January targets
- Thread starter redhorizon2
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
What we need in January.
A new back four. Two new keepers. Three midfielders. Three wingers. Two strikers. A new third kit. A new kit man. A defensive coach. A new team coach. One of those ouija boards things. New arab/russian owners. Three points. A map of championship grounds. A 3rd round FA Cup giant killing defeat.
A new back four. Two new keepers. Three midfielders. Three wingers. Two strikers. A new third kit. A new kit man. A defensive coach. A new team coach. One of those ouija boards things. New arab/russian owners. Three points. A map of championship grounds. A 3rd round FA Cup giant killing defeat.
I have total faith in you with this. I want Kramaric.
He can play on either side but favours the right.
Liverpool are set to bid for one of the hottest properties in English football: Patrick Roberts.
The Fulham starlet is just 17-years-old, but his performances in the Championship are catching the attention of some of the Premier League's big guns.
England youth winger Roberts has been scouted three times by Liverpool this season after his fast-track into the Craven Cottage team.
Talks suggest that Liverpool could snap up Roberts if they were to loan him straight back to Fulham, but the Cottagers are likely to want a significant fee for a player of his age.
But who is Patrick Roberts? Here is all you need to know about the Liverpool target...
The basics
Name: Patrick Roberts
Current team: Fulham
Shirt number: 14
Position: Right midfield
Age: 17 (5th February 1997)
Height: 167cm
Weight: 58kg
Nationality: English
Patrick Roberts 2014/14 Fulham stats
2 (9)
Starts (sub appearances)
1
Assist
81.9 %
Average pass success rate
Correct as of Monday 10th November
International pedigree
Roberts is without a doubt the most exciting prospect at Fulham - and could well be the most promising figure in the England youth set-up right now.
He has made 25 appearances for an array of England's young guns, including scoring four goals in four showings for the Under-19s throughout 2014.
Right-wing sensation Roberts has been featured on many FA highlight reel videos, with his tricky footwork and clinical finishing making him a stand-out performer for the national team.
Local boy
Roberts joined Fulham from AFC Wimbledon at the age of 13, before signing a professional contract when he just turned 17; a feeling he described as "one of the best feelings I have ever had in my life".
He was born in Kingston upon Thames, less that 10 minutes away from Fulham's training ground.
Felix Magath handed him a Premier League debut in a defeat to Manchester City at the end of last season, before scoring in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final against Chelsea.
His first start for the Cottagers came early this season in a home match against Wolves.
Leading the way to titles
Fulham's Under-18s were one of the most prolific teams in the Premier League youth reaches in recent years - and it is partly down to Roberts' success.
The starlet featured in the Under-18 Premier League title successes of 2011/12 and 2012/13 for Fulham, as they proved themselves as some of the hottest properties in the game.
Very few of the youth team have since lived up to their full potential and haven't made their mark on the big stage, something which Roberts would like to put right.
Varied roles
Roberts is not just a right winger, he can be incredibly versatile as well.
Not only does he feature down the flanks, he can play behind the striker in a playmaker role as well.
He often drifts in from the right side of the pitch when he is playing on the wing and becomes a nuisance for defenders in the middle of the park.
His goalscoring exploits draw comparisons to a young Gareth Bale, as he enjoys a spectacular strike.
Price tag
Manchester United were reportedly quoted a massive £15million if they wanted to secure the target in the summer.
That price will surely only have gone up since the star became a mainstay in the Fulham Championship squad, meaning that Liverpool would have to shell out to secure the talent.
Felix Magath branded him as an "extraordinary talent" and it will no doubt only be a matter of time before he is regularly seen in the starting XI.
Greedy twat. We'll never get the 3 points.
I must admit it is getting like this at present.
I'd add that a request be made to the Americans to precision bomb some rival stadiums. Only those with better teams than us at present you understand. I make that ten currently.
Trouble is, we're realistically at the point when we should be signing only two types of player
- young Patrick Roberts-types who we place no expectations on for the first team for a year to 18 months (ie if they have an impact before then it's a bonus)
- established players who can go straight into the 'first team' being better than what we already have. Players of the calibre of Sanchez, Fabregas etc.
The former aren't going to help us out in the short term and the latter aren't going to come cheap and will need persuading. Of the latter, we need a GK, DM, Goalscoring CM and possibly a wide attacker (Shaqiri)? I doubt we'll sign a striker due to Origi coming in next season.
- young Patrick Roberts-types who we place no expectations on for the first team for a year to 18 months (ie if they have an impact before then it's a bonus)
- established players who can go straight into the 'first team' being better than what we already have. Players of the calibre of Sanchez, Fabregas etc.
The former aren't going to help us out in the short term and the latter aren't going to come cheap and will need persuading. Of the latter, we need a GK, DM, Goalscoring CM and possibly a wide attacker (Shaqiri)? I doubt we'll sign a striker due to Origi coming in next season.
That makes far too much sense for us to do.
Pat Roberts is one of those no brainer signings you shouldn't even think about, like that Norwegian kid. There's still such a huge preference for short-term success over long-term success in football that you can sign players like this - who'll almost certainly go on to be useful PL players and carry a high chance of being top class - for about 10-25% of their real career-long value.
It's why wherever it's allowed you see such a proliferation of third party investment in young players. FSG should just set aside £100m or whatever the limit of their borrowing capacity is, quite apart from the normal transfer fund. Exploit it while they can.
It's why wherever it's allowed you see such a proliferation of third party investment in young players. FSG should just set aside £100m or whatever the limit of their borrowing capacity is, quite apart from the normal transfer fund. Exploit it while they can.
Well said.
Do you think he is on the transfer committee's radar? €2m euro is nothing. Thats what we play for loan players sometimes.
Echo - from various sources :
Liverpool FC want Hoffenheim's brilliant Brazilian Roberto Firmino - but will have to battle Manchester United for his signature, the Daily Express believes.
The newspaper says United have now thrown their hat into the ring with Liverpool still supposedly interested - as well as Arsenal and Chelsea. The Brazilian midfielder has been called up to his national side as a result of his impressive displays in the Bundesliga this season.
Meanwhile, the Daily Star claim Fabio Borini could still be a transfer target for Sunderland. Black Cats' chief Gus Poyet is holding talks with the club's Director of Football Lee Congerton this week to discuss transfer targets. Poyet has made it clear he wants to bring in at least one new defender but is toying with the idea of going back in for Borini, according to the newspaper.
Suso could also be on his way out, if Italian website Tuttosport is to be believed, despite the Spaniard's agent claiming the Reds want to tie him to a new contact. Tuttosport report the Serie A side will reportedly attempt to move the deal forward to the winter transfer window in order to cover for the absence of Keisuke Honda.
And finally, supposed Reds target Mateo Kovacic has been told he should quit Inter Milan. Inside Futbol have reasoned Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid are all interested in the central midfielder. Croatia captain Dario Srna is concerned for Kovacic's future if he remains with the Nerazzurri and has told him to "change his path".
Liverpool FC have joined Arsenal in the race for Porto striker Jackson Martinez, that's according to reports in the Daily Star. The 28-year-old is reportedly keen on a move to the Premier League and the Reds are said to be weighing up a £30m move for the forward.
Brendan Rodgers is said to be looking to add to his strikeforce with Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert struggling in front of goal and Daniel Sturridge missing much of the season through injury. Martinez has scored an incredible 72 goals in 106 appearances since moving to Portugal from Chiapas in 2012.
Norwegian sensation Martin Odengaard could be welcomed to Melwood by Brendan Rodgers as the 15-year-old weighs up his next move.
Odengaard is one of the most sought after young players in Europe and has already visited Real Madrid's facilities and according to reports in Norway the youngster could be set to visit Merseyside. Odegaard is being trailed by almost every top European club, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Man City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax.
Liverpool FC want Hoffenheim's brilliant Brazilian Roberto Firmino - but will have to battle Manchester United for his signature, the Daily Express believes.
The newspaper says United have now thrown their hat into the ring with Liverpool still supposedly interested - as well as Arsenal and Chelsea. The Brazilian midfielder has been called up to his national side as a result of his impressive displays in the Bundesliga this season.
Meanwhile, the Daily Star claim Fabio Borini could still be a transfer target for Sunderland. Black Cats' chief Gus Poyet is holding talks with the club's Director of Football Lee Congerton this week to discuss transfer targets. Poyet has made it clear he wants to bring in at least one new defender but is toying with the idea of going back in for Borini, according to the newspaper.
Suso could also be on his way out, if Italian website Tuttosport is to be believed, despite the Spaniard's agent claiming the Reds want to tie him to a new contact. Tuttosport report the Serie A side will reportedly attempt to move the deal forward to the winter transfer window in order to cover for the absence of Keisuke Honda.
And finally, supposed Reds target Mateo Kovacic has been told he should quit Inter Milan. Inside Futbol have reasoned Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid are all interested in the central midfielder. Croatia captain Dario Srna is concerned for Kovacic's future if he remains with the Nerazzurri and has told him to "change his path".
Liverpool FC have joined Arsenal in the race for Porto striker Jackson Martinez, that's according to reports in the Daily Star. The 28-year-old is reportedly keen on a move to the Premier League and the Reds are said to be weighing up a £30m move for the forward.
Brendan Rodgers is said to be looking to add to his strikeforce with Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert struggling in front of goal and Daniel Sturridge missing much of the season through injury. Martinez has scored an incredible 72 goals in 106 appearances since moving to Portugal from Chiapas in 2012.
Norwegian sensation Martin Odengaard could be welcomed to Melwood by Brendan Rodgers as the 15-year-old weighs up his next move.
Odengaard is one of the most sought after young players in Europe and has already visited Real Madrid's facilities and according to reports in Norway the youngster could be set to visit Merseyside. Odegaard is being trailed by almost every top European club, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Man City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax.
From the Express....Anywhere near that price and Rodgers should swallow his pride and go all out for Varane. He's a monster Hansen-esque CB talent and perfect for our system.
Real Madrid tell Chelsea and Man Utd to fork out £19m for Raphael Varane
REAL MADRID have slapped a £19m price-tag on out-of-favour centre-back Raphael Varane.
By: David WrightPublished: Wed, November 12, 2014
The French international has found his first-team opportunities limited this term, with Sergio Ramos and Pepe both favoured in the heart of defence. And today's reports in Spain suggest boss Carlo Ancelotti is open to a sale in the winter window, having handed the defender just three La Liga starts. Premier League pair Chelsea and Manchester United were both linked with a move for Varane over the summer, and are now set to renew their interest in January. Real are reportedly open to offers in the region of £19m.
The Blues are in pole position to land the 21-year-old, with boss Jose Mourinho having previously bought him during his time in charge of the Madrid. In the event Varane moves to Stamford Bridge, United will be forced to step up their pursuit in Barcelona centre-half Gerard Pique, who has also struggled for playing time this season.
Real Madrid tell Chelsea and Man Utd to fork out £19m for Raphael Varane
REAL MADRID have slapped a £19m price-tag on out-of-favour centre-back Raphael Varane.
By: David WrightPublished: Wed, November 12, 2014
The French international has found his first-team opportunities limited this term, with Sergio Ramos and Pepe both favoured in the heart of defence. And today's reports in Spain suggest boss Carlo Ancelotti is open to a sale in the winter window, having handed the defender just three La Liga starts. Premier League pair Chelsea and Manchester United were both linked with a move for Varane over the summer, and are now set to renew their interest in January. Real are reportedly open to offers in the region of £19m.
The Blues are in pole position to land the 21-year-old, with boss Jose Mourinho having previously bought him during his time in charge of the Madrid. In the event Varane moves to Stamford Bridge, United will be forced to step up their pursuit in Barcelona centre-half Gerard Pique, who has also struggled for playing time this season.
I would be shocked if Ancelotti was happy to let Varane go.
It's Real.
That said, I can't see them letting him go and certainly not for such a paltry amount.
Marquinhos went for 30M didn't he?
They're the same age, certainly, and I'm sure I read that the aim is that Ilori is in a position to play for the first team at the start of next season. The question is who would be partnering him; I presume given Ilori is right-footed he'd play with either Sakho or Lovren.
Well, yes, but they're poles apart in what they've proven so far. Varane played very well in a winning Champions league final performance for instance.
I think we should buy some really good players and sell some really bad ones.
You're like commoli with talent
- Status
