In December, one of Liverpool's scouts flew in to watch coveted midfielder Ivan Rakitic in action during Sevilla's 2-1 victory over Villareal, and with the Reds destined for the Champions League next season, it looks increasingly like an opportunity may arise for Brendan Rodgers to snap-up the Croatian maestro in an enticing cut-price deal.
Rakitic is in the midst of negotiation a new deal with Sevilla, but according to Spanish newspaper Estadio Deportivo, a 'gentleman's agreement' exists between Rakitic and his club, the terms of which stipulate that:
* Rakitic becomes the club's highest paid player.
* His current €40m buyout clause is lowered to €15m.
Sevilla are reportedly unwilling to go below €25m at this stage, though, which possibly explains the continued failure to agree a new deal.
Despite recently stating that he's happy at Sevilla, a lower buyout clause would undoubtedly attract some of the biggest clubs in Europe - including Liverpool - and would basically make Rakitic's new contract easy to circumvent.
In a recent interview, Rakitic provided an update on his plans for the future. He told Nogomia:
"A football player can never say with certainty that he will remain in his club. Such is the nature of our business. If there is no success, if there are no trophies, frustration grows. Everything has changed".
This doesn't sound like a happy player to me, and Rakitics's latest comments echo his views prior to the summer transfer window, when he told Sportske Novosti:
"The situation at Sevilla is not attractive. The club have asked me to say on. I told them that I want to see what they have done in terms of signings. We will see what happens in the summer."
Rakitic has already hinted in the past that he'd consider a move to Anfield. In an interview with 24 Sata over the summer, he enthused:
"I'm flattered to be linked with a big club like Liverpool, and it fills me with pride. Something is developing, but at the moment there is nothing concrete."
Rakitic can play as a deep lying playmaker, attacking midfielder, and if needed, a defensive midfielder, and if Rodgers really is interested in the Croatian, then he'll bring quality and depth to the squad, and provide serious competition for Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson, and Steven Gerrard. Stats over the last couple of season are pretty impressive:
* 2012-13: 11 goals/10 assists in 42 apps.
* 2013-14: 12 goals and 7 assists in 30 apps.
Rakitic is certainly well-regarded at his club. In November, Sevilla defender Daniel Carrico enthused:
"He is a different player with high quality. When you play with Rakitic you know that something good will come out of his feet. He's a leader, our captain, and he helps us a lot.”
I can't see FSG sanctioning €40m for one player, especially a central midfielder, but if the buyout clause comes down to €15m, then it's surely a no-brainer? Of course, if that happens, then every half-decent club in Europe will try and sign Rakitic, and given Liverpool's abject inability to pull-off big signings, I wouldn't hold out much hope of the Reds triumphing against the competition.
Author: Jaimie K
Rakitic is in the midst of negotiation a new deal with Sevilla, but according to Spanish newspaper Estadio Deportivo, a 'gentleman's agreement' exists between Rakitic and his club, the terms of which stipulate that:
* Rakitic becomes the club's highest paid player.
* His current €40m buyout clause is lowered to €15m.
Sevilla are reportedly unwilling to go below €25m at this stage, though, which possibly explains the continued failure to agree a new deal.
Despite recently stating that he's happy at Sevilla, a lower buyout clause would undoubtedly attract some of the biggest clubs in Europe - including Liverpool - and would basically make Rakitic's new contract easy to circumvent.
In a recent interview, Rakitic provided an update on his plans for the future. He told Nogomia:
"A football player can never say with certainty that he will remain in his club. Such is the nature of our business. If there is no success, if there are no trophies, frustration grows. Everything has changed".
This doesn't sound like a happy player to me, and Rakitics's latest comments echo his views prior to the summer transfer window, when he told Sportske Novosti:
"The situation at Sevilla is not attractive. The club have asked me to say on. I told them that I want to see what they have done in terms of signings. We will see what happens in the summer."
Rakitic has already hinted in the past that he'd consider a move to Anfield. In an interview with 24 Sata over the summer, he enthused:
"I'm flattered to be linked with a big club like Liverpool, and it fills me with pride. Something is developing, but at the moment there is nothing concrete."
Rakitic can play as a deep lying playmaker, attacking midfielder, and if needed, a defensive midfielder, and if Rodgers really is interested in the Croatian, then he'll bring quality and depth to the squad, and provide serious competition for Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson, and Steven Gerrard. Stats over the last couple of season are pretty impressive:
* 2012-13: 11 goals/10 assists in 42 apps.
* 2013-14: 12 goals and 7 assists in 30 apps.
Rakitic is certainly well-regarded at his club. In November, Sevilla defender Daniel Carrico enthused:
"He is a different player with high quality. When you play with Rakitic you know that something good will come out of his feet. He's a leader, our captain, and he helps us a lot.”
I can't see FSG sanctioning €40m for one player, especially a central midfielder, but if the buyout clause comes down to €15m, then it's surely a no-brainer? Of course, if that happens, then every half-decent club in Europe will try and sign Rakitic, and given Liverpool's abject inability to pull-off big signings, I wouldn't hold out much hope of the Reds triumphing against the competition.
Author: Jaimie K
Jamie gimme a break, you build me up, and then make me flop, reminds me of a GF or two.
ReplyDelete25 million Euros would still be like £20m, I think that could be doable for us.
ReplyDeleteNo brainer for a lot of other clubs too unfortunately, and if we we can't pay 11m for Salah, then we'd better get used to working with what we've got.
ReplyDeleteI've got to be honest and say I don't really fancy this player for us. There is a world of difference between playing for Seville -- playing midfield in Spain generally -- and playing for Liverpool in the premier league. I think what makes Rakitic effective and unusual in Spain might turn out to be exactly what'll make him not very effective and rather typical in England. Just a bad feeling about him. Not saying he's a bad player at all, but I don't think he's right for us and I hope we miss out.
ReplyDeleteFcuk. I can smell the champions league.....
ReplyDeleteayre will be involved, so missing out on him is a given.
ReplyDeleteYou've got to have more than that. I watch the vids...not the "I love me" vids but the vids of him vs other squads, which are presumably every Rakitic touch of the game...since some of them aren't so great. He definitely has great qualities. He's smart with the ball, great vision, quick feet, a good stopper, a superb set piece delivery, great long passing accuracy, and seems to be always around the ball. Those qualities are good no matter what league he's playing in. Plus he's 6' with some heft to him.
ReplyDeleteYeah ok, I'll have another look, you talked me into it. I haven't watched a Sevilla game this season anyway so I should do that.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere Chelsea had already got some agreement about getting this guy in summer.
ReplyDeleteRomulu please he's the guy we need
ReplyDeleteWhat?????? (special)
ReplyDeleteI think if we qualify for the champ league, we should really push the boat out for this guy. His quality and positional flexibility are exactly what our midfield needs. He really is the missing piece of our puzzle IMO
ReplyDeleteQualifying for the CL will definitely make our negotiating process that much easier when going for a player like Rakitic and he would be a very good addition to the squad but there are a host of clubs after him so competition for his signature will be very stiff.
ReplyDeleteIf we win the League :-) then players will be lining up at our doorstep to sign for us but yes, do not want to get to carried away.
I'm not a least bit excited about the FA Cup. Champions League qualification should be the top and only priority for LFC this season. Just hope non of the first- team players get injured. We have a really thin squad and any kind of injury suffered during such meaningless matches will be devastating.
ReplyDeleteThe other is Modric(RM), his close control of the ball rivals anyones, both play CM for their respective teams and are Croatia's finest. Though Rakitic is more of a prolific goalscorer and assist maker I would love to have them both in the team next season, something wich could be possible if Liverpool qualify for CL. I don't believe Rakitic will go for anything less than 20m£.
ReplyDeleteThis player is top class. But it looks like suso will come back and into the squad and we need a DM. So can't see us adding 3 midfielders in the summer but if this guy was in a red shirt we would be so much stronger.the guys so versatile in midfield too
ReplyDeleteActually it is Duda from Malaga. Iker Casillas is the official RM captain.
ReplyDeleteI taught you were talking about Croatian footballers(2) in La Liga not foreign captains...
ReplyDelete