After a year on-loan at Deportivo La Coruna, Luis Alberto is back at Anfield, but despite taking part in the club's pre-season schedule, it's clear that the Spaniard is still not part of Jurgen Klopp's plans. Last month, Sevilla's sporting director confirmed that the club had submitted an offer for Alberto, and new reports this week suggest that Valencia have now entered the race to sign the £7m-rated winger.
According to The Express today:
"Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal with Valencia for midfielder Luis Alberto".
Spanish newspaper Plaza Deportiva further claims:
* Valencia have been in talks with Liverpool for a month but the Reds have rejected the club's €3m offer.
* Valencia sporting director Suso Garcia Pitarch has met with Liverpool 'on several occasions'.
'adventurous' Alberto cost Liverpool £6.8m in 2013, so it'll be good business if the club can make its money back. 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)
* Three separate injuries (Thigh, achilles, and groin). 74 days out injured. 11 games missed.
A decent creative return, but not enough to break into Liverpool's starting line-up. If a deal doesn't go through, it may be enough to achieve occasional bench duty next season, but at the age of 23, Alberto needs to be playing regular first-team football, and he's more likely to get that at Valencia.
Additionally, Alberto's best position is central attacking midfielder (i.e. number-10), and that's the role he's played most often for Deportivo. With Coutinho, Lallana, and Firmino, Liverpool are oversubscribed in that position, which will make it even harder for Alberto to get regular game time (Just ask Teixeira!).
In my view, staying at Liverpool is tantamount to career suicide.
According to The Express today:
"Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal with Valencia for midfielder Luis Alberto".
Spanish newspaper Plaza Deportiva further claims:
* Valencia have been in talks with Liverpool for a month but the Reds have rejected the club's €3m offer.
* Valencia sporting director Suso Garcia Pitarch has met with Liverpool 'on several occasions'.
'adventurous' Alberto cost Liverpool £6.8m in 2013, so it'll be good business if the club can make its money back. 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)
* Three separate injuries (Thigh, achilles, and groin). 74 days out injured. 11 games missed.
A decent creative return, but not enough to break into Liverpool's starting line-up. If a deal doesn't go through, it may be enough to achieve occasional bench duty next season, but at the age of 23, Alberto needs to be playing regular first-team football, and he's more likely to get that at Valencia.
Additionally, Alberto's best position is central attacking midfielder (i.e. number-10), and that's the role he's played most often for Deportivo. With Coutinho, Lallana, and Firmino, Liverpool are oversubscribed in that position, which will make it even harder for Alberto to get regular game time (Just ask Teixeira!).
In my view, staying at Liverpool is tantamount to career suicide.
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