LIVERPOOL
This latest nightmare is finally over! Now comes the silly season, and with new ownership having spent only a net of about 3million pounds in the Winter Transfer window, theres no telling what the budget for player transfers or wages will be exactly.
However, it is still apparent that the priority areas are a new LB, a top-tier winger who can either mirror Suarez, or pump in crosses to Carroll, one more body in the CM area, and another CB who can contribute right away. The next pressing area after that would be a reliable backup GK in case Reina were to suffer an injury. A backup striker would be a luxury at this point, and theres no longer a need to look at RB or the LW. So, heres some names and their situations for discussion:
Left back:
Fabio Coentrao - the club is interested, but not at the prices being reportedly agreed to by Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
Leighton Baines - Everton's player of the season would likely cost just as much as Coentrao (25m) because of his importance to Everton and the rivalry between the two clubs.
Juan Manuel Vargas - Fiorentina rejected a 13m offer and wants to see about 17m to 20m. Thats a bit of a reach for a 28 year old (next season) who's never played in the EPL.
Jose Enrique - In all likelihood, this man will likely make the move to LFC soon for about 13m or less with some players going to Newcastle.
Gael Clichy - Due to his contract situation, he could be had for about 7-10m, however I see him re-signing with Arsenal or choosing a club that offers Champions League football.
Winger:
Ashley Young - 15m for a top English talent isnt too bad. The downside is he'll be making about the same as Joe Cole currently makes (90k a week).
Eden Hazard - 25m, an offer has been made for 20m, however as talented as he may be, I recall some attitude problems (he is a kid though), and the lack of Champions League football will likely kill any deal.
Marko Marin - 13-15m for a Werder Bremen talent who may not be cut out for the Premier League. He's a smart player though, and Liverpool does have more to offer him than Bremen so I'd consider him a safety net.
Chung-Yong Lee - Bolton will hold out for a small ransom, but he's talented, and Asian. I say go for this guy.
Sylvain Marveaux - A Bosman signing with injury problems the last two years. He would back up Suarez though. Fuck it, why not go for the new Harry Kewell?
Diego Perotti - About 13m would pry him from Sevilla. He can definitely beat a defender ala Suarez, but I dont know how well he can cross or finish.
Georginio Wijnaldum - He should be able to be bought for cheaper than the reported 11m due to Feyenoord's financial situation. He's Dutch, he idolized Dirk Kuyt. If he's the thinking footballer that Comolli is looking for, why not give it a shot.
Gervinho - Eden Hazard's alternative at Lille. He'll be cheaper than Hazard, may not be as talented but seems less selfish in his play, and would probably bite at a high wage offer if LFC felt the need to spend in that area.
Stewart Downing - fuck and no.
Matt Jarvis - Wolves stayed up in the Premier League, so this backup plan won't come so cheap.
Xabi Prieto - Havent seen enough of him to make any judgement
Juan Mata - A brilliant little winger at Valencia, however I don't know how well he'd play on the Right Wing, and Valencia won't sell him below say 19m.
Charles N'Zogbia -please no...
Central Midfield:
Yann M'Vila - extended his contract at Rennes today, probably too expensive an option for Liverpool right now.
Blaise Matuidi - Saint-Etienne were holding out for a little more money, around 13m, but Matuidi is looking for a big payday.
Moussa Sissoko - Wants Champions League football and a big payday. While Matuidi would be a Poulsen replacement that competes or holds down the MF with Lucas, this Sissoko would be more of a box-to-box beast.
Steven Defour - An intelligent young Belgian who could be a good understudy for the Meireles, Gerrard, Aquilani position in the middle of the park. May come pricey if United is adamant about signing him, but I'd see it as a good investment.
Charlie Adam - He's Scottish, left footed and could be sold for say 5-7m. It seems appealing, but I'm not about to drop Meireles or Gerrard to accomodate him. Lucas or another holding mid would have to be paired with him for his play to be effective.
Stephen M'Bia - DESTROYER! No clue what the price would be here, but I don't see the big need for him considering Matuidi and Sissoko as targets already.
Center Back:
Gary Cahill - Any English team with a need for solid, young center backs will be attached here: Arsenal, Chelsea (for depth you see), Liverpool, Tottenham, even United as a Ferdinand successor. He'd definitely contribute right away at about the same level or better as Skrtel, Carragher, and Agger. This however would continue to stunt the development for Kelly, Ayala, Wilson, and Wisdom.
Scott Dann - Relegated with Birmingham (not his fault, out most of 2011), a Liverpool lad, and still young. SIGN SCOTT DANN! He won't be on high wages, and wouldn't be locked in as a starting CB like Cahill, meaning plenty of healthy competition for places.
Phil Jones - Young English CB, with a large pricetag. Yes, he'll be good soon, but I'd keep some faith in the current crop of kids.
Mamadou Sakho - Fuck 20m for a center back. He's no Sergio Ramos!
Simon Kjaer - If Agger were to get back to his 06/07 health and become the de facto leader of the backline, I'd be all for a double Danish delight pairing. Its not happening though.
Backup Striker:
Andy Carroll, Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez, and possibly David N'Gog if he isn't sold or loaned out have all shown they can either lead the line alone (Suarez in a pinch), or work well in pairs. In the event N'Gog isnt with Liverpool for the next season, I can see the need for another true striker or versatile forward (not sure what the ideal style of play will be under Dalglish).
True Strikers:
Mirko Vucinic - With new ownership at ASRoma, its hard to tell what they'll do with their current talent. Its an aging squad, but Roma can never get rid of Totti, so Vucinic could be sold to raise cash.
Fernando Llorente - The club has been linked him before, but would he come play second fiddle/mentor to Carroll at this stage of his career.
Alvaro Negredo - Same question as Llorente; is the money worth coming in to fight for a position with Carroll.
Romelu Lukaku - He's been priced out of most club's reach. His dream move is to Chelsea to be the next Drogba. That club has to be built around El Nino now though, so perhaps a cheeky bid with a return loan option for Anderlecht might steal the boy. There can't be too much real interest elsewhere in the Premier League (Lukaku's preferred destination).
Versatile Strikers:
Demba Ba - Relegated with West Ham, available for cheap, but will be the subject of a bidding war.
Loic Remy - I like to think of him as Ryan Babel 2.0, but without the head down dribbling into a cul-de-sac. Just moved to Marseille last summer though, so he won't go that cheap.
Ezequiel Lavezzi - Suarez - Carroll - Lavezzi. Lavezzi would eliminate the need for say Hazard or Young, and he'd also be able to play up to if needed. On paper, this would be the scariest attacking trio since Henry-Eto'o-Messi.
Bojan Krkic - I said earlier that the backup striker is a luxury (assuming the big signing is a winger), and this might be the best fit for a luxury signing. 1 year loan with an option to buy.
Backup GK:
Peter Gulacsi should be getting the Carling Cup starts now, but in case Reina were to get injured, I don't know if Gulacsi could step in like the kids at Atletico Madrid (De Gea, non-injured Asenjo, Joel). Brad Jones just doesnt seem all that qualified to be that stand in, so it may be a position to address.
CAM:
Gerrard hasn't had a fully healthy season in years, Aquilani is likely going to stay in Italy, and Jonjo Shelvy & Dani Pacheco could be given the Jack Wilshere to Bolton loan treatment for weekly Premier League experience.
Diego: Wolfsburg is tired of the headache and has this talented Brazilian on sale for 10m. However, in addition to the drama, Diego is most effective when he plays behind multiple strikers, and has a midfielder or two behind him to take up his defensive duties. I dont see it happening.
Adel Taarabt - He signed for Tottenham under Comolli. He's more of a diva than Diego. It better not happen.
Keisuke Honda - Asia's best attacking player at the moment. He's unhappy in Russia. He'll sell a lot of jerseys. He can play as an attacking mid in at least two positions. Don't rule this one out.
Ibrahim Afellay - If the club really wants to adopt a modern form of the Liverpool Way (pass-and-move, thats the Liverpool groove), and Barcelona is going to put him in the shop window to raise cash for Cesc, and others, then Afellay would be one of the smartest signings. He can play anywhere in midfield, even though his tackling isnt good PSV still played him as a DM.
Signings I'd wish to see happen:
Jose Enrique (Premier League tested, still young, and affordable given the options) for about 12 million pounds.
Chung-Yong Lee (Premier League tested, young, seems level-headed despite the hype in Korea, won't cost as much in terms of transfer fee or wages, and the bonus of course being his appeal to the Asian market) at about 11-12 million pounds.
Scott Dann (Liverpool lad, still young, English so he counts towards the quota) for say 5-6 million pounds.
Blaise Matuidi (He's a southpaw, he's a damn good defensive midfielder, and this free-flowing movement up front could use another responsible quarterback alongside Lucas or Jay Spearing) at 13 million pounds.
Sylvain Marveaux - He's free, and would serve as backup to Suarez or Maxi. Why not?
A better backup GK. Just to be safe. Maybe about 2 million pounds. I don't have any clue as to whether the club would be looking for older, steady hands, or a young and talented GK to compete with Gulacsi.
Bojan or Afellay. Either a loan, or a cut-rate deal for under 9million pounds respectively. I think Pacheco should get some Premier League starts at a smaller club like Norwich where he was on loan the last month, and either Shelvey or N'Gog should also be looking at getting more experience. Bojan as an upgrade for N'Gog, or Afellay as a new midfield maestro if the moneys available and Barcelona is indeed selling.
The total outlay here using estimated maximum prices would be between 43 and 55 million pounds depending on the Bojan loan, or Afellay signing if they were to happen. The club could stand to make about 25-35 million pounds in sales of current players, so depending on the wage bill, these scenarios may be FFP-friendly.
