Cavani (don't get excited)

[rurikbird]

God knows why I'm starting to think that stars might align for us to sign Cavani as Suarez replacement. Here's what I mean by stars aligning. PSG is about to spunk £50M on Di Maria; they should be willing to contemplate offers for their unsettled striker, who has been forced to play on the wing and replace him with somebody who could maybe complement Ibrahimovic better (Rooney?).

Cavani himself wants to move, he would love to play in England and he probably has a generally positive opinion about Liverpool from conversations with Suarez. City are loaded with strikers, Arsenal have invested in Sanchez, Chelsea in Costa, Man U really want Cavani, but can't offer European football. And for once, Spurs have no chance to steal this target from us.

From our perspective, if we could get Cavani for roughly the same money PSG paid for him (~£50M), that means we replace Suarez with a top-notch-quality striker and save around £20M to invest elsewhere. Cavani had a poor season by his standards, but if he feels as loved and connected to the fans as he was in Napoli, I am sure he will rediscover his best form. Unlike Suarez, he won't be willing to play on the wing, but the potential partnership with Sturridge in Rodgers' favored 4-4-2 diamond looks mouthwatering. And Cavani is one of the few top strikers in the world who work as hard as Suarez – that's a distinct advantage over other reported targets such as Benzema, Higuain or Bony, all of whom don't offer much except goals.

So tell me why I'm wrong. Go ahead, crush my hopes.

 

[rurikbird]

Besides, the highly reputable Caughtoffside rag is already pushing an "exclusive" about our upcoming "club record offer" for Cavani:
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2014/0...ani-as-anfield-side-look-to-sell-luis-suarez/

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Hmm. Cavani would be an excellent replacement.

Yeah, let's go all out for him.

 

[Whirly]

I don't think Cavani is the solution for us. He brings the workrate, but I'm not sure there's enough else there to justify 50M. He's 27.5 or so now, andI don't know if we can spend that sort of money on him.

His value is severely inflated because PSG paid the stupid money Napoli wanted. If he moved for 30M, we'd be willing to pay around 30M. But when a player's value and fee is dictated by what was previously paid for him, that's a massive issue for me.

 

[rurikbird]

I don't think Cavani is the solution for us. He brings the workrate, but I'm not sure there's enough else there to justify 50M. He's 27.5 or so now, andI don't know if we can spend that sort of money on him.

His value is severely inflated because PSG paid the stupid money Napoli wanted. If he moved for 30M, we'd be willing to pay around 30M. But when a player's value and fee is dictated by what was previously paid for him, that's a massive issue for me.

Cavani scored 104 goals in 3 seasons in Napoli. And 25 goals in all competitions mostly from the wing in his "bad" season at PSG. I don't think there is any question that he is an absolute top class player. As for age, he is 1 month younger than Suarez and is not known for biting people and regularly missing large chunks of the season through suspension.

 

[eecheerow]

I don't think he's worth anywhere near 50M. And I'd struggle to get excited over him signing for half that to be honest.

 

[Ryan]

Uruguayans can get fucked.

 

[Y1]

Nope not excited because
1) Not likely
2) Who can be better than what we lost?
3) Ho hum... the cup is half empty.

 

[Whirly]

Cavani scored 104 goals in 3 seasons in Napoli. And 25 goals in all competitions mostly from the wing in his "bad" season at PSG. I don't think there is any question that he is an absolute top class player. As for age, he is 1 month younger than Suarez and is not known for biting people and regularly missing large chunks of the season through suspension.

We wouldn't be in a position to spend 50M on 27 year old Suarez though, it's too rich for our blood. Nevermind 75M.

Until we get bought out by oil billionaires, we can hardly ever justify paying over 50M on a player, especially one who is as old as he is. Cavani strikes me as a player who is just below that elite top tier, and doesn't have the intangibles to ascend that players like Reus or Di Maria have. Tough to pay that sort of fee for a player who had arguably peaked, especially when our funds are limited.

 

[Whirly]

Cavani scored 104 goals in 3 seasons in Napoli. And 25 goals in all competitions mostly from the wing in his "bad" season at PSG. I don't think there is any question that he is an absolute top class player. As for age, he is 1 month younger than Suarez and is not known for biting people and regularly missing large chunks of the season through suspension.

We wouldn't be in a position to spend 50M on 27 year old Suarez though, it's too rich for our blood. Nevermind 75M.

Until we get bought out by oil billionaires, we can hardly ever justify paying over 50M on a player, especially one who is as old as he is. Cavani strikes me as a player who is just below that elite top tier, and doesn't have the intangibles to ascend that players like Reus or Di Maria have. Tough to pay that sort of fee for a player who had arguably peaked, especially when our funds are limited.

 

[rurikbird]

We wouldn't be in a position to spend 50M on 27 year old Suarez though, it's too rich for our blood. Nevermind 75M.

Until we get bought out by oil billionaires, we can hardly ever justify paying over 50M on a player, especially one who is as old as he is. Cavani strikes me as a player who is just below that elite top tier, and doesn't have the intangibles to ascend that players like Reus or Di Maria have. Tough to pay that sort of fee for a player who had arguably peaked, especially when our funds are limited.

That's a good point. Maybe we can't buy 50M players who are at their peak. Although if our goal is to replace Suarez adequately for the next few seasons, then you can hardly do better than Cavani at 50M.

As for tiers, for me Cavani is below the tier of Messi-Ronaldo-Ibra-Suarez, but above the likes of Higuain, Benzema, Sanchez or Diego Costa. I would say comparable players to Cavani right now are Falcao, Lewandowski, RVP and Aguero: proven consistent 20+ league goal scorers with strong all-around game.

 

[Ryan]

I think you're overrating him to be honest. He's done it in Italy and France; which are sub par leagues compared to Spain, England, and Germany. Costa looks a better striker to me, as does Benzema.

And there's just simply now way on Earth he is on a comparable level to Van Persie or Aguero. I'm not having that at all.

 

[rurikbird]

I think you're overrating him to be honest. He's done it in Italy and France; which are sub par leagues compared to Spain, England, and Germany. Costa looks a better striker to me, as does Benzema.

And there's just simply now way on Earth he is on a comparable level to Van Persie or Aguero. I'm not having that at all.

Well, Italy and France are the most low-scoring leagues in the top 5, you could argue scoring 20+ league goals there is harder than in Spain or Germany, for instance. I don't think you could dismiss Ibra because he "only did it in Italy and France" (and more or less failed in Spain), same should apply to Cavani.

EDIT:
Watch the goal at 1:35 if you think Cavani is just a "functional" stiker:

 

[Whirly]

That's a good point. Maybe we can't buy 50M players who are at their peak. Although if our goal is to replace Suarez adequately for the next few seasons, then you can hardly do better than Cavani at 50M.

As for tiers, for me Cavani is below the tier of Messi-Ronaldo-Ibra-Suarez, but above the likes of Higuain, Benzema, Sanchez or Diego Costa. I would say comparable players to Cavani right now are Falcao, Lewandowski, RVP and Aguero: proven consistent 20+ league goal scorers with strong all-around game.

I think you're stratifying a bit much here, all of those players beyond Messi/Ronaldo/Ibra/Suarez get more or less grouped together for me. Proven strikers who have their various deficiencies, be it they still can grow, are on the decline a bit, or have injury concerns. You could possibly add Mandzukic, Tevez, Sturridge, Rooney, and Martinez to that group as well. May have missed a few, but I think if possible, that's the group to pick from.

Also, Reus. If you want to add true wingers, you end up with Di Maria, Robben, Ribery, Hazard, Pedro(?), and probably a few others as well. But listing off names is a fun but fruitless game. Like I said, this is the group to nab one from if possible at the right price. But it's a fluid class of player where players ascend to easily. A good season for us and Bony or Lukaku could easily get grouped in as well.

 

[Ryan]

Well, Italy and France are the most low-scoring leagues in the top 5, you could argue scoring 20+ league goals there is harder than in Spain or Germany, for instance. I don't think you could dismiss Ibra because he "only did it in Italy and France" (and more or less failed in Spain), same should apply to Cavani.

EDIT:
Watch the goal at 1:35 if you think Cavani is just a "functional" stiker:

Why are you putting functional in quotations?

Where did I say that?

 

[keniget]

I don't watch Serie A or Ligue 1 really so can't say I know Cavani that intimately as a player.

I did see clips of his goals at Napoli every now and again and it was amazing - he seemed to score amazing / outrageous goals all the time.

That said, since then whenever I've seen him for PSG or Uruguay he kinda reminds me of Kuyt. The hardworking striker with a good goalscoring rate who is put out on the wing to accommodate a more talented player up front and almost selflessly sacrifices his own game to do that.

Given that one of the more talented strikers he sacrifices himself for is the one we've just lost, I'd be loath in a way to have him as a replacement, unfair as that might be to Cavani. Plus I don't think he's worth (to us) the sort of money we'd have to pay. If he was the final piece of the jigsaw in getting the team challenging for the league / CL for the next couple years, then maybe, but this is a young team.

 

[cloggypop]

Overpriced, could not keep his gob shut about Suarez and took the mercenary cash at PSG.

It's a no from me.

 

[Buddha]

He's a top striker with excellent work-rate. At 35m or less I'd be delighted to have him at Anfield.

Like others have mentioned, anything above that and we're paying for PSG's ridiculous inflating of prices.

 

[cloggypop]

He is probably on 200 grand a week already as well.

 

[Lippy]

I think Cavani is shit

 

[Glen C]

Overpriced, could not keep his gob shut about Suarez and took the mercenary cash at PSG.

It's a no from me.

Never been a fan. Looks decent but no way is he worth the money. It's a no from me as well.

 

[Insignificance]

The times I have seen him he no ways justify that kind of money. 20 m I would reluctanty agree to, but not more.

 

[Hansern]

Cavani is very underrated on here.

Would be very happy with us signing him but doubt that will happen.
55 mill fee and high wages.

 

[RolandG]

It will be impossible to replace Suarez. While Cavani is a decent option, he isn't versatile enough. A new striker will largely depend on BR preferred system which is most likely 4-3-3. In that case we only need 1 up top with wingers. We are looking well stocked in the winger/number 10 department of late.

Get Loic Remy as an alternative to Sturridge, Lambert and Borini. Paying silly money for a player who will be shoe horned into the side makes no sense at all. A dominant CB and a LB is our most pressing concern at the minute.

 

[Whirly]

Remy would be a great signing partly because that keeps Arsenal's hands off him.

 

[RolandG]

Remy would be a great signing partly because that keeps Arsenal's hands off him.

Remy has goals in him and his pace together with that of Sturridge and Sterling will cause any back line problems.

 

[cloggypop]

Remy can score goals alright but how much would he want a week? I assume it was cash that took him to QPR.

He has some sort of heart defect as well which has put clubs off in the past.

 

[Whirly]

Remy has goals in him and his pace together with that of Sturridge and Sterling will cause any back line problems.

Absolutely, I've always thought that he's a massively underrated player.

 

[rurikbird]

Why are you putting functional in quotations?

Where did I say that?

The edited part was not directed at you. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[RolandG]

Remy can score goals alright but how much would he want a week? I assume it was cash that took him to QPR.

He has some sort of heart defect as well which has put clubs off in the past.

His Arsenal deal hit the skids because of the cash, he can stay at QPR, Newcastle or whomever else wants him but CL is a huge incentive for any player with ambition. He needs an audience with BR and he'll sign.