Liverpool continue to be linked with a January move for Paris St. Germain attacker Javier Pastore, who last week claimed that 'everything' about the transfer speculation linking him is 'wrong'. This week, however, it appears that the Argentinian star is close to accepting that a move is a necessity to keep his World Cup dream alive.
LFC have reportedly been tracking 'disillusioned' Pastore for 'a few months', and sources in Italy today claim that:
* The 24-year-old is 'reconsidering his options as he wants regular first-team football ahead of the World Cup'.
* Liverpool are 'leading the chase' as he is ineligible to play in the Champions League for Manchester United, Man City, Arsenal or Chelsea.
In August, Pastore - nicknamed 'El Flaco' - admitted that the pressure of being at PSG affected his performance last season, but after a summer of big signings, he's now more relaxed. He told ESPN:
"With the players that have come in, the pressure is no longer only on me. It's better for me to have less pressure. Other players have the burden. When the responsibility is shared on the shoulders of your team-mates, it's better."
In September, Marcelo Simonian - Pastore's Agent - hinted that a move could be on the cards. He told reporters:
"In football there are always ups and downs. He [Pastore] has been happy there, but now is not the time for nostalgia. We will see what happens in the next few months."
Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi have both praised Pastore in the past. Last season, Zidane enthused:
"He [pastore] is a vital player for Paris. He has demonstrated that he was interesting in the game by scoring goals and playing decisive passes. He is good in Paris, it is necessary to let him play"
Messi plays alongside Pastore for Argentina, and he also believes the attacker is top class. He told FIFA.com:
"You can see he is tough, he's physically fit and he's going to go far, I am convinced of it. We played alongside each other [for Argentina] and we struck up a good understanding"
Pastore cost PSG €42m (!) in 2011, and it seems unlikely that PSG will sell the Argentinean for anything less than £30m. He is 24, entering the prime of his career, and Liverpool would probably not be able to afford him...unless, of course, the club sells Luis Suarez in January, which 'aint gonna happen.
With the walking wounded stacking up for LFC at the moment - and the possibility of more injuries over the next three weeks - the Reds need quality reinforcements, but Pastore is probably a pipe dream at this stage. Stats since 2011:
* 25 goals/15 assists in 98 apps.
* Goal every 4 games.
* Goal/assist every 2.4 apps.
Author: Jaimie K
LFC have reportedly been tracking 'disillusioned' Pastore for 'a few months', and sources in Italy today claim that:
* The 24-year-old is 'reconsidering his options as he wants regular first-team football ahead of the World Cup'.
* Liverpool are 'leading the chase' as he is ineligible to play in the Champions League for Manchester United, Man City, Arsenal or Chelsea.
In August, Pastore - nicknamed 'El Flaco' - admitted that the pressure of being at PSG affected his performance last season, but after a summer of big signings, he's now more relaxed. He told ESPN:
"With the players that have come in, the pressure is no longer only on me. It's better for me to have less pressure. Other players have the burden. When the responsibility is shared on the shoulders of your team-mates, it's better."
In September, Marcelo Simonian - Pastore's Agent - hinted that a move could be on the cards. He told reporters:
"In football there are always ups and downs. He [Pastore] has been happy there, but now is not the time for nostalgia. We will see what happens in the next few months."
Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi have both praised Pastore in the past. Last season, Zidane enthused:
"He [pastore] is a vital player for Paris. He has demonstrated that he was interesting in the game by scoring goals and playing decisive passes. He is good in Paris, it is necessary to let him play"
Messi plays alongside Pastore for Argentina, and he also believes the attacker is top class. He told FIFA.com:
"You can see he is tough, he's physically fit and he's going to go far, I am convinced of it. We played alongside each other [for Argentina] and we struck up a good understanding"
Pastore cost PSG €42m (!) in 2011, and it seems unlikely that PSG will sell the Argentinean for anything less than £30m. He is 24, entering the prime of his career, and Liverpool would probably not be able to afford him...unless, of course, the club sells Luis Suarez in January, which 'aint gonna happen.
With the walking wounded stacking up for LFC at the moment - and the possibility of more injuries over the next three weeks - the Reds need quality reinforcements, but Pastore is probably a pipe dream at this stage. Stats since 2011:
* 25 goals/15 assists in 98 apps.
* Goal every 4 games.
* Goal/assist every 2.4 apps.
Author: Jaimie K
