6 Dec 2013

Game On: LFC Chief flies out to sign 'incredible' €20m star. Possible Swap deal...?

Earlier this year, the Agent of Spanish right-back Martin Montoya confirmed that Liverpool are keeping tabs on the 22-year old Barcelona star. With Jose Enrique out injured for a few months, the Reds continue to be linked with replacements, but it appears that Montoya is not that interested in a move.

In May, Spanish newspaper Spanish newspaper Sport alleged that Liverpool had 'enquired about the status of the player' and claimed that Brendan Rogers is a big fan of the Barca player'.

Then, in September, Montoya's agent, Jose Maria Orobitg, told FCInterNews:

"The renewal [of Montoya's contract] has not yet arrived. Inter Milan, Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool are interested"

Now, The Guardian claims that Liverpool are actively trying to sign Montoya:

"Liverpool have opened talks with Barcelona over the possible transfer of the defender Martín Montoya in January. Managing director, Ian Ayre, met Barcelona officials in Catalunya [last] Thursday to discuss a possible transfer fee".

Alas, when asked this week about Liverpool's interested, Montoya told Marca:

"I've been with the club [Barcelona] for 14 years. I still have many months on my contract, and I expect much more than that".

Montoya then went on to contradict himself somewhat by hinting that he could leave the Nou Camp if he remains a bit-part player. He noted:

"I'll talk with the club about transfers because I'm staying on the sidelines. I'm young and I want it keep playing."clause

With Dani Alves and Jordi Alba firmly entrenched in Barcelona's full-back positions, it's unlikely that Montoya is going to break into the team any time soon.

Montoya's contract - which has a €20m buyout clause - expires next summer, and if Barca are not going to offer him a new deal, it seems likely that they'll sell in January to avoid losing him for free.

Former boss, Tito Villanova, rates Montoya, and after the 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in October 2012, he told reporters:

“Martín had Cristiano Ronaldo against him on his flank. But with the match he played, he showed us that he is an incredible player who can jump straight in, adapt and play great”.

Glen Johnson's form at the moment is not the best, and he doesn't really have genuine competition for his place, so it would be good for him to feel the fire for a change. The stumbling block could be the transfer fee. €20m is way to high, but perhaps a part-exchange deal involving long-time Barca target Daniel Agger could be on the cards?



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19 comments:

  1. just because he has a buyout clause of 20 million euros it doesnt mean hes worth that, especially with less than a year left on his contract. i seriously hope you meant barca could offer cash plus montoya for agger, not the other way round. montoya would be good competition for johnson but we still also need a left footed left back. we could easily grab a bargain like oczipka or be ambitious and go for a bigger name like coentrao.

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  2. I said in the article that €20m is 'way too high' for Montoya.

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  3. ye jamie what ya smoking! agger and cash for a player with 6 months left on his contract! and even without his deal running down is only worth bou 8 million, 4 million in january or pre contract and free til the summer

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  4. why throw agger in the mix when we have a £15m rated goalkeeper out on loan that is desperate to get to barca.

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  5. Montoya worth's 15-20 in this market... Hes going to be one of the best right backs in the world. Agger for Montoya lets say is a good deal to secure him, though it will be hard to see Agger leave.


    I mean he is way better than Joe Allen and Henderson, better/will be better, than Sakho.

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  6. Also, for example, i would much rather have him in the team than Willian. And don't forget Rodgers misses on most of his top targets that usually after we don't get them are getting to their pick.

    If we get him i wouldn't be able to think on a better realistic option we could have gotten.

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  7. Indeed, we should be negotiating around Reina/Montoya exchange. Mignolet's done a good enough job to see Reina leave, but our other CB options haven't convinced me that we should lose Agger.
    Of all our CBs, Agger most closely resembles the type of player to suit BRs philosophy in any case and Touré is at best a short term measure (good though he has been). So, no, let's keep Agger thanks.

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  8. Shouldn't we try to use agger and reina to push a swap deal with barca in order to get Alex song , Montoya and tello? This could give a better development for ilori and also sakho, and get in more covers for wings DM and also right back. All the three players of barca are seeking for more first team play time and I think liverpool could offer them that. The only thing which disappoint us will be losing agger.

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  9. Just because Agger had a bad game doesn't change things..He's our vice captain and one of the leaders in our team. He's still the best ball playing defender in the league.
    Don't understand why people rate Lucas Leiva so much who hardly contributes in playmaking....better let Napoli get him and we go for Blaise Matuidi whose contract runs out in summer..

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  10. Maybe Rodgers should try Agger and Sakho as a CB pair? They might both be left footed but Sakho has played right CB before

    What is more, most were moaning about playing 3 CB's and that being the reason for us leaking goals? Well guess what, now we are leaking goals again! Skrtel and Agger are not working as a CB pair this season. They are the worst when it comes to defending set pieces!!!

    Lucas would never be first choice with a player like Yann M'Vila in our squad. Not only that, even Allen has shown that he is more than capable in filling the defensive midfield role and actually has the ability to contribute to our attack.

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  11. After a year on this site, there have been tons of great posts. Still, if a small fraction of them all were true our roster would have 60 people on it.....

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  12. Not sure if Agger is a CB that BR wants to keep. At times he resembles a defender who gets outmuscled/out jumped at set pieces. Going into this season Agger was my favourite CB - largely for the offensive things he does. Now, I can say that he's probably looked the worst. Even Illori looks better as he's yet to have a bad game for the 1st team! Skrtel was my least favourite but he's upped his game and deserves his place as he's been the most consistent. If Barca Aggerh and he wants to go (which it appears he might) and the offer is right then I have no problem in him being used as a bargaining tool. This is a positive way for BR to solve his CD conundrum.

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  13. Rodgers likes to play with a high defensive line. Skrtel is out of his depth in a high defensive line.

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  14. Fans like to read about/discuss transfer rumours. From 2007 to 2011 I never posted anything about transfers, but the number one request from visitors was to post more about transfers, so I obliged.

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  15. Average player. Got played off the pitch against Ajax.

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  16. Seem to recall you saying frequently you only write about what interests you.

    Funny how you sacrificed your principals round about the same time you put ads on the site.

    How weak willed you are.

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  17. That's my belief too, and that Skrtel is the least comfortable in possession. However, his performances this season have shut me up. He has been consistently good so far - even when the team haven't played well.

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  18. Lucas doesn't contribute much in play making as he's not a playmaker

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  19. Keep it up Jamie, we like to hear about them. You also research these rummers way more then the papers. The fact is most are true but not all get signed.

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