12 Jul 2015

'The Pitbull' to Anfield? Liverpool chase 'extraordinary' South American destroyer; official offer imminent

With Lucas Leiva seemingly edging closer to an Anfield exit, Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Gary Medel as a replacement for the Brazilian.

According to Chilean newspaper La Terrera:

* Liverpool scouted Medel during the recent Copa America tournament, and were 'impressed' by the Chilean's performances.

* The Reds are considering an official offer for the 27-year old midfielder.

As far as I can remember, this is the first time Liverpool have ever been linked with Medel, who was part of Cardiff City's relegation team during the 2013-14 season. Some info about the Chilean international:

* Nicknamed 'The Pitbull' for his combative style.

* Cost Inter Milan £10m last summer.

* 2014-15: 44 apps for Inter (0 goals/3 assists)

* 80 appearances for the Chilean national team.

* 2015: Helped Chile win the Copa America, and made the Copa 'Team of the Tournament'.

* 2008: Chilean 'Player of the Year'.

* 48 yellow cards/4 reds in the last four seasons, which is an average of 12 yellows a year.

* Missed only 12 days through injury during his entire career.

Cardiff signed Medel for £11m in 2013, and a year later, the club engaged in some Liverpool-style transfer negotiation, and sold the midfielder at a loss for £10m, which angered ex-Cardiff star Nathan Blake, who told the BBC:

"He [Medel] was one of Cardiff's better players in the Premier League. I'm surprised at the price tag. He had a decent World Cup, and I think he had a decent season as well".


Prior to the Copa America final between Chile and Argentina, Man City striker Sergio Aguero praised Medel, who ultimately played a major part in helping Chile win the tournament. He told reporters:

"Chile have some great players, and I think Medel is crucial in defence".

In April, Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini made it clear how much he rates Medel:

“Medel is an extraordinary player in front of the defence. He has a heart the size of a house and wins back numerous balls. I think if we didn’t have him there, we’d really struggle.”

High praise indeed, and it seems unlikely that Mancini will sanction a deal for a player he rates this highly.

If Liverpool are seriously considering a move for Medel, then it seems clear that Brendan Rodgers' really does see James Milner as Steven Gerrard's replacement.

Medel will probably be a squad player (just as Lucas is now), with Milner and Hendo Liverpool's first-choice central midfield partnership.

*shudder*

Author: Jaimie K


71 comments:

  1. 442 diamond or 433 utilises 3 central midfielders. Usually consisting of a DM/playmaker and 2 central midfielders. These two formations were the two we generally used in 2013/14 to great affect, maybe Rodgers is trying to move back there

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  2. Once again LFC are more worried about midfield squad players than addressing the biggest problem of sorting out a top quality striker .
    MU have now turned their interest to Benteke to replace RvP ,and LFC will be left high and dry again !

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  3. 4-1-3-2 would be the formation I'd like to see a lot of next season. We all know we struggled mostly when we played 3 at the back especially as we didn't have any natural wing backs so sticking to a back line of 4 will be sensible and highly likely now we have Kelvin Clyne.the change I'd like to see from what is highly likely is to have just 1 holding mid sitting infront of the defence instead of 2 which would enable us to have 2 strikers upfront . 2 seasons back we all know we had a great season and Saurez and Sturridge played a huge part in that success . We were so attacking it was great to watch a and exciting stuff for us Liverpool fans . This season we were always going to find it difficult with no Saurez and then We ended up with Sturridge side lined for most of the season.So not only did we replace these 2 with Lambert and Balotelli but to make it even more highly likely we were going to struggle for goals Rodgers decided to go with 1 striker instead of 2 so was it really a big surprise we didn't score anywhere near as many goals last season ? I'd like to see us bring in a top class striker and play 2 upfront so we can bring back our attacking football that gave us success the previous season .

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  4. Whats this bit with squad players we should be looking at a defensive mid thats better than Lucas no improvement what so ever in buying Medel i would rather Lucas.

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  5. Don't see any point in swapping Lucas with Medel. Not a significant upgrade IMO

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  6. I get going for Medel even though I think Clasie and Illaramendi are superior players at the same money. What I dont get is why Lucas should leave first. We have Henderson, Can, Allen and Lucas who are central players and apparently Milner. That makes 5 players for three positions with two players who can only stay fit half a season

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  7. It is in fitness. Other than that, I agree

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  8. This guy is good But REPOrts this morning that Ibe will be loaned out - ARE WE MAD = He is ready now N O W

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  9. We still dont have ONE proven Premier League striker other than Lambert who is to be sold - What about the German/ Turkish lad Yesil - not on loan - surely not. What is B R doing ?? Never rely on Sturidge = constantly injured - were going to be without strikers again this Season - can see it coming a mile off

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  10. We are mad mad mad no striker yet its only early but its not lookin good.

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  11. Yes it's mad some have said He could be better than Sterling THIS year

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  12. Waste of money!

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  13. And yes, a Henderson Milner midfield partnership looks like something out of the 90s

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  14. Allen should leave first. He offers absolutely nothing to the team, lucas is good defensively.

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  15. agreed, competition in CDM/CM isn't that intense actually.
    Medel is very good defensively, but offers absolutely nothing going forward, I highly doubt this is a player that attracts BR.
    Clasie or Illaramendi on the other side...

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  16. I'm sorry but

    ---------------------Mignolet

    ----------------Skrtel----Sakho
    ----Clyne-----------Lucas-----------Moreno

    --------------Milner----------Henderson

    ----Firmino----------Ings-------------Coutinho

    Doesn't look much more impressive than what the likes of Stoke can field as a first eleven. Were at least a CB, 2 midfielders and a striker short. And probably a GK

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  17. We bought Ings. There are 6 strikers in the team excluding Yesil and Sinclair, progress of both of these players have potential and is good enough to play in the team as 4th striker. Buying Ings just seems to block their progress and chances of breaking in to the first eleven.

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  18. True. He's another one though, if we were going to sign him we should've done it LAST season after Cardiff went down and he was available for a cut price fee. We could've really done with his services last season but this season he'll certainly be no more than a squad player

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  19. Where is that being reported? I find that very hard to believe

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  20. -------------Mignolet
    -----------Lovren--Sakho
    -----Clyne------Can-------Moreno
    ------------Milner-------Henderson
    ----Firmino----------------Coutinho
    ----------------Benteke---------


    this doesn't look bad at all, combatative midfield, with lots of high intensity pressing and work rate, winning the ball quickly and vertically delivering it to our two magicians and a striker who can actually hit the back of the net. Easy...

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  21. Those are all, with the exceptions of Moreno, Ings, and Mignolet, established full internationals with important countries. "The likes of Stoke" can't get anywhere near that. I don't know what blinds you to the quality of these players.

    Also league football is not just about a first XI, it's about a squad. Lots of teams that will usually finish outside the top 5 have had first XIs as good as those of teams above them, but a couple of injuries undermine them. After three years of squad building, we are no longer in that position.

    We have depth, players that can cover a number of positions and roles, and tactical variation and impact from the bench. We have a better squad than at any time since 2009 in my opinion. We'll finish comfortably in the top 4. I don't think Lucas is going to play a part. A midfield of Can, Henderson, Milner, is much more likely, I feel; perhaps as a diamond with Coutinho at the tip and Firmino and Ings, or Origi and Sturridge, and so on, ahead of him. The combinations are considerable and exciting.

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  22. Also I think we will add Benteke and have Sturridge to come in too hopefully.

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  23. How should he play the cup games then?

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  24. Thus is just media being used to scare LFC into believing united want him because liverpool would have to pay the full 32.5m to stop united a club who ain't even in for him, happens all the time

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  25. City upped offer to £45m. Question of the day, will Raheen be on the plane?

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  26. I would be surprised if Liverpool said no but I wouldn't be disappointed if they did.


    45mil for sterling is insane as he is not worth half of that, however if Liverpool decided to stick to their guns then fair enough.

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  27. I have said all along that we have a good squad that just needs a couple of additions, the problem in my eyes is that we do not have a manager who can utilise the squad to its maximum potential.

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  28. Yes he will be on the plane .......from London to Manchester ;-)

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  29. I know it's immature but i'd ask to think it over, fly him out there then accept it.

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  30. Nicolas Chamberlain12:07 pm, July 12, 2015

    When fit Sturridge is our main striker. Really hope we don't sign Benteke.

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  31. Nicolas Chamberlain12:08 pm, July 12, 2015

    Ray you are lying.

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  32. It is a business .......but not to fans like us

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  33. yeah suppose, first class seats to Bangkok ain't cheap

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  34. Just ask Gary Glitter.......

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  35. Nicolas Chamberlain12:12 pm, July 12, 2015

    We are not even interested in Cherysev. That 22M is just imagination of some gutter media outlets. Like the Express who wrote that the magpies beat us with signing Wijnaldum. Nothing but lies. People who believe this kind of nonsense are beyond gullible.

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  36. Nicolas Chamberlain12:14 pm, July 12, 2015

    Clasie offers nothing in defense. Why do you think that Clasie is a good cvm?

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  37. According to the BBC he's been withdrawn from the pre season tour

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  38. well my opinion of Benteke is shifting somewhat, he's not a one trick pony by any stretch and with Couts and Firmino zig zagging around him he could find plenty of space

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  39. Haha I just spat my coffee out

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  40. Unusual nickname for a Russian

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  41. looks pretty certain that we have agreed to sell Sterling

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  42. I disagree quite strongly. The evidence suggests that he's capable of getting teams to meet and often outperform expectations. They play good football, they change their approaches during and between games depending on the opposition and other factors, and they improve over the course of a season. Players under his guidance improve year on year -- good players especially. These are all signs of a quality coach at work. I'm not worried about his contribution.

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  43. Just hope we get our full valuation

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  44. At last ,
    I'm sure he played badly the 2nd half of last season on purpose (imo ) to help bring his price down ?
    Lastest news is 40m= 5m add on's ?

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  45. Seems to be 45mil in full

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  46. Still seems a public back down from £50m

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  47. You could look at that way, or you could say 45mil for player who has won nothing, had a poor season for both club and country and is isn't worth even half of that is pretty damn good.

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  48. Really.. the season we finished second was mainly down to Suarez.


    Last season we played poorly for too many times, players being constantly played out of position, other players dumped without being given a chance, we were woeful in defence, team playing with no confidence, not sure what team you were watching last season.

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  49. Yeah for sure, i just wanted the club to be publicly perceived as the winner , but suppose no one from club has said thats his price, just branded in press so much it seem

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  50. I don't think you can get away with saying that our success was "mainly down to Suarez" and that our disappointments have been mainly down to the coach.

    Rodgers played Suarez as a striker and built the team to support his talents. Sturridge stretched the defences, Coutinho and Sterling were introduced to make fast transitions and penetrating runs from deep to open things up for the strikers. These were all players brought in or developed by Rodgers. Gerrard was played behind the defence to launch attacks and was incredibly effective. This is excellent coaching, designing a team to exploit the strengths available among the squad to their maximum potential.



    Last season was disappointing but it also included a long run of excellent form based on an innovative tactical and strategic plan, saw the development of a number of younger players who will be important as we move forward.


    Players being played "out of position" is a myth, in my view.

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  51. That was excellent "attacking" coaching. To do well, you need a balanced approach and our defence was left exposed too many times.

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  52. Had Saurez stayed ,where would LFC finished on the log last season ?

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  53. On the log? :) On top of the log, of course, floating down the football river to the sea.

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  54. then it seems clear that Brendan Rodgers' really does see James Milner as Steven Gerrard's replacement.



    Boy, do I disagree... Like for like replacements are very rare, and especially if the player you are trying to replace is:


    Creative in his special way, which Gerrard was.
    Plays more than one position, which Gerrard did.
    Is a leader of the team, which Gerrard was.
    A player around you build your team, which Gerrard was.


    Plus a local hero and so many other things- Trying to replace Gerrard, Del Piero, Pirlo... is a task nobody solved by bringing one player- you change your style and luckily for us BR already worked on that in the past years.


    And Milner-Hendo in the starting line up with Can, Lallana(plus Medel and others) waiting on the bench looks powerfull.

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  55. I hope BR plays a 4132 or a 343 this season .

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  56. Haha, imagine how long Rodgers would have lasted building a solid defensive team... about as long as Roy Hodgson, who tried to do the same thing...

    Our defence wasn't left *exposed* more than any other side, I don't think. I'd understand that as defenders desperately defending 1-1, on the turn, overrun an isolated. I didn't see that, or not more often than any of the other sides that try to play progressively (like Juventus, Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid...).

    Individual errors cost us most, especially at set pieces, but also in midfield, from Gerrard especially. But some of the players responsible have made those kinds of mistakes at every club or under every coach they ever played at or for. It's not Rodgers particularly.

    At games like Palace away, Villa at home, in 2013-14, we put ourselves under pressure through silly mistakes, giving the ball away, failing to keep possession, and for sure the team should have been more streetwise. The tactics were there for the players but they didn't execute properly and lacked the experience and mental toughness to get through. So it goes. I think the coach could have done better there, but so could the players and, frankly, so could the fans.

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  57. Honestly, I think I'd do a pretty good job replacing Gerrard from last season. The guy was finished. If you're talking about replacing Gerrard from 2010 or something... well... that's another story. But anything is an upgrade on the Gerrard that we've lost.

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  58. Exactly, we changed his position, it worked for a while and at the end we need a DM to come in, not Gerrard that brought us titles.

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  59. Even Ash's Nan was in the frame and she normally plays left back

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  60. Nicolas Chamberlain6:02 pm, July 12, 2015

    45m + 5M in add on's.

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  61. I think people have got a bit hung up on "DM" as though we all agree what that means... not so sure myself... :)

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  62. For me, it is a strong, combative, tackling midfielder, tall and quick if possible. Attacking-wise it is enough if he knows to play the safe and quick pass to the mid who will create. Tall Masch maybe... Of course with defensive qualities of Hendo, Milner, Can.. we could use a Pirlo like player, but those are rare...

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  63. If Firminho is anywhere near to what we think he is, any forward would have to score 15...

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  64. Yep, so that should really make it easy for Benteke to deliver his 20+ per season as promised

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  65. I'd like us to look at Charles Aranguiz from the Chilean national team. I must admit I've seen only a little of him beyond international duty, but I've been mightily impressed with him for Chile. Chile's strong tactical outlook and Aranguiz's success within it suggests he'd suit Brendan's tinker heavy style quite well. Importing players from South America directly tends not to be too pricy unless they're wonderkids.

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  66. Comfortably? Ill quote you on that the next ten months I'm sure ;-)

    Yes you need to be able to deal with injuries but you need a strong first 11 first. Its a matter of priorities. You cant seriously feel that a midfield with Can, Milner and Henderson is as good as what last years top four can put out. Especially with Schweini two seconds away from Old Trafford.

    38 games. Those are what comes first to us. No LFC supporter would give two sheds if we crashes out of every cup competition in the first game for two or three years if it means we'd finish top four every year and every year after that. You dont need 25 players to handle 38 games.

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  67. OK, comfortably might be pushing it, but we won't have trouble finishing above Man Utd. Schweinsteiger was a great player in his day but he's started to puff. He's come in to help them in the CL more than the PL, I expect. Who is going to score goals for them? When De Gea goes to Real Madrid, they'll have to integrate a new keeper as well. Their defense will still be depending upon Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. They just lost Falcao and Van Persie, not great players any more, either of them, but still with special quality that it will be hard to replace.

    In the ultra-competitive mini-league which covers positions 3-6 or 7, it's all about marginal gains. The line between results in the PL is very narrow and depends very often on small differences. Many goals come down to hundredths of seconds, the time a striker has before the defender's knee blocks the ball, the time it took for a defender to start his cover run, and so on. That's not true of all professional football, even. So sharpness, freshness, physical preparedness are absolutely essential. Having a squad with little variation in strength among the options, so there is little lost in selecting a team based on those factors, is a massive and potentially decisive factor in deciding results among those 4 positions, I feel.

    Personally, I must admit, "top 4" is not 8actually* all that thrilling to me, because I find the CL a somewhat boring competition, relative to the PL certainly. I like the big knockout matches against the elite teams, European Nights at Anfield, all that, but there's a lot of dross and hassle that goes along with it. I like the national cups, love them even. The teams in those competitions all mean something to me, unlike in Europe, where half the time there's nothing really of emotional importance at stake for me. Just a personal view.

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  68. So you want a more physical Mascherano with the engine of Henderson and the quality of Pirlo... hmm, OK, should be no problem ;)

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  69. I like that player too! SidLFC also suggested him recently. If he could come in and explain to our players how to play like Chile, I'd be very happy :)

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