Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg are once again monitoring Reds star Martin Skrtel with a view to making a January bid for the much-improved defender.
According to The Mirror:
"Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is back on Zenit St Petersburg's radar.
"The Russian club have set aside around £16million (€18m) [for the transfer] and old boy Skrtel is one of the names on their list"
Zenit considered putting in a bid for Skrtel during the January transfer window. At the time, Russian newspaper Isvestia reported:
"Zenit are considering the possibility bringing Martin Skrtel back to the club. The National champions plan to strengthen their defensive line up with the return of Skrtel, who will have no problems adapting to the Russian league"
Former Russian footballer Boris Chuhlov believes that Skrtel would make a great acquisition for Zenit, and in a recent interview, he noted:
"Skrtel is good and reliable defender and his return [to Zenit] would greatly increase competition for a place in the starting line-up. He would really help the team, but I don't think he would leave Liverpool. The only reason he might leave is to get a better, and the chance to appear in the Champions League"
Prior to joining Liverpool, Skrtel - recently described by Jose Enrique as an 'incredible lad and a top player' - spent 4 years at Zenit, and in a recent interview, he revealed that he still watches out for the club's results. He said:
"I enjoyed my time in St. Petersburg; the the fans and the city were great. This team, which collected a large number of high-profile players, sets a very high goals. I always watch the progress of the Zenit and enjoy seeing their success"
When asked about his future in August, Skrtel admitted (once again) that other clubs are interested. He told Sky Sports:
"Anything is possible. There are alternatives.
Skrtel is in excellent form at the moment, but I get the feeling that he is in the shop window right now, just like Stewart Downing was last season, and the club will probably sell if a genuine buyer appears on the scene.
It's a shame because when he's on form, Skrtel is an excellent player, but having four senior central defenders is (arguably) not sustainable, especially in a season with a reduced number of games.
For me, it's a no-brainer. If Zenit - or any other team - offers €18m (!) for Skrtel, the club would be mad not to take it.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
According to The Mirror:
"Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is back on Zenit St Petersburg's radar.
"The Russian club have set aside around £16million (€18m) [for the transfer] and old boy Skrtel is one of the names on their list"
Zenit considered putting in a bid for Skrtel during the January transfer window. At the time, Russian newspaper Isvestia reported:
"Zenit are considering the possibility bringing Martin Skrtel back to the club. The National champions plan to strengthen their defensive line up with the return of Skrtel, who will have no problems adapting to the Russian league"
Former Russian footballer Boris Chuhlov believes that Skrtel would make a great acquisition for Zenit, and in a recent interview, he noted:
"Skrtel is good and reliable defender and his return [to Zenit] would greatly increase competition for a place in the starting line-up. He would really help the team, but I don't think he would leave Liverpool. The only reason he might leave is to get a better, and the chance to appear in the Champions League"
Prior to joining Liverpool, Skrtel - recently described by Jose Enrique as an 'incredible lad and a top player' - spent 4 years at Zenit, and in a recent interview, he revealed that he still watches out for the club's results. He said:
"I enjoyed my time in St. Petersburg; the the fans and the city were great. This team, which collected a large number of high-profile players, sets a very high goals. I always watch the progress of the Zenit and enjoy seeing their success"
When asked about his future in August, Skrtel admitted (once again) that other clubs are interested. He told Sky Sports:
"Anything is possible. There are alternatives.
Skrtel is in excellent form at the moment, but I get the feeling that he is in the shop window right now, just like Stewart Downing was last season, and the club will probably sell if a genuine buyer appears on the scene.
It's a shame because when he's on form, Skrtel is an excellent player, but having four senior central defenders is (arguably) not sustainable, especially in a season with a reduced number of games.
For me, it's a no-brainer. If Zenit - or any other team - offers €18m (!) for Skrtel, the club would be mad not to take it.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
I agree- for this money sell him.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a huge fan of him. On form Agger should be the one to go, but I think Dan is the more reliable (and a good figure for the dressing room).
Funnily enough I think Kolo is our best centre-half, at the moment at least. When people ask me to pick centre back partnership, I tend to go for Kolo and one other. Great piece of business.
Assuming that we're going to continue to utilise the 3-4-1-2 formation then us having a fifth covering centreback would ultimately be a necessity and the thought of us having to recruit another CB makes me feel sick!That said, I do think that the sooner we can relinquish Skrtel the better- He doesn't suit our style of play at all and when the ball's at his feet it makes me feel sick!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's time for us to utilise Martin Kelly as the covering CB? Despite an injury sodden career so far, when considering his greater versatility and technical abillity I really think he's a better option. For me, Skrtel's a rather expensive benchwarmer (No way he'll keep our vice-captain out of the team and the other three CBs are Brendan's own acquisitions) and a few quid off the back of losing him would line the pockets rather nicely for the task of further improving our squad..
hahahahaha. He's the ultimate white skinhead that st.petersburg fans would love.
ReplyDeleteIf we are still racking up the points and Skrtel is thriving with the competition for places and upping his game as a consequence then I don't agree with selling him. Our target is to perform well in the league and upsetting the defence is a sure fur way to disrupt results. Not in the January window.
ReplyDeleteSell in the next SUMMER window. We need the strongest possible defensive squad till the end of the season. Let Skrtel just increase and increase his price tag, and then sell him.
ReplyDeletei agree there is a feeling with BR that he is that type of guy - especially all the reassurances given to downing. but downing never really performed - the lasting image of downing as a liverpool player will never be one who went past defenders or cut in and went past defenders. For some reason he would come across the first defender and then pass - rather like what sterling is doing.
ReplyDeleteSkirtel on the other hand since his return has been a rock - and i agree with Vermhat King Kolo is our best centre half. If we are to play 3 at the back one will have to sit out unless he is going to rotate them i.e with one sitting out. I dont think Agger would appreciate sitting out and you dont spend 15 million on a player and make him sit out - so skirtel may get the short straw or he may consider Toure.
One player who may move is Coates once injury free.
Maybe ... I'm not sure now. Having seen us play 3 at the back a few times I would say that it works well. 5 players (including Ilori) competing for 3 regular starting spots seems reasonable enough. You'd expect a CB to get injured at least for a few weeks a season which means 4 is a minimum and therefore 5 is ideal is a top flight team looking to compete in many competitions. Toure isn't particularly young and Agger has his injury history to contend with. I think if we're going to persist with a 3-5-2 then all of these guys are going to stay. If Skrtel is worth that money in the market then it means other clubs agree that he has a clear set of skills and positive qualities. We should be hanging on to players who are worth that much, not farming them off.
ReplyDeleteCoates surely doesn't have a future at the club. We'll do everything we can to get him back to full fitness and see about selling him in the summer. The problem is that people speak of an ACL rehabilitation like it can be over in 6 months but that's the absolute minimum time it takes for the surgery to heal, the graft to strengthen and the muscles to be re-trained. I'd say it takes more like a full year to get over something like that and be back at your previous level.
ReplyDeleteaye coates apart from a superb goal against qpr a couple of seasons ago hasnt shown much - it just depends on whether BR has enough patience or even any interested parties. He may well even come good!
ReplyDeleteBR has a good enough team to challenge for top 4 - but he needs to strengthen midfield now to make sure he can challenge for the title. And on the horizon will be replacing gerrard! That will be a huge challenge as well.
If he continues to play as well as he has, keep him! If he can't sustain the form, then sell. I am pleased he got himself back on track as a player when he could have just sulked in the corner. People get hurt in this league and depth is important. Nuke guys like Coates and Allen..........I still think we can free up some of our defense log jam by experimenting with Cissoko and Ilori as midfielders . Didn't Carra play midfield in his earlier days?
ReplyDeletei would not trust the mirror , times,telegraph etc but not mirror or mail
ReplyDeleteIf Sakho is worth 18 million, Skrtel should go for at least 20.
ReplyDeletesign pogba
ReplyDeleteimagine how annoyed it would make utd fans
while we are at it lets try and snatch junuazy
utd never more vunrebale
well sakho is much younger than him first of all and IMO he is better than skrtel. time will tell us if I'm right or wrong !
ReplyDeleteThat's not a very nice thing to say and quite offensive to Skrtel as well imo..
ReplyDeleteAgree
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing though...time. Skrtel has a track record and is currently showing how good he is. Not two years from now. If it starts raining in november, do you hide in a cave or under a beautiful tree which will have beautiful leaves on it next May?
ReplyDeleteJunuazy? No thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's not an insult to Skrtel, it's a fact; he's bald, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm not saying he's a bloody neo-nazi. The joke is making reference to all of the racist, neo-nazi Zenit fans, and skrtel with his bald head and tattoos happens to stereotypically look like them, which is something they'd particularly embrace. I have blonde/brown hair and blue eyes, and I basically look like one too. I would kind of understand if Skrtel's hair is balding, and he only shaves it off to hide that, but when fully grown, he's got a complete mop of hair.
ReplyDeleteMagic touch What you think of Song and De Bruyne? as our midfield options for the January window
ReplyDeleteFor the quoted money then I think we should sell, we could reinvest on a DM.
ReplyDeleteSkrtel on his day is a great player, top notch, but I'm sure when Glen Johnson return from injury after the international then we will revert to a back four. With Sakho/Agger or Sakho/Toure the preferred partnership.
So maybe now is the time to sell? It's nice having good back up but at his age (peaking age) he needs to be playing.
What does everyone think of Harry Wilson who is 16 and plays for our u18's being called up to the Senior Wales team?
I think it's silly, but no doubt excellent experience for him.
Tidy little player.
De Bruyne? Yes! He is a good player and I'm sure he would be an asset to us!
ReplyDeleteSong from Barca? Definitely a good player although I have not heard good things from him while he was at Arsenal i.e. lack of commitment and effort in training etc...
But who knows.
I really hope BR bids for De Bruyne but i doubt Chelsea will sell to us.
ReplyDeleteKelly has hardly more technical ability than Skrtel
ReplyDeleteLol maybe he ment January...
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I don't think he's sensational on the ball or anything.. But he's demonstrated enough quality to prove he can play as a fullback, which I would consider needs a higher level of technical ability than CB. That accompanied by the fact that I honestly think Skrtel's distribution is dreadful (cite the incidents against City last year and our defeat to Soton a couple of weeks ago). For me they're reason enough for me to believe he's better for our style of play- He also has a nice turn of pace, making him more compatible for a high defensive line..
ReplyDeleteTop players, but I don't think they'd be too interested in coming to Anfield.. Even though we've had a top start and illustrious history, our recent seasons would maybe be enough to put them off coming here. De Bruyne will probably want to try and prove himself at Chelsea (also, Chelsea probably won't want to sell to us.. Especially after Stuzzers) and Song would want CL football!
ReplyDeleteI think the Britishway might be to just sell Coates and Allen. Not that your solution should be dismissed out of hand though.
ReplyDeleteU get sick so often you should see a doctor. Either that or
ReplyDeletestop supporting Liverpool.
Nahh, it's half the fun sunshine.
ReplyDeleteIt's my opinion that nuking would be appropriate for Coates, because he seems like such a nice lad and should go out in style, but perhaps just a light napalming would suffice for Allen. We British, you will recall, were the first to use napalm, against Greek partisans during and after WW2, so it would perhaps be the most patriotic solution.
ReplyDelete