup tied for the CL. That is definitely in our favour, with other clubs looking for players to enhance their chances in the CL.

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  4. At 27 he is to old. No long term prospects and doesn't fit in with the LFC policy of progressive development around youth.

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  5. 26 goals in 109 games (20 in 82 league games) - official statistics. Plus 26 assists (by transfermarkt).

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  6. Kolo Toure anyone,?

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  7. he could be a terrific signing....sadly not for us though. he will go to a club which can almost guarantee cl every year.

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  8. JK, I appreciate you bringing up this story again as I too think he's world class and we need him but I honestly think it will never happen. He's been wanting to leave for months now and if BR didn't want to get him before he won't now. AC Milans deal died a while back and we still didn't move. Perhaps BR doesn't see what we see but it looks like the club that snatches him up will have completed quite an impressive coup for free

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  9. Without a doubt he is a class act, but I think he is a bit light-weight for the premier league.... But so is Coutinho, and that does not seem problematic so far.

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  10. Milan just signed kaka can't see him wanting to be second fiddle sitting on the bench although Liverpool will probably have to battle united with Moyes looking very desperate

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  11. JK you seem to be campaigning for Honda to come to LFC. For a person who talk about players, managers, etc etc over hyping players. You have wrote a lot about Honda.

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  12. Yokohama Liverpool Fan6:03 am, September 13, 2013

    How is he light weight? At 182cm, 6ft tall and sturdily built he is hardly light weight.

    http://sofifa.com/en/fifa13/player/147435-keisuke-honda

    At any rate he will be an improvement on Allen, Aspas, Alberto and Coutinho if we are going by body build.

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  13. Yokohama Liverpool Fan6:15 am, September 13, 2013

    To get him for 10m will be a coup never mind a free transfer.

    Don't know what the scouts are doing but he is exactly what we need. A goal scoring attacking MF who can play in the middle, behind the striker, up front on his own or on either wing.

    When he played on the right for CSKA against Zenit he was a constant threat, cutting in onto his left, leaving 3 defenders for dead and bending a shot around the keeper. He scored 2 in that game and scored another 2 for Japan recently in friendly matches.

    He has a lot of upper body strength and at 6ft and 76kgs hardly light weight. He has the knack of popping up at the right moment, has a thunderous shot/free kick, can head from set pieces, hold the ball up and provide killer passes and tackle.

    For those saying 27, too old we need to balance youth with experience.
    Besides Gerrard and Lucas we are lacking in experience in the middle. Honda has at least 6 years left in him. Standard Chartered has always wanted us to sign a top Asian player. Imagine what signing Asia's MVP will do! And not just for Japan!

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  14. Yokohama Liverpool Fan6:16 am, September 13, 2013

    This for me if we an pull it off is a no brainier!!

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  15. Milan has kaka.. i doubt honda would be able to push him off of the starting eleven

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  16. 100% true, Honda is an absolute nonbrainer

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  17. Seen the league table son???

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  18. That's what the plan should be for LFC, be around top 4 by Jan and then pick up exciting prospects from teams who could not get through the group stages in CL. I think this is the thought process behind getting someone like Moses on loan and then getting a top notch LW in January.

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  19. If until JAN our progress still as good as now which mean we back on CL football more realistic. So we need more cover and bigger squad with quality to cope. Honda can boost asia market as well. For me 28yo is at golden peak time of player, if we can sign him on low cost is pretty much a good deal. But bare in mind, non asian (excluded Australian Viduka and co.) player had success at BPL....


    i vote a big yes to HONDA "the power of dream" hehehhee

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  20. Did you watch him during the confederations cup? He's not like coutinho at all, he's 6 feet tall

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  21. Certainly would sell a lot of shirts in Asia too.

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  22. Honda would be great especially on a free transfer. He would fit in nicely with Liverpool's style of play. From a commercial angle, he would be fantastic with shirt sales and other marketing aspects especially in Japan and Asia.


    The other midfielder for Liverpool would be Shinji Kagawa as it looks like Moyes doesn't seems to rate him in MU.

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  23. Honda will hardly join a team where Kagawa, who is arguably an even better AM than Honda, is not even making the bench under Moyes.

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  24. He looks like a bit of an ego to me... not sure about him. If he really was interested in football, in being a great footballer, what the blazes is he doing playing in Russia?

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  25. However much he costs: buy him. He's one of the best midfield prospects I've ever seen. He's as obvious a talent as Wilshere, Sturridge, Bale, that kind of class. Just buy him, and write off the cost against the trophies he'll win us over the next 10 years.

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  26. Absolutely. He will be a top player when he gets a good long run without injuries. Playing alongside Özil will also help.

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  27. He's faded because of injuries. Look at Ramsey. It took him 18 months to get back to the level he was it when he got injured...

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  28. Carrick is not a typical English midfielder....he may not be as dynamic as Stevie G, or flashy as others....but the nature of his game is to provide other players with a platform so they they can make the best use of their talents..... He is like the guy behind the scenes, who's effect or importance will be realised once he is no longer in there....He may not "APPEAR" classy enough for the English Setup... It will be interesting to see how he is viewed from outside English football?...I think that perspective may offer a hint to understanding the significance and importance of the nature of his game.... That's what happened to Scholes. From within the English football fraternity, he was under appreciated/under valued due to various factors, others being the lack of understanding of the nature of his game and how to maximise it's impact within the English team.


    My opinion may sound biased, probably because I love midfielders who play football nice and simple...yet effective.



    I

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