Liverpool Rumours Archive August 12 2013

12 Aug 2013 12:28:03
Hey ed01, if you are still around, can you sum up our search for an offensive player thus far - did we really lodge a bid for costa?; are we waiting for Suarez to be sold?; and this late in the window, which players seem like the most realistic options to you?

Cheers, keep up the good analysis! {Ed001's Note - I really don't know anything about a bid for Costa, I can only assume it was the papers getting ahead of themselves. Moves are not waiting on Suarez to go. I don't know who is a realistic option right now, it is impossible to second guess our moves at the moment. If Rodgers can settle in to the job for a while, we can get a better idea of which players are long term scouted ahead of a possible move.}

Thanks eds. It's all a bit confusing at the moment. Rodgers has come out and said a few times that we will strengthen further but it seems hard to distinguish who the actual targets are at the moment. {Ed001's Note - over time it should become clearer, as the club monitor players over prolonged periods they can be seen to be of interest. Just takes time to establish, as lots of those that have been monitored were targets of the previous regime that were checked out to see if they were still of interest. Many of those will have been discarded as targets, but it is difficult to know which ones yet.}

12 Aug 2013 13:34:33
Hi ED001. As per your response to the query below, when you say we have already replaced Downing, are you referring to Aspas? or a speculated transfer target?

Thanks.

Have been linked with a number of LB's recently but none look to be set in stone, could Coentrao be an option Ed? Looked fantastic at Benfica but never really seemed to settle at Madrid. Have we shown any interest / where do you think he is likely to end up currently? {Ed001's Note - not an option for us at this time.}

{Ed001's Note - I was referring to Aspas plus the youth players breaking through, all are ahead of Downing, so he was surplus.}

Think Sterling will be backup for LW, and Ibe is being tried to put into RW, but to be honest I think they're being trained to play both, flexible, just like how BR likes his players I think.

and currently BR is looking for a first team LW.

We are off-loading players and not replacing them. We have only a week to go until the new season and our first team is currently no better than last year. Our squad if anything is lighter now. We have 3 weeks left in the window but it seems that we can no longer attract our main targets.
The game against Celtic B team was an insight to the season ahead, he still prefers Allen who has looked good against poor opposition in the pre-season. However, when up against someone decent (Celtic B) he was poor again.
I'm not trying to be negative for the upcoming season and I fully support the side. However, I am a realist also and I will not be expecting much this season
G

Who are our main targets? We are linked by posters with huge numbers of players some of who I've never even heard of. Everybody thinks we need to reinforce in every position. I have no idea in what sector Rogers intends to buy. It might be centre back if we sell another centre back. It might be at left back as cover but we don't seem to be seriously making offers for anyone so whether we can attract a player that Rogers thinks we need remains to be seen. With the players we've sold or are selling and the reduction in the wage bill at least one major signing shouldn't be a problem.

Yes ed, thank you for talking sense about downing in relation to Ibe, Sterling. It frustrated me how Rodgers played Downing for 80 minutes in our last preseason game, even if it was to put him in the shop window. I would have liked to see either of the youngsters play at least a half!

Thanks

12 Aug 2013 13:41:01
Hey Eds, is there any chance there could be a possibility of signing Douglas Costa? Thanks in advance. {Ed002's Note - None, sorry.}

No chance probably agent stuff to get that new contract he's signed.
Potential trouble maker.
Need one of those? No
Got one of those? Check.

12 Aug 2013 13:23:41
Eds, I understand that Anzhi are offloading a lot of players. Do you think we could put a bid up for Willian? I know he must be expensive but do you think there might be a chance we can move in for him? Quality player and just what we need imho. Thanks for any reply. {Ed002's Note - No, I don't thing so.}

Brilliant player but sadly I think he'll go to a club with CL football, maybe Chelsea, United or City.

Genuinely cannot agree with this post any more, I think he is the exact player we need who can play anywhere across the front 3 and is the most similar player to Suarez that could be available. Unfortunately like SFAL said he most likely will move to a champions league side.

Aside from the CL thought, he's well out of our price range I would imagine.

12 Aug 2013 10:40:06
Have been linked with a number of LB's recently but none look to be set in stone, could Coentrao be an option Ed? Looked fantastic at Benfica but never really seemed to settle at Madrid. Have we shown any interest / where do you think he is likely to end up currently? {Ed001's Note - not an option for us at this time.}

Who's showing concrete interest Ed? Thanks {Ed002's Note - Coentrao will be offered to clubs as part of part exchange deals or will be sold. Spurs, Monaco and Juventus have already spoken with Madrid about Coentrao although Juve has since opted for someone else.}

Great player. With offensive Qualities. But we have already two Backs that don't defend well: Johnson and Enrique. I guess he will also have a high salary.

12 Aug 2013 09:34:21
Hi Eds

Seems like the intended targets are changing
ever so often.
As we stand right now,
is Yilmaz and Cissokho the only known
players LFC are showing "interest" in
or are there any others that
you know/aware of.

On the outs, is it still safe to say that
Skrtel, Assaidi, Suarez, Coates and Agger
(Depending on the offer from Barca and Aggers
Decision) are the most likely to be moved on.

Thanks for the reply in advance.

YNWA-SA {Ed001's Note - that Siqueira is defo of interest too. As for Agger, it will be Agger or Skrtel to leave, not both and preferably Skrtel as he is the one we would prefer to sell.}

Hello Ed,
regarding Siqueira, how far has the deal progressed?
Have we just inquired or made a bid?
Because pretty sure Real want him to replace Coentrao so our best bet would be to buy him before real sell Coentrao. {Ed002's Note - There is certainly interest from Liverpool and others.}

12 Aug 2013 10:16:30
So with Downing looks set for West Ham and Assaidi being loaned to QPR are we looking at replacement wingers, or are we relying on Sterling and Ibe?
Thanks

Downing is being sold because he is too out and out a winger for Brendan's system. We do not need wingers like Downing. We'll replace with a player who can also drift inside and play forward through balls.

12 Aug 2013 12:00:23
I'd like to see Ibe given a first team chance, although Stirling is older than Ibe I don't think he's as ready and could benefit from a loan out possibly {Ed002's Note - You need to get registered.}

According to interview with BR he is looking to bring quality players in for the sides (I.e. plural) so that Coutinho can play through the middle (where I think most will agree he seems to influence games more). If he does bring in 2 decent players for these positions he will have a fairly strong front line to pick from with a fair bit of variation as well, so fingers crossed. Be interesting to see who we are after as it has gone fairly quiet on the rumours for the front line now.

Having to rely on Sterling and Ibe, what deprivation we face; when will people realise that this is about building a team - not buying success. Jeez how many clubs would drool at the prospect of being stuck with that particular duo?

12 Aug 2013 07:29:35
Does the link with Will Hughes have any body behind it Eds do you know?

I know we have scouted him at some point and presume this has been ongoing? but do you think we may bid for him and loan him back to Derby for a year?

I understand if this is impossible to know but wondered if you may have any inside info.

personally think he would be a great signing and looks like a LFC player somehow

thanks {Ed001's Note - I was told Derby had rejected a number of offers from the Prem earlier in the summer, but nothing since then. So it could well be one of those offers was from us and it has just come out. Other than that, I don't know mate sorry.}

12 Aug 2013 01:22:21
Hey eds, just wondering do we still have any interest in Andreas Weimenn from villa, wasnt bad last season for a team that escaped relegation. Plus Do you see Liverpool bringing in Any Centre mids as all we have is allen, henderson, lucas, and gerrard. I heard we could be interested in Wigans james mccarthy put his asking price seems very high. do you know any other centre mid targets? I've also been told by a friend that a deal for cissoko will be sorted by the end of the week and that real madrid are planing a 20m plus ozil for suarez which sounds like a pretty good deal for all partys.
Cheers eds
YNWA {Ed001's Note - we dropped interest in Weimann when he signed a new contract. No, I don't know of any interest in McCarthy.}

12 Aug 2013 10:51:02
20m plus Oezil sounds like a pretty bad deal for Oezil to me personally. He's a Champs a league standard AM with wages to match, he would have to relinquish Champs League and a hefty amount of money I bet. Although due to the 75% tax on high earners in Spain it would be possible to imagine the money working out better here, just can't see him moving to a non Champs League team.

Alberto has been playing in the centre in the pre-season games. I also expect Teixeira and Nacho to be given some time at somepoint.