A few weeks ago, I outlined what I perceive to be Luis Suarez's 4-step 'Anfield exit' plan, and despite all the indicators suggesting that the strategy is under way for a second year running, some fans still refuse to countenance the possibility that the Uruguayan may leave this summer. Liverpool, however, appear to be planning for Suarez's exit, and reports this weekend suggest that the Reds have approached one of Europe's best strikers.
According to the Sunday edition of Spanish newspaper AS:
* Liverpool have contacted Falcao's agent and enquired about the possibility of a transfer.
* Brendan Rodgers sees the Colombian striker as a potential replacement for Suarez.
* Monaco are willing to sell for £35m.
If this is true, then it's good that Liverpool are sounding-out potential replacements for Suarez, and I'm pretty sure that many fans will be more than happy with Falcao, who earned the nickname 'El Tigre' at Atletico Madrid.
The chances of a deal seem slim, though. AS claims that Falcao - recently described as 'incredible' by Claudio Ranieri - is desperate for a move to Real Madrid, which may work out well for Liverpool as Suarez is also allegedly a target for Los Blancos.
Falcao is undoubtedly a top striker, but he's 28 now, and is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury. He'll take time to get back up to speed, and there's always a possibility that he'll struggle to recapture his pre-injury form. As such, it comes as no surprise that Monaco are willing to let him go.
As for Suarez, I think it's worth outlining the 4-step strategy once again:
1. Suarez endlessly reiterates that he's 'happy' at LFC etc.
2. He starts to hint that he's open to a move away.
3. One of his reps confirms that Suarez wants to leave.
4. Suarez actively starts pushing for a move.
Here are the steps in action from last summer:
MAR 2012: "I want to stay and I am very happy here. There are a good few years left on my contract and I want to carry on enjoying myself because both my family and I feel really happy here"
FEB 2013: Brendan Rodgers relays Suarez's alleged wishes - “I had a great conversation with his [Suarez's] agent a couple of weeks ago. He came in and rolled it out that he was so happy here and he was keen over the next couple of years for the club to progress"
FEB 2013: "I want to say now that, if you want to know what will happen to me if we don't qualify for the Champions League, then I will say this: I have a contract with Liverpool and I am very happy here. I will stay".
A few months later, and Suarez had mysteriously changed his mind:
MAY 2013: "I have a contract with Liverpool but would find it difficult to say ‘no’ to Real Madrid".
MAY 2013: "My reason for leaving is my family and my image, I don't feel comfortable here any more"
JULY 2013: The BBC reports: "Luis Suarez's agent has reiterated the Uruguayan's desire to play for a Champions League club during talks with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers and managing director Ian Ayre".
AUG 2013: "I need to be playing in the Champions League. I feel I have done enough to be playing in the Champions League at this stage of my career. Now there is an option for me to do that and I want very much to take it"
Now, fast forward a year, and it's rinse/repeat:
MAR 2014: “I signed my new contract because I’m very happy here and I want to stay where I’m enjoying football and life. Playing in the Champions League isn’t dependent on that.”
MAY 2014: "I love it here and I'm so happy here. If you're not happy here you don't sign any contract".
JUNE 2014: Suarez's lawyer, Alejandro Balbi tells Cadena SER: "If there is a big offer from Real Madrid, it would be very difficult [for Suarez] to say no. Luis Suarez has always had a predisposition for Spain."
In my earlier post, I argued that step 4 will materialise during, or just after, the World Cup, and it's arguably already happening:
* Suarez has endlessly gloated about knocking England out of the World Cup. He's claimed that it's 'revenge' for the way he's been treated etc, and shown open disdain for the country in which he makes his living. This is arguably the mindset of a player who is privately considering his next move.
* Stories are suddenly appearing in the press about Barcelona preparing an offer, and Suarez allegedly telling 'friends' that he wants a move. To be fair, these are probably BS, but you never know.
Mark my words, it will not be long now before Suarez - or his agent - says something publicly about the attraction of leaving/playing for another club etc.
Whatever happens, I don't begrudge him a move away. Suarez has provided excellent service to Liverpool, but he's in his prime now, and time is running out for him to win the trophies his talent deserves. LFC might be in the Champions League, but the reality is that the club will find it difficult to win the league/CL every year.
I also get the feeling that Suarez is one of these players who wants to be at the centre of the universe, and in footballing terms, that at Real Madrid or Barcelona. Additionally, based on his (slightly arrogant) comments in March about being 'one of the best players in the world', Suarez probably won't feel content until he playing alongside the likes of Messi and Ronaldo.
Author: Jaimie K
According to the Sunday edition of Spanish newspaper AS:
* Liverpool have contacted Falcao's agent and enquired about the possibility of a transfer.
* Brendan Rodgers sees the Colombian striker as a potential replacement for Suarez.
* Monaco are willing to sell for £35m.
If this is true, then it's good that Liverpool are sounding-out potential replacements for Suarez, and I'm pretty sure that many fans will be more than happy with Falcao, who earned the nickname 'El Tigre' at Atletico Madrid.
The chances of a deal seem slim, though. AS claims that Falcao - recently described as 'incredible' by Claudio Ranieri - is desperate for a move to Real Madrid, which may work out well for Liverpool as Suarez is also allegedly a target for Los Blancos.
Falcao is undoubtedly a top striker, but he's 28 now, and is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury. He'll take time to get back up to speed, and there's always a possibility that he'll struggle to recapture his pre-injury form. As such, it comes as no surprise that Monaco are willing to let him go.
As for Suarez, I think it's worth outlining the 4-step strategy once again:
1. Suarez endlessly reiterates that he's 'happy' at LFC etc.
2. He starts to hint that he's open to a move away.
3. One of his reps confirms that Suarez wants to leave.
4. Suarez actively starts pushing for a move.
Here are the steps in action from last summer:
MAR 2012: "I want to stay and I am very happy here. There are a good few years left on my contract and I want to carry on enjoying myself because both my family and I feel really happy here"
FEB 2013: Brendan Rodgers relays Suarez's alleged wishes - “I had a great conversation with his [Suarez's] agent a couple of weeks ago. He came in and rolled it out that he was so happy here and he was keen over the next couple of years for the club to progress"
FEB 2013: "I want to say now that, if you want to know what will happen to me if we don't qualify for the Champions League, then I will say this: I have a contract with Liverpool and I am very happy here. I will stay".
A few months later, and Suarez had mysteriously changed his mind:
MAY 2013: "I have a contract with Liverpool but would find it difficult to say ‘no’ to Real Madrid".
MAY 2013: "My reason for leaving is my family and my image, I don't feel comfortable here any more"
JULY 2013: The BBC reports: "Luis Suarez's agent has reiterated the Uruguayan's desire to play for a Champions League club during talks with Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers and managing director Ian Ayre".
AUG 2013: "I need to be playing in the Champions League. I feel I have done enough to be playing in the Champions League at this stage of my career. Now there is an option for me to do that and I want very much to take it"
Now, fast forward a year, and it's rinse/repeat:
MAR 2014: “I signed my new contract because I’m very happy here and I want to stay where I’m enjoying football and life. Playing in the Champions League isn’t dependent on that.”
MAY 2014: "I love it here and I'm so happy here. If you're not happy here you don't sign any contract".
JUNE 2014: Suarez's lawyer, Alejandro Balbi tells Cadena SER: "If there is a big offer from Real Madrid, it would be very difficult [for Suarez] to say no. Luis Suarez has always had a predisposition for Spain."
In my earlier post, I argued that step 4 will materialise during, or just after, the World Cup, and it's arguably already happening:
* Suarez has endlessly gloated about knocking England out of the World Cup. He's claimed that it's 'revenge' for the way he's been treated etc, and shown open disdain for the country in which he makes his living. This is arguably the mindset of a player who is privately considering his next move.
* Stories are suddenly appearing in the press about Barcelona preparing an offer, and Suarez allegedly telling 'friends' that he wants a move. To be fair, these are probably BS, but you never know.
Mark my words, it will not be long now before Suarez - or his agent - says something publicly about the attraction of leaving/playing for another club etc.
Whatever happens, I don't begrudge him a move away. Suarez has provided excellent service to Liverpool, but he's in his prime now, and time is running out for him to win the trophies his talent deserves. LFC might be in the Champions League, but the reality is that the club will find it difficult to win the league/CL every year.
I also get the feeling that Suarez is one of these players who wants to be at the centre of the universe, and in footballing terms, that at Real Madrid or Barcelona. Additionally, based on his (slightly arrogant) comments in March about being 'one of the best players in the world', Suarez probably won't feel content until he playing alongside the likes of Messi and Ronaldo.
Author: Jaimie K
urgh this again... getting kind of old u know
ReplyDeleteI dont want him to leave but if we can get Sanchez in return maybe we can turn him into a gem
ReplyDeleteSell him to highest bidder.
ReplyDeleteSuarez is irreplaceable,but the headaches he continually causes LFC isn't worth it.Let him leave for big money and then recruit well,and show him he left a LFC on there way back to the top.YNWA
ReplyDeleteFSG aren't stupid, they know you can't replace players like sureaz. Last summer they refused to sell even though arsenal met his buyout clause.
ReplyDeleteAlso his marketing value must be huge for LFC. Player like him sell shirts, increase sponsorship deals (as long as he doesn't do anything stupid).
Luis is key to signing other top players too.
I would instead love to see BR give it a try with Balloteli
ReplyDeleteLooks like I am going to have to buy some more "Suarez" shirts just so I can burn them in disgust at his behaviour
ReplyDeleteThe Suarez leaving story keeps raising it's ugly head! If we get a deal near the £80m mark with Barca and have Sanchez and Afellay thrown in to sweeten the deal we would be hard pushed not to accept it. In all reality Suarez is one of the top 3 strikers around so replacing him would be a very difficult prospect.
ReplyDeleteIf Luis goes it would be a good move for both him and liverpoool. I cant see him topping what he achieved last season and a move to barca would present a fresh challenge for him and Liverpool are now in position to sell him for a peak figure while having the attraction of having champions league football to find a top class replacement. So I am not going to be naive in thinking that Luis is demanding to leave the club as it more the case of Liverpool knowing this is the right time to sell the player.
ReplyDelete1) So all this happening while Rodgers is in America with his Girlfriend.
ReplyDelete2) FSG with the sale of Suarez will have money to spend sell before Buy.
3) Real Madrid Ronaldo bale
4) Barca Messi Neymar where does Suarez fit with these two clubs.
5) with financial fair play real and barca have those four players on there book putting suarez in those team wouldn't that get them well over or is this Sepp blatter inter Galactic team.
Well Suarez is not exactly commercial like Torres was. He wont sell that many shirts but he is beast of a player. Even Ronaldo cant replace him at LFC
ReplyDeleteur not a liverpool fan. please leave
ReplyDeleteAbsolute rubbish. All you have done is reiterate the unsubstantiated nonsense originally published in the Daily Mail a few days ago. You have even regurgitated precisely the same line of argument used by the Mail's notoriously suspect journalist. Ouch. You really would have been better advised to have chosen a more reputable source,
ReplyDeleteI wonder how long it will take till "Red Owls' comment below is deleted....
ReplyDeleteWell if he leaves he leaves but i will be totally upset if Real or Barca rip us off like the Owen and Mascherano deals.
ReplyDeleteI see a rumour about Morata as part exchange well hes crap so there would have to better offers than some are reporting.
Falcao has already said he wants Real Madrid, so I don't think we'd get him,
ReplyDeleteJK has been adamant that Suarez will leave for maybe about the past two summers now!
ReplyDeleteSeems harsh and not really for you to say
ReplyDeletepukeee - do not belittle other posters like this. Simon's comment makes perfect sense, and is exactly the type of discussion-promoting view welcomed on this site. If you ever make a comment like this again, you'll be banned.
ReplyDeleteTo be perfectly honest, I don't think Suarez is going anywhere this summer. I'm sure he wants to play CL with us and have another shot at the title
ReplyDeleteWell, if he is going to go then they should get it done and dusted as soon as possible after the World Cup. The good news is that it looks like both Real Madrid and Barca are going to fight it out for him. So the fee should be a decent one. Might even be able to poach some players from the buying club. In that case I would prefer he went to Barca and we get Sanchez in the deal. But I would rather he stayed for at least one more season.
ReplyDeleteThere won't be an auction for him, regarding the fee. Once they hit the buyout, they only have to start haggling his contract with his agent - we're out of the loop at that point. If the buyout is £70M, he's going for £70M. The 'highest bidder' is the one who offers his agent the best deal.
ReplyDeleteGet a grip. What "behaviour" exactly????
ReplyDeleteRonaldo won't stand for being upstaged by Suarez, so that's a no-go. Can't see Barca using Suarez/Messi/Neymar.
ReplyDeleteIf they really want him, can we have Messi??
I think he is a Liverpool fan. Because we support our own, even when they move to pastures new.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why most of us couldn't suppress a chuckle when he scored past Joe Hart the other night.........
Except the "See I told you so" will have happened 3+ years later....
ReplyDeleteI think that Palace game killed him physically and mentally. I'd love to see him give the Champion's League a shot with us, but if not then he earned his move away with his performances EVERY GAME last season.
ReplyDeleteI keep convincing myself he wouldn't enrol his daughter in a Merseyside school if he was planning to jump ship.......... :(
Dontcha just love the close season.........
I'd like him to stay purely to listen to the mindless bile thrown at him from the opposition dullards in the stands. Bring it on....
ReplyDeleteHope they all choked on their cornflakes the morning after Uruguay-Engerland.
I've done what you said and it's quite nice really.. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe club still has to agree a deal and who says the highest bidder does not offer the biggest contract.
ReplyDeleteGod no
ReplyDeleteEveryone's getting excited over some very weak sourceless, nameless rumours in some pretty dubious tabloids.
ReplyDeleteSuarez is currently preparing for a do or die clash with Italy and yet he's phoning friends with links to the media claiming to have accepted barca's offer blah blah...
Suarez wasn't linked with barca at all until after the England game, yet now while he's away at the World Cup and Brendan Rodgers is in New York a deal is all but done? Bollocks!!
He may stay, he may go however I'm sure the owners left themselves in a position of strength when they renewed his contract
Jaimie you always make me nervous.
ReplyDeleteThat's not true at all. The buyout is the minimum a club needs to bid in order to bring LFC and Suarez to the table, it doesn't guarantee a deal because 1) a third club could offer more (also triggering buyout clause) and LFC could deal with them 2) Personal negotiations could break down.
ReplyDeleteIf 2 clubs offer 70M identical personal terms and Suarez has no preference of which club to go to, then LFC will pick one of the two based on (amongst other things) payment terms (i.e. 70M upfront and 70M over 10 years are different things), secondary clauses, relationship of the two clubs
its very funny reading all the comments on various sites from pool fans stating, as if factually that Suarez is staying... really? you really think that rodent cares about LFC? He has wanted out for 2 years and only re-signed last season to get a huge payrise and the release clause re-inserted.... why is it only pool fans cant see this? I have never met a more blinkered group of fans in my life and that is not a compliment, you as a group are insanely deluded... suarez hates your club and will never play in the tacky orangey red of pool again. FACT.
ReplyDeletedeluded much? its so funny the lack of realisation you display... he is gone, get that into your thick mug
ReplyDeletesomeone is jealous that we have the best striker
ReplyDeletein the world ohhh role on the new season
I disagree that Suarez continually causes headaches for the club.
ReplyDeleteHe caused no headaches during this last campaign -- unless you want to count the 5-match carry-over ban for his antics previous season. By my count, since he joined the club he has only committed two acts that caused legitimate headaches: biting Ivanovic and flirting with other clubs last summer. It is my opinion these two acts are connected (he bit Ivanovic to instigate a move), and can therefore be seen as one gigantic headache instead of two.
What about the Evra affair(?), one might ask. Though it was a legitimate headache for the club, I believe it was overblown nonsense instigated by Evra and made worse by same during the controversial, media-hyped handshake at Old Trafford, a ridiculous ritual which I believe never should have taken place. The media witch hunt that ensued did nothing to relax tensions -- rather, it exacerbated the issue for the club. All that to say, Evra (who isn't a martyr, but plays one on tv) and the gullible, self-righteous media caused that headache, not Suarez.
I don't want to cash in unless he is ready to move on. If he's no longer committed to the club (and I have my suspicions this could be the case) brush away the tear, make the best deal possible, pat him on the back, thank him for his service, and proceed to the next chapter.
I have a feeling a lot of people will disagree with me. I welcome the rotten tomatoes and hurled cabbage :-)
Actually I have dignity...unlike pool fans, I would not cheer for a racist, diving cheat who bites other humans.. you on the other hand have zero class.... and you really think he will be at Unfield next season you are a deluded muppet. Remember this, I enjoy watching you all squirm, I enjoy your insane rants about how he will stay.... dont be so deluded, you just make it funnier for us who live in the real world. He's gone... end of conversation.
ReplyDeleteThere will be many more stories and rumours about Suarez before the window has shut. If he goes then he goes. If he stays then things carry on as normal.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure the club will go all out to keep him but if LFC do decide to sell and whoever does want to buy him will pay a very hefty price. LFC showed last season that they will not be walked over and I cannot see things changing this coming transfer window either.
I'd prefer Jackson Martinez with Pastore behind him with Sanchez or Lucia Moura on the wing
ReplyDeletein all honesty, everyone should have expected him to be linked with a move away to one of the big Spanish clubs after the season he just had. it's par for the course.. Personally, he hasn't done anything out of line for me... a sound bite from a lawyer or agent means nothing, same goes for all these reports in the rags.. I would love to see him stay, but accept that he may be going.. He was not born on Merseyside and the Stevie G.'s are so few and far between. Just because he leaves, it doesn't mean he didn't value and love the time he spent here. TBH, you have to know when to sell the player to maximize the value you get for him and he may not be more valuable than he is right now.. if we could get Sanchez and £60mm + for him, that may be very good business. A front 3 of Studge, Sterling and Sanchez would be incredible and allow DS to play centrally... It would also allow us to make 2 more high quality signings (assuming we go that route) in areas of need... Sanchez would flourish in BR's system and although productive at Barca, the slow build up play wasn't the best fit for his skill set..
ReplyDeleteif owners don't want to sell so who can force them? so swarez is not for sale .. you must be crazy selling the number one striker in the world ... progress will continue at anfield and with swarez
ReplyDeleteHe is not leaving the guy said he is enjoy football in lfc is a rumor we cannot sale him we have to add more quality players to support him so that we will win the EPL and UCL we dont have to make the same mistake we make in 2009 after we finish second in the EPLwe sale alonso and buy alqualani with injure so let us get lallana and shaqiri and moreno and another blocking four and see what we happen next season lfc for life
ReplyDeleteDavid what problem suarez is causing is like you are not lfc fan we will not sell him in any amount why baca did not sale messi he is the best striker in the hole world so why sale him lfc till i die
ReplyDeleteDiru we dont Ned to gamble we did it in 2009 e does not walk out let keep him use last season for example we keep him and now see were we are he give us 31 EPL goals and we finish second with out him now we will not be talking about sanchez lfc for life
ReplyDeleteIt's not condoning cheating, it's doing what's best for your country, I would do it to get my country threw, it's the same as any foul on the half way line to stop a counter attack, it's called taking one for the team. And is something that I would do any day of the week for my team and country
ReplyDeleteNo thank you
ReplyDeletewhy get Super Mario for a game and Stupid Mario for the next two
ReplyDeleteThese latest stories are wide of the mark. The same kind of stuff was floating around last summer. Didn't Marca run a story about how Suarez to Madrid was a done deal, personal terms agreed? It's all speculation. No doubt Suarez would be happy at Madrid or Barca, I doubt there are many players on the planet who would turn that down. His agent will be doing his job which is to go to various clubs and ask if they are interested in his player. That's just what agents do and in this case most clubs would be willing to at least have a conversation or two. It's a big difference between those kinds of talks and another club actually contacting Liverpool with an offer. It's a massive asking price and who's to say Suarez is really the kind of player Barcelona want.
ReplyDeleteFalcao as a replacement is a joke. Maybe Costa to Chelsea is all but wrapped up but Liverpool should put their offer in given where we finished in the league and the other players we could afford with the money from a Suarez sale. Costa would certainly think about it. There are also plenty of other players out there who we'd go for ahead of Falcao. He's just a big name that the papers can speculate about, it's typical silly season journalism, a waste of space. Brendan Rodgers will have a long list of strikers who he thinks could replace Suarez but I'd be really surprised if Falcao is one of them.
A few points:
ReplyDelete1. The whole English revenge angle has nothing to do with a player considering a move elsewhere. It's because he feels like he's been slighted by the English media. You say that it is "arguably the mindset of a player...". I say this arguably has nothing to do with a transfer.
2. I happen to agree with the whole four step process that you've outlined here. I wouldn't be surprised to see him leave this summer. Furthermore, he can leave on much better terms this time around (helping the team back to the CL vs. Biting an opponent).
3. I'm not sure what to believe on the rumors, and who is spreading them. Truthfully, as much as I want Suarez to stay, if we get a deal that we can't refuse, then we have to take it. His value will never be higher than it is now. Unfortunately, if he leaves that means we have to figure out how to replace him, which will be no easy task.
As much as I like your thinking about the Costa idea, I don't think we'd be able to match whatever Chelsea offer him on wages.
ReplyDeleteOur contracts are performance-driven. Not high on the guarantees. Chelsea will guarantee the wages. We'll make him prove it.
Still passing yourself off as a Liverpool fan? when will people catch on. here is a hint Liverpool fans don't write pieces calling their best player a disgrace.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at 'Game of Thrones'...
ReplyDeleteWhat the fuck are you talking about? You ignorant or something? He did an offense, he didn't cheat. There is huge difference. Cheating is "something condoned by the referee through bribery for example". In this case, he was spotted and punished as well as his team with a penalty to Ghana. Ghana didn't score, it's their fucking problem. What a waste of lines you wrote!!!
ReplyDeleteWoW. How stupid can you be. Handball is part of the game. Suarez used it and got punished for it and didn't allow the goal. How was that guaranteed goal. It didn't happen. If something doesn't happen, it is not guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteYeah it was deliberate. And so was the red card for it. Do you Get it now
ReplyDeleteOff Topic.
ReplyDeleteWill replying to RedWill. hahahah
How ironic