Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers recently dispatched the club's Chief Scout to watch Olympiacos striker Kostas Mitroglou in action, but it now seems that any potential January deal is dead in the water.
According to Olympiacos's official site, Mitroglou has extended his contract with the club until June 2017.
Crucially, the new deal eliminates the attractive €8m buyout clause in his old contract, which made Mitroglous such an appealing option to a variety of clubs.
Reacting to the new deal, Mitroglou enthused:
"I'm really happy that I renew once again with the team that belongs in my heart. I want to thank the club and the president Vangelis Marinakis who have always believed in me even at times when my career was not progressing as I dreamed. I will give everything in training and in matches to try and make our fans happy"
Given the fact the deal is just a one-year extension, it seems like a strategic move by Olympiacos: with no cheap buyout clause, the club can now demand a bigger fee if/when clubs come calling again, which they inevitably will if Mitroglou maintains his prodigious goalscoring record (21 goals in 21 games so far).
Last month, Greek newspaper Gazetta claimed that Brendan Rodgers is keen to make a January bid for Mitroglou - and this week, The Mirror reported:
"Rodgers has had [Mitroglou] watched on a number of occasions by head of recruitment Dave Fallows and chief scout Barry Hunter. Both were present to watch him net three times in Greece's World Cup play-off against Romania last month"
If Liverpool really want Mitroglou then this new deal won't change anything. It just means that when the time comes, the Reds will have to pay a bigger fee.
Ultimately, the new deal is a good thing, though (IMO). Mitroglou is 25, and this is the first season of his career where he's scoring goals regularly, so signing him would've been a gamble. Perhaps he'll turn out to be a one-season wonder...?
Author: Jaimie K
According to Olympiacos's official site, Mitroglou has extended his contract with the club until June 2017.
Crucially, the new deal eliminates the attractive €8m buyout clause in his old contract, which made Mitroglous such an appealing option to a variety of clubs.
Reacting to the new deal, Mitroglou enthused:
"I'm really happy that I renew once again with the team that belongs in my heart. I want to thank the club and the president Vangelis Marinakis who have always believed in me even at times when my career was not progressing as I dreamed. I will give everything in training and in matches to try and make our fans happy"
Given the fact the deal is just a one-year extension, it seems like a strategic move by Olympiacos: with no cheap buyout clause, the club can now demand a bigger fee if/when clubs come calling again, which they inevitably will if Mitroglou maintains his prodigious goalscoring record (21 goals in 21 games so far).
Last month, Greek newspaper Gazetta claimed that Brendan Rodgers is keen to make a January bid for Mitroglou - and this week, The Mirror reported:
"Rodgers has had [Mitroglou] watched on a number of occasions by head of recruitment Dave Fallows and chief scout Barry Hunter. Both were present to watch him net three times in Greece's World Cup play-off against Romania last month"
If Liverpool really want Mitroglou then this new deal won't change anything. It just means that when the time comes, the Reds will have to pay a bigger fee.
Ultimately, the new deal is a good thing, though (IMO). Mitroglou is 25, and this is the first season of his career where he's scoring goals regularly, so signing him would've been a gamble. Perhaps he'll turn out to be a one-season wonder...?
Author: Jaimie K
Just a ploy to remove his contract clause to be honest. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteHowever like you said, he's previous record was pretty poor. The again Drogba was a late bloomer so who knows.
I would like him in the team, he's a different type of player.
PS I am pleased to see Borini scoring and playing. I doubt he'll play for Liverpool again though.
Agree with that which only means he probably won't be available until the Summer. If Suarez goes and we get a lot of dough for him I hope this doesn't set up another Andy Carroll free-spending hash. I think Mitroglou is impressive at first glance. He's so huge that I'm sure he intimidates Greek defenders which account for a lot of his goals...because the defending is embarrassingly bad. This would be more difficult in the EPL. So he could be Ibra or he could be Carroll...it's a gamble and I think we should look for strikers with a more proven ttrack record in a more challenging league.
ReplyDeletePerhaps he would Jaimie. but personally i think we can skip on him. i think Aspas could probably score alot of goals for Olympiakos but its about having the ability to play for a club as big as LFC. when we reach the CL in Next Season, and we will if we have the 2nd best player in europe. but in that time we will need 3 top class centre forwards. Personally i would take Loic Remy. Hes experienced in the CL, a goalscorer, would only cost £10M at max and with Sturridge always injured, Remy, Suarez and Sturridge can take us forward. Remy is guarenteed success whilst Mitroglou could be a flop behind top forwards such as Suarez and Sturridge, who will be first choice.
ReplyDeleteI think in January we will try to buy Jorginho and Mohamed Salah. the clubs seems really interested in them. Jorginho is meant to be Gerrard replacement and Salah will a more experienced than Sterling should his form dip.
the 1 thing we cant afford to do is lose Luis Suarez. The CL is determined by the best players. Lewandowski, Messi, Ronaldo. its been proven down the years that the best players will define who wins.Next year Suarez can gjuide us to glory. he basicallly scores with every chance he has. At LFC he knows the fans are behind him to perform. Anfield will be goals galore in the CL mark my words. i cant wait.
LUIS SUAREZ. New King of the Kop.
---------------------------Mingolet
----Johnson-------Skrtel-------Sakho--------Flannagan
----------------Jorginho--------Henderson
--Salah-------------Sturridge------------Coutinho
------------------------Suarez
Oh wel..
ReplyDeleteRemy is a good shout but doubt he'll want to come to us with Suarez and Sturridge guaranteed places. However a front 3 of Remy-Sturridge-Suarez is mouth watering haha!
ReplyDeleteRejects LFC? We have not even made a bid for him.
ReplyDeleteThe player who is looking most likely to join LFC in January is Mohamed Salah.
I know who I want after watching about 10 different videos...Rakitic...wow.
ReplyDeleteJK with managers now coming and going do you know how many years BR has left on his contract? and if its less than 2yrs don't u believe we should be looking to tying him down also?...thoughts
ReplyDeleteApparently a contract extension for Rodgers will happen soon. His current contract only expires in 2015.
ReplyDeletethanks logan
ReplyDeleteDone and dusted.
ReplyDeleteSuarez signs new long term contract!!!
luis signs new deal.
ReplyDeletenot sure about the terms tho
and whether he can leave if no CL or whether there is a buyout clause, in fact not even sure how much longer we have tied him down for?
the absence of these details are the only source of pessimism for me.
I am 100% sure this contract has a definitive clause that would allow him to leave if a bid of a certain amount comes in.
ReplyDeletethe contract im happy with but the clauses that we are not aware of worry me..
ReplyDeleteSuarez is now our highest paid player. If we do make CL I am pretty sure he will stay.
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to hope that if a clause has been installed, it is at least £80 mil. I'm not sure we'd get that much, but for someone to take it out of our hands, it should be an astronomical offer.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I also still think he'll go if we don't make it, unless we go mega close to top 4 or we buy big in the summer to show our intent.
ReplyDeleteMaking Suarez our highest player does show FSG's intent. Making CL is very important not only for Suarez but also for our club. Top players will come knocking on our door instead of us having to beg them to join us...
ReplyDeleteRumours have been circulating for a while that he would be handed a 5 year deal. That is a lot of compensation...Would be a risk IMO but a new contract is deserving nonetheless. Maybe another 3 year deal?
ReplyDeleteWith respect, how can you possibly leave out Lucas, Allen and Gerrard in your lineup in favour of Jorginho who has had less than one full season in the Serie A?
ReplyDeleteThere will probably be one or two, but if the 40 million pound clause in the last contract wasn't enough to force the club to sell you can bet any new contract has a more reasonable amount in mind. Neither club nor player will make the same mistakes second time around. And remember, when all the trouble happened in the summer it was still LFC that came out on top, so I doubt the club has allowed itself to be put in a weaker position.
ReplyDelete3 reasons why luis suarez will not sign a new contract hahahahh - love your optimism jaimie ;)
ReplyDeleteSuarez signing is fabulous news! It allows us to just get on with the season. It allows us to spend money in January where it is needed...new mid-fielders. I really like this Rakitic kid.
ReplyDeleteWhy would it be a risk? I would be more than happy if Rodgers is given a 5 year deal.
ReplyDeletei never its just a possibility. and as of now Gerrard is injured
ReplyDeleteI agree. Lots of top players would love to play with Suarez! Hopefully we get an attacking midfielder with real quality. As much as I like Henderson, if we wish to move forward I feel like he's got to be a squad player.
ReplyDeleteEeyore is a very popular character. He was also voiced by Peter Cullen who voiced Optimus Prime.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what that means!?
I'm the goddam leader of the autobots, son.
I am happy, but that happiness is tempered by the reality of the situation. I just don't think that this contract really changes anything. If footballers valued their contracts, then I'd be ecstatic about this.
ReplyDeleteThere was no chance of him going in January anyway, so whilst this is positive, it isn't an end (I don't believe) to any speculation.
Completely agree. I think with so many clubs in disarray (United, Spurs and Chelsea (by the standards of being a Mourinho Chelsea side) are unusually vulnerable) that this could be a great chance to get back up to that level.
ReplyDeleteOnce we are there, it is ours to lose and when you can attract CL quality players, I think if you're lucky you only need one transfer window to make a huge difference.
cool cool i can understand and like u said it really does still depend on our league position at the end of the day
ReplyDeleteI love Eeyore to, but he needs to take something to cheer up, seriously. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think we've rubbed it in enough now and fairness to Jaimie, he's taken it very graciously. Hopefully we can stop talking about Suarez leaving, at least until the summer please. :D
ReplyDeleteSpot on.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds too much like what someone says to Bond before they unveil the true extent of their plan.
ReplyDeleteCountdown to murder starting now:
...
there is no doubt about his desire - ive never seen a player like him! And he has extended his contract!
ReplyDeleteI dont think hes the answer i would rather a young striker with a lot of potential be signed . I feel that Liverpool also needs to improve scouting in South America there is a high concentration of talent
ReplyDeleteI do agree with all your points , except i would add that a big, strong target man up front doesn't really transcend what Rodgers is trying to do so why do we need him?
ReplyDeleteManagers get the chop all the time. To protect Rodgers and the club we shouldn't go overboard. From two sackings AVB is rumoured to be sitting on 16M.
ReplyDelete