10 Oct 2014

Better Option? LFC made huge €28m offer for 'lethal' Argentina star before Balotelli

Liverpool are once again being linked with a move for Napoli star Gonzalo Higuain, but if things had gone differently over the summer, it appears that the Argentine striker would already be an LFC player.

According to reports in Brazil:

* Liverpool put in an offical €28m (£22m) bid for Higuain over the summer.

* The Reds proposed a cash-plus-player exchange, with Lucas Leiva offered as part of the deal.

€28m plus Lucas? That's hardly an enticing offer, especially given the fact Higuain has €100m buyout clause in his contract (as publicly confirmed by club President Aurelio De Laurentis).

If true, though, it categorically confirms that €12m-rated Lucas Leiva is now expendable at Liverpool. The Brazilian is a model professional, and a great example for younger players, but he's a dead man walking, and it's surely only a matter of time before he leaves the club.

It's unclear whether Liverpool put in the Higuain offer before or after the signing of Mario Balotelli, but given how late in the window the deal happened, the probability is that it came before the Reds splashed £16m on the controversial striker.

I doubt there are many Reds fans who'd take Balotelli over Higuain. I certainly wouldn't. With his always-in-motion mobility, work ethic, and ability to get in behind defences, the Argentine is far more suited to Liverpool style of play, though it's still early days for Balotelli, and over time, he may prove to be a great signing.

Reports in Italy suggest that Higuain - described by Andrea Pirlo as a 'lethal' striker - is unsettled at the club, and speculation over a rift intensified this when the striker specifically requested to sit-out Napoli's recent game with Palermo. Addressing questions on the issue, Benitez told reporters:

"Higuain asked not to play that's why he was on the bench. He told me that he was tired after playing three games in a row and playing a fourth could have caused physical problems."

Higuain's stats for Napoli so far are pretty formidable, especially for Serie A:

* 26 goals/13 assists in 53 appearances.
* Goal/assist every 1.3 games.

The Argentine's stats at Real Madrid were also excellent:

* 122 goals/56 assists in 264 apps.
* Goal/assist every 1.4 games.

Anfield legends John Aldridge and John Barnes are massively in favour of signing Higuain. Last season, Barnes told TalkSport:

"Liverpool need someone like Gonzalo Higuain. If you get the ball in the box he can score, he can play outside the box and he’s the kind of player that Liverpool should be going for".

In a recent column for the Liverpool Echo, Aldo noted:

"I like the look of Gonzalo Higuain. He would be brilliant for us, but would he come? And how much would be cost?"

Alas, a player like Higuain is probably a pipe-dream for Liverpool. On current form, the Reds will be out of the Champions League by Christmas, and won't be doing much better in the league, so there may be no real incentive for him to sign for Liverpool in January.

Unless, of course, Rafa Benitez gets sacked, which, given Napoli's form this season, is a possibility.

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8 comments:

  1. The only way I could see this happening is if the player himself pushed very hard to leave. Otherwise Napoli are notorious for playing hardball when it comes to selling their stars so I seriously doubt we'd match their asking price

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  2. I don't see this being any upgrade over Balotelli. Higuain thrives in a system and feeds off others, he's not a creator on his own. Similar to Balotelli in this regard.

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  3. If he has energy and work rate I would rather have him at 27 than Mario at 24. Mario is "cool" and likes walking around with a scowl. We don't need walking. We need work rate, creativity and movement. It doesn't look like he has the fitness or the inclination to provide the Suarez-like work rate. That's what LFC strength is. If Higuain fits that mold then go for it aggressively instead of the next friggin phenom from somewhere....we have good kids but need quality proven performance leadership which we currently lack. Sturridge provides that but he and Sterling can't do it all alone.........

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  4. I heard it was £28M with Lucas or £35M without..........:-)

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  5. I still believe Balotelli and Sturridge will form a deadly partnership with Sterling playing right behind them.


    This International break may just do us the world of good. Hopefully it sees us go back to the diamond formation!

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  6. Hardly lethal - good not great but what really cheeses me off is Borini thinking anyone wants him to stay -we must get rid of him a s a p - has nothing to offer whatsoever

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  7. I've never really been the religious type.Maybe that's the reason why on the odd occasion i pray to the football Gods, they deliver players like Andy Carroll, Aspas and Fabio Borini:-)
    Gonzalo Higuain would be nice but realistically i don't see it happening.Liverpool failed to attract a player of that standard coming off a superb season and having 120m to play with.Nothing will change in the next window!

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