14 Jun 2015

Transfer Boost: Liverpool favourites to sign €20m Barcelona star hailed as 'incredible' by Tito Villanova

In May, the Liverpool Echo reported that Barcelona star Martin Montoya had allegedly 'agreed terms' with Liverpool over a summer transfer to Anfield, and new reports suggest that the Reds are now in 'pole-position' to finally seal a deal for the talented Spaniard.

According to The Telegraph this week:

"Liverpool are closing in on a deal Martin Montoya. The 24-year-old is keen to leave the Nou Camp to secure first team football"

The deal for Montoya - who has a €20m buyout clause in his contract - makes much more sense that a reported deal for PSG left-back Lucas Digne.

Right-back is a priority position for Liverpool right now as the club has no dedicated RBs available in the squad.

Brendan Rodgers has options in Andre Wisdom and Emre Can, but neither of those players is a dedicated right-back.

Transfer timeline:

* May 2013: Spanish newspaper Sport alleged that Liverpool had 'enquired about the status of Montoya' and claimed that Brendan Rogers is a big fan of the Barca player'.

* Sep 2013: Montoya's agent, Jose Maria Orobitg, told FCInterNews: "The renewal [of Montoya's contract] has not yet arrived...and Liverpool are interested"

* Dec 2013: The Guardian claimed: "Liverpool have opened talks with Barcelona over the transfer of Martín Montoya. Managing director, Ian Ayre, met Barcelona officials in Catalunya [last] Thursday to discuss a possible fee".

* Nov 2014: Reports in Spain claimed that Liverpool were on the verge of sealing a January deal for Montoya.

* Dec 2014: Montoya's agent told reporters: "Montoya will 100 per cent leave Barcelona. Germany, Italy and England all have clubs that are already pulling strings to sign him."



* Jan 2015: Montoya's Agent confirmed: "The player wants to leave. We are waiting for the club to select a new sporting director so we can speak with him and find a solution."

* March 2015: The Mirror claimed that Barcelona had given Liverpool the 'green light' to sign Montoya.

If Liverpool sign Montoya, it'll surely be curtains for Javier Manquillo, who has barely played over the last six months. If he can't maintain a first-team place right now, I don't see how that'll change when a new right-back arrives at the club.

Hopefully, Montoya - described by former Barcelona boss Tito Villanova as an 'one incredible player' - will do better than fellow Spaniard Alberto Moreno, who has made quite a few costly mistakes during his first season at Anfield.

Author: Jaimie K


93 comments:

  1. Montoya looks ok, but that gross irresponsible overpraise from Villanova means he'll probably be encumbered with unrealistic wage demands and an egotistical attitude to his football which will be the downfall of first Barcelona, and then of Liverpool, should we make the mistake of signing him.

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  2. Nebojsa Ristovic11:32 pm, June 14, 2015

    20m ??? is this some kind of joke?

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  3. Rumors about Marc Bartra as well. Apparently there's a dirt cheap buyout clause in his contract... Not sure if he'd be an upgrade right this moment to Skrtel, but definitely one for the future. Sakho + Bartra could be pretty dang good in 5 years. We'd be outsiders for him though considering his pedigree and other reported interest.

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  4. Last I saw was 10M ish. Not sure where 20M is from.

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  5. 20 million for Montoya would be absurd.

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  6. Bartra is already the 3rd best Spanish CB, after Ramos and Piqué, as shown by his place in the NT – and more reliable/consistent than either. Barça has mismanaged youth lately, so he's not getting enough minutes in the team, but in terms of quality he's way up there. Maybe not as aggressive as Skertel, but easily more technically accomplished (he can spray the ball around with accuracy, and even surge forward and take on his man, when he chooses to).

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  7. If he goes, it will be €10-12M. Maybe even 8 or 9 if Barça negotiate badly. (The current board is notorious for negotiating badly, but they just resigned and called elections.)

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  8. Flan no at right back with Manquillo and wisdom if needed. We need guys like Isco and others to add developed scoring skills rather than more Guys like Lallana, Allen, and Markovic who add next to nothing....that takes pressure of our defense and allows us to press opposition defenses. Get a Lars bender type for DM and that wil help or defense as well...Please God, no Mid table and second tier "fantastic" and "outstanding" squaddies!!!

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  9. Isco? Dream on... He'd be 50M even if he were being sold. And you'd bet his first choice wouldn't be Liverpool, sorry to say.

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  10. I've read a release clause as low as 12M, so while he might not want to leave (in which case it doesn't really matter if we activate the clause), it's definitely a route to explore if we're going to get a CB. I don't think it's a priority, but if a big offer comes in for Skrtel, well... we'd have some things to consider.

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  11. What's with Liverpool and Spanish FBs?


    Banter aside, he might help develop Moreno and Manquillo, but other than that I think we must trust in Flana and Wisdom.

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  12. But I thought he was going to Inter, no?!

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  13. 20mil for Montoya??!! Here we go again LOL

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  14. Lost faith in any B R signing - this Croatian kid will flop big time if anything like his previous duds Has the Scout who chose others been sacked ?? If not - why not ??

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  15. How many right backs does B R want - guy is loopy

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  16. I will go for clyne for 15 million

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  17. Hes played in 45 league games in 5 years. For all intended purposes, hes a reserve. We tried that with Luis Alberto.

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  18. No thanks, not anything especial Bale exposed him badly.

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  19. Theycallmemrburt6:44 am, June 15, 2015

    Regardless of experience I'd go with Ryan McLaughlin all day long.

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  20. Theycallmemrburt6:50 am, June 15, 2015

    I think we could do with some English grit and knowhow in the heart of our defense. But alas this type of player no longer exists except in the form of a C**t in a blue strip who wears his full kit for after match celebrations even when he doesn't play.

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  21. Emre Can is a terrible right-back. He's slow on the turn and it wrecked his confidence playing there towards the end of last season. He cannot be seen as an option there. Montoya had replaced Dani Alves for a while, and was very impressive, until everybody realised that Alves wasn't actually getting any worse.

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  22. Yeah that Maicon chap was no great shakes either.

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  23. There's a difference, Maicon was washed out with no pace, Montoya is a fresh graduate of La Masia.

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  24. We have wisdom who's more like a CB, Flanagan who's injury prone and Manquillo. Hardly an army of RB's

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  25. True; it's just that Bale skins a lot of people.

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  26. Off topic, but 'MILF dating', 'church hosts wet t shirt contest'......does anyone else get these ads or is this an indication of my dodgy browsing history?

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  27. Won't be happy no matter who we sign. It's not matter of signing players it's matter of where Rodgers play them... *Under Rodgers we're the team that promotes championship players to EPL.UNACCEPTABLE
    *three years now the man does not know what's tactics is best for the team.CLUELESS
    *Three years plus the man does not know the right player that will suit him philosophy to sign. OUT OF DEPTH
    *Three years plus, 220m spent nothing to show for it. SACK

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  28. Did anybody see Edinson Cavani's comments about Jamaica and Africa?

    Have we cracked the code?

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  29. haaaaaahaaaaa, outstanding!

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  30. That's just his release clause, he can leave for about 10-12m

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  31. I would be quite happy with a summer of Milner, Ings and Bogdan but with further signing of Clyne, Kovacic and Lacazette.
    I also think Illarramendi would suit us for that DM/playmaker role but if we do sign Kovacic I don't think we'll get another midfielder so it will leave Lucas and Can for that role instead.

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  32. NGCTC Has to come back now!!

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  33. Apparently we've made a bid for Joe Gomez, a Charlton defender and England u19 player...£3.5M...

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  34. Could rise to 8.. Where does that place Lloyd Jones, Illori etc.. More waste of money..

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  35. It's all some kind of joke mate. I'm still hoping that I'll go to sleep soon and when I wake it'll be 1990 and we just won the bloody league. Also a great year as I lost my virginity so a good starting point all round!

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  36. How many do we have that are good enough to start for us?

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  37. Don't know much about Jones... Illori is a weird one. If it was Chelsea who signed him and loaned him out people would not be talking about him.


    He has not impressed in his loans, but has played steadily in a few matches. If Coates gets sold then Illori will probably come in the squad.

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  38. Absolutely. We need to hurry up and get it done instead of messing Southampton about.

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  39. Yeah because his last signing from inter was so terrible....

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  40. So are we a buying / selling club

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  41. So two definite truths in the news today. Kovacic is a done deal. The other one is that we have no interest whatsoever in Kovacic.
    Good news..

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  42. Theycallmemrburt12:36 pm, June 15, 2015

    we're a selling club who uses all of the money raised to recruit new players...........but we only sell on the condition that the player is made to look the irrational bad guy.

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  43. It's just football. Players move clubs looking for a niche and clubs move players on and bring others in. It's competitive like that.

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  44. It's not. Jokes are funny.

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  45. Joe who? So we're not done with Bogdan now another championship mediocrity. Seriously i will request for Brendan home address (sumthing must surely happen unless if i didn't get the address) I'm totally embarrassed

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  46. Guys you can stop getting excited. If three years of transfers have taught us anything it´s that FSG and Rodgers have learned nothing. And the first three signings this summer are the final proof of that. Maybe, one day, when the stadium is done, we will do an Arsenal and go after real players but I think for the next three or four years you can safely assume that will not happen and we´ll have to accept the Milners and the Ings´s of this world playing at Liverpool FC.

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  47. Or his second...or his third...

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  48. need quality... will be a good sign!

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  49. not possible....lfc need free player...
    ynwa

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  50. With a new name :)

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  51. NO NO NO NO - Balloteli must be sold NOT LOANED - Otherwise NO DEAL.Sell him for £8 million

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  52. ...A while back in another post ages ago someone very clever mentioned Schrödinger's cat.....


    ...here Orme we have that very example in living colour.... :-)

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  53. Reports that an unnamed English club has agreed a deal for Firminio. The general opinion is that Man Utd is the club but this is unconfirmed.
    Could it be Liverpool that have secured him instead? and if so could he be the Suarez replacement we crave? He is not exactly classed as a forward but Brazil have been playing him as a false 9, which if you think about it that is the sort of role Suarez played.
    I don't want to get my hopes up though just so they can be dashed by United again!

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  54. Looks like LFC has now decided to become a Monastry - where all inhabitants take a vow of silence - What do you mean ?? Wish I joined them - How dare you good Sir

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  55. Noted that most of you were BLOWN AWAY by Lallanas performace yesterday - the flick was class - I will give him that - Tell you what the blonde guy in Midfield for them looked useful

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  56. I wonder if F S G are so silent etc because they might have found a BUYER for the Club ?

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  57. Funny that Inter signings are the only one that work out

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  58. The fact you haven't heard of a player is not a reflection on the player's quality, only on your knowledge of football.

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  59. You tell 'em RAY.

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  60. I totally agree with that. But what about ilori. And if we re going for a new CB while not go for alderweld who can also double for right back

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  61. Seems to be forgetting about flanaghan. Useless we have already concluded that he is injury prone. I honestly think he is the best RB in the team. Also if eventually get montoya we should let maquillo go.

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  62. Well, Flanno hasn't exactly been fit for a year now. We can't be sure he'll come back from injury the same way he was before. Better safe than sorry. We could also be looking at him for LB, with Moreno further up the pitch as well.

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  63. If we can buy low sell high, I'm more than happy for us to be labelled as one. But we are most of the time the other way round, which is a really worrying sign.

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  64. So its agreed we're rubbish at both pfft

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  65. It sounds even worse than it seems $hit

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  66. I like everything about Aldereireld except his agent!

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  67. We are intent on being the best team in the next division down regardless of the cost!!!! We shall not be shaken from our quest!

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  68. We should be both given the deadwood. We just need to stay patient (not my strong suit) and PRAY that someone rescues our f*cked up transfer strategy before its too late.
    For assistance, dial 1-800-GO-KLOPP. Customer service reps are standing by...........

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  69. I would prefer Mattia De Sciglio, He can play right and left equally well, and ab etter player for LFC...

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  70. I like Milner and have high hopes for Ings, what I worry about is who the club recruit as First Team Coach and Assistant...

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  71. This young Charlton Defender is supposed to be a brilliant young defender, hopefully in a couple of years we can have a solid defense.... Hopefully we can blag our way through till then...

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  72. Chelsea want Sterling, but not for 50m, don't blame them, he aint worth half that, but maybe they could do us a swap of Cech and Oscar....

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  73. The French are churning are fullbacks at the moment, maybe Brendan could dip his toe into the French leagues, the spanish one is letting us down at the moment...

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  74. Atleast he looking further than just Attacking Mids and Wingers...

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  75. This kid is only 17... Starter for Charlton, but still.....This will probably be a buy and instant loan deal.... All said though, this kid is probably th best defender at Charlton at only 17... So, it sounds like a worthwhile sign for the future...

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  76. Ha! thats because Chelsea don't even know who they have out on loan.... Never known a club to have a squads worth of players out on loan before....They could probably construct a decent Championship team with all of em...

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  77. Just watched 1st half of Inter game as per your recommendation:
    Kovacic, a class act and would suit us a treat. I might be way off here but in that particular game formed the opinion that he could develop along similar lines to Silva - mainly in that everything seemed to go through him - playing deeper than Silva does but he constantly linked up play between midfield and defence and made it look easy; am sure he does the same in the 10 role between midfield and forward/s.
    Very disciplined too I thought, seemed less inclined to perhaps use the trickery as much as Couts (although I will never tire of watching that!) but I noticed that whenever the play neared Juventus goal - he was very quick to get himself into scoring positions, ready and waiting to bury it if the chance came but quick to track back when it didn't, am sure he would get goals for us.
    Bit of a cliché but you do see when watching, that I will call it 'casual' style they play with and the 'he'll have less time on the ball and it's more physical in our league' is certainly true (also made me think how well could a BR team do in that league), - I think we play some great to watch footie and when a team turns up and tries to do the same, more often than not we will win as against Man City for example, obviously it still needs a lot of work and/or a few better players as we can't yet beat them all. But then we have the miserable so and so's in the Prem like West Ham and utd et al who play a more agricultural game which Kovacic and others will have to adapt to - last observation on that point, - I think we have the death by highly entertaining and great to watch football covered (still need another top striker) but, as I think we all agree, I hope Brendan also sees the need to bring in a quality DM to help us not come unstuck whilst doing it.

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  78. Your kidding me, that's 45minutes of player appraisal straight down the drain.

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  79. Should be a law against it, it's seriously anti-competitive what they do, buying players purely so others can't; taking advantage of the greed of agents who are happy to earn a buck knowing their players are then destined for perpetual loan status, typical chelski.

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  80. Do you believe Ings and Milner Can lift us into the top four or help us consolidate our top 8 status?

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  81. However many our Directorate of football tells him he wants :)
    Good article Robo ;-)

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  82. This is not going to happen just like Kovacic is not going to happen. We have nothing to offer any quality player in addition to the fact that none of them want to come play out of position for a year thanks to the complete tactical ignorance displayed by the piece of garbage we have managing the club. It's obvious from the transfers we have completed that the owners have already quit and given up on the season ahead.. there will be no CL .. no trophies... this summer's signings have pegged us as a mid table shit team with no ambition above the occasional europa entry.. good job rodgers and fsg..

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  83. Have you been watching sexy beast!

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  84. Liverpool haven't won the league since. What about you?

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  85. What about having a good look at the Hampton players, Rodgers? No point in changing a winning tactic. Might unearth another Louvren or Lame Bert.

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  86. Reckon we still have plenty to offer, but how about this - Suarez came to us not as an established world class player, certainly very well rated but not up there with the best. A few seasons with us and his name is being discussed alongside Messi's and Ronaldo's, as one of the three best players on the planet.
    Now it goes without saying a lot of us would rather he was still with us, I certainly would that's for sure but even though his time here was short he still helped us very nearly win the league.
    Why wouldn't another great player with a lot of self belief want to come to us, likely be the main attraction, injury permitting play virtually every game of the season, and, do a 'Suarez'

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  87. Transfer committee.
    Placed Second.
    Net spend of 45.

    In other words. Wrong.

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  88. You really think they are going to sell in the middle of constriction? Where they would actually lose value for the club and all the money they forked over for the construction.

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  89. Do you go through life with a hugely pessimistic outlook, or do you hope for the best....I know what I prefer.... The window hasn't opened, and already people are writing it off...You have no idea how next season will go, but have set your expectation levels low.... That says alot about you.... Chin up, back the team, and maybe smile once in a while....

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