In the summer of 2012, Liverpool were heavily linked with a move for Spanish star Michu, who ultimately ended up at Swansea for the ridiculously low fee of £2.2m. Swans boss Michael Laudrup claims Michu is now worth £30m, a valuation backed up today by club Chairman Huw Jenkins, and new reports today suggest that Liverpool and Arsenal are still keen on signing the highly effective attacker.
According to the Daily Mail today:
"Liverpool and Arsenal continue to monitor his [Michu's] progress, though [Huw] Jenkins insists he has ‘never had a single phone call to express interest’ in the player".
In December, Michael Laudrup claimed that Michu is worth £30m (€35m). He told The Independent:
"We have the example of what Liverpool paid for Joe Allen [£15m], if they have to pay double for Michu there are few clubs who could afford that. A guy who has scored many goals must be worth a lot more, so you work out the figures".
Jenkins appears to agree with Laudrup's valuation. He told reporters today:
"I would say Michael was about right with his valuation of Michu if you look at the current market, but this call up [to the Spain squad] enhances that further. We know we have a very talented player and naturally we want to keep him".
The Spaniard - described recently by Arsenal's Santi Cazorla as an 'incredible player' - extended his contract with Swansea in January, but in a recent interview, the 27-year old midfielder hinted that he'd be open to a move. He told TalkSport:
"To move to another team, there has to be a negotiation with the club and I need a good proposal. To date I have not received anything."
I don't doubt Michu's commitment to Swansea, but like most footballers, he's probably ambitious, and I'm sure the Spaniard realises that his consistently good form in the Premier League has opened a lot of doors, and his exit over the next year - along with Laudrup - is highly likely:
* After paying only £2m for him, Swansea could potentially make an amazing profit, and for a club that's only been out of the Championship for a couple of years, the money could be too hard to turn down.
* Swansea are an effective team, but Michu is 27 now, and entering the prime of his career. As such, if he wants to compete for the big trophies, he'll know that a move to a club more capable of doing that is a necessity
* No disrespect to Swansea, but I wouldn't be surprised if Michu sees the Swans as a stepping stone to a club that's more capable of challenging for the Champions League.
* It wouldn't surprise me if Swansea extended Michu's contract to ensure that they get a big fee for him in the summer. This is standard practice: the more years left on a contract, the more expensive the player.
Over the summer, Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson chose Michu - scandalously ignored in the POTY awards - as the signing of the year. He told The Mirror
"Robin Van Persie has been outstanding but he cost £22million while Michu cost £2million. It’s a no-brainer. He proves that you can steal players from La Liga. There are bargains to be had".
Last week, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also heaped praise on Michu, comparing him to one of the club's legends of the past. He told reporters:
"I see him [Michu] like Bergkamp, more than an up-front striker. They can play with both [strikers] because Michu’s the kind of striker who is a midfielder as well. He can play both positions"
Realistically, there's no chance (IMO) that any club will pay £30m for Michu, even if he's worth it. As Laudrup recently stated (re transfers), 'everyone knows the general economic situation in the world', and if players like Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Demba Ba (and a host of others) go for less than £12m, I don't see how Swansea will get £30m for Michu.
Liverpool desperately need players who can score from midfield, and it would be fantastic to see the Spaniard at Anfield, but for £30m? No chance, and I seriously doubt the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United, Real Madrid etc would pay that much.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
According to the Daily Mail today:
"Liverpool and Arsenal continue to monitor his [Michu's] progress, though [Huw] Jenkins insists he has ‘never had a single phone call to express interest’ in the player".
In December, Michael Laudrup claimed that Michu is worth £30m (€35m). He told The Independent:
"We have the example of what Liverpool paid for Joe Allen [£15m], if they have to pay double for Michu there are few clubs who could afford that. A guy who has scored many goals must be worth a lot more, so you work out the figures".
Jenkins appears to agree with Laudrup's valuation. He told reporters today:
"I would say Michael was about right with his valuation of Michu if you look at the current market, but this call up [to the Spain squad] enhances that further. We know we have a very talented player and naturally we want to keep him".
The Spaniard - described recently by Arsenal's Santi Cazorla as an 'incredible player' - extended his contract with Swansea in January, but in a recent interview, the 27-year old midfielder hinted that he'd be open to a move. He told TalkSport:
"To move to another team, there has to be a negotiation with the club and I need a good proposal. To date I have not received anything."
I don't doubt Michu's commitment to Swansea, but like most footballers, he's probably ambitious, and I'm sure the Spaniard realises that his consistently good form in the Premier League has opened a lot of doors, and his exit over the next year - along with Laudrup - is highly likely:
* After paying only £2m for him, Swansea could potentially make an amazing profit, and for a club that's only been out of the Championship for a couple of years, the money could be too hard to turn down.
* Swansea are an effective team, but Michu is 27 now, and entering the prime of his career. As such, if he wants to compete for the big trophies, he'll know that a move to a club more capable of doing that is a necessity
* No disrespect to Swansea, but I wouldn't be surprised if Michu sees the Swans as a stepping stone to a club that's more capable of challenging for the Champions League.
* It wouldn't surprise me if Swansea extended Michu's contract to ensure that they get a big fee for him in the summer. This is standard practice: the more years left on a contract, the more expensive the player.
Over the summer, Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson chose Michu - scandalously ignored in the POTY awards - as the signing of the year. He told The Mirror
"Robin Van Persie has been outstanding but he cost £22million while Michu cost £2million. It’s a no-brainer. He proves that you can steal players from La Liga. There are bargains to be had".
Last week, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also heaped praise on Michu, comparing him to one of the club's legends of the past. He told reporters:
"I see him [Michu] like Bergkamp, more than an up-front striker. They can play with both [strikers] because Michu’s the kind of striker who is a midfielder as well. He can play both positions"
Realistically, there's no chance (IMO) that any club will pay £30m for Michu, even if he's worth it. As Laudrup recently stated (re transfers), 'everyone knows the general economic situation in the world', and if players like Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Demba Ba (and a host of others) go for less than £12m, I don't see how Swansea will get £30m for Michu.
Liverpool desperately need players who can score from midfield, and it would be fantastic to see the Spaniard at Anfield, but for £30m? No chance, and I seriously doubt the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United, Real Madrid etc would pay that much.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
If Joe Allen was worth £15 million then yes he probably would be worth £30 odd million, but Joe Allen wasn't really worth £15 million IMO.
ReplyDeleteThey may say he is worth that much, but I doubt, if he were to leave, they would get that much for him.
He would be a great addition to Liverpool. We do need a player like him.
I think if we did try to sign him, we would probably end up paying £20-£25 million.
Michu has gone from one of the most underrated to one of the most overrated players in the league. Any top six club can do alot better than buying into the hype. Personally would not want him at Arsenal for 10m let alone 30m+. Really surprised he has made the Spain squad & expect him to be found out at a higher level.
ReplyDeleteNo one is like bergkamp
ReplyDeleteStill a quality player though.
ReplyDeleteWith ALL respect to the writer, Michu had already won a trophy with The Swans. Yes of course he's worth £35m in THIS mkt. As a Gunner would I have him? Not at that price, but that's because I am a Wenger style fan, not because he's not worth it. Bolted on that Swansea will sell given the profit to be made. They'd be mad not to. He will only likely go to a CL club.
ReplyDeleteIf an article says 'no disrespect to Swansea', you can bet your bottom dollar that is just what is involved. Some of us think that the mighty Swans can rise still higher. While there are plenty of asset strippers hovering around, one might speculate that some investors might look at the players in the side, plus the dearth of PL football west of Birmingham, and think it is worth building on what is there.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing in the article that constitutes 'disrespect' for Swansea.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. One of my favourite players ever. Such a genius.
ReplyDeleteActually he'd be a good addition at Allen's valuation of 15m rather 30-35m because that's not what he's going for at least.
ReplyDeleteIf Liverpool are thinking of selling Suarez then they could do a lot worse than Michu. Not saying that he is anything close to like-for-like replacement but he is quality. If Suarez is worth £40M then Michu is worth £30M. When Joe Allen gets fit he will prove his worth - much better than Henderson or Lucas
ReplyDeleteMichu is 27 this year, turns 28 next year March. FSG will gladly pay 30 million for a youngster but not for a player who might find it difficult stepping up to a (with no disrespect) bigger club than Swansea.
ReplyDeleteHow does 10 or 15 mil +J A sound?
ReplyDeleteDEMBA BA IS THE BEST EXAMPLE
ReplyDeleteit is easy scoring for small clubs but harder for bigger clubs
ask anydy carroll?
i would not even take benteke
sign no one
liverpool squads a lot like italys in 2012
ReplyDeletestrikers : balotelli , di natale,cassano, giovionco and borini
liverpool : sturridge,suarez,moses ,aspas
wingers : giarrachi
liverpool sterling
midfielders : montolivo,pirlo,marchico,motta,naicero and diamamnti
liverpool : coutinho,gerrard,henderson,lucas,allen and alberto
defenders : abate,maggio,balzerati
liverpool : johnson,kelly,enrique
cb : de rossi , cheilleni, balzaragi ,bonnuchi and ogbonna
liverpool: agger ,skrtel,toure ,sakho and iloris
I think Michu's record speaks for itself. Anyone who finds him overrated should look at the likes of Allen, Carol and all these British lads, now that is overrated. I Wonder how much Suarez would cost had he been British. Albeit, he just bit Sturridge. What do you make of this:http://www.soccerreport.com/suarez-bites-sturridge/ …
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get through 'FSG will gladly pay 30 million'
ReplyDeleteI think he is worth not more than 10-15mn at best. Never rated him very highly for some reasons.
ReplyDeleteNo disrespect but strange article. If teams don't want to pay the asking price then don't and go elsewhere. No disrespect but if people don't rate him, then don't buy him. Easy.
ReplyDeleteNot really, I like a car and I cannot afford it at a stated price so I will try to negotiate before going somewhere else. Maybe something will work out.
ReplyDeleteRodgers > Prandelli
ReplyDeleteAlso, unlike cars...players do have a say in it.
ReplyDeleteNow we also know why LFC were in no way interested in Papiss Cisse...
ReplyDeleteFSG will stump up the cash for the right player. Costa who was close to joining LFC would have cost the club in the region of 30 million pounds but do not expect them to pay 30 million for Michu. He is not worth that much.
ReplyDeleteWe will finish ahead of manu, by the way...
ReplyDeleteBid 17. Go 22-23 top. Very good player, But even if in the past we went insane on prices, there's not one reason in the world why we should continue to so.
ReplyDeletewhy do we need michu ?
ReplyDeletei think if we are too persist with 352 mkhitaryan looks the biggest loss
and we should sign someone like him
And most probably it won't
ReplyDeleteyour in dreamland if you think allen is better than hendo and lucas..he doesn't have the tools in his locker physically to improve that much you cant train power and speed two things needed in a midfielder now a days
ReplyDeletejoe allen was an 8m pound player and thats stretching it
ReplyDeleteWould Swansea take Allen back for GBP 8M?
ReplyDeleteActually I think we should stop harping on the price paid for Allen. The reason BR paid that was becos he just left Swansea and needed someone who knew his system well. I actually feel that he has really been underestimated by everyone for what he is good at which is retain possession. He might be worth maybe 10-12mil and we overpaid for him but what can we do? BR wanted him so Huw talks about Allen becos he wants to try to raise the value of michu but we don't need him to lead us by the nose right? For his age he should probably go for 18-20mil but nowadays teams have to overpay when they are desperate, so 30m is definitely out of the question unless he bangs in 30 goals this season.
ReplyDeleteLeave him at Swansea. He was a great deal to have missed out on but there is no point in paying over the mark for him now. If we pay 30 million, we should get a 30 million player.
ReplyDeleteDisrespectful article from a club with fans who believe they are entitled to success. Without your American owners you wouldn't be able to afford Michu. Glory hunters.
ReplyDelete"his exit over the next year - along with laudrup...is highly likely" - what do you call this? Find another feeder club scum bag
ReplyDelete