20 Mar 2015

'Future at Liverpool?': £10m Madrid attacker who wants LFC transfer confirms he's aware of Rodgers' interest

Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Vasquez (currently on loan at Espanyol) is reportedly on Liverpool's transfer wish-list for the upcoming summer window, but what are the chances of a deal being concluded?

In Early March, reports claimed that:

* Madrid are willing to sell 23-year old Vasquez for £7m (€10m).

* Vasquez is 'keen to move to Anfield', and Liverpool are 'desperate' to sign him.

* Rodgers allegedly sees him as a long-term replacement for Glen Johnson.

When specifically asked on Wednesday about Liverpool's interest, Vasquez told Spanish newspaper AS:

"Future with Liverpool? I do not know what will happen and I don't know what the future holds. For now, I want to have fun, play, and continue to improve. "

This is a typically diplomatic answer, but in another recent interview, Vasquez hinted that a transfer at the end of the season is a distinct possibility. He told reporters:

"I am not planning on returning to Madrid. I do not know if they [Espanyol} will pay. At the end of the season, we will decide."

Some info about Vasquez:

* Can play right or left midfield.
* Madrid have a buy-back clause in his contract.
* 3 goals/5 assists in 29 apps for Espanyol.
* No appearances for Real Madrid yet.
* Created 39 chances this season.
* Passing accuracy this year: 70.8%

What kind of player is Vasquez? According to Espanyol sports director Oscar Perarnau:

"We knew we needed a player like him, with great, great pace. We wanted someone who could score and create goals. He was the top scorer of his team, and also their assists."

With the huge array of top class players at Madrid, Vazquez has virtually no chance of breaking through. Judging by Ancelotti's current squad, a huge price-tag is a pre-requisite for regular first-team football, and Vazquez is a comparative pauper.

He's doing okay for Espanyol, but his passing accuracy won't cut it at Liverpool, where the team average is consistently around to 80-85% mark.

Perhaps I'm just being pessimistic, but this has Luis Alberto MK 2 written all over it:

* Cheap attacker that most LFC fans (myself included) probably haven't heard of.
* Minimal experience of top-flight football.
* Unable to make the breakthrough at his parent club.

Also, like Alberto, prior to his move to a bigger club, Vazquez plied his trade in the Spanish second division (for Real Madrid's B team), and grabbed a distinctly average 11 goals/12 assists in 66 appearances.

Alberto grabbed 11 goals/18 assists in 36 games for Barcelona B, which is far more impressive, but he struggled to make an impact at Anfield, though to be fair, Rodgers rarely gave him a consistent run in the team.

With all this in mind, what is the point in spending £10m+ on yet another unknown quantity. Liverpool need to learn from past mistakes in the transfer market, and based on the facts outlined above, I don't see the wisdom in signing Vazquez.

The Reds might as well just save the money and bring back Alberto, who's already had a season to acclimatise to English football. An even better solution is to stop wasting money on average, squad-clogging overseas players, and promote the likes of Ojo, Teixeira, and Williams.

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27 comments:

  1. Yep, no more hit and hope transfers for now.
    Quality quality quality.....

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  2. We need a CF CM/DM and maybe a right back and another goalie to replace Jones alternate positional recruiting just probably wont happen.

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  3. I hope we're looking at Denis Cheryshev, who surely won't get much of a chance at Real next season. Looks a good prospect.

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  4. Never heard of him is he a footballer or a chess player.

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  5. NO , NO, NO ,
    far better players available..

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  6. What with Jon Flanagan getting a new contract ,Liverpool need reinforcements on the left for Moreno and after his goob preformance last night Liverpool needs to look at Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo

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  7. Lucas Vasquez? No thanks! We can do better.
    You put it perfectly.Liverpool need to stop wasting money on average squad-clogging players.

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  8. I thought Luis Alberto Mark II when I first heard of this.

    Big difference here is this guy has pace and could therefore fit in to our playing style better.

    That said ballotelli has pace but hasn't got the willingness to press and doesn't move the ball on quick enough. Vasquez would have to be able to do these things too.

    Quality holding midfielder, a quality wing back, and quality Centre forward priorities this summer.

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  9. A quality wing back , It needs to be a left wing back !

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  10. Why a right back ? surely a left wing back as back up to Morena is more impotant

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  11. Simone Scuffet (GK)
    Mateo Kovacic (CM/CDM)
    William Carvalho (CDM)
    Memphis Depay (LW/CF/RW)


    THEN PROVIDED WE KEEP OUR BEST PLAYERS, IN 2 TO 3 YEARS BRING ON THE TITLE

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  12. Who is Morena never heard of him but we have Markovic Moreno and Flanno who can play L.B.
    Only Manquillo and Flanno will be left and Liverpool may decide to cut Manquillos loan short also dont see Wisdom or Mclaughlin coming in.

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  13. Scuffet is a good shout.

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  14. 10 million for a reserve. I think we've already tried that. He's now at Malaga.

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  15. Absolutely, but this depends on CL qualification, no more 'small time' thinking from Brendan, aim high. The squad is getting there in development but a striker is imperative with DS injury probs the others being crap and Origi IMO probably being crap, or at least taking time to settle.


    If Lucas stays and JA as cover maybe this is a position not to be rushed into unless real quality is available.


    Migs is doing well, maybe give Danny Ward a chance as No 2.


    RWB only other possible area that needs cover.


    My point is, only buy if you are buying the best, real quality, not potential.

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  16. Never heard of this guy

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  17. Flanagan , Manquillo and Johnson are RB
    Moreno and Enrique are LB
    Can can also play on both but better at RB
    Sterling and Markovic are RWings
    Ibe is a LWing
    Cleary the left needs more beefing up

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  18. We do? Last I checked we have no capable RWB. Manquillo is out of favor, and is more defensive anyway. Flanno is more defensive. Ibe and Marko are Attacking wingers that are converted. and the less said about Johnson the better.

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  19. Johnson is leaving, and both of the other two lack attacking qualities to play RWB. If we were playing a back four, I would agree with you, but we don't. Plus Flanno can play both sides, and actually plays better on the left anyway, so another double sided player would be ideal.

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  20. At this point in the teams development they really need to bring in players that are going to make the team better right away. Is this the system (3-4-2-1) that Rodgers will mainly employ moving forward? He will want tactical flexibility so bringing in another top forward, a RWB/LWB and a top class CDM and keeper should be top priorities.

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  21. Having seen English clubs get tactically outclassed in Europe over the past few weeks, I've decided that a ragtag band of chess grandmasters is the only way to turn the tide.

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  22. ha add jesus vallejo, eder alvarez balanta, lucas romero and youri tielmans to that list and its basically my football manager shopping list

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  23. I cannot see BR bring in more than 4 players this summer

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  24. Am I getting a big sense of deja vue or what?

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