23 May 2016

Replace Benteke? Liverpool want 'brilliant' £25m striker Hamann claims is the 'perfect' transfer target

During the January transfer window, Liverpool were linked with a surprise move for Southampton star Shane Long, and new reports over the weekend suggest that Jurgen Klopp remains interested in signing the Republic of Ireland striker.

On Sunday, the Irish Independent reported:

"Jurgen Klopp thinks Long's physical game fits his high-energy approach, [and] those close to the situation feel it would take a bid of at least £25m to tempt Southampton

This follows comments from Irish journalist Mark McCadden, who claimed in January:

"Liverpool are definitely interested in Long. I could see him giving [Liverpool] pace and energy to press high up the pitch. Shane is frightening when he gets moving"

According to Reds legend Dietmar Hamann, Long is the 'perfect' signing for Liverpool, and Steve Nicol recently claimed that Liverpool fans will 'love' Long because he 'gives everything' for the cause. LFC fans don't appear to share this enthusiasm, though.

In January, I conducted a poll asking fans if the Reds should sign Long, and the results were emphatic:



£25m for the allegedly 'brilliant' Shane Long? Utterly ridiculous, and if Liverpool end up spending that amount of money on Long, then it'll be Andy Carroll-esque negligence of highest order.

In my view, anyone in favour of signing Long has no interest in seeing Liverpool back amongst the elite. Long is a solid footballer, but he will not push Liverpool to the next level, and game-changing 'next-level' players should be a priority.

That doesn't mean spending insane amounts of money; it simply means signing players demonstrably capable of improving the team. Top performing players signed for peanuts in the past include Courtois, Eriksen, Ayew, Payet, Kompany, Mahrez, Ivanovic, Alli, Cahill, Arteta, Vidic etc).

With the greatest respect, Liverpool can - and must - do better than signing the striker version of Adam Lallana?

Author: Jaimie K


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