The January transfer window closes in five days, and Liverpool still haven't signed anyone, but that could be about to change, though, as the Reds are reportedly preparing a bid for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez (currently on loan at Rayo Vallecano), who is also wanted by Manchester United and Arsenal.
Who? Yes, I've never heard of him either, but according to multiple reports over the weekend:
* LFC scouts watched Niguez in action last night in Vallecano's 4-2 home defeat to Atletico Madrid.
* The Reds met with Niguez's father last week.
* Rodgers is planning to make an £8m offer for the youngster.
* Niguez can play defensive midfield, or centre-half.
* Niguez has a £20m buyout clause in his contract.
19-year old Niguez had a bit of a nightmare game against Atletico. He was played out of position at centre-half, scored an own goal, and got booked for a dodgy challenge. Not the best way to sell yourself!
Considering Niguez is owned by Atletico Madrid, it's surprising he played against them at the weekend. Usually, loanees have a clause in their contracts stating they can't play against their own club. Or perhaps that's just a Premier League thing?
Niguez is allegedly available for £8m, but in my view, it will be more transfer negligence if LFC spend that amount of money on an untested 19-year old with only 21 senior games under his belt.
With all the thousands of players currently operating in world football, are we to believe that Niguez is the only viable option Liverpool can come up with?
The Spaniard may be a good player, but is he going to come in and have a major impact on Liverpool's push for the Champions League? Extremely doubtful.
Author: Jaimie K
Who? Yes, I've never heard of him either, but according to multiple reports over the weekend:
* LFC scouts watched Niguez in action last night in Vallecano's 4-2 home defeat to Atletico Madrid.
* The Reds met with Niguez's father last week.
* Rodgers is planning to make an £8m offer for the youngster.
* Niguez can play defensive midfield, or centre-half.
* Niguez has a £20m buyout clause in his contract.
19-year old Niguez had a bit of a nightmare game against Atletico. He was played out of position at centre-half, scored an own goal, and got booked for a dodgy challenge. Not the best way to sell yourself!
Considering Niguez is owned by Atletico Madrid, it's surprising he played against them at the weekend. Usually, loanees have a clause in their contracts stating they can't play against their own club. Or perhaps that's just a Premier League thing?
Niguez is allegedly available for £8m, but in my view, it will be more transfer negligence if LFC spend that amount of money on an untested 19-year old with only 21 senior games under his belt.
With all the thousands of players currently operating in world football, are we to believe that Niguez is the only viable option Liverpool can come up with?
The Spaniard may be a good player, but is he going to come in and have a major impact on Liverpool's push for the Champions League? Extremely doubtful.
Author: Jaimie K
I have zero faith in our transfer system... We just can't seem to get the right signings to come in. Then we look to players that I doubt will have any real impact...
ReplyDeleteBIG NOO..
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know who to exactly blame for our transfer failures? It's an utter joke.
ReplyDeleteHope BR gets this - IF WE DON'T MAKE THE RIGHT SIGNINGS NOW WE WILL NOT EVEN BE THE TOP TEAM ON MERSEYSIDE NEVER MIND GETTING INTO TOP 4. WE NEED QUALITY NOW TO HELP ON THE PARK NOT IN THE YOUTH TEAMS OR ON THE BENCH. YOU DON'T PLAY ALBERTO OR ASPAS SO WHY BUY MORE LIKE THIS ? IT IS TEAMS THAT ARE IN A WELL OFF FINANCIAL POSITION AND ARE SITTING COMY IN THEIR LEAGUE POSITION THAT CAN DO DO THIS. BUILIDING FOR THE FUTURE IS GREAT BUT WHAT KIND OF FUTURE ARE YOU OFFERING THESE KIDS ? CERTAINLY NOT CL FOOTBALL.
ReplyDeleteBR talks about winning the title. I wonder does he think that we need proven players or does he take a chance on potential. This is not a time for taking risks. we have wasted too much money on potential already. They are putting the future of our club on the line, if we don't get fourth they should all hang their head in shame and kiss goodbye to our best players.
ReplyDeleteNow that it's come straight from Rodgers that we definitely WERE in for Salah, I've had my confidence slightly knocked regarding transfers. I gave them the benefit of the doubt before. But since it's been confirmed I really am unhappy. We couldn't afford £15m? Wow now I'm really worried, 4 days till the window slams shut and all the whispers are of untested kids? What was that about adding first team quality, I'm sure that's what was said. Anyway, I hope the rumours of us being linked with Shaqiri are more accurate, as he is the sort of player we should be targeting, not more kids.
ReplyDeleteWell this could be the clubs best chance of playing C.L. in some years to come with new management settling into many top clubs.
ReplyDeleteTo add insult to injury the likes of Chelsea and United and Arsenal are strengthening or looking to big time.
This window was the one window that the club had to look for the now Niguez is apparently a massive talent but not one for now.
I am becoming alarmed at whats happened in this window and have after being patient lost hope there is no way that squad in its current shape can get 4th.
This is what we have to resort to, untested average footballers sounds like LFC have become a mid table club where transfer targets are concerned.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though this shit is so frustrating its borderline rediculous, i know the club is doing a good job with its finances but there are times in business when you really need to spend to get somewhere, especially when competing with others.
The club are going to suffer for this transfer window, we are in a great position to really make a challenge for a CL place and we are going to blow it. Fans do watch the games and dispite what some people think some of us can see the obvious and that is we really need to spend money on at least 2 players which will make a difference.
I would name names but some ignorrant fans would think i was being unreasonable and these will be the same fans that will say oh well at least we played better this season, anyway if this goes through we will have another foreign player on the bench.
We will not sigh anyone that isn't for FREE on LOAN SWAP deal OR someone so called for FUTURE.
ReplyDeleteNow Rodgers is saying that Moses has Future at Liverpool contract offer will be on table if he starts playing.
Nightmare all of this every transfer time NOTHING same Bull$%TT
Oh dear, Alberto mark 2, will our transfer team ever learn. i think this might be the nail in our CL coffin. We will not get another chance to get CL football again, possibly ever. Moyes will start to pull UTD together with multiple signings, Martinez is a great coach and Spurs have galvanized themselves. This year is our great chance, we have a great first team but a shallow squad. We will not be as strong next season without CL football. We will lose Suarez and others will question the teams direction. Why we can't just spend the money on an MVilla or the like is beyond me. Buying players for the future when the future doesn't exist, ist about now not the future. We have not won the league in over 20 years, does that not tell the board something. Its now or never in my mind, and Rogers will face a strong test. The only thing that might save the team if we fail to get top 4 this year is a sugar daddy, and thats not likely
ReplyDeleteI can only come to one conclusion about Liverpool's failure to sign any new players. FSG have seen through Rodgers previous failures to invest in players worthy to perform in the first team and are no longer prepared to finance his 'buy and loan' system. I expect Rodgers to be replaced by a no-nonsense manager at the end of the season who has the persona to attract players of substance. I don't like being repetitive but Marcello Lippi is a man nobody would mess with and if he came calling Jose and his ilk would stand back with reverence.
ReplyDeleteI know, its actually baffling how the club can't seem to learn from its previous mistakes. Alberto, Aspas, Cissoko, Moses, Borini all bargain basement failures. If we'd just spent the combined money on 2 decent players of the 15m mark, then our team would progress. Its a sad indictment of the ethos at the club.
ReplyDeleteThis is a mess. They have all pre-december to scout players. They have all January to negotiate with the clubs, and yet we're here. Success is about taking risks. We can't be playing hard ball with prices and etc all the time. Of course risks need to be calculated, and 37m on carroll was ridiculous. But rejecting Salah for all of the matter of a couple mil. is absurd!
ReplyDeleteYeah, thanks, I'm sure all of this is news for Rodgers. You know all these things but he knows none of them, so it's great that you are willing to educate him. Maybe you should give the club a call and see if you can get him on the phone, he obviously needs to know these things urgently.
ReplyDelete2 goals since Moses joined, no assists, appalling attitude, and this is how he might be rewarded. It says so much about the state of the club
ReplyDeleteThese are the type of player FSG wants, young potential that wiil get profit, they don't want proven players as their value will fall. Epic fail with Aspas, Allen, Alberto, Assaidi and Borini. how much of that £45 million will they recoup? All of this does'nt help our first team though. The problem is we have a transfer commitee and it takes too long to put any kind of bid in, as they're looking for future value in the player. This will be the reason we got Rodgers, he's the only manager that would accept such a set up, Martinez soon told them where to get off.
ReplyDeleteIt seriously feels like we're trying to scrape across the finish line with a 2 flat tyres and a dis-functioning engine
ReplyDeleteYou would name names except you haven't got the first clue what happens behind the scenes at the club. Get real, what do you actually know about any of it?
ReplyDeleteto the lord of the rings fans on here; inc you Jaimie. Don't you feel like our transfer committee are a bunch of ents? "not so hasty! not so hasty!"
ReplyDeleteSupposedly Fernando would be available for that sort of price or maybe just a tad more, and he's experienced and proven at the highest level. Why the hell aren't we bidding for him?
ReplyDeleteAt least the Ents actually did the business in the end; I can't see that happening with LFC's transfer committee.
ReplyDeleteRodgers is not an idiot, he knows the failings of FSG in the transfer markets, would not surprise me if we lose Suarez, we lose Rodgers also, he has not signed an extension to his contract yet.
ReplyDeleteThe stands at the door of FSG, not Rodgers, he is an employee doing what his Bosses order, despite his failings if we can see it, then surely he can also. But the unrest with the fans all over the internet might just force FSG to act b4 deadline day.
It really is baffling. I don't want to seem pessimistic, but the fact of the matter is, at this rate, top4 seems to be a distant achievement...
ReplyDeleteI agree, most of Rodgers transfer deals have been crap, only Sakho and Sturridge have been up to it. Epic fail if Fenway think they will get a return on the rest of them. Rodgers has wasted a lot of money and that will not have gone unnoticed by the Yanks. Kiss goodbye to Suarez in June too.
ReplyDeleteTRUE.
ReplyDeleteRodgers wants him to stay!
ReplyDeletei can understand the lack of urgency that is usually associated with our transfers if we had atleast the slightest form of backup. now we have key players injured. and that too players who play positions which needed strengthening even with them fully fit. pfft!
ReplyDeletethe kids like 20 years old. they'll probaby bid 100k if his actual value is 8m. then they drag the negotiations till he turns 40 and finally settle for buying his 12 year old niece who plays fullback for the sparkle unicorns. decent cover for glen johnson i must say.
ReplyDeleteThis one won't happen. Maybe in summer but not now. BR is not that stupid. Don't panic I smell a good one coming up.
ReplyDeleteI think by reading these posts its easy to see that the way we do our transfers simply does not work and changes must be made to fix it, this so called transfer committee seems to be the biggest problem as we are far to slow in getting our targets over the line, do they have to have a vote on targets, cost, etc, if this is the case we will never get top players because some other club will take them as fast as you can say jose mouriniho
ReplyDelete'Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday'
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I'd rather we didn't sign anyone in January rather than move for young inexperienced players. We might as well continue to limp towards the finish line as we are. I'm all for signing potential, and he may turn out to be brilliant, who Knows? But January isn't the time; these kind of deals can and should be concluded over the long summer window.
if Ayres is involved then we are f*****d.
ReplyDeletehe is more concerned with getting himself in the papers than doing his job
The club has signed Vauxhall Dunkin and Garuda this January i sure hope they can play.
ReplyDeleteThose behind the scenes at the club don't seem to know what happens either . Even BR claims to be unaware of what is going on with transfers!
ReplyDeleteAgree one first team ready player worth 3 maybes, hopefully some good is near. Texiera travelled with the first team squad to the Bournemouth game.
ReplyDeleteI dont think we will get anyone now, couldnt do it in 27 days wont do it now surely. What can you do when you have people like fsg in charge and that faceless ayre, you can never succeed. Its been a whole disgrace no one expected. When we all thought this is the season to win something and get that 4th the ownership gives us a massive blow. Such a pity because we know this is the last season of suarez here, could of achived big things in the form he is, but as always he plays around a sht team, so thanks very much fsg and legend ayre, for killing the poor fans dreams ONCE again, they promised us a new stadium, CL, even the title back at anfield, and yeah they kept their promises!
ReplyDeletePreviously you suggested the committe was effectively overseen by BR or at least that he had the major say. I really don't know how it works or who has the final say but clearly the process is not working. BR seemed unaware of negotiations for Salah and probably even thinks we could still sign him now.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that BR does not have much input in transfer negotiations and dealings, other than to help identify potential targets. Maybe he had a larger role to begin with, but now he almost appears powerless. The way he talks in press conferences suggests it is mostly out of his hands. I can well believe this to be the case.
ReplyDeleteYeah I can already see Leroy Lita saying; "I told you Liverpool fans, ManU is gonna get 4th spot and LFC is gonna end in 6th..."
ReplyDeleteWell said!
ReplyDeleteI hope fsg sell suarez and buy heskey, Im sure ayre can do that deal if he tries hard, I have big confidence on him! Heskey Aspas the deadly duo! Yes please fsg, we love you!
ReplyDeleteI still believe that. If Rodgers refused to operate under a DoF, why would he agree to be subjugated by a transfer committee? Also, looking at it logically, who would be on the transfer committee?
ReplyDelete* Rodgers
* Ayre
Who else? FSG are based in the US, and know zip about football/transfers/players etc. The Chief Scouts may be on it, but they report to Rodgers. Some lower-level coaches may also be on the committee, but they don't have seniority over Rodgers.
I also doubt Ian Ayre has final say, but if that's the case, then there's something seriously wrong.
I don't see any other possibility other than Rodgers having the most influence. If he doesn't, then he's a lame duck, and should just quit. The manager should have final say on transfers, not some accountant' or an absentee landlord.
Gross mismanagement of funds! When you look at who are rivals are linked with it really makes you wonder how ambitious we really are? Especially at a time when we could do with a boost.
ReplyDeleteIrony is that BR complains abt having a paper thin squad!
Wow...do you want a little cheese to go with that whine?
ReplyDeleteBut that could be the bangers and mash;-/
ReplyDeleteSo chances of us signing anyone now is looking less likely. Rodgers did say that we are only interested in getting first team players and if there are none available that fit the bill then he will make use of some more youngsters when needed.
ReplyDeleteTomorrows derby will give us a very good indication of where our squad is at. We are at Anfield which is a big plus. Now would also be a good time for a player like Moses to pull his socks up and show us what he is made of. He has got everything going for him, pace, power and has shown he can finish so hopefully when he is called upon from now on he will make it worth our while.
Signings or no signings, our current squad has shown up to now that it has what it takes to finish top 4. The hard work has been done. Now we just need to make sure that we do not take the foot off the pedal.
I believe the chief scout is Barry Hunter and he should be coordinating his scouts across the globe and reporting to Rodgers daily. He must be on this committee, so there's 3 main guys there and possibly senior coaches.
ReplyDeleteAyre: "It’s a combination of old-school scouting and watching players – and that’s Brendan, his assistants, our scouts – with statistical analysis of players across Europe and the rest of the world.
By bringing those two processes together you get a much more educated view of who you should and shouldn’t be buying and, perhaps as fundamentally, how much you should be paying and the structure to those contracts"
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We also don't know what kind of circumstances Ayre is working under, he may be given targets but with a maximum amount the club would be willing to spend, if he's priced out of a deal it's not his fault.
I believe the club should keep Ayre for commercial duties and sign a true CEO to gain a much needed sense of direction. I'd also like someone at the club to be negotiating deals for potential targets all the time regardless if we will sign them and then for Rodgers to have the final say, yes I want that one, no I don't want that one...
I blame the fans too, for this misery at lfc, especially those who go to games, why they are not protesting against these heartless people, like they did to hicks and gillet, these ones are the same. Cmon do something for your club, you cant help the club by checking the news every moment and expect ayre to come out and say weve signed messi! Dont wait for a miracle, you do it, such a shame I dont live in liverpool, therefore cant do nothing other than these comments, but the liverpudlians must react now or never!
ReplyDeleteI'm still in firm belief we know exactly what were doing.. I've sat and spoken with John Henry and unless he's the best liar in the world, I reckon he's got it bang on with regards to strategy.. we have some very clever backroom staff at Anfield and the signing of Salah would have brought its problems also..
ReplyDeleteHe's a racist, its been well documented, you think we'd really be in for him if that might have even hinted at bringing more bad reputation to the club. I think it was a smoke screen for exactly that reason, for someone like Chelsea to 'snap' him up so that we can go smoothly for our real target..
have a little faith.. stop being a sheep and jumping on the bandwagon to demise BR and FSG, Chavski will have problems with Salah guarantee it, the owners Jewish.. he hates Jews. and I bet my bottom quid they never told him yet..
Suarez wont go anywhere if we get 4th... its ours to lose..
A loss will have the majority moaning and a win would just paper over the cracks, it's lose lose at this point.
ReplyDeleteI lost any faith in Moses when he tried that trick against Hull and cost us a goal, selfish play. However, in the cup game he came into the squad and did well, that's his job. If Aspas and Alberto were able to make any impact the squad would not be as weak as it is currently deemed.
Oh Gosh!
ReplyDeleteFSG are good owners. But they are better suited to clubs like Swansea, Southampton in which they ensure financial stability and slow,steady and gradual progress. Fans would be happy about atop half finish and an occasional glimpse into top6. All will be sweet and rosy.But for us it would be better to have someone with better ambition,some one who watches our games regularly and understand some football. Not icecold, remotecontrolled, statistical support. And above all some one understands the difference between football club and commercial franchise
ReplyDeleteer... Coutinho?
ReplyDeleteJust two quick points. 1 Rodgers looked to have aged on Saturday. 2 FSG ARE 'Junk Traders' .Check out it's description online.
ReplyDeleteYoung - tick, Cheap - tick, foreign - tick, potential resale value - huge, He ticks all the boxes FSG want. He could become brilliant and we could resell him for huge amount of money in 5/6 years time. This is our philosophy under FSG and Rodgers. Get used to it. Give the kid a chance.
ReplyDeleteIf he isn't good for nothing.
ReplyDeleteluis alberto 2.0? is that you?
ReplyDeleteNow. No one will blame Suarez if he leaves in the summer ....assaidi,borini,aspas,Alberto,illori= Andy caroll. ......can't believe our scouts went to watch him on Saturday (to decide that we splash that amount of cash on them).....every year there is an embarrassing reason to be a liverpool fan.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it sickens me that we're 8 points off first place and in the running for a CL spot. What a disgrace. I want to hang my head in shame for the pathetic goal scoring record we have this season and the kind of football we play is just boring.
ReplyDeleteIt might not be the committee itself that is at fault but the process that determines how much we are prepared to pay in transfer fees and the wages to offer to the player. You can identify as many players as you want but if you are not prepared to pay at least close to the going rate you'll lose out.
ReplyDeletegetting real sick of people slagging off transfers at Liverpool we don't spend 40 mil on a player and unless u spend 40 mil on a player it is a punt and you know why we don't spend 40 mil cos we are NOT in the camps league till that changes we cannot get true world class players but the other way of looking at it is we took a punt on2 players last January and they didn't turn out too bad did they and time to face the fact is till we get back into the camps league its bargin basement overpaying (and that's turned out real well for spurs oh wait no it hasn't) or taking a punt. as for Everton wait till RM comedy defending (as it was at Wigan) kicks in and watch them drop down the table
ReplyDeleteA win against a rival is like six points this stage. Why would it put paper over the cracks? We have not had a season as good as this in a very long time.
ReplyDeleteWait till Lukaku returns to Chelsea. Ha ha. Everton are only able to loan players. They have no money to spend.
ReplyDeleteYou are 100% spot on about getting into the Champions league. if we finish fourth then it makes our lives in the trasfer market that much easier as we will be able to offer Champions league wages and transfer fees.
Aspas has had a fair few chances but do you really think Alberto needs to be put in the flop category? Whenever he's played he's looked ok to me but he's rarely given a chance. It's strange given that he is a Rodgers signing that the manager doesn't want to give him more opportunities.
ReplyDeleteBeing a flop is sometimes not down to the player's own ability. In my view, if a manager spends £7m on a player and never plays him, he's a flop.
ReplyDeleteYou do know that when i said name names, i was talking about players i would like to see been brought in, i never mentioned anything about behind the scenes.
ReplyDeleteAlso as far as what i know goes,.i know that every player we have made a bid for has been half e asking price, i know we have a real chance to finish the season strong if we can just get cover for all the injuries we have, i know that LFC is still one of (imo the best ) the best clubs in the world and finally i know that i as a fan am not the only one who knows all this so what does that make you?
Oh and by the way all i said was 2 players that can make a difference is that too much to ask for? If so then i must have been supporting the wrong club for the past 30 years because i also know that there are players out there that would stilll love the chance to put on the red shirt of Liverpool but im assuming we just dont have enough money oh well, what do i know.
wow, your an IDIOT.
ReplyDeleteFSG saved the club from a financial fiasco. not to mention they found a coach that has clearly moved the club in the right direction.
Agreed. Makes me wonder if he actually was a Rodgers signing or if somebody is making the decisions regarding transfers.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a matter of can't. It's a matter of sheer, dumb ignorance.
ReplyDeleteFrom the BR interview on the LFC website:
ReplyDelete"I'm just reluctant to bring in anyone that is just going to stockpile players. We need to bring in players that are really going to affect the starting XI. And if we can't do that, then we won't be doing anything."
I don't think Niguez is of the latter category...so unless something huge happens by Friday, the team is set for the rest of the season.
I just read that Chelsea will look to offload Lukaku to offset part of the cost of acquiring Costa in the Summer.
ReplyDeleteYou can have a CEO and a negotiator but if their hands are tied by a predetermined transfer fee and wage limit you are no further forward except you have two more mouths to feed.
ReplyDeleteWell Everton cannot afford Lukaku. End of.
ReplyDelete7 million is a flop? Soldado £26m and Lamela £30m? Players who our fans were foaming at the mouth for...
ReplyDelete£7m is a drop in the ocean.
What you say sounds sensible but it seems from what BR is saying he does not get involved in the negotiations. If I was planning a major change in my life involving a move to another country I know i would want my future manager involved.
ReplyDeleteAyre has since said we are able to compete for top targets but also says they have to be "at the right price!". Plenty of scope there for different opinions about what is the right price - presumably in this case it was the price Chelsea were prepared to pay. He also says Salah did not want to come to Liverpool but again he does not say why that was or why it took so long to find that out. I know you cannot win them all but we seem to be losing out on the top end targets frequently and after protracted and quite public negotiations. - hence the fan's frustrations.
Chelsea will outbid us each and every time. We do not have a bottomless pit.
ReplyDeleteThe only way we will compete with Chelsea is to qualify for the Champions League.
It is impossible for us to know if money was the deciding factor and even if it was whether it was Chelsea being willing to overpay or Liverpool being unrealistically tight with fees and wages. And yes CL qualification is also important and despite some shortcomings the team has done well to give themselves a real chance of doing that this year. If we lose out this year though it will be even harder thereafter and it just seems a shame we could not get in a player or two that might just be the difference between fourth or nowhere.
ReplyDeleteRodgers wont quit, he'll never get another chance at a big club, must have though all his birthdays came on the same day as when he got the job at Anfield. I was gobsmacked when Henry appointed him and nothing he's done has made me feel any better towards him, the blokes won NOTHING and NEVER will.
ReplyDelete