A year ago, Liverpool were linked with a January move for ex-Chelsea attacker Salmon Kalou, who admitted at the time that he was 'flattered' to be linked with a move to Anfield. The Ivory Coast attacker grabbed 16 goals and 3 assists for Lille last season, and reports this week suggest that the Reds and Arsenal are keeping a 'close eye' on the situation.
According to The Mirror this week, Kalou wants a January move to the Premier League:
"He [Kalou] has already had interest from Liverpool and Tottenham. Lille are likely to allow him to go for around £2.5m [€3m]"
When asked about LFC's interest back in January, the 28-year old - who won the CL with Chelsea in 2012 - told Sky Sports:
"I am flattered with all teams linked with me in England. It means I am not a bad player as some people think. Teams such as Liverpool...are very good teams."
Kalou's stats for the last two seasons:
* 2013-14: 8 goals/2 assists in 19 apps (so far)
* 2012-13: 16 goals/3 assists in 34 apps.
* TOTAL: 24 goals/5 assists in 53 apps.
* Goal ever 2 games.
* Goal/assist every 1.8 games.
That's a pretty decent record overall, and with 63 international appearance and counting, Kalou is still a regular fixture for Ivory Coast. Additionally, his record for Chelsea is very good:
* 60 goals/40 assists in 251 apps.
* Goal/assist every 2.5 games.
€3m is chicken-feed compared to some of the fees paid out by Liverpool over the last few years, and given Kalou's pedigree and experience, he's probably far more likely to consistently contribute than some of Rodgers' other cheap buys. having said that, Rodgers' squad-building efforts leave a lot to be desired, and this could quite easily turn into another failed bargain-basement transfer.
In December, Lille boss Rene Girard praised Kalou's match-winning performance against Bastia. He told reporters:
"We had to be patient with Kalou. Those kinds of players have times where things are going for them and others when it's not. Today, it did, and he scored twice and could have even had three."
When Girard says 'those kinds of players', what does he mean? I think may possibly mean confidence players, and or those who struggle to maintain consistency. Whatever he means, Kalou has improved his goals/assists per game average since leaving Chelsea, and that is a definite positive sign.
Worth a bid for €3m, or should the club look elsewhere?
Author: Jaimie K
According to The Mirror this week, Kalou wants a January move to the Premier League:
"He [Kalou] has already had interest from Liverpool and Tottenham. Lille are likely to allow him to go for around £2.5m [€3m]"
When asked about LFC's interest back in January, the 28-year old - who won the CL with Chelsea in 2012 - told Sky Sports:
"I am flattered with all teams linked with me in England. It means I am not a bad player as some people think. Teams such as Liverpool...are very good teams."
Kalou's stats for the last two seasons:
* 2013-14: 8 goals/2 assists in 19 apps (so far)
* 2012-13: 16 goals/3 assists in 34 apps.
* TOTAL: 24 goals/5 assists in 53 apps.
* Goal ever 2 games.
* Goal/assist every 1.8 games.
That's a pretty decent record overall, and with 63 international appearance and counting, Kalou is still a regular fixture for Ivory Coast. Additionally, his record for Chelsea is very good:
* 60 goals/40 assists in 251 apps.
* Goal/assist every 2.5 games.
€3m is chicken-feed compared to some of the fees paid out by Liverpool over the last few years, and given Kalou's pedigree and experience, he's probably far more likely to consistently contribute than some of Rodgers' other cheap buys. having said that, Rodgers' squad-building efforts leave a lot to be desired, and this could quite easily turn into another failed bargain-basement transfer.
In December, Lille boss Rene Girard praised Kalou's match-winning performance against Bastia. He told reporters:
"We had to be patient with Kalou. Those kinds of players have times where things are going for them and others when it's not. Today, it did, and he scored twice and could have even had three."
When Girard says 'those kinds of players', what does he mean? I think may possibly mean confidence players, and or those who struggle to maintain consistency. Whatever he means, Kalou has improved his goals/assists per game average since leaving Chelsea, and that is a definite positive sign.
Worth a bid for €3m, or should the club look elsewhere?
Author: Jaimie K
As experienced back-up maybe????
ReplyDeleteThis was made up by someone on twitter, and it's everywhere now.
ReplyDeleteNo no no no no!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDelet
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
-------- Original message --------
At this point, I'd take him over Aspas...
ReplyDeleteahh Kalou.....He was the reason why Chelsea beat us in the 2008 semi final. We battered them in the first leg and went 1-0 up but when he came on it changed the game and it was his cross that Riise put in to his own net. If we had won that 1st leg I think we would of got to the final. So just for that memory I would give him a chance.
ReplyDeleteWe need some speed and creativity in our mid-field now. I am beginning to think our loan-outs: Assaidi, Borini and Suso may come to something yet. They needed to play. They're playing and are doing pretty good. I can truthfully say that I'm glad Assaidi won't be playing against us Sunday.
ReplyDeleteLook ahead, no turning back. We have youngsters better than Kalou.
ReplyDeleteI didn't condemn anybody. I merely asked would you be ok with LFC signing a player who has the threat of a custodial sentence hanging over them? And IF he is found guilty, then I'm hazarding a guess he won't be granted day release to play for us. As a purely business decision (which is what we are supposed to be, i think) it makes sense to wait. If someone else snaps him up then so be it.
ReplyDeleteOh and I used the word "guilty" for Suarez in a glib manner, I'm afraid. In my book a mere handball isn't exactly in Jimmy Saville's league.....
Not too sure about the finances atm but 15 million for someone as a back up no way other positions need to be addressed more urgently.
ReplyDeleteWith Borinis current form i wouldnt mind waiting until seasons end and keeping him and selling Aspas.
I'd like to see him at LFC. You know what you're getting with this guy. He has a ton of experience. Of course he would be a squad player but that's our problem at the moment we don't have a strong squad full of experienced players we can call on.
ReplyDeleteSurely QPR had the say on where he would play. I don't believe a contracted player could refuse to play if he was told to. You have to suspicious why QPR don't feel they need him in the squad.
ReplyDeleteI'd take him or Remy who was mention an earlier post and higher....
ReplyDeleteCould be a good addition as he has a lot of prem experience...and his records decent. His consistency is a concern in terms of performance but as a squad player I think he can provide what we need when required, when players are tired or simply being rotated. Ex chelski though...sigh :/
ReplyDeleteWe need signings that will step right into the first team. We already have younger players that are just as good loaned out.
ReplyDeleteI don't know a ton about Remy, could he play as part of a front three or is he more used to a lone striker role?
ReplyDeleteReally good news that Suso is still in the mind of Rodgers:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/151841-suso-why-i-was-back-at-melwood
Don't see Rues leaving Dortmund. Lewandowski is already leaving, Reus is a also a Dortmund fan. A player I would love to see at Liverpool though is Gundagan.
ReplyDeleteScored a hatful in Holland too. I'm not sure whether it's a matter of being a good small league player but not a big league player or not enough games at Chelsea. That said, not a bad squad player for three million. But let's sort out our first eleven first!
ReplyDeleteNext season will have Borini, Suso and Assaidi back. I think they will be very good back ups!!
ReplyDeletewe lack good attacking winger.......Kalou can just give us that option..... not a starter maybe but as sub coming in 2nd half to provide width YNWA P.S. 3mil fr 28yrs is a bargain n he is known n experience player
ReplyDeletehe`s really a good player. Its better we sign him up and sell borini to sunderland. He can score when suarez has a day off. Lets not take chances on a very good player like Remy.
ReplyDeleteanother agent trick to use LFC boost his client sales?
ReplyDeleteI had enough. I'm going to sleep and wake up when it's over. FSG don't care.
ReplyDeleteIdiot!!
ReplyDeleteWe need players to put us in top four, manure know they have to spend big, and they will, we can't expect rivals to let us in, cheap options and loan deals won't get us there.
ReplyDeleteYet another snide dig at Suarez and yet again completely off topic. Such hatred can't be good for you.
ReplyDeleteProblem is that though his stats have 'improved', realistically he is at a much lesser league. I'd worry that he could be a Joe Cole in the making... However, punt on a grunt, £2.5 m for a potential game changer and experienced PL player is pretty good.
ReplyDeleteVery much doubt we'll sign him, however.
I'm not mad at Aspas either... he hasn't played enough and when he has played, he's been consistently played out of position. Kalou would provide us with a better option given the current role we are trying to fill.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing you work in a zoo - no?. But I agree you're right to worry.
ReplyDeleteAspas alberto
ReplyDelete£3 million too much
ReplyDeleteQPR did want him in the squad but they are a Championship team so couldn't pay his wages so shipped him out for the season so he can play Premier League football and he can return the next season if they get promoted back into the Premier League.
ReplyDeleteHe was a decent player in a very good Chelsea team.
ReplyDelete