Liverpool are reportedly in talks with Red Bull Salzberg over the possibility of signing star midfielder Valon Berisha - who trialled with Chelsea - during the January transfer window.
According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet today:
* Liverpool are 'already' in negotiations over a deal.
* Last Saturday, LFC reps watched Berisha in Salzberg's 3-0 (friendly) victory over Bayern Munich.
* The Reds have scouted Berisha many times, and prior to Saturday, reps watched the youngster in Salzburg's 4-0 victory against Austria Vienna.
Some info about Berisha:
* As a teenager, underwent three trials with Chelsea.
* Rejected contracts at both Man City and Aston Villa, a decision supported by Agent Rune Hauge, who in May 2013 told reporters: "Valon Berisha could have moved to almost every league club in England, but he would have gone straight to their academy...where nine out of ten players do not even reach the first team."
* Berisha's former manager at Viking, Åge Hareide, insisits that the yongster is one of the best players he's ever coached. In May 2013, he told Aftenposten: "I have been coaching many years and been lucky to work with many excellent footballers. Among them, Valon is perhaps the very best. He's like Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and is capable of achieving his level."
* 10 goals in 58 appearances for Salzburg.
* 11 appearances so far for the Norway national team.
* Former Reds boss Gerard Houllier is currently now director of sports for the whole Red Bull Salzburg Group. Possible transfer advantage for LFC?
* Reportedly available for €3m.
Norway legends Egil Ostendstad and Jan Aaage Fjortoft appear to be big fans of Berish, and today, both suggest that he's on the way to Anfield:
Given the bargain-basement price, this looks like a rumour that could have substance. It seems, though, that Berisha is not interested in wasting away in the Academy, and unless Brendan Rodgers guarantees he'll be in the first-team squad, he'll probably reject LFC as he did Man City and Villa.
Valon Berisha should not be confused with Halmstads striker VALMIR Berisha, who is also reportedly a transfer target for Liverpool.
Worth a bid...?
NOTE: Thanks to Tony G for the heads-up :-)
Author: Jaimie K
According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet today:
* Liverpool are 'already' in negotiations over a deal.
* Last Saturday, LFC reps watched Berisha in Salzberg's 3-0 (friendly) victory over Bayern Munich.
* The Reds have scouted Berisha many times, and prior to Saturday, reps watched the youngster in Salzburg's 4-0 victory against Austria Vienna.
Some info about Berisha:
* As a teenager, underwent three trials with Chelsea.
* Rejected contracts at both Man City and Aston Villa, a decision supported by Agent Rune Hauge, who in May 2013 told reporters: "Valon Berisha could have moved to almost every league club in England, but he would have gone straight to their academy...where nine out of ten players do not even reach the first team."
* Berisha's former manager at Viking, Åge Hareide, insisits that the yongster is one of the best players he's ever coached. In May 2013, he told Aftenposten: "I have been coaching many years and been lucky to work with many excellent footballers. Among them, Valon is perhaps the very best. He's like Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and is capable of achieving his level."
* 10 goals in 58 appearances for Salzburg.
* 11 appearances so far for the Norway national team.
* Former Reds boss Gerard Houllier is currently now director of sports for the whole Red Bull Salzburg Group. Possible transfer advantage for LFC?
* Reportedly available for €3m.
Norway legends Egil Ostendstad and Jan Aaage Fjortoft appear to be big fans of Berish, and today, both suggest that he's on the way to Anfield:
Given the bargain-basement price, this looks like a rumour that could have substance. It seems, though, that Berisha is not interested in wasting away in the Academy, and unless Brendan Rodgers guarantees he'll be in the first-team squad, he'll probably reject LFC as he did Man City and Villa.
Valon Berisha should not be confused with Halmstads striker VALMIR Berisha, who is also reportedly a transfer target for Liverpool.
Worth a bid...?
NOTE: Thanks to Tony G for the heads-up :-)
Author: Jaimie K
if lfc should get anyone of rb salzburg, its kevin kampl! one of the best players ever played in austria! and he is only 23 too. would cost around £7m... he could become a long time sucessor to stevie g!
ReplyDeleteThis lad isn't dross!!!!
ReplyDeleteKenny is Norwegian, so I presume he knows his Berisha's,
ReplyDeleteMine is shaken, not stirred.
I hav'nt seen him, basing my views on some of the last few signings.
ReplyDeleteIts a worry when a player costs so little, with tens of thousands of scouts looking at everyone who kicks a ball, why so cheap, ??
I wanted to vote you up twice. I have tried saying this many times but tend to stumble over myself and have not said it as concisely as you have there. I very much agree.
ReplyDeleteApparently we have been taking a look at Fernando of Porto. I do think we are looking at DM.
ReplyDeleteHe is Kosovan by birth and a Norwegian national now, only 20 years-old. The Norwegians really rate this lad very highly, he rejected Chelsea after a trial last January, he wants to play, very good technically looking at his clips but Liverpool have scouted him a lot..................Salzburg battered Bayern Munich last week 3-0 and he was excellent apparently!!.
ReplyDeleteAlready apologized, Jumped to conclusion..
ReplyDeleteHope you are right, didnt know he was from Kosovo originally, Wont mention his shooting abilities, as I said I have not seen anything of him.
ReplyDeleteJaimie, we are already in the second half of the season, I think it would interesting to see results of the poll for our best player. Suarez and Sturridge are top 2- that is clear, but the interesting part is seeing who is our third most valuable player in the season we are consistent, and in top 4 after years of shi seasons. For me it is Henderson, but it seems so strange..
ReplyDeleteFour are of use. Sissokho (as terrible as he) is filling in for injuries. How good is an alternative LB right now? It's good we didn't buy him or anyone as poor don't you think? Then there are players who may well make it one day but as they were specifically bought for the future it is unfair to judge. Which leaves us with Moses (definitely going back at end of season) more an attitude problem than one of ability. He has more ability than he he shown for us. Then our players on loan. Assaidi who we will easy make our money back on and Borini who is now finding goals and so could still be of some (minimal) use or a small loss. As Coutinho and Sturridge are worth more than we payed for them now that loss is offset.
ReplyDeleteAlso clearly you have forgot the games won in Suarez's absence.
ReplyDeleteBut this is my whole point.
ReplyDeleteOur fans think it is so easy signing players and written an whole essay sometimes of who we should be signing when clearly they do not know how transfers work from start to finish.
Transfers unfortunately are not as easy as counting 1 to 3.
Matuidi contract will end in this season .. can somebody go for him ?
ReplyDeletehe is friend of sakho and will be great DM .. please ?
He's 20. He plays in Austria. So they beat Bayern in a friendly...who was playing for BM? It was an experimental firendly so Pep could try out some new things. I wouldn't make much of it. This is why he's not going for more than 3.5M E's.
ReplyDeletedon't waste 2.5m on mediocre players, pay a little more for quality. Had enough of the 6m and 7m players not even sitting on the bench. Combine those fees, we could have gotten Salah now.
ReplyDeletecan we sell aspas, then get eden's uncle, mickey, in???? he knows where the net is!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that on form, Coutinho doesn't warrant that responsibility. I would say however, that if we're to get the best out of him long term, it will likely be in the middle.
ReplyDeleteAlso, of the players you've listed, Borini, Assaidi and Suso, only Assaidi is a wide man. Borini is a striker really and if you're going to play him on the wing, you'd do it as part of a 3 up front, not a 4 man midfield. Rodgers himself has said he sees Suso as a no.10. That means that right now, the only authentic wide player we have is Sterling and I see no harm in adding to that. I think competition could be what Coutinho needs to focus long term.
I'm not happy with any member of our back 4 and feel we lack a defensive mid, so I'd be happy to see reinforcements there. Question marks starting to appear over Mignolet too, but I feel for him because he has to play behind an ever changing, unreliable defence.
I know mate I bang that drum often but most people think it ios as easy as "hey that players is good, we should sign him otherwise everyone who is involved in signing players at Liverpool is sh!t". Despite ovious things like, is the club even looking at that player or the many things you have mentioned.
ReplyDeleteA common riposte to those fans who do that is that they have played Champ man too much. But I have played that and it is not even as easy on that game as those fans make out so I don't understand why they see it simplistic and without all of the actual costs to the club.
oyvind leonhardsen was once the most talented player in norway. mmmm? i would probably say norway is he what we need at this moment in time. nice to see we are strengthening for the top 4 push. does he do full back and centre half by any chance?? oh well, 6th or 7th again then.
ReplyDeleteThe best ever player in Austria missed a PK in the same match vs Bayern.
ReplyDeleteand he had them level on points with Arsenal and Dortmund in the championsleague only to lose it on goal difference. Whats your point?
ReplyDeleteLucas out two months with an injured MCL...need a new DM more than ever now.
ReplyDeleteI just finished listening to the Anfield wrap and one of the lads said that he heard a rumour that Sissokho was a "committee purchase that Rodgers was not keen on". I don't put much stock in rumors generally but wondered if Jaimie or someone with enough free time and or the will to actually find out what the dynamic is between Manager and rest of the committee. Are all purchases green lighted by manager? Are they all his buys? Does someone else veto players he wants? Is the in formation out there? Is it obtainable? Would the club wants us serfs knowing? Does anyone want to stretch their Journo legs and write an article on this?
ReplyDeleteAspas and Alberto were always going to be squad players, Rodgers did say he wanted to add depth, but like what has already been said, Eriksen for 11 million? Outrageous
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have seen he looks technically sound. Trouble is will he do it in the EPL?. I would hope that BR and the backroom boys have done their homework and checked his attitude and workrate.
ReplyDeleteJamie; I voted for Hazard just to please you.
ReplyDeleteYou read my mind, Ali! I am mistified why we havent been linked with him.
ReplyDeleteDon't meant o hijack this thread but this is a simple no…let's get the established first teamers we need now. And talking about established, Lucas' injury HAS to expediate the signing of M'Vila of someone in that mould. We all saw Stevie in the defensive role....an absolute shocker of a first half. We need someone in there who can defend first or else we'll see a two month slip in form like we saw at the begining of last season.
ReplyDeleteOr Eriksen.. If you add Allen, you have money for Matic..
ReplyDeleteSuarez all day long. I guess you could have done a poll for Suarez v Sean Dundee & some nutters would vote for the second chap.
ReplyDeleteDo not put your hopes up..
ReplyDeletebig bad benitez
ReplyDeleteLucas out till March. We should question the FSG's ambition if we don't buy a midfielder in this window. This season is our only chance to get into top 4. I don't think it will repeat again next season, its now or never FSG....!!
ReplyDeleteWho would you sign?
ReplyDeleteMorgan Schneiderlin
ReplyDeleteNot going to happen. The owner of Southampton came out days ago and said none of their players will be leaving in January.
ReplyDeleteAgain with these 3m guys? No more top class signings for lfc. Lucas out for two months better start finding a replacement with only eight days to go, stop searching for average young unproven players, its killing us for ages now, just throwing money on salaries and nothing else, cut out this ignorance. Go for players like cabaye and mata, and a proper lb. Wouldnt be bad if we get another gk, cuz mignolet is shocking right now, begovic of stoke for me. With eight days to go dont think or believe lfc to make big changes, maybe just salahs coming and thats it, which is nothing, hopefully mancs and spurs keep playing sht and we beat everton in the race for that top four otherwise will be gone again.
ReplyDeleteKenny, dont overdo it on your fellow countrymen, it devalues your opinion on the really useful ones,
ReplyDeleteSakho, Coutinho, last day of the transfer window, dont despair, just yet.
ReplyDeleteTbf im starting to question coutinhos abilities, he looks a stranger comparing last season. Not even average, I guess thats why inter sold him so cheap, they knew something we didnt! And sakho what can you say.. Sometimes hes brilliant, sometimes shocking, like the majority of the squad.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy saying who we want but doing the deal isn't that simple, look at Salah and Basel not wanting to sell him, do we pay a fortune or walk away???
ReplyDeletebecause nobody seems thinking in our scout or the transfer group i dont remember what they call it ;P
ReplyDeleteMany clubs have shown interest in Salah but nobody has signed him yet so clearly we are not the only club holding out till the last minute to make try make a deal. That is if price is the issue as there could be many other things other than price.
ReplyDeletePrice is not the only thing that makes a transfer happen. There are many other things involved, not only price...
Coutinho has the ability, we have seen that, but we have seen he is not gonna be a prolific goalscorer, that is his achilles heel. Remember teams are now watching what he does best, and trying to eliminate it.
ReplyDeleteSakho I rate big time, this time next year, he will be awesome, hope i'm right about this one, or else I have to eat a lot of humble pie.
But I would not swap him for any other defender right now, in his position.
We will buy b4 this window closes, lets just hope we buy well, Salah for me would be a real capture, the first time I seen him destroy Spurs, I said Wow, if only,
then he overran Chelsea,
We need a DM, even a blind man can see that, otherwise we will be 5th 6th If that does not happen, then we will have to question FSG's commitment to us, they have the money, especially after the Red Sox success this year,
question is will they invest, ??
Trouble is Rodgers is a blind man, he's had plenty of time to see that we are desperate for a DM, even before Lucas got injured. As for FSG, they have spent, Rodgers has bought in, Allen, Aspas, Alberto, Assaidi, Borini, Coutinho, Sturridge, Sakho, Illori, plus the money for the loans of Sissokho and Moses, so, around £90 millionish? Not FSGs' fault if most of those are crap.
ReplyDelete£3 miilion, just Rodgers' price range! Moneyball springs to mind, young potential, future sell on for profit...ha...ha... if only we could get a return on half of Rodgers signings.....epic fail..
ReplyDeletebr
ReplyDeleteeakin news david moyes has promised man utd fans that they will be in a major European competition next season ......even if he has to write the song himself......!!
Haha. Good stuff :-)
ReplyDeleteHe's gonna fail!! Hurrah for the Brendan haters! (Doesn't matter it hurts liverpool FC does it)!
ReplyDeleteOn the face of it the answer to the poll is obvious. Suarez. Has Hazard scored 22 PL goals this year? If the poll is who is the best mid-fielder in Europe, then I put Hazard's name in against anybody.
ReplyDeleteI'd take either...right now.
ReplyDeleteI know but income is projected and a wage budget for a season is devised and new signings and new contracts would have to fit in to that budget. Wages are always considered, you're acting like you're the only person on the planet that knows this. The maintenance of high profile players is always going to be extremely large, what have we paid Gerrard over the course of his entire career here? Again, everyone knows this not just you!
ReplyDeleteFSG are all about commercial revenue as they plan to comply with FFP laws. Cost minimisation is essential in every business and FSG are no different. It's not specifically for the CL. Liverpool can survive without it as the club has a worldwide fan base, Premier League TV money is split fairly and there is also season tickets and gate receipts. But obviously it is beneficial to make CL for the extra income plus the club is more attractive to players.
A club like Man City can bypass these laws by their owners sponsoring their own club, Etihad...
Just because you read a detailed analysis from a football editor (not someone with any financial or football club experience) your suddenly the king of transfers. With such a post, this is probably just another staunch defence of Rodgers by you. "It's not so easy" is now your latest cop out excuse, a list that keeps growing.
Mignolet is a really good reflex goalkeeper and shot stopper but everything else needs to be worked on. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, he has pulled of saves that Reina simply would not. In his last season, Reina was beaten at the near post about 10 times.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy with Skrtel, I think Sakho and Skrtel the SAS at the back is the way to go. In the summer window Johnson should find himself a new club. I also like Enrique, he is reliable at least. We have missed him.
Rodger's wide men always come in side, the modern name for such a winger is an inside forward. That's why Borini in his early days played on the left for us and Suso also occupied either wing, Coutinho for the most part has played on the left wing, cutting inside almost all the time.
If Hendo is replaced or move deeper we lose penetrating runs into space. Coutinho/Suso type players don't offer this, they offer intricate passes. We need Hendo for that extra movement, and with an extra attack minded player like Coutinho or Suso in the middle we are weakened defensively, and assume that Gerrard will also be in that team because he is untouchable and loved, for me that team is not balanced and we saw what can happen against Villa.
Henderson has become one of the best midfielders in the league. I'm glad I supported him, he stuck it to so many people. The assist for Sturridge highlights his enormous progress. Joe Allen can only dream of doing half as good.
ReplyDeleteSkrtel is up there too, pretty reliable this season despite the shirt pulling in the box.
I would say they are our top 4 performers. There's a few other players worth mentioning but half the squad have been passengers.
That's enough so,ta.
ReplyDeleteSurely the buck stops with them,of course they know of these players limited ability,then send them on loan.
ReplyDeleteStatistically only the 50% of transfers are a success. So I guess that after a mediocre summer it is time for something good. Salah is a good player. He will be a risk, but every player is a risk when we are talking about finding your steps in the best league of all. For me the real question is "what about a defensive midfielder?". Without Lucas our midflield has a big - big gap...
ReplyDeleteI did say "Great managers"........ ;)
ReplyDeleteFernando
ReplyDeleteI saw a document posted online that shows Salah has rented an apartment in Liverpool. Looks like this transfer is 100% now. On with the next one better late than never. As verm hat said it will be Hendo playing the Lucas role and Allen playing the Hendo role. Hope we can sign a DM because this doesn't really utilise Hendo to the best advantage of the team.
ReplyDeleteIf But Maybes
ReplyDeleteThat kid was clearly a gobshite. Deserved a kick.
ReplyDeleteCoutinho needs to play in a more central role to really get the best out of him. With the signing of Salah he will get the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteDiame my want away now relegation is pretty much assured.
ReplyDeleteIf we can't buy it's obvious Hendo is gonna fill that role and Allen will fill Hendos old role but hope we buy specialist because don't like to see Hendo wasted there.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Hazard is the best midfielder in Europe, either.
ReplyDeleteJC in particular kept things spicy. From the position of someone who could come and go as he pleases, it was good to have someone stirring the pot.
ReplyDeleteI don't really remember the other two lads being much trouble- were they? I genuinely can't remember.
I suppose from JK's perspective, he couldn't swan in and out as we do, since he has to run the site.
They weren't like Jason was. I remember Zantos' name, but not much of what he said. Anteater however was on good terms with JK for a while. He was one of the fellow intellectuals in this website. But one day Anteater got a little snipy with JK when the two disagreed over something.
ReplyDeleteI think some people get easily provoked by Jaimie's forthright style of delivering his contentions when he doesn't agree with you.
I am from Norway and can't see him as PL star. Dæhli,who went to Cardiff, is a better talent. Will keep Berisha out of the national team, even though he is 2 years younger. The Norwgian national team is crap and he should show some quality and cement a regular place, before being even considered.
ReplyDeleteSuarez missed a boat load too!!!
ReplyDeleteI am sure Borini is good enough to be a squad player for liverpool, something we will need if we get CL is squad depth and he would provide that.
ReplyDeleteThere have been worse players than him that have CL medals in their trophy case.
For Christ sake get Mata and a real DM and stop with all these guys hiding in the bushes............
ReplyDeleteDiame is not good enough otherwise he would be playing at a top club.
ReplyDeleteBenitez was sacked by Liverpool in 2010. Cracking piece of research!
ReplyDeleteWhat's your point? He revealed in 2012 that while he was at Liverpool, he tried to sign Hazard, not that he tried to sign Hazard in 2012.
ReplyDeleteGood DMs capable of playing in our system are gold dust. I can think of maybe 5 or 6 established players who could do a job for us and they're all at top clubs already. Takes time to find and mould these players, and patience.
ReplyDeletewho does he play for?
ReplyDeleteWho is better? I haven't seen anyone better. He OWNS the space he's in 100% of the time. His vision is so much better than any player on the field it's like he's a step ahead of everybody. Tough as nails and smooth as silk. Please tell me who you think is better.
ReplyDelete