Liverpool are reportedly planning to make a €20m January bid for Atletico Madrid star Jorge Resurrección Merodio, aka Koke.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is a big fan of the midfielder - nicknamed the 'new Xavi' - and will try and bring the coveted Spaniard to Anfield during the January transfer window.
With two goals and six assists in eight league appearances this season, Koke is currently La Liga's top assist-maker, though given his total last season of nine assists in thirty-three appearances, the evident excitement over the player is, perhaps, a little premature.
Having said that, Koki is a vital part of the Atletico machine this season, which started the season superbly with eight wins in a row, including a much-cherished derby victory over Real Madrid (the first since the 1990s). Some performance facts about Koke this season:
* Created 17 chances in the first 8 games.
* six assists in the league.
* 82% passing accuracy.
* 93% tackling success rate.
Vicente del Bosque recently selected Koke for the Spanish national team, and he seems convinced that the youngster is destined for a great future. He told reporters:
“Koke is playing very well for his club. He is very complete in his job in the midfield, and he can do practically everything.”
If Rodgers could pull of this signing it would be a massive transfer coup, but to be honest, I doubt the veracity of this particular rumour.
In any event, why would Koke come to Liverpool to play second-fiddle to Lucas, and an ageing Gerrard? He's a regular started for Atletico, but I don't see how that would be the same at Liverpool.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is a big fan of the midfielder - nicknamed the 'new Xavi' - and will try and bring the coveted Spaniard to Anfield during the January transfer window.
With two goals and six assists in eight league appearances this season, Koke is currently La Liga's top assist-maker, though given his total last season of nine assists in thirty-three appearances, the evident excitement over the player is, perhaps, a little premature.
Having said that, Koki is a vital part of the Atletico machine this season, which started the season superbly with eight wins in a row, including a much-cherished derby victory over Real Madrid (the first since the 1990s). Some performance facts about Koke this season:
* Created 17 chances in the first 8 games.
* six assists in the league.
* 82% passing accuracy.
* 93% tackling success rate.
Vicente del Bosque recently selected Koke for the Spanish national team, and he seems convinced that the youngster is destined for a great future. He told reporters:
“Koke is playing very well for his club. He is very complete in his job in the midfield, and he can do practically everything.”
If Rodgers could pull of this signing it would be a massive transfer coup, but to be honest, I doubt the veracity of this particular rumour.
In any event, why would Koke come to Liverpool to play second-fiddle to Lucas, and an ageing Gerrard? He's a regular started for Atletico, but I don't see how that would be the same at Liverpool.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
I think Lucas is the weakest link in our fully fit first eleven. He did okay, but did not stand out during the last few seasons in which LFC never looked like a top 4 team ... before that he wasn't good enough imho. He is also not getting any younger. Sell him next summer for a decent fee (10m or so) and get a better and younger player in.
ReplyDeletewe need players with more than one string to there bow especially in midfield is it to much to ask to have a midfielder who can tackle and weigh in with a few goals as wll as being able to to take a corner without over hitting it
ReplyDeleteIn two transfer windows we are be talked about title contenders.what will we be like after 5 windows.YNWA
ReplyDeletethe music to the vid has got to be the most annoying music ever on another point would not sell Lucas yes i think we can improve on him but we would need back up for that position
ReplyDeletei´d be happy with jorginho to be honest - hellas verona is such a good side in italy atm and hes one of the key players... big future ahead of him!
ReplyDeleteI would prefer more of a dynamic attacking presence in midfield who can assist but also bag goals such as Erikson in addition to Couthino. We have players such as Alberto, Allen and Gerrard who can pass the ball and keep the game ticking over but I would like to see a player with a different profile than the numerous Xavi aliases....
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're right there, Ro. I understand where you're coming from.
ReplyDeleteHow many people would say he passes sideways?????? Not sure we need this type of player. We have one.
ReplyDeleteI agree, we'll never win anything with him in the middle, just has no influence in games. Trouble is no one as enquired about him, so selling him may be a problem.
ReplyDeleteFor once you're right....the proof is in the pudding. Well done, now that wasnt so bad was it.
ReplyDeleteJK I taught you said this was a rubbish made up by a blogger?
ReplyDeleteYou're right O.O
ReplyDeleteWe already have one Xavi in our squad who hasn't made any sort of impact to the club. I think BR has an obsession with Xavi and will bring every Xavi to the club be it Welsh, Japanese, Indian, etc but the closest is the new Spanish Xavi which I am not sure if will hit the ground running just as Coutinho and Sturridge did.
ReplyDeleteInitially, yes, but if mundo deportivo is covering it then it has more weight.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
-------- Original message --------
I just don't. See this guy as an impact guy for us based on the film clip. I think LFC needs to come to grips with SG being past his prime and absent penalty kickas and some of his long range passes, doesn't.t control the ball and game like he once did and we need.... Breaks my heart but its true.........
ReplyDeleteImagine the headlines if we were losing say 3-0, and then Merodio catapulted the team into a 4-3 win. 'Liverpool's resurreccion'.
ReplyDeletenew xavi? how bout the current xavi we had??? hehehee
ReplyDeleteLike I said when it was brought up earlier, Atletico is a better place to be right now than Anfield. Maybe if we can qualify for the CL things will be different in the summer but if he's really that good we would have to be prepared to compete with the big spenders in the world to get him. The one positive of him being at Atletico is that that takes Real out of the running.
ReplyDeletetoo late to sign him. Atletico will never sell. Would be a great signing though. This lad is class!
ReplyDeletewould be massive signing
ReplyDeletebut let suso progress
joe allen is still there he cost 15m
ReplyDeletehe was our best player for a long time
i want to see how he progresses
he has a lot of potential
plus rodgers who has taken lfc to 2nd and worked with joe for 6 years
said he is the welsh xavi
and rodgers judgement is rarely wrong
liverpool need to keep suarez till end of season
ReplyDeletenothing should happen in january
maybe a back up to mignolet but that is it
suso has more potential then him anyway
ReplyDeleteWhen was Joe Allen ever our best player? I agree that the Welsh Xavi deserves a break and should be given time but I don't recall him ever being our best player...
ReplyDeleteLiverpool need to keep Suarez full stop.
ReplyDeleteThe 'New Xavi' and the 'Welsh Xavi'.. what a midfield...
ReplyDeletea lot of broken glass
ReplyDeleteFirst few games under Rodgers, I'm talking maybe three matches where we lost twice and drew once, Allen was our best player.. That's it. I'd say give the guy a chance though.. He's stalled due to injury, but I think he's still got the potential to be good for us. The issue is trying to accommodate him in a squad with Gerrard, Lucas, Coutinho and Suarez, all of whom are better than him at the two roles he can play..
ReplyDeletewe do have better than that >......"" coutinho " he"s name. don't write boring articles please . if u don't have anything to do just rewatch the games where u'll see that lad playing
ReplyDeleteI fink br should bring in adryan (Flamengo) kids got talent!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Brendan. The run since January really is encouraging. We're not talking a couple of games here.
ReplyDeleteJust out of interest, who would you say there is playing in the Premier League for any club who fits that description, as an all round midfielder of real quality? Can we make a list?
ReplyDeleteI can't get past Cabaye. Best all-round midfielder in the division?
its tuff as i dont follow other teams that much if im honest ill have to have a think...diame springs to mind in fits and starts
ReplyDeleteYeah, they're rare players aren't they? Especially if they have to be consistent, which as you say Diame probably isn't. Hmm. Again, stuck on Cabaye.... and Arsenal nearly got him for just £12m... Well, hopefully the scouting team can do a better job than us!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bit96QYo4Zs
ReplyDeleteRecent video of Will Hughes against Reading. Tackles, touch, vision, amazing work-rate and a magnificent goal. Let's have him!
Must have missed that. I thought it was Suarez but that being said, I'm blinded by my Suarez man love.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's a matter of opinion.. Those first three games Suarez only scored once, a free kick, and as we were attempting to play Tiki-Taka football Allen was a brilliant tetrameter for the rhythm of play, arguably the only squad member that could do it with any effect and his performance against City was incredible. However, now that we've to a certain degree moved away from that style of play, it is a wonder how Allen will fit into the team.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, yeah I concur, Suarez basically carried us- Certainly till January.