Over the last year, I've argued many times that Liverpool should - and probably will - sell Daniel Agger, and reports this week suggest that the Dane could be on his way out of Anfield in January, with Rafa Benitez's Napoli the most likely destination. For a long time, it seemed Martin Skrtel would be the first to leave, but things have massively changed this season, and the Slovakian powerhouse is currently Liverpool's most consistent defender. In a recent poll on this site, 68% of over 11,000 participants voted for Skrtel to be sold ahead of Agger, but Reds legend Dietmar Hamann has urged the club to keep Skrtel.
In his column for 5-Times this week, Hamann praised Skrtel's ongoing resurgence in a Liverpool shirt. He enthused:
"Martin Skrtel deserves massive credit. I am a big fan of his and he had a hard time last season but you have to appreciate the professionalism he showed when coming in from the cold against United and he hasn’t looked back. He brings stability in a back four that has chopped and changed this season, I think he’s a tremendous asset for Liverpool".
In October, multiple reports claimed that Zenit St. Petersburg planned to launch a £16m bid for Skrtel during the January transfer window, but his position at Anfield seems safe right now, and I doubt he'd want to leave. Agger, on the other hand, is a different story. According to the Daily Mail this week:
"Napoli are keen to take Daniel Agger on loan from Liverpool in January. Rafael Benitez is keen to be reunited with the Liverpool defender and hopes to do a short term deal in January".
In my view, Liverpool should reject any loan offers and insist on a permanent deal. If Agger goes on loan and gets injured, his value will plummet, and it will make it very difficult to sell him on over the summer for a decent price. The Dane's value right now is probably at an all-time high, and the Reds should capitalise on that ASAP.
Ultimately, it's just not possible to have Sakho and Agger - two experienced, international, left-footed central defenders - in the same team and keep them both happy. This is obvious, and it should've been obvious to Rodgers before he signed Sakho. Of course, it's possible that Rodgers always planned to replace Agger with Sakho, and if that's the case, then great, though I personally doubt that's true (!)
As for Skrtel - despite his excellent form, if Zenit - or some other club - comes in with a massive bid in January, should Liverpool ignore it, or cash-in...?
Author: Jaimie K
In his column for 5-Times this week, Hamann praised Skrtel's ongoing resurgence in a Liverpool shirt. He enthused:
"Martin Skrtel deserves massive credit. I am a big fan of his and he had a hard time last season but you have to appreciate the professionalism he showed when coming in from the cold against United and he hasn’t looked back. He brings stability in a back four that has chopped and changed this season, I think he’s a tremendous asset for Liverpool".
In October, multiple reports claimed that Zenit St. Petersburg planned to launch a £16m bid for Skrtel during the January transfer window, but his position at Anfield seems safe right now, and I doubt he'd want to leave. Agger, on the other hand, is a different story. According to the Daily Mail this week:
"Napoli are keen to take Daniel Agger on loan from Liverpool in January. Rafael Benitez is keen to be reunited with the Liverpool defender and hopes to do a short term deal in January".
In my view, Liverpool should reject any loan offers and insist on a permanent deal. If Agger goes on loan and gets injured, his value will plummet, and it will make it very difficult to sell him on over the summer for a decent price. The Dane's value right now is probably at an all-time high, and the Reds should capitalise on that ASAP.
Ultimately, it's just not possible to have Sakho and Agger - two experienced, international, left-footed central defenders - in the same team and keep them both happy. This is obvious, and it should've been obvious to Rodgers before he signed Sakho. Of course, it's possible that Rodgers always planned to replace Agger with Sakho, and if that's the case, then great, though I personally doubt that's true (!)
As for Skrtel - despite his excellent form, if Zenit - or some other club - comes in with a massive bid in January, should Liverpool ignore it, or cash-in...?
Author: Jaimie K
I wouldn't sell any defenders if at all possible. If we do make UCL next year we're going to need every experienced body we can muster.
ReplyDeleteIt's all great when none of them are injured (Touchwood). Look at our striker situation. Two fantastic ones and then Aspas, Moses, Sterling and thats it.
ReplyDeleteSame in CM. 4 decent ones and thats it. We have a good defense line, except LB. Unless Illori comes in and proves to be a massive hit we shouldn't sell anyone. Skrtel, Sakho, Toure, Agger, Illori, Kelly and Wisdom are our CB options. Toure is old. Kelly and Agger are injury prone with one of them untested in CB. Illori and Wisdom are raw. League titles are won by great defenses and we finally have one after years. If Agger follows Skrtel's lead and comes back stronger he'll be massive. We will definitely get European football next season (CL or EL), So next season we are sure to play atleast 46 games. We are definitely not gonna have the same defense for all the games. Who would you rather have replace Sakho in left side of defense - Agger and similarly for Skrtel - Toure. Its not like everyone is gonna be in peak form all the time. Agger will probably get another chance to prove his quality in one of the next 4 matches. Rodgers has so far followed the rule, Keep a clean sheet and you're in for sure, if the weakest one of you goes out. That's good. This is what competition is all about.
Rodgers has said the is going to promote rossiter and smith to the 1st team squad both excellent prospects but as yet not a patch on Texiera. Mark my words Texiera will one day make Brendon look even more foolish than when he tried to do a straigh swap Henderson for Dempsey. My only reason fo championing this lad is what is best or LFC.
ReplyDeleteRyan mclochlan alsodeerves his cance.
ReplyDeleteI think Agger is great and I love to have him in our team but when I look at it, Skrtel is the one I feel we would miss the most. Despite the fact Agger is good on the ball, that's not what he is there for. Sakho does a defenders jobs better than Agger and so a partnership between him and Skrtel makes for a more solid back line. With defensive cover in Toure and *hopefully* Illori, we should be in a strong position.
ReplyDeleteAnyone heard anything to do with Coates recently? If he improved he'd be a brilliant option.
Huh? Who? What?1
ReplyDeleteDon't agree with selling Agger at all. I think a loan spell for the rest of the season is fine. If we get CL next year, that's 4 competitions we will be involved in. We will still need Agger next year. If we sell him, it's time to start looking for another experienced quality left sided centre back, because one is not enough for 4 competitions when you take injuries,form into account. So what's the point of selling him? Very poor decision if we sell Agger or Skrtel, and personally i don't think BR will. Loan at the very most.
ReplyDeleteBring in Papadopoulos next summer to partner Sakho in central defence. There we have our centerback pairing for the next ten years. Two real brick shithouses!!
ReplyDeleteto be honest, I've been hoping ilori would strengthen up and step up, his technical ability coupled with his pace would make him a great pairing with sakho... hopefully he gets to go out on loan and improve
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely no point in selling anyone in January never mind our vice captain. We could go top this weekend, all players especially Agger should want to be part of this challenge. Why weaken the squad at such a crucial time? Makes no sense at all.
ReplyDeleteThe post you replied to reminds me so much of something from carr71 ;-)
ReplyDeletei miss him tbh - he´s a good guy
ReplyDeleteAgger stays. The hell with the money.
ReplyDeleteWhere'd they all go?
ReplyDeletecant sell, one injury at the back and were stretched too thin too keep winning games like we are.
ReplyDeleteI killed them.
ReplyDeleteI take a Highlander approach to internet comment sections.
There can be only one.
People are saying we'll need Agger next year- I'm not convinced. We'll have Skrtel, Sakho and Toure coupled with a hopefully more ready Wisdom, Illori and even Kelly. Who's to say Coates wont still be here? Unlikely, but I think Agger should be the one to go. He's been a great servant, but seems to have lost his edge. I don't know if the reason he stays fit more often nowadays is because he is less committed, but I'd have to say there is a negative correlation between his fitness and his form.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a huge Skrtel fan myself, and if we got a monster offer, something like £20mil plus, we should take it. I don't trust him to maintain this long-term. He was brilliant when he first arrived, and then tailed off for a few years. Then with Kenny he was much better again but then dipped. You can make explanations as to why these things happened (rotation under Rafa, unfamiliarity with Rodgers' system) but to me, it speaks to a deeper problem with his mentality. I don't trust him to be steady in those decisive moments.
ReplyDeleteThat said, he has been easily our best defender this season and maybe he has matured now. We'll see.
I have never been a Skrtel fan either. Play him alongside Coates or any other inexperienced CB and he crumbles. He is a reactive defender. We need proactive defenders.
ReplyDeleteAs long as he has a commanding CB alongside him then I guess he will be ok.
Carr's negativity was just too much. He is probably still arguing that Rodgers and FSG are going to destroy the club.
ReplyDeleteI hope Ilori will come good, still a young lad and all but tbh i fear he'll become another Coates. We should loan the lad out for the whole of next season Suso style.
ReplyDeleteWild Card!
ReplyDeleteJust noticed that Assaidi is starting a League Cup match ahead of Charlie Adam...interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou have a point Jaimie, but you shouldn't weaken the squad. All the defenders are working hard for a starting spot, and that will only contribute to conquering our challenge of top 4 this year. Worry about it at the end of the season.
ReplyDeleteJason got banned, hahaha. He was funny to read sometimes...
ReplyDeleteSo we're sitting second at the moment, and he's probably shouting out at, 'let's get Kenny back! He'll buy us better players! Languishing around 7th/8th is better and more progressive than second!'
ReplyDelete