That's a well expressed post, but I disagree with most of it.
While I don't much like the idea of players acting up to push a move through either, it's the reality (however unfortunate) of football today. Van Dijk for example did it to Southampton (though I happen to think their own behaviour was hopelessly hypocritical, but that's another discussion) and, as you say, that wasn't the first time we've encountered this sort of thing. We'll handicap ourselves relative to other top teams if we're too sniffy about it.
I don't agree either that Aubameyang's arrival would automatically see Firmino moved or sidelined. It's very much a squad game these days, and our options need to be of high quality. Aubameyang's arrival would give us that, and then some. He also presses hard from the front in a very similar way, not surprisingly since - on his own admission - it was Klopp who made him the player he is today, plus when he played he'd give opposition teams a major extra goal threat to worry about.
Nor do I agree that the success we're certainly having with younger players means we should restrict ourselves to going only for that age group. The best squads, and the best teams,.include a balance of ages and abilities and, again, Aubameyang would fit well into that overall principle.
Last but not least, I would discount sell-on value altogether as a factor in this discussion. Making that a major consideration is for selling clubs and, Coutinho notwithstanding, I do NOT want us adopting that mindset. If we can get a decent fee when the time comes, great, but for me that is a side issue at best.
For the right money we should absolutely go in hard for Aubameyang, IMHO of course.
Last edited:
