Despite the amazing league season, Liverpool clearly need some solid defensive reinforcements this summer, and Brendan Rodgers is reportedly back on the trail of one of the Reds' long-term targets.
Transfer Coup: BR wants 'dominant' £19m star with awful injury history. Agger Mk 2?
According to the Express today:
"Liverpool are expected to hand Brendan Rodgers a £50m transfer kitty at the end of the season, and the Reds are expected to move for Schalke's Kyriakos Papadopoulos".
Liverpool were heavily linked with £19m-rated Papadopolous in the winter and summer 2013 transfer windows, and during those periods:
* Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that the Reds put in an offer for the coveted defender.
* 'Sources' close to the player' claimed that Rodgers is a huge fan, and that Papadopolous was keen to join Liverpool.
* Liverpool legend Jan Molby insisted that Papadopolous 'fits the profile' of the type of player Liverpool 'want to build a team around', and shrugged off worries about the young defender's injury history. He noted: "When I’ve seen him [Papadopolous] in Champions League matches, I’ve been impressed. he’s a talented young player with real potential. He is as strong as a bull, dominant in the air and very good in one-on-one situations".
* Former Monaco CEO Tor-Kristian Karlsen described Kyriakos as 'one of the best center-backs in Europe', and claimed that several Premier League clubs - including LFC - are chasing the youngster. He tweeted: "Liverpool interest is concrete. Has been on the shortlist/highly rated by many European top clubs (including Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd). Nice transfer coup for Liverpool if they manage to land Papadopoulos.
* ESPN football analyst Rafael Honigstein then confirmed Karlsen's contention, claiming: "Liverpool are pretty close to landing Kyriakos Papadopoulos. There’s no fear he will be affected long-term [by the injury]"
Clearly, Liverpool were interested, but in my view, this deal is a total non-starter:
* Papadopolous spent an incredible 383 days on the sidelines with his knee injury, and his issue seems to be recurring as he's made only five appearances this season.
* The 22-year old dislocated his shoulder in training this week, and will now be out injured again for an 'indefinite period'.
Why would Rodgers take a massive risk on a central defender who is perpetually injured? It makes no sense, and if Rodgers splashed the cash on this guy, it would (arguably) be one of the biggest LFC transfer gambles of the last 10-15 years.
Is Papadopolous a better option than Sakho?
Author: Jaimie K
Transfer Coup: BR wants 'dominant' £19m star with awful injury history. Agger Mk 2?
According to the Express today:
"Liverpool are expected to hand Brendan Rodgers a £50m transfer kitty at the end of the season, and the Reds are expected to move for Schalke's Kyriakos Papadopoulos".
Liverpool were heavily linked with £19m-rated Papadopolous in the winter and summer 2013 transfer windows, and during those periods:
* Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that the Reds put in an offer for the coveted defender.
* 'Sources' close to the player' claimed that Rodgers is a huge fan, and that Papadopolous was keen to join Liverpool.
* Liverpool legend Jan Molby insisted that Papadopolous 'fits the profile' of the type of player Liverpool 'want to build a team around', and shrugged off worries about the young defender's injury history. He noted: "When I’ve seen him [Papadopolous] in Champions League matches, I’ve been impressed. he’s a talented young player with real potential. He is as strong as a bull, dominant in the air and very good in one-on-one situations".
* Former Monaco CEO Tor-Kristian Karlsen described Kyriakos as 'one of the best center-backs in Europe', and claimed that several Premier League clubs - including LFC - are chasing the youngster. He tweeted: "Liverpool interest is concrete. Has been on the shortlist/highly rated by many European top clubs (including Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd). Nice transfer coup for Liverpool if they manage to land Papadopoulos.
* ESPN football analyst Rafael Honigstein then confirmed Karlsen's contention, claiming: "Liverpool are pretty close to landing Kyriakos Papadopoulos. There’s no fear he will be affected long-term [by the injury]"
Clearly, Liverpool were interested, but in my view, this deal is a total non-starter:
* Papadopolous spent an incredible 383 days on the sidelines with his knee injury, and his issue seems to be recurring as he's made only five appearances this season.
* The 22-year old dislocated his shoulder in training this week, and will now be out injured again for an 'indefinite period'.
Why would Rodgers take a massive risk on a central defender who is perpetually injured? It makes no sense, and if Rodgers splashed the cash on this guy, it would (arguably) be one of the biggest LFC transfer gambles of the last 10-15 years.
Is Papadopolous a better option than Sakho?
Author: Jaimie K
Recycle of old story?
ReplyDeleteNew medical:
ReplyDeletePlayers have to run around and behave like a dog for 38 minutes.
This will prove their mental fitness, dedication and commitment (I expect them to leg hump at least one member of our medical team), and their physical fitness by testing their upper and lower bodies.
38 minutes is the optimal time I've found, in my own studies.
Well Jaimie, he wouldn't command a high fee because of that horrible injury record. I'd give it a shot at 3-4m, given the potential that lad could reach and given, that we'd find a buyer from the Bundesliga for 2-3m in case he does not make it easily.
ReplyDeleteI taught it was 60 Mill or was it 70 Mill???
ReplyDeleteRecycle of old story by the Express?
ReplyDeleteWe need him to keep Enrique, Johnson, Agger, Kelly, Lucas, Allen etc company when they're on the treatment bench for 50%+ of the season.
ReplyDeleteIn your attempt for critical realism you have picked quotes from no one associated with Schalke or Liverpool, so how is it so clear that we are so interested in him? Because someone who had involvement with Monaco or a ESPN analyst say so, dubious sources at best
ReplyDeleteThanks for deleting, I didnt enjoy the hole picking in the basis of your entire article, must be hard being criticised whilst trying to criticize!
ReplyDeleteA reason why my posts on this have been deleted?
ReplyDeleteIm sure Ive seen comment on this already, that has now disappeared, but what do these sources know of the workings of our club?
ReplyDeleteno more card board tanks we have enough ,CB is the one position that you need consistency of games to build understanding there are loads of better options out there have we not learned with kelly,jose,agger .
ReplyDeleteIn future, don't post snide comments (you've changed your username - did you think I wouldn't notice).
ReplyDeleteJust because Schalke haven't said anything about Papadopolous doesn't mean the rumour doesn't have legs. In any event. it's irrelevant. It's a rumour, and I've provided info that's directly relevant to it. If you have a problem with that, tough.
He is the type of player we need. He like a our Carragher, only with more ability. That said his knees are dodgy which has kept him out of the team for large parts of the last 2 seasons. For his injury record alone we should pass on him as we can't afford to take that gamble, most especially when the PL will be more physically demanding. I don't think BR is in for tbh, this is just paper talk. BR may have CB's in mind but only if he can shift out at least 2 CB's from the current squad. I think BR is more concerned about LB, CM, and Attacking Wide players in his transfer agenda. I think realistically we will be getting about 3 to 4 players in the summer that BR will think can have an impact on the first 11, with 1 or 2 young prospect coming, and some more youth/reserve players will be given a chance: hopefully that will be Ibe, Teixera, Suso, Wisdom, Illori, and perhaps Coady
ReplyDeleteHe might not be worth 19 M but hes sure as heck worth mroe than 4M, even with injuries. I'd say around 12M is fair.
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness neither comment has been snide, merely questioning the basis of this, I thought this site was above such tenuous speculation but hey ho
ReplyDelete12m are you nuts
ReplyDeleteReally!!!
ReplyDeleteIt'll probably be 80m tomorrow ;-)
ReplyDeleteNah, make it 120 M. Then we can buy Bale right? ;)
ReplyDeleteIm concerned my right to express my view is being suppress, help
ReplyDeleteThe guy's a bulging eyed basket case - I'd love him at Liverpool. Aside from any new signings to bolster our shoddy back line, I'd also like to see Ilori given a shot next season - his performance against Barcelona recently was superb. The guy looks good - terrific speed and poise.
ReplyDeleteAlways liked the look of him but injuries are a worry
ReplyDeleteI think this is just a recycled story by the Express.
I hadn't heard about Sakho when I first saw our interest in Papa. As for who is better I would need to be able to judge on merit. If Papa is such an injury worry (like the original title of this piece suggested) then surely a less injured Sakho should be the better option. Also when I read about Papa in the original rumors with him people (reporters and such) said he was not too confident with the ball at his feel. Sakho IS? Despite a couple of bad touches and passes (not all his own fault such as flanno's pass) he is generally (despite his gangly gait) quite good on the ball.Better still is that he can improve further. Look at Skrtel for optimism in this.
ReplyDeleteAlso Jaimie why were my other posts not up long? It wasn't a disques thing this time.
Recycled
ReplyDeleteThis is an old story put out again as Liverpool rumors will always get the Express more views.
ReplyDeleteI was working in Indonesia for the past 3+ months, and only seen Spanish footy on TV, I seen Ilori at least 10 times, what a player he is already, I would be very surprised if he did not become a real talent, he has it all, believe me, we have a top player in him, thats why BR chased him for so long.
ReplyDeleteOff topic, does anyone know where I could pick up a very large box of Xanax tabs before Sunday 2pm,,,, ????
In your own studies...All sorts of graphics are entering my mind, all sorts. ;)
ReplyDeleteto much injuries
ReplyDelete"New medical:
ReplyDeletePlayers have to run around and behave like a dog for 38 minutes"
Thats not new, Suarez was doing the "Dog thing" last season,
Ivanovich anyone.
Remembering the tests keeps me up at night...
ReplyDeleteYNWA
His injuries and lack of playing time will surely have lowered his value quite significantly. If he's injury free by pre-season and we can get good value for him, I think he's got all the qualities to be a top centre half
ReplyDeleteIf the tests keep you up then what do they do to the victi...I mean subjects?
ReplyDeleteFor a player this age to have such terrible injury history, it's better to keep ourselves away from him. In any case, who can he possibly replace in the squad? Is it going to be Sakho, Agger or Ilori?
ReplyDeleteSeems like there's lots of debates ongoing questioning BR's business acumen in the transfer market or a lack thereof. I do not want to start another one in this unrelated thread but BR's record in the transfer market certainly warrant a huge room for improvement. We are now in next season's Champions League and we do not have an unlimited amount of money to spend. It's clear that given our present squad of players, we do not have the capacity to manage this right now. So player purchase during this summer is very critical. Just imagine we have to play Chelsea in between 2 tough matches in the Champions League like what Chelsea is doing now. We fans can only hope BR and that whatsoever transfer commitee will get things right this summer.
Of course, the most important issue right now is to beat Chelsea and continue LFC's pursuit of the Championship. We are really really close with 3 games remaining and it will be the dumbest thing to throw it away now. But just be careful of that kind of 'pretty' football that Chelsea and Mourinho is capable of. If Chelsea wins this season's championship, it will certainly taint the idea of playing beautiful free-flowing attacking football positively demonstrated by LFC and Man City this season.
Go LFC, all the way!!!
YNWA!!!
We may have to move some CB's on first before we sign anymore. We have been linked Papadopoulos before but rumours get recycled time and time again.
ReplyDeleteIt works for me - see pic
ReplyDeleteWe know a couple of things about sports journalists. 1. no one tells them anything so they make most of what they write up. 2. Once you make up a 50 million pound transfer budget, you also need to make up transfer targets. 3. They have little to no imagination. 4. Putting one, two and three together we come to 4.Most of what they now write as news, they'll repeat to no end until what they write becomes impossible and then they move on as if nothing has happened. Papa is a very good defender but his injury record will make us look in another direction. For CB I'd actually prefer if we look at someone like Luisao. Although him being right footed may be an issue.
ReplyDeletethis guy is amazing and i am sure he is better than sakho give him a rest and he'll be a top class
ReplyDeleteIs it me, or are a lot of us doubting Sakho? Having seen a lot of the kid in the seasons before he was relegated to the bench at PSG, I think he has all the attributes to become a world class centre back. He may be cumbersome on the ball, but consider Skrtel prior to the Rodgers revolution - he was nearly as bad, but look how composed he is with the ball at his feet now. I'm sure Rodger's can improve Sakho's technical ability. This is also his first season in the EPL, where football is played much quicker than in Ligue 1. He obviously needs to adjust to thinking and making decisions quicker with and without the ball.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that he has been touted as the next Thuram for a while now as well. Let's keep some faith in him before we all call for and speculate about signing a new centre back!
He looks cumbersome, it's nothing more than that. He just doesn't have the grace and style of most football players these days. However his pass rate is very high and he's quite reliable. Appearances can be deceptive and I don't think there is anything wrong with what Sakho has done this season. He's a good defender and looks fine going forward. He covers well. We don't need any more CBs and I'd be very surprised if we signed any. The only way is if Agger or Skrtel were sold or if we didn't give Toure another year.
ReplyDeleteSakho is our future on CB, anyone with a football brain can see that the boy has talent. If we bring anyone in it will be to partner him, not to replace
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Yes he looks slightly awkward on the ball, but he can pass, has pace, he is strong but importantly he can defend.
ReplyDeleteSakho is better.
ReplyDelete