Liverpool: Who could be our marquee signing?
Juan Mata, Erik Lamela, Luis Muriel - who should Liverpool go for?
Is Mata a realistic target? (©GettyImages)
Liverpool are now desperately chasing a marquee signing to add that quality to the team. Yesterday Brendan Rodgers told the club's official site that with only ten days to go till the window slams shut that they had to do everything they can to get in a player with quality.
This summer has seen the Reds sign Spanish duo Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto, Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Ivorian defender Kolo Toure. However, many of the fans are desperate to see the club's owners open up their chequebook and sign a player who will not only improve the first team, but will get them up on their feet and help drive them to fourth position.
Their Northern-Irish gaffer has targeted many players to be their marquee signing. However, to date they are still yet to sign one of the ‘big’ players they have targeted. The list of players includes; Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Diego Costa and Willian Borges da Silva. There was even reports of the Merseyside club having an interest in Brazilian Bernard.
Unfortunately for Rodgers he has seen all these players slip through his grasp after either signing a new contract with a club or signing for another club. The fact that the club has missed out on so many targets has eventually started to take an effect on Rodgers, who was seemingly angered at the press conference before the Reds trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
But who could the Reds turn too after being disappointed with by the last three dealings?
Juan Mata
This would be a massive signing and would shock the footballing world. Liverpool were interested in the Spanish star back in 2011 but manager Roy Hodgson decided to buy West Ham United winger Stewart Downing instead. A deal that still angers Liverpool fans two years later.
Mata can slot into any position across the attacking-midfield line and proved this last year when he became Chelsea player of the season. The Spanish playmaker would fit straight into Liverpool’s playing style with his ability to pick a pass and keep the ball players like skipper Steven Gerrard would relish playing with him. His through balls also caused many problems last season and with someone who has pace like Daniel Sturridge no doubt he would certainly drive Liverpool to fourth.
This transfer is highly unlikely with Mata having a price of roughly £35 million. However, with Chelsea buying Samba-star Willian and reports towards the start of the transfer window that manager Jose Mourinho would listen to offers for the midfielder, there is no reason why Brendan Rodgers can’t be ambitious and have ago at signing the Chelsea man.
Erik Lamela
Currently playing for AS Roma in the Serie A, Lamela has impressed many people around the world after putting in performances of the highest level since the 2010/2011 season. Whilst at Roma he has played 66 games and managed to notch up 21 goals and 12 assists.
An attacking-midfielder who can play wide is exactly what Rodgers is looking for meaning the 21-year-old Argentine would be perfect for Liverpool. He mainly contributes to the goal tally when coming in from the left side, which will again please Rodgers as he looks to move Philippe Coutinho into the number 10 role.
The player would be available for around £30 million but again face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur who look like they are very close to agreeing a fee with Roma.
Yevhen Konoplyanka
Konoplyanka will be known to many English football fanatics for the goal he scored against England in September 2012. The Ukrainian, who plays for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, is a very talented player who has a rocket of a right foot and has been described as the future of Ukrainian football.
He is quick, skillful and is very good with both feet. Like Lamela he prefers to play on the left hand side and cut in on to his favoured right foot. Again, this will catch Rodgers attention as he would be able to push the golden boy of the Kop Coutinho into the number ten role.
Konoplyanka would be a cheaper option for Liverpool as he would be available for roughly £15 million.
Luis Muriel
The 22-year-old Colombian who currently plays for Udinese has drawn attention from major British teams such as Arsenal and Manchester United. They weren’t the only teams to look at him though. Reports throughout the summer have linked Muriel to Liverpool as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez.
Once again, the player is a left-sided attacker. Some Liverpool fans have compared the Colombian to Suarez with the way he loves to take the ball forward by taking on and beating the defender with a bit of skill. He is also known for his blistering pace and his ability to play a through ball as well as great finishing. The last season saw Muriel notch up 11 goals out of 22 games.
The Udinese left forward would be available for around £12.5 million leaving Rodgers money to add to the other positions that need improving.
Arda Turan
It’s no secret that the Atletico Madrid star Arda Turan has a soft spot for Liverpool. Last year when fellow Turkish player Nuri Sahin signed for Liverpool he was pictured wearing a Liverpool shirt baring Sahin on the back.
The Turkish star is a left midfielder who can operate in the left-attacking role. He is a great dribbler of the ball and his ability to beat a defender would just add to the skillful forward line the Reds currently field.
The 26-year-old would be rather pricey at around £20 million. However, his love for the club would perhaps persuade Rodgers to buy him as he would put 100% into every game.
This summer has seen the Reds sign Spanish duo Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto, Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Ivorian defender Kolo Toure. However, many of the fans are desperate to see the club's owners open up their chequebook and sign a player who will not only improve the first team, but will get them up on their feet and help drive them to fourth position.
Their Northern-Irish gaffer has targeted many players to be their marquee signing. However, to date they are still yet to sign one of the ‘big’ players they have targeted. The list of players includes; Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Diego Costa and Willian Borges da Silva. There was even reports of the Merseyside club having an interest in Brazilian Bernard.
But who could the Reds turn too after being disappointed with by the last three dealings?
Juan Mata
This would be a massive signing and would shock the footballing world. Liverpool were interested in the Spanish star back in 2011 but manager Roy Hodgson decided to buy West Ham United winger Stewart Downing instead. A deal that still angers Liverpool fans two years later.
Mata can slot into any position across the attacking-midfield line and proved this last year when he became Chelsea player of the season. The Spanish playmaker would fit straight into Liverpool’s playing style with his ability to pick a pass and keep the ball players like skipper Steven Gerrard would relish playing with him. His through balls also caused many problems last season and with someone who has pace like Daniel Sturridge no doubt he would certainly drive Liverpool to fourth.
This transfer is highly unlikely with Mata having a price of roughly £35 million. However, with Chelsea buying Samba-star Willian and reports towards the start of the transfer window that manager Jose Mourinho would listen to offers for the midfielder, there is no reason why Brendan Rodgers can’t be ambitious and have ago at signing the Chelsea man.
Erik Lamela
Currently playing for AS Roma in the Serie A, Lamela has impressed many people around the world after putting in performances of the highest level since the 2010/2011 season. Whilst at Roma he has played 66 games and managed to notch up 21 goals and 12 assists.
An attacking-midfielder who can play wide is exactly what Rodgers is looking for meaning the 21-year-old Argentine would be perfect for Liverpool. He mainly contributes to the goal tally when coming in from the left side, which will again please Rodgers as he looks to move Philippe Coutinho into the number 10 role.
The player would be available for around £30 million but again face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur who look like they are very close to agreeing a fee with Roma.
Yevhen Konoplyanka
Konoplyanka will be known to many English football fanatics for the goal he scored against England in September 2012. The Ukrainian, who plays for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, is a very talented player who has a rocket of a right foot and has been described as the future of Ukrainian football.
He is quick, skillful and is very good with both feet. Like Lamela he prefers to play on the left hand side and cut in on to his favoured right foot. Again, this will catch Rodgers attention as he would be able to push the golden boy of the Kop Coutinho into the number ten role.
Konoplyanka would be a cheaper option for Liverpool as he would be available for roughly £15 million.
Luis Muriel
The 22-year-old Colombian who currently plays for Udinese has drawn attention from major British teams such as Arsenal and Manchester United. They weren’t the only teams to look at him though. Reports throughout the summer have linked Muriel to Liverpool as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez.
Once again, the player is a left-sided attacker. Some Liverpool fans have compared the Colombian to Suarez with the way he loves to take the ball forward by taking on and beating the defender with a bit of skill. He is also known for his blistering pace and his ability to play a through ball as well as great finishing. The last season saw Muriel notch up 11 goals out of 22 games.
The Udinese left forward would be available for around £12.5 million leaving Rodgers money to add to the other positions that need improving.
Arda Turan
It’s no secret that the Atletico Madrid star Arda Turan has a soft spot for Liverpool. Last year when fellow Turkish player Nuri Sahin signed for Liverpool he was pictured wearing a Liverpool shirt baring Sahin on the back.
The Turkish star is a left midfielder who can operate in the left-attacking role. He is a great dribbler of the ball and his ability to beat a defender would just add to the skillful forward line the Reds currently field.
The 26-year-old would be rather pricey at around £20 million. However, his love for the club would perhaps persuade Rodgers to buy him as he would put 100% into every game.
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