With seven players already signed, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is still seemingly working to bring in more players, and new reports this week suggest that the Reds are reportedly close to sealing a (pointless) deal for Barcelona B attacker Adama Traore.
According to Catalan Radio station RAC 1:
* Liverpool 'representatives' are in Barcelona to 'negotiate' a deal for 19-year old Traore.
* Rodgers in interested in a loan deal for Traore, who is also reportedly wanted by German giants Bayern Munich.
This is a confusing story as there are two players in Europe named Adama Traore (!):
* Traore #1: Malian attacking midfielder who recently signed for Monaco from Lille.
* Traore #2: Attacking midfielder who plays for Barcelona B.
* To make things just a little more confusing: the Barcelona Traore recently switched international allegiance from Spain...to Mali.
Traore #2 is a regular for Barcelona B, but his chances of promotion to the first team are slim after the Bs recent relegation to the third-tier of Spanish football.
Barca boss Luis Enrique confirmed as much this week, when he told reporters:
"I'm not happy with the performances of the youth players this past season. I expected a lot more from them."
Mundo Deportivo claims, however, that the plan is to promote Traore to the senior team for the 2015-16 season, so on that basis, a one-year loan deal seems to make sense.
Some info about Traore:
* Right-sided attacking midfielder who can also play on the left.
* Current contract expires in June 2018.
* 8 goals/18 assists in 63 games for Barcelona B.
* 4 appearances for the Barcelona first-team.
* 18 appearances for various Spain youth teams.
* Has a €15m release clause in his contract.
* Nicknamed 'The Arrow' due to his lighting pace.
* On his development at Barcelona: "I think a lot of the reason for my progression lies with the coaches I have had here at Barca as they have told me how to improve, which is what I try to do." Gosh, what insight ;-)
I honest don't see the point of this transfer.
* Traore may be talented, but with similarly-aged Jordon Ibe, Divock Origi, and Lazar Markovic in the senior squad, Liverpool clearly don't need him.
* Bringing Traore in will potentially stunt Ibe's development, and will be (another) slap in the face to similar players toiling away in Liverpool's academy.
* What is the point in signing Traore for one year? To even make it worth it, he'll have to play a lot of games, and as noted above, Liverpool are well covered for young players in his position.
* If the deal comes with an option to buy, then that's a different story, but even then, it's doubtful that Traore will get the game-time he'll need to develop.
If Rodgers must have another young winger, why not promote someone from the Academy, specifically a hugely proimising player like Sergi Canos. The Spanish winger bagged a shedload of goals/assists last season, and in a few months, he'll also be 19.
Alternatively, just put Joao Carlos Teixeira in the squad already! Teixeira is 22, and if Rodgers brings in Traore, it will be another giagantic snub for the Portuguese attacker.
Author: Jaimie K
According to Catalan Radio station RAC 1:
* Liverpool 'representatives' are in Barcelona to 'negotiate' a deal for 19-year old Traore.
* Rodgers in interested in a loan deal for Traore, who is also reportedly wanted by German giants Bayern Munich.
This is a confusing story as there are two players in Europe named Adama Traore (!):
* Traore #1: Malian attacking midfielder who recently signed for Monaco from Lille.
* Traore #2: Attacking midfielder who plays for Barcelona B.
* To make things just a little more confusing: the Barcelona Traore recently switched international allegiance from Spain...to Mali.
Traore #2 is a regular for Barcelona B, but his chances of promotion to the first team are slim after the Bs recent relegation to the third-tier of Spanish football.
Barca boss Luis Enrique confirmed as much this week, when he told reporters:
"I'm not happy with the performances of the youth players this past season. I expected a lot more from them."
Mundo Deportivo claims, however, that the plan is to promote Traore to the senior team for the 2015-16 season, so on that basis, a one-year loan deal seems to make sense.
Some info about Traore:
* Right-sided attacking midfielder who can also play on the left.
* Current contract expires in June 2018.
* 8 goals/18 assists in 63 games for Barcelona B.
* 4 appearances for the Barcelona first-team.
* 18 appearances for various Spain youth teams.
* Has a €15m release clause in his contract.
* Nicknamed 'The Arrow' due to his lighting pace.
* On his development at Barcelona: "I think a lot of the reason for my progression lies with the coaches I have had here at Barca as they have told me how to improve, which is what I try to do." Gosh, what insight ;-)
I honest don't see the point of this transfer.
* Traore may be talented, but with similarly-aged Jordon Ibe, Divock Origi, and Lazar Markovic in the senior squad, Liverpool clearly don't need him.
* Bringing Traore in will potentially stunt Ibe's development, and will be (another) slap in the face to similar players toiling away in Liverpool's academy.
* What is the point in signing Traore for one year? To even make it worth it, he'll have to play a lot of games, and as noted above, Liverpool are well covered for young players in his position.
* If the deal comes with an option to buy, then that's a different story, but even then, it's doubtful that Traore will get the game-time he'll need to develop.
If Rodgers must have another young winger, why not promote someone from the Academy, specifically a hugely proimising player like Sergi Canos. The Spanish winger bagged a shedload of goals/assists last season, and in a few months, he'll also be 19.
Alternatively, just put Joao Carlos Teixeira in the squad already! Teixeira is 22, and if Rodgers brings in Traore, it will be another giagantic snub for the Portuguese attacker.
Author: Jaimie K
0 Comments:
Post a Comment