Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is reportedly considering a summer move for ex-Tottenham hotspur central defender Steven Caulker, another player with whom the Reds boss worked in the past.
According to The Telegraph today:
"Brendan Rodgers is interested in Cardiff captain Steven Caulker. Rodgers is a fan of Caulker, it is unclear whether the Liverpool transfer committee will be as keen"
Liverpool were linked with Caulker last summer, and at the time, the Daily Mail reported:
"He [Rodgers] is a fan of Tottenham's Steven Caulker but [his] valuation is high"
Prior to his move to Wales, Spurs reportedly slapped a £15m price-tag on Caulker, who ultimately cost a comparatively inexpensive £8m [€10m] Liverpool went out and splurged double that amount on Mamadou Sakho, a player who's made minimal impact on LFC, and I'd argue that at £8.5m, Caulker is the better-value signing.
Having said that, with 48 goals conceded, Cardiff have the second-worst defensive record in the league. Football is a team game, but like Sakho, Caulker doesn't appear to be having a significant personal impact on his club's defensive solidity. He must be doing something right, though, as Roy Hodgson named him in the England squad this week ( but he also chose Tom Cleverly, so that doesn't mean much)
Caulker surprised many by leaving high-flying Spurs for lowly, newly-promoted Cardiff, by former boss Malky McKay praised the defender for putting his career first. I August, he told reporters:
"People will be surprised that Steven left Tottenham, but he wanted to come here to play football and further his career. We are very impressed by the way he was so determined to leave his comfort zone"
Caulker's team-mate Ben Turner is impressed with Caulker's form this season, and in a recent interview, he raved:
"It’s hard to believe Steven is only 21. He has a lot of Premier League experience and, for me, he has no weaknesses. He’s doing a fantastic job"
LFC fans can judge for themselves if Caulker has 'no weaknesses' (!) this afternoon, when he comes face-to-face with his old club, Spurs. Ahead of the game, Tim Sherwood suggested that AVB was wrong to sell the defender, and when asked about Caulker, he had nothing by nice things to say. He told reporters:
“Steven is willing to learn and stand up for his beliefs. I like that. It is good to have a character, someone who might be harder to manage but is a good player. Steven has been called into the England squad and he is a regular international of the future, I have no doubt"
If, as seems likely, Rodgers - who described Caulker as 'brilliant' during his time at Swansea - signs another central defender this summer, who will get the chop? Daniel Agger seems to be the most at risk right now, but it's more probably more likely that Kolo Toure will be heading for the exit.
Rodgers clearly has a soft-spot for Agger; Martin Skrtel's future seems assured after a consistently excellent season, and after spending €19m, Rodgers is not going to get rid of Sakho after just one season.
Someone will have to leave, though, especially if Tiago Ilori returns. Even if the Liverpool make the Champions League, Rodgers will not be able to keep FIVE senior central defenders happy, surely...?
Author: Jaimie K
According to The Telegraph today:
"Brendan Rodgers is interested in Cardiff captain Steven Caulker. Rodgers is a fan of Caulker, it is unclear whether the Liverpool transfer committee will be as keen"
Liverpool were linked with Caulker last summer, and at the time, the Daily Mail reported:
"He [Rodgers] is a fan of Tottenham's Steven Caulker but [his] valuation is high"
Prior to his move to Wales, Spurs reportedly slapped a £15m price-tag on Caulker, who ultimately cost a comparatively inexpensive £8m [€10m] Liverpool went out and splurged double that amount on Mamadou Sakho, a player who's made minimal impact on LFC, and I'd argue that at £8.5m, Caulker is the better-value signing.
Having said that, with 48 goals conceded, Cardiff have the second-worst defensive record in the league. Football is a team game, but like Sakho, Caulker doesn't appear to be having a significant personal impact on his club's defensive solidity. He must be doing something right, though, as Roy Hodgson named him in the England squad this week ( but he also chose Tom Cleverly, so that doesn't mean much)
Caulker surprised many by leaving high-flying Spurs for lowly, newly-promoted Cardiff, by former boss Malky McKay praised the defender for putting his career first. I August, he told reporters:
"People will be surprised that Steven left Tottenham, but he wanted to come here to play football and further his career. We are very impressed by the way he was so determined to leave his comfort zone"
Caulker's team-mate Ben Turner is impressed with Caulker's form this season, and in a recent interview, he raved:
"It’s hard to believe Steven is only 21. He has a lot of Premier League experience and, for me, he has no weaknesses. He’s doing a fantastic job"
LFC fans can judge for themselves if Caulker has 'no weaknesses' (!) this afternoon, when he comes face-to-face with his old club, Spurs. Ahead of the game, Tim Sherwood suggested that AVB was wrong to sell the defender, and when asked about Caulker, he had nothing by nice things to say. He told reporters:
“Steven is willing to learn and stand up for his beliefs. I like that. It is good to have a character, someone who might be harder to manage but is a good player. Steven has been called into the England squad and he is a regular international of the future, I have no doubt"
If, as seems likely, Rodgers - who described Caulker as 'brilliant' during his time at Swansea - signs another central defender this summer, who will get the chop? Daniel Agger seems to be the most at risk right now, but it's more probably more likely that Kolo Toure will be heading for the exit.
Rodgers clearly has a soft-spot for Agger; Martin Skrtel's future seems assured after a consistently excellent season, and after spending €19m, Rodgers is not going to get rid of Sakho after just one season.
Someone will have to leave, though, especially if Tiago Ilori returns. Even if the Liverpool make the Champions League, Rodgers will not be able to keep FIVE senior central defenders happy, surely...?
Author: Jaimie K
would love to see caulker at liverpool - have always rated him highly since he broke into the tottenham team. For me, Ilori seems to be blossoming in Spain and they apparently want him for another season - if we can keep him at Granada on loan, move on Kolo, a centreback choice from Agger, Sakho, Skrtel and Caulker would be much stronger than anything we have had for years. Add to that Wisdom and Kelly in reserve I think we could handle what looks likely a champions league season next year.......
ReplyDeleteHe does look like a fantastic prospect. Toure's contract is up soon I think (not sure), and while he is an expressive leader in the dressing room (something that we needed after Carra's retirement) I can't see his Liverpool career lasting much longer.
ReplyDeleteWe still have Coates on the books but I haven't seen hardly anything of him to comment on his future, although it doesn't look like he'll be around for long either.
Ilori has been quite impressive in the games that he's featured in for Granada, and with the pace that he has, and the eye for a pass; I'm wondering if BR is considering him for a defensive midfielder as well as a centre back option.
So we keep Skrtel, Agger and Sakho as our senior top 3 choices, get Caulker and let him prove himself for a spot in the first team, or fight it out with Ilori and Wisdom for a place in the team for the cup games.
Why do you always have a stupid little moan after every lfc game ..we are up to 2nd and you bang on about some transfer that may never happen DO YOU SUPPORT LFC ?
ReplyDeletei dont understand this..... he is poor british overhyped player Kabul downson was prefferd ahead of him and then you are comparing with french int whith wealth of experience well thats coz he is brit
ReplyDeleteVertonghen has hinted he wants Chamions league football. Liverpool are leading the race for him. So if rumours are to be believed then he would be a big statement of intent in my opinion. So
ReplyDelete, what do you think?
we have agger skrtel sakho and toure all of them are better defender than caulker ,,, i think it will be brit panic buy
ReplyDeleteVertonghen would cost at least 35mil
ReplyDeleteAnd spurs would never sell to us
"( but he also chose Tom Cleverly, so that doesn't mean much )"
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
At 22, Caulker is a very good player. Strong in the air, does not get bullied to easily and can also play the ball out of defence.
ReplyDeleteIf we do sign him, being right footed it will be the end of Skrtel.
I would buy Jan Vertonghen and Loic Remy, plus a DM to bully the opposition.........................anyone agree???
ReplyDeleteDefo!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, apparently Caulker has weakness when it comes to nodding home free headers from 1 meter.
ReplyDeleteRodgers has gone on to say he has two transfer plans one for if we get top 4 and one without. I would expect Caulker to maybe fall in the latter if we lost one of our CBs. I would expect a right sided CB to leave in summer maybe Skrtel or Toure to make way for Ilori. That way we have two CBs for each side.
ReplyDeleteI really hope Kelly gets some game time and gets back to the form when we started him, despite Flano playing well I think Kelly is the better player. Bigger, quicker and more composure on the ball but he might be injury prone wonder how much it has taken out of his pace. Though if Johnson leaves as is rumoured both Kelly and Flano can be used.
I would fully expect a left back and winger probably left sided as well. I don't think we will purchase any CBs with Wisdom also coming back who can play CB (so can Kelly). Coates will certainly leave.
Aspas might leave or be used as perpetual backup though I quite like the guy, I would welcome Borini back as an impact player or a player for a certain type of game (he has scored so many big goals for Sunderland - Newcastle derby winner, Goal/Assist against Chelsea, Goal v Utd and City).
I expect Assaidi to move on, probably for more than we bought him as he has done well at Stoke. Alberto will be sent on loan (maybe).
35 million? You cannot be serious, maybe 15 million max
ReplyDeleteAre your sure? Is Caulker better than Skrtel?
ReplyDeleteWe have Ilori too
ReplyDeleteUltimate payback for all the signings they hijacked
ReplyDeleteI am not saying Skrtel is better and obviously has more experience than Caulker, he is only 22 after all but if we did ever sign Caulker then that would mean Skrtel being moved on.
ReplyDeleteBut City won the cup so opened a euro spot. I dun think TOT will rush selling
ReplyDelete