Liverpool completed their last-minute transfer business very early on transfer deadline day, but it now appears that Reds boss Brendan Rodgers tried to bring in one more player right at the death.
According to reports today, Liverpool made a last-ditch attempt to sign Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder, and the Dutch international has confirmed this himself.
When asked today about the alleged Liverpool bid today, Sneijder - who cost Galatasaray £7m in January - told reporters at Holland's training camp:
"It's obviously great to be linked with a club as big as Liverpool, but they have not played Champions League football for a few seasons and I am happy here at Galatasaray."
This is certainly very interesting news. At first glance, it seems like a strange move by Rodgers, but I can see the logic behind the transfer:
- At present, Liverpool have no experienced, reliably creative attacking midfielders.
- Coutinho is the club's only real first-team option in the number 10 role.
- Lucas and Allen are defensive-minded, and do not consistently score/create goals.
- Gerrard is superb, but not the creative force he once was. Plus, he plays deeper these days.
Sneijder may be 29, but he's still a top class attacking midfielder, and as cover for Coutinho, he would've been an intriguing acquisition.
Additionally, this is not the first time Rodgers tried to sign Sneijder. Liverpool tried to sign the Dutchman during the January transfer window, and Reds captain Steven Gerrard was massively in favour of the move. At the time, he told Goals on Sunday:
"He [Sneijder] is a top player we've seen at every major tournament, he delivers. I'd like nothing more than to see him in a red shirt. I think he'd be a fantastic player for Liverpool Football Club".
Sniejder's response is probably indicative of the feelings of many so-called 'top class' players at the moment: Liverpool without Champions League football is just not an attractive proposition at the moment.
His loss.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
According to reports today, Liverpool made a last-ditch attempt to sign Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder, and the Dutch international has confirmed this himself.
When asked today about the alleged Liverpool bid today, Sneijder - who cost Galatasaray £7m in January - told reporters at Holland's training camp:
"It's obviously great to be linked with a club as big as Liverpool, but they have not played Champions League football for a few seasons and I am happy here at Galatasaray."
This is certainly very interesting news. At first glance, it seems like a strange move by Rodgers, but I can see the logic behind the transfer:
- At present, Liverpool have no experienced, reliably creative attacking midfielders.
- Coutinho is the club's only real first-team option in the number 10 role.
- Lucas and Allen are defensive-minded, and do not consistently score/create goals.
- Gerrard is superb, but not the creative force he once was. Plus, he plays deeper these days.
Sneijder may be 29, but he's still a top class attacking midfielder, and as cover for Coutinho, he would've been an intriguing acquisition.
Additionally, this is not the first time Rodgers tried to sign Sneijder. Liverpool tried to sign the Dutchman during the January transfer window, and Reds captain Steven Gerrard was massively in favour of the move. At the time, he told Goals on Sunday:
"He [Sneijder] is a top player we've seen at every major tournament, he delivers. I'd like nothing more than to see him in a red shirt. I think he'd be a fantastic player for Liverpool Football Club".
Sniejder's response is probably indicative of the feelings of many so-called 'top class' players at the moment: Liverpool without Champions League football is just not an attractive proposition at the moment.
His loss.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Its good BR is going for bigger players IF we do get CL soon then I think we will do well to bring in these type of players,
ReplyDeletewhy would sneijder have a change of mind 6 months later,and why try a player after he snubbed us,is wages are massive ,he went for the money,i wanted him in january but not now he made is choice move on
ReplyDeleteWell, Toby said he rejected us as well.
ReplyDeleteCorrectly spoken, his loss not ours. With the transfers BR did this summer I am looking forward to the positives. I sure know that things would turn out well. Then we will see whose loss it definitely is.
ReplyDeleteI think it's bonkers that we sold Downing and only have Moses as replacement who I think is an inferior player to Downing, he typically only scores when playing up top and like Sterling, Ibe, and Coutinho quickly becomes a headless chicken trying to take on the extra player and gives up possession way too easily. Downing did a job and stuck to it we've been poor in each second half we've played and could quite as easily be in Everton's position on 3 points hopefully our second half performances rapidly improve.
ReplyDeletenot good enough anymore only after the money now and as for champions league hes never going to win it at his currant club so glad we didnt sign him and lets hope we qualify and play against him next year and show him what he could have had
ReplyDeleteIt's business mate!! Never take it personal. All we have to do till January is be around the top 4 and all this players will be begging us. Then you can tell them to "jog off" like Steven G did to RVP.
ReplyDeletehe went for the money nothing to do with football ,do i want a player like that no,more interested in his bank account ,than the results on the pitch
ReplyDeleteHe's wayy past it now and his wages are ridiculously high. Don't really know what he's going to achieve in turkey but that's him. We should try and get freddy guarin from inter in January. He's the reason why they didn't need coutinho and sneijder.
ReplyDeleteQuite happy with our window. Mata would have been great.
ReplyDeleteThought this was a nice pic from yesterday.
I posted a couple of days ago that I think we could do with an older experienced head who could have a similar impact to what Gary Mac had 12yrs ago.
ReplyDeleteSchneider fits that profile of player but agree he seems more interested in money than a challenge in a big league. I think we'd have more chance with that kind of player if we are still pushing top 4 come Jan - and at least it's only 3mths away.
All of them goes for the money and the "prestige". If not they would be playing for free. Let's be honest if he would have showed up then you know we can say top 4 will be high probability. I was hoping we could snap Mata but we could not. We just have to hope Coutinho will mature to that level sooner than later.
ReplyDeleteQuite happy with our window. Mata would have been great.
ReplyDeleteThought this was a nice pic from yesterday.
Until January at least. We need a centre mid (guarin), winger (yarmolenko), attacking mid (moritz leigtner) from BVB..he is a talent! And possibly another striker.
ReplyDeleteWesley would have been interesting, even so, look at our fixtures through all of September and October, and tell me just which of those fixtures we will lose, I dont see ONE, if we maintain our present form, and the addition of a Suarez. I know results are not G'teed, they are earned, but i'm more optimistic now than I have been for years. YNWA.
ReplyDeleteI'm not too disappointed to miss out on him. I really would have liked to get a good creative midfielder in to relieve Coutinho and co but if the last two transfer windows have taught me anything its better to wait until the next window if the right deals not there. Also If on the off chance we are still surpassing expectations by Christmas then we will have better options available
ReplyDeleteloved that SG killed RVP
ReplyDeleteI think the DM will come next summer because now he play Agger in DM. He knows how to touch the ball and pick a pass. Striker maybe it's time we bring one of the academy players to see what they can do if not get another one. We most def need a older #10
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I watched the U18s in the USA tournament, got beaten in the final, Ojo looks like a young John Barnes, nonchalantly going by players.
ReplyDeleteAnd Canos looks a real find also, great skill and speed, the future looks bright for those 2.
Great pic!
ReplyDeleteGreat snap, apparently from the shankly shindig yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI think Sakho would be better than Toby or Papadopolous because he's a mix of two and is also two years younger to former and two years younger to the latter lol.
ReplyDeleteThought it was....be ace to get KK back in some club capacity.... just perhaps not with a cheque book involved though ;-)
ReplyDeleteYeah however will we replace Downing's impressive goal/assists figures?
ReplyDeleteSpot on.
ReplyDeletehe had his chance. Not interested now.
Hardly setting the world alight anyway.
yea you need people like Kenny about the club. He has given his heart to the club. would be great to have him back. Yea just dont let him near the safe
ReplyDeleteWhy can't we train Ibe or Alberto to pick up the #10 role to spell Coutinho? They're both quick-footed with good field vision. Yeah, they aren't true #10s but I'm sure they could do the job. Heck why not Suarez? He'd love a chance to be on the the ball more...and it might cure him of his ball-hog tendencies.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel bad about Snejder's decision. He is definitely not the force he was and he can be a liability on the pitch because he can be a bit of a dirty player.
ReplyDeleteSahko. Ilori, Aspas, Alberto, Moses, Mignolet, Toure. I am pretty chuffed with these players and our squad is vastly stronger than it was at the start of last season. Top 4 is more than possible!
ReplyDeleteNot happy that Arsenal got Mesut Ozil though. Yes he may not be worth all of the massive fee Wenger paid but hell what a player to have in ones team and might just be the signing to guarantee Arsenal a top 4 place.
Yes, but since there has to be a good understanding between the Am and the forwards, I think it will take Arsenal a while to get the running smoothly...hopefully not until after 2 Nov. He will definitely not be put off by the speed of the BPL, what with having to serve up CR, Benzema and Higuain.
ReplyDeletegalatasary is all about money they may be a big club in turkey but thats it
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, a few seem to forget just what he's done for LFC over the years because of some signings that didn't perform, admittedly some v. expensive signings. His contribution to the club in total though has been immense. He deserves respect for that IMO.
ReplyDeletewhy would he want to come back ,if he did it would be for two things the fans and love for the club
ReplyDeletehear hear
ReplyDeleteArsenal have long missed a player like Bergkamp and Ozil might just be the answer for them.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if he would mate, just saying it'd be nice to see him back for me
ReplyDeleteaccording to reports fsg asked him back some time ago but nothing happened ,so i doubt he would
ReplyDeleteDidnt want him then and dont want him now....
ReplyDeleteYeah saw that, might be a bit sore or more likely he thinks it's better to put some distance for now and not be Shanks to BR's Bob as it were? Hopefully one day in the not too distant he'll take it up.
ReplyDeleteaint it. I really dont rate him, so glad we didnt get him.
ReplyDeletehe would certainly help when it comes to attracting players,long live the king
ReplyDeletePlayers who want to play champins league football are silly because they should help a team to qualufy for the tournament themselves rather than talk about champions league football they did not help the teams who want yo buy them qualify. It only shows they are cowards. If get(Liverpool) we should not buy them. You only reep what you sow and weed.
ReplyDeletetbh, knowing Kenny, I don`t think he would come back for a while, as he loves the club so much. I`m sure he would know that if he came back now, it could unsettle the new manger. Having the ex manager at your club could cause fan rifts if things went a bit wrong. I think Kenny loves the club to much to risk that.
ReplyDeleteHard to know what to say to someone who thinks Downing is superior to Moses.
ReplyDeleteYup, pretty much what I was referring to above. Really nice to see him and BR getting along just dandy though in the pic.
ReplyDeleteFor me the only real disappointment loaning borini out , I thought we needed the depth up front
ReplyDeleteyour probably right
ReplyDeleteWhy loan to sunderland ? , sunderland have a whole new squad and are losing every game , borini would not be able to excel in such an environment
ReplyDeletecrystal palace , west brom ,Swansea even west ham would have all been better
they may not have wanted them ,swansea would definitly not need him
ReplyDeleteI think you just smile and tell them that their pretty...
ReplyDeleteIs that a Suede suit?? Dr Zaf style faux pas
ReplyDeleteSunderland seem to have an italian connection. Does not matter which EPL club Borini was loaned to. Main thing is for him to get game time. He has been very unfortunate with injuries. He just needs a full season under his belt.
ReplyDeleteSniejder is a mercenary, nothing to do with champs league football! He's also got a suspect temperament, indicative of so many Dutch players. He won't be missed!
ReplyDelete...have you been reading your missus's magazines again? :)
ReplyDeleteNot too bothered he didn't come, was more upset we didn't get Diego Costa or Henrikh Mhkitryan, as they seem to be something the team would benefit from the wide left or through the middle. More pissed that these two didn't come, more than Willan or Erikson (not doubting their talent). Downing was pretty quick but intricate footwork was turd, if Dani Pacheco had Downings pace, think he cud've been like our Pedro type player.
ReplyDeleteYour Missus was in a magazine!!! Hope it was tasteful...;)
ReplyDeletestraight eye for the queer guy
ReplyDeleteoh read it again u wrote my missus... faux pas on me
ReplyDeleteWud u go easier on me if i said I was going through a experimenting faze.. YOLO..
ReplyDeleteHaha. What a response.
ReplyDeleteHis loss indeed. This may be a good season for us to reclaim some of that attraction though. Arsenal are in turmoil and spend 40 million on a player they didn't need. What they are missing is a goal scorer, not another creative midfielder which they have plenty of. Obviously Ozil is a magnificent player but he won't solve their scoring problem. Everton and Man U are in transition so them missing their start might be already enough for us to stay ahead of them. Citeh are inconsistent aswell and getting used to a new manager. If we're still top three in January it may be enough for us to get the one or two in we need to challenge. Here's hoping!
ReplyDeleteSorry but downing was a very poor signing ,Moses has more talent already at 22 !
ReplyDeletePlus downing didn't really fit the system he's after players who can interchange up front
Downing will do ok at west ham with caroll as that's why we bought him to put balls into a big striker
If we had got Schneider we wouldn't care he snubbed us honestly if he played at his best
...and now you're asking him not to be too rough with you? :)
ReplyDeletei would like to see his chaces created to get a better judgement ,it only becomes an assist if the chance is scored and we all know poor finishing and the woodwork,have cost us dearly in downings time at the club
ReplyDeleteleave me alone I'm confused.... this experiment is too much hard work.. Glad I have my reverse flower in tact.
ReplyDeleteFair enough petal ;)
ReplyDeleteOk He was asked by BR to assume the position that he had when Ralfa was the manager. Don't get excited. BR is not going anywhere anytime soon. King Kenny will always want to be around the club and he will always be welcomed back. FSG knows Fans. Boston Red Soxx is like LFC.
ReplyDeleteit didnt seem to bother any of the players that spurs bought that there was no champions league,i suppose its up to them now to get them there, i'm delighted with our business this summer, young hungry players with a big point to prove. fingers crossed for a good run to xmas
ReplyDeleteWhat about agreeing terms with Keisuke Honda now for him to come for nothing in January. He would offer competition for Coutinho in the CAM role and he can play one of the wide roles if needed
ReplyDeleteDowning's only positive attribute was his fitness & marginal pace other than that he's a skilless winger! Moses at 22 has a confidence Downing can only dream of. He is faster, stronger, better dribbler, fearless against top 4 opposition, direct essentially everything Downing isn't & a wing forward should be! Once again, well done BR for your talent spotting & taking LFC in the right direction. It's been ages since we've had anything worth be happy about!
ReplyDeleteI think that Spurs offered much more money than we would...
ReplyDeleteDid that actually go through? I've heard it was rumored that was the case but never saw it confirmed. Great news if true then!
ReplyDeleteWe've not agreed a deal, it was just a suggestion that Honda might be a good option to go for considering we can negotiate and agree now and get him for nothing in 4 months time
ReplyDeleteBro people have to get out off there head players want champions league . That is bullshit
ReplyDeleteCarr I have been telling your loyal reads for some time its all about the money ,
The FSG wont pay the money players are asking and rightly so.
there is no loyalty today lets face it its about money money $$$$$$$$$$$$ the money bubble will burst .
only in his first season with us.
ReplyDeleteAnd Downing's own poor finishing contributed too
downing is the most one dimensional 20 million pound player i've ever seen!
ReplyDeletevan persie and robben seem to have explosive tempers too. in fact, rvp used to be sent out of school class every day by the teacher because he was so disobedient and misbehaved. and who was the player who studded that spanish player in the 2010 WC final?
ReplyDeleteHe would have been good, suppose it depends on the transfer fee. I guess his complete lack of interest makes it a non-starter. We would have enquired but it seems like he's happy where he is so no need to be bothered by it. Still looking for those "hungry" players who want to help make Liverpool a great club.
ReplyDeleteThere is no" IF " Liverpool will be back in the CL, even god supports Liverpool and I know because he told me, call it devine intervention this season watch, you heard it here first.
ReplyDeleteWell, he is Irish
ReplyDeleteI guess people will think again about the club policy on preferring young players. I think it's the right thing to do. Just as an illustration ...
ReplyDeleteSign a 23 year old player for 10 million. He plays for 10 seasons. Total transfer outlay is simple = 10 million and 1 million per year of service he gives to the club.
Sign a 29 year old player for 10 million. He plays for 4 seasons. Needs to be replaced so sign a 28 year old player for 10 million. Plays for 5 seasons. Total outlay = 20 million and > 2 million per year of service from each player.
It's got nothing to do with re-sale value. The idea behind the buy young policy is just that you get more for your money. In the example above, with a good scouting network you get a young player who plays longer for the club, you get more consistency in your squad over the years and since he cost more at a younger age you imagine he has more potential. Experience is always the key but if you back your scouting team and get it mostly right then it's no more or less risky than any transfer.
The end result is that by buying on average 5 years younger you spend half as much money, get a more consistent squad and, if you're good enough in spotting talent, a better quality of player. It's a no-brainer. Experience is important but if you give yourself enough time then you'll grow those experienced players yourself. Buying young doesn't mean you sell your experienced, players, it means you keep them for longer. A few years from now Lucas, Sturridge and Coutinho will be established veterans, potentially in their prime years. They will be the experience we need to achieve great things. Instead of buying experience you just wait, and with patience you get what you need.
So it's not all about money, but in the end it's a very smart way to spend. We're not a super-rich team but we're also not broke. We spend money when needed. Do it right and we'll compete, no problem.
Because footballing wise we had so much to offer him last year as opposed to CL playing and title winners Galatasaray?
ReplyDeleteMy 5-year-old is even a superior player to Downing. No one is inferior to him. Not as a player and not as a person
ReplyDeleteNo great loss. He has the cheek to say that lfc is not fighting for any trophy considering the fact that his club is probably only fighting for the Turkish title and they are just propping up the champions league. Can't see them winning the CL title anytime in the future.
ReplyDeleteGood points but Keisuke Honda a 27 year old available for nothing (not including signing on fee and wages) should be a viable option.
ReplyDeleteI know we've had some dodgy Bosman dealings in the past but I do believe he's worth a punt. If his wages aren't too high his marketing value should cover a lot of it plus he should have some resale value in a year or so if it don't work out.
Just out of interest his market value on transfermarkt.com is £17.5 million not bad for potentially signing him for zero transfer fee
Signing Honda would be excellent asit would provide Coutinho is with some competition.
ReplyDeletethey will always be money in the game ,the haves and the have nots
ReplyDeleteso they were title winners so were a host of clubs in the champions league ,but they do not have the money
ReplyDeletei never expected him to score loads
ReplyDeleteapart from they play baseball
ReplyDeleteYeah, and I think guys like that are definite options, and even Sneijder at a price like 7 million would be useful. There is always a balance.
ReplyDeleteAnd, more importantly, those other clubs didn't try to sign him. As far as I know, it was us and Gala and going by what each side could offer on the pitch, Gala seem the better choice. On top of that, money is good in Turkey but I'm sure we could match their offer. There is a reason it's mainly players in the later part of their career that go there. Liverpool wins hands down if you compare the leagues we play in but for someone like Sneijder it's as important that he can win that league. And Istanbul is a far more beautiful city than Liverpool too :-p
ReplyDeletehow can they offer more on the pitch they may be in the champions league ,because of the league they play in but i doubt they are a better side than us
ReplyDeleteShould have signed Christian Eriksen. Massive mistake by FSG & BR. Utterly disgusted with Moses & Alberto & Aspas. Eriksen and Lukaku would have been better.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that comparing our teams last season. Especially before the winter window which is when he moved. Anyway, they offer Champions League football which I believe Sneijder felt gave him the stage to showcase his talent to the world in order to get a move out of Istanbul and back to the top of litter in Europe quickly. Obviously, that hasn't worked so far.
ReplyDeletehe would have showed his talents miles more to the world at anfield our global television audiances are massive
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that gone are the days of playing for the love of the game, todays footballers forget why they played when they were young, now days it's all about what can you offer me? the clubs need to convince the player, why he should choose a club like LFC or Arsenal etc.. WTF when players reach a certain stage in their career they believe that they need to do what ever it takes to improve their image as a footballer rather than what can they do for the club, It is hard to except but if we look at some of the fans comments then we can see what it's all about ''he won't play for us because we are not in the CL''.
ReplyDeleteThere are the comments about this being a world cup year, ''oh he needs to be playing more because he won't make the team next year for the world cup'' players forget what made them good in the first place the passion for the game.
Guys like Wesley will always look for CL because they believe that it's their god given right, which might be true in their eyes, so they will leave a club if they fail to make the CL and we as fans still have loyalty to that club because that's how we are programmed so we are pissed when this happens (Torres).
The day of the great club players are coming to an end because the love of the game is left behind, once they sign their first big contract, it then becomes about the dollars and what else can you give me, it's sad and i to have said in the past, it's their job and that's it.
Yes it is but they are paid very well and we are loosing a big part of our game Passion, the younger guys coming through don't have it they have hunger, hunger to make it, believe me there is a difference passion is about love and in this case love for the game and club, hunger is is what drives you and when you make it, you become contempt.
Nothing can beat love for the game and club all the true greats had it and the ones still playing today still have it, Stevie, Cara, Lampard, Giggs, etc... this is what we need to in still in our young, remember the love of the game, money will always be there.
Joe Allen being injured...what happens if one or more of our C/M's get injured or a suspension?
ReplyDeleteWe dont have any cover/replacements foe Gerrard.. Hendo & Lucas! Not of the Calibre/experience required.. I'm talking about players whose natural position is C/M .. Not defenders or forwards who have never played for us in that position.