Eljero Elia Could Bring a Dutch Attacking Flair to the Arsenal Midfield

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

(Bleacher Report)Hamburg HSV and Dutch International left midfielder Eljero Elia could bring his attacking flair to Arsenal in the absence of Samir Nasri. The young player made a huge splash in the 2009-10 season as he scored six goals and provided eight assists in his first full season in the German Bundesliga.

Since then he has been linked all around Europe and England with Chelsea, Liverpool Juventus and Arsenal all possible suitors for the 24-year old. At his age he is in that age niche that Arsene Wenger likes to exploit.

He is just young enough to have loads of improvement before he reaches his prime, but he is old enough to have valuable experience in a top European league.

Wenger has a history of honing his young players skills at that age, and Elia has a unique skill set of speed and quick passing that also plays well into the Frenchman's fluid playing style.

In most cases the young Dutchman could be a remarkable value at around £6 million and it would allow plenty of left over funds for Wenger to continue spreading around the park to bring in at least another midfielder, defender and center forward.

The most recent rumors for the player have him said to prefer a move to Arsenal or Chelsea over Italian giants Juventus whom reportedly are the current highest bidder for his services.
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Eljero Elia Could Bring a Dutch Attacking Flair to the Arsenal Midfield

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

(Bleacher Report)Hamburg HSV and Dutch International left midfielder Eljero Elia could bring his attacking flair to Arsenal in the absence of Samir Nasri. The young player made a huge splash in the 2009-10 season as he scored six goals and provided eight assists in his first full season in the German Bundesliga.

Since then he has been linked all around Europe and England with Chelsea, Liverpool Juventus and Arsenal all possible suitors for the 24-year old. At his age he is in that age niche that Arsene Wenger likes to exploit.

He is just young enough to have loads of improvement before he reaches his prime, but he is old enough to have valuable experience in a top European league.

Wenger has a history of honing his young players skills at that age, and Elia has a unique skill set of speed and quick passing that also plays well into the Frenchman's fluid playing style.

In most cases the young Dutchman could be a remarkable value at around £6 million and it would allow plenty of left over funds for Wenger to continue spreading around the park to bring in at least another midfielder, defender and center forward.

The most recent rumors for the player have him said to prefer a move to Arsenal or Chelsea over Italian giants Juventus whom reportedly are the current highest bidder for his services.

You can follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz and Facebook or visit my personal WebSite

Liverpool FC: Charlie Adam and the Reds Top 20 Realistic Summer Transfer Targets

Who Will Fill the future Ranks of Liverpool following the Summer Window?

by Thomas Atzenhoffer on The Bleacher Report
April 18, 2011

Alex Livesey/Getty Image

The summer transfer window is quickly approaching, and with so many names in the press over the past few months as possible targets for the Reds, it seems like it would be prudent to try and weed out the ones that are actually feasible.

It has been an up and down year, but the ups have come more often in the last few months. The ship seems to have been set right with Kenny Dalglish back in the driver's seat for the club, and his influence continues to be seen more and more each and every week.

With so many injuries, and an ever shrinking chance at European Football next season, the Merseysiders are constantly being linked with the next group of stars to head their way since the arrival of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

The defense is the most suspect area as it has been decimated by injury time and time again over the last few seasons. However, the Reds' need for one or two natural wide players is ever more pronounced now that they have Andy Carroll up front.

David N'Gog also has played a great part for the club, but he needs time on loan to truly develop and the Reds are short on a reliable striker to step in behind Suarez, Carroll and Dirk Kuyt to alleviate the pressure on the three and also to push for a place in training to cause the team to work harder and progress even higher.

It is truly hard to determine which of these is the most important area. There is also growing concern that Steven Gerrard needs a replacement in the wings to learn from him before his legs and body run out.

So, in no particular order, here is a list of the players that seem the top 20 most likely to don the Red of Liverpool and come out to the Anfield Kop's full voice ringing out the verse's and chorus of "You'll Never Walk Alone."

CLICK HERE TO START THE SLIDESHOW AND READ MORE

Liverpool Look to Continue to Strengthen

The Reds continue to be linked with Quality Attackers, Midfielders and Defenders in the Transfer News

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
February 17, 2011

The papers continue to flood with prospective transfer news for the Reds during the summer. The overhaul of the front line during January shows the intent of the new owners to truly revive the winning heart and soul of Liverpool. Having applied their same business model before, with the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Sports Group has the mindset needed to take the Reds back to the top.

Their strengthening started with the top but now it has turned to the other main areas of the pitch. With width being one of the primary lackings in attack in this season and previous ones it is important to bring in players to create that space. The likes of Maxi Rodriguez and Joe Cole have just not been putting in enough quality on the wings to really create the chances Liverpool would like to see. With this in mind the Reds have been looking to new youthful options to bring in for the two aging 29-year olds.

Matuidi Highly Sought After

Eljero Elia continues to look like the most likely new wide player to arrive in the summer. He was a primary target during January, and is still continually linked with the club through the media. With a mutual admiration believed in the cards, Hamburg will most likely cash in on their young flying Dutchman over the summer.

The midfield and the defense are also in needs of new additions. Christian Poulsen has finally started to show his ability under Kenny Dalglish, but he is not believed to be a true long term replacement for midfield bulldog Javier Mascherano who departed for the Nou Camp at the start season. Damion Camolli has turned eyes to one of his former players in St. Etienne's Blaise Matuidi.

Kranjcar to Bolster Reds Midfield

The French defensive midfielder has been an enforces for his club and Camolli looks to bring in his former clubs man with the belief that he will develop into a top defensive midfielder. He has to potential to be much like Chelsea's Michael Essien at his best, and that kind of driving force from the deep part of the midfield could prove advantageous for the Reds future attacking schemes. He is a hotly tracked by a host of opposing teams. Arsenal is the other English Club poised to move for him, with other major clubs lurking as well in Juventus, AS Roma, Fiorentina, and Schalke 04.


Tottenham's Niko Kranjcar is also being looked into as another midfield bolstering move. With much of his talent remaining unseen in the first half of the season in London due to injury, his recent return has seen him net two winning goals from the bench and the super sub could move north as Tottenham look to add funds for another attacking shopping spree in the summer.

As for the Defense the same two players that were being discussed earlier in the week, Jose Enrique and Simon Kjaer are both still very much on the radar for the Reds.

Kjaer ready for the Move

Enrique has also been linked with Manchester United and Aston Villa. The 25-year old has been a key performer for Newcastle United's left side in their first campaign back int he top flight and he has progressed much since their last premiership stint as he was before looked upon as lacking in ability, but a few years of adaptation to the Spanish game has him much more in demand in the league.

Young Danish center half Simon Kjaer is a prime target for the Reds. His chance to link up with fellow Danish nationals Christian Poulsen, and Daniel Agger hopes to be a selling point for the Reds. Liverpool hope to prize him away from fellow suitors Tottenham, who also lodged a failed bid to take the defender to England from Germany's VfL Wolfsburg during the January window.

The buzz from the January signings and new owners certainly have the anticipations of the Reds future on the rise as a return of the English Title is the top priority for the club as they have yet to actually win a Premiership Trophy.

Tuesday Transfer Talk for Liverpool FC

Article first published as Tuesday Transfer Talk for Liverpool FC on Technorati.
Once again the Reds appear back on the Attack as they are linked with Another group of young Attackers.

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
February 15, 2011

All eyes were on Liverpool during the January transfer window as the Merseyside giants made two of the biggest signings in the clubs history with the Arrival of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, and possible the biggest sale in their history as Fernando Torres traded his beloved Red for Chelsea Blue that saw a fan backlash for the ages.

Boateng Flips in Celebration

Now that the dust has settled, Suarez scored on his Debut, Carroll is looking to debut against Manchester United next month according to multiple sources, and Torres failing to impress since arriving at the Bridge, it is time once again to get down to business in regards to the Reds adding width and attacking options during the summer.

Lets face it Maxi Rodriguez and Joe Cole both are failing to make the grade as support for the attacking line. Dirk Kuyt is one of the hardest workers in the league, but he just doesn't have the final finishing touch he had as a young striker in the Eredivisie. Chock that up to years of being deployed on the right under Rafael Benitez. None the less the hard nosed Dutchman is still a key force in the Reds line-up as opposed to the other two.

First up in the rumors in journey man young attacker Kevin Prince Boateng of AC Milan. Though only 23 years of age, the German born Ghana international has already acquired loads of experience in three of Europe's top leagues. Coming through the ranks of Hertha Berlin and then moving to Tottenham Hotspur, during such time he spent a second season on loan back in Germany at Borussia Dortmund before moving to Portsmouth until their relegation and being sold on to AC Milan.

Elia Ready to come to the UK

Such time has allowed him to garner quite an international dose of footballing for his age, and would likely aid him should he move to Anfield for the reported possible fee of £10 Million pounds during the summer. However, the deal could be left wanting since Genoa and AC Milan own the player together and Genoa are reportedly the only side interested in the sale.

Ashley Young from Aston Villa has again been linked with the Merseyside club this week as has 24-year old Dutch winger Eljero Elia. The frustrated young playmaker has be out of sorts with Hamburg HSV this season as his first team chances have evaporated despite no visible lack of commitment or form. Liverpool tried to wrest away the former FC Twenty starlet during January but the move appeared more apt to wait for summer.

Benzema failing to Produce at Real

The biggest name thrown around this week has been that of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. He was reportedly a target for both the Reds and Tottenham on deadline day but he was not allowed to move from the Spanish Capital. Former Liverpool great Jaime Redknapp has voiced the opinion of a contingent of the teams Alumni that they should look no farther than the French International for a new out and out front man for the Reds.

A summer move could be possible as he would pair up with Andy Carroll and either push Suarez out to a wide position making runs into the box as he did on the left at Ajax in his early days. Or a move could be left off the table since the arrival of Carroll. However, I would look to see an offer still being made as he would make another option available for Dalglish next season and would give more youthful talent the chance to evolve in front of the Kop.