29 Aug 2016

Deal Agreed: Liverpool seal cut-price €6m transfer for 'adventurous' attacker. Medical tomorrow

Last month, Sevilla's sporting director confirmed that the La Liga club had submitted an official offer for Liverpool outcast Luis Alberto, and although that deal fell through, it looks like the Reds have found another buyer for the Spanish attacker.

According to the BBC today:

"Liverpool have agreed to sell Luis Alberto to Lazio for £4.3m [€6m]. Alberto has travelled to Rome to discuss personal terms. The fee also includes add-ons and a 30% sell-on clause for the Reds".

Italian journalist Gianlucas DiMarzio adds:

"Lazio have found an agreement with Liverpool for Luis Alberto, who will undergo his medical tomorrow".

'Adventurous' Alberto cost Liverpool £6.8m in 2013, so this is arguably good business, and in the long-term, the club may end up actually making money (with the add-ons, and sell-on clause).

Alberto's stats for Deportivo La Coruna last season:

* 6 goals/8 assists in 31 games (One every 152 mins).

* Averaged 71 minutes of playing time per game.

* 31 chances created (1 every 68 minutes)

A decent creative return, but clearly not enough to break into Liverpool's starting line-up. Unfortunately for Alberto, his best position is central attacking midfielder (the role he played most often last season for Deportivo La Coruna), but with Coutinho, Lallana, and Firmino in the squad, there's no chance of getting regular game time in that role.

That said, 14 goals/assists in La Liga is creditable, and should've been enough for Klopp to give him one or two chances in the first team. However, like Markovic, Ilori, Sturridge et al, Klopp obviously doesn't rate Alberto, and I'd bet my bottom dollar it's because he doesn't run, press, and/or or fit the manager's concept of 'flexible football' (i.e. versatility over specialism).

As such, a move is the best solution. At the age of 23, Alberto needs to be playing regular first-team football, and he'll possibly have more chance of achieving that at Lazio. A


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