14 May 2015

£20m boost: Liverpool ready to sign 'outstanding' Portuguese star as replacement for outgoing Reds defender

A few months ago, Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson claimed that Liverpool brought the wrong Southampton defender to Anfield during the summer 2014 transfer window, and insisted that Brendan Rodgers should've signed Jose Fonte instead of Dejan Lovren. Well, with Kolo Toure edging towards the exit door, it looks like Lawro's wish just might come true this summer.

According to The Telegraph and The Mirror today:

* Liverpool are 'ready to sign' Southampton captain Fonte.

* The Reds are one of a 'handful of clubs considering' him in their search for an 'experienced, technically-sound defender'.

Speaking to the BBC in January, Lawro threw his support behind a move for Fonte. He enthused:

"I think Liverpool signed the wrong Saints centre-back when they bought Dejan Lovren in the summer, because Jose Fonte has just been outstanding for them".

Given Southampton's excellent defensive stats this season, it's hard to argue with that:

* 30 goals conceded in 36 games (0.8 per game; 1 every 1.2 games)

* 2nd best defensive record in the Premier League (after Chelsea)

* One of the best defensive records in Europe.

* By comparison, LFC have conceded 39 goals in 36 games.

It's easy to see why Rodgers may be interested in Fonte. Lovren connection aside, he is quite literally a leader, just like Inigo Martinez, another defensive captain reportedly on Liverpool's transfer radar. A few points:

* At Southampton, Lovren formed an excellent partnership with Fonte, and it's possible that bringing the Portuguese defender to Anfield will have a galvanising effect on Lovren.

* That said, if Rodgers sees Fonte as a replacement for Toure, how much game-time will he actually get, especially with Skrtel and Sakho also in the squad?

* There's the age factor to consider, but being over-30 hasn't stopped FSG sanctioning moves for seasoned professionals like Kolo Toure and Rickie Lambert.

* Additionally, Fonte's age isn't making a shred of difference to his performance level, and Southampton's defensive brilliance proves that.



The question is, where is the incentive for Fonte to ditch Southampton for Liverpool? He's practically everpresent for the Saints; plays under a top-class manager, and captains a team that is clearly going places.

On the flip side, Liverpool have missed out on Champions League football; Steven Gerrard is leaving, and the club is stagnating when it should be progressing.

Koeman has bought well since arriving at St. Mary's, and if he continues to bring in the right players, it's conceivable that Southampton might overhaul Liverpool next season.

One thing is clear: Liverpool need to find some way to get the best out of Lovren, who cost the club £20m, and if that means acquiring one of his previous defensive partners, then so be it (for the right price)

Author: Jaimie K


33 comments:

  1. Mike Aitcheson7:10 pm, May 14, 2015

    The wheels did seem to come off later in the season for them. But I would say their achievement against expectations was as high this season as ours was last..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Do we actually have scouts outside of Hampshire?

    ReplyDelete
  3. One would think Rodgers is pretty desperate for Lovren to bring in his class act. That would mean he sees him as a starter next season? Could it be, he already persuaded Rodgers that he turned his performances around? Where does that bring in Sakho and Skrtel? So Lovren-Sakho partnership is a no-go??

    ReplyDelete
  4. Last season Liverpool conceded 50 goals which is considered extremely high. Southampton conceded 46 goals, with Fonte and Lovren. Do not know if it's worth a huge investment.
    I am not a supporter of such a simplified statistical logic, but when in Rome ...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sakho and Lovren were purchased for leadership quality as well.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Makes u think if there is something wrong with the system which piles up defenders?

    ReplyDelete
  7. We don't have a consistent system.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Formation wise or on the club level?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Formation wise. I think our defense is much better than it looks. All we need is a strong DM. You can see the difference when Lucas plays.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Any will do just that he can tackle or intercept a pass, or win a header- our defense could be on Chelsea level with a proper DM screen. Just no Gerrard on DM for the love of God

    ReplyDelete
  11. He played at that position but was never a DM. We hardly played with DM under BR.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A box-to-box mid or deep lying playmaker- but he excelled at neither in my opinion... And that is a worrying prospect, if Rodgers persists playing without a true DM next season we could have a deja vu on or hands...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Not sure how long can we afford a manager who is still learning and experimenting at the club's expense.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What is baffling is the fact he is unable or unwilling to learn from them... And he did have three years and yet has no discernible system, formation, or playing style and that is why we never know which Liverpool will turn up on the weekend

    ReplyDelete
  15. We should sign Alderwiereld. We should've signed him when he left Holland. We should've broken our backs to get get him and Eriksen in a double deal

    ReplyDelete
  16. True but he also has lot of admirers for what he achieved last season. Let's hope next season pessimist like us are proven wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jaimie again apologizing for Lovren when he destroys other players like Sterling, Markovic, Lallana on here. Hard to take your attacks on other players seriously when you have bias towards players just because you vouched for them.


    Stating that it is Liverpool who should get the best out of Lovren, and that we should even try and sign another player to help him. There is a good player inside Lovren, but how about being fair and saying that Lovren has had an unacceptable season and deserves to be lambasted as much as the rest of the signings.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Could last season be all down to Suarez factor? With a little help from injury struck Sturridge? Did we overachieve? Could our manager be out of his depth? The stuff of nightmares...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happens when an average manager starts believing his own hype.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jaimie I disagree that we need to buy another player just to get the best out of Lovren. IMO that's down to the manager and player himself. Also, what if that new player doesn't perform well? Should we bring another player for him too? And so on?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Could be... For the sake of our title change next season let's hope not...

    ReplyDelete
  22. Well wouldn't u at least agree he upped his game in second half of the season?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Seriously, if we signed Jose Fonte for £20m, I would go full Logan.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Second half no. Final quarter

    ReplyDelete
  25. So Koaman may finish one place above where Soto finished last year and is top class? They bought very well but perhaps it is more about the players they kept. They won't overhaul Liverpool though. That is just nonsense.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Alderweield has aged DM for Soto this season too and looks.much better on the ball than Lovren. He is only on loan isnt he though? Could still do a deal perhaps?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Tut tut.....another Southampton player, another defender. How about coaching the defence properly and getting a decent defensive midfielder?

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'd put Southampton in as candidates for the drop next season if it weren't for the fact that there are so many other teams going backwards at the moment in the premier league.

    Next season's division is going to be really unbalanced, I think -- even more than this. It will be all about the matches between the top five to decide their order, and I can't see any of the clubs below getting even as close as they have this season to that top group.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Totally agree, but Atletico, who took Alderweireld initially, seem to be a problem for us. They are one of the few clubs whom we share a shortlist with, and they just seem to get first pick. I guess they are a more important club in the broader scheme of things at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Third richest club in la liga, CL partipents and even last year's finalists as well as being the only team to overhaul duopoly. You can see why they are an interesting club compared to ours, but if they are prepared to let him go? Why not?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Tut tut....another defender, another Southampton player. How about coaching the defence properly and buying a good defensive midfielder?

    ReplyDelete
  32. He is indeed only on loan so a deal should be possible.

    ReplyDelete