Liverpool Transfer Rumors Continue

Lining Up Bids. Ronaldinho, Elia, Hazard, N'Zogbia, Bentley, Jarvis, New Faces in New Places?

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
December, 22 2010

The rumor mill of transfer news continues to swirl around Anfield like the winter weather of the past weekend in Britain. The Liverpool giants are in the news almost as much as Manchester City as far as transfer news goes lately. The change over in ownership to John W. Henry and New England Sports Ventures in October has given the club a much needed opportunity for cash injection and investment. However, it will be key to see just how and where the money will be spent. With NESV already showing they are in it for the long haul with teams, having proved themselves and their model with the Boston Red Sox, it will be an interesting project to watch develop.

The biggest name commercially that is still being tossed around is Ronaldinho. The Brazilian play maker has been out of favor with AC Milan over the last few months, and critisism from the club owner over his resurfaced poor training habits leaves his future in Italy in doubt. That being said, commercially he certainly is a big name that catches the eye, and his class is masterful when he is in form, however, it remains to be seen if he will recapture the form that made his name for his time at Barcelona. The poor training, and wild party life cost him his spot there, and is now looking to have cost him another. Do the Reds really need a big name bad influence in the changing room? I think not. I see a very slim chance this is anything more than a rumor.

Given the pronounced goal for long term investment I am more likely to believe that the new owners will splash cash on possibly one or two established stars, and then more on younger players that are nearly ready for first team action. With this in mind I also see them spending money on those that have already broken into the first teams but are still developing their potential to be big stars.

This idea leads the debate over the possibilities of a new winger or two for the club. Youth is on the side of nearly all of the names mentioned to come into to bolster the attacking flanks. Recently Eden Hazard (Lille), Eljero Elia (HSV), Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan) , Matt Jarvis (Wolves), and David Bentley (Spurs) have all been reportedly on the wish list of Roy Hodgson. The most likely I could see the Reds moving for are Elia, Jarvis, of Bentley. Those three would be at most likely a better price tag then Eden Hazard or N'Zogbia.

Splashing the cash will also require the movement of several players out of the squad. Milan Jovanovic is believed to be under the watch of German sides Cologne and Hamburg. The later being the home of Elia could offer a cash plus switch option on either side to make it a more cash friendly option. This leads me to continue to believe this is a more than likely move to be made.

Christian Poulsen is also reportedly on the way out in January as another six month in and out as he has failed to produce anything to believe he can handle the pressures of the Premiership.The exit of the Dane would allow for the arrival of another transfer target and free up more access cash. The need for midfield bolstering is apparent after the loss of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in back to back seasons. Lucas Leiva has come into his own, but he and Steven Gerrard cannot carry the load alone, and young Jay Spearing still is not ready for constant involvement just yet. He still needs another year or two of careful development to ensure he is mentally and physically prepared.

The window is growing ever so near and it will be a wild flurry of movement I believe for Liverpool and new football strategy director Damien Comolli. The former Spurs man brought in some great talent during his time in London and is hoped to do the same for the Reds. With only nine days till the transfer period, it looks to be a busy holiday season.

Liverpool Update as of December 16 2010

Liverpool FC have dismal week despite Europa Qualification

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
December 16, 2010

It has been a frustrating week for the Reds fan base to say the least. After an unexpected thrashing of 3-1 away at St. James Park despite having 21 shots on goal the Merseysiders have to once again scratch their heads in the Premiership. Pandew's reign got of on the right foot as his side seemed to handle the Reds with ease on paper. Magpie skipper Kevin Nolan's return from injury certainly boosted the club and a driving performance by Joey Barton helped to typify the Reds inability to perform away from Home.

Roy Hodgson will once again feel the pressure after comments from Liverpool Chairman Tom Werner called the clubs performances, "unacceptable," at a press conference this weekend. Though I feel Hodgson is safe under NESV and new owner John W. Henry it is not going to be a quick turnaround. As former Reds left and right including Robbie Fowler have recently stated the teams need to invest in new talent in the January transfer window in order to push the club during the run in.

Many names have been thrown around as of late including the likes of Ronaldinho, Ajax's Luis Suarez, former Fulham charge and USA international Clint Dempsey, Ryad Boudebouz of French side Sochaux, and most recently a 5 Million Pound offering to Tottenham for out of favor winger David Bentley. Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez is reportedly on the radar for LFC, as well as FC Nuremburg midfielder Mike Frantz. It is truly unclear what the plans will be in January but it can be assured there will be at least one or two new faces coming to the club.

Another glaring bore of a game by the Reds was played out on Wednesday night against FC Utrecht, former club of Dirk Kuyt. The bottom club in the Red's UEFA Europa League Group K looked for some confidence boosting while the Merseysiders already have their ticket punched to the next round. With that said in mind the Liverpool stars did little to impress, nor little to do anything as the crowd was disappointed in a lackluster 0-0 draw. Joe Cole continued his poor class of the season and is looking to have been possibly a mistake. Time will tell for the England international but he is continuing to look more and more overrated. The most enthusiasm of the night was from the Utrecht fans when Kuyt came on as a substitute in the later part of the second half.

As we look ahead to the last few weeks of the year it is paramount that the Reds snatch some points before the January window. The club is in mid table and is now nine points away from fourth placed Chelsea. It is going to take a huge turn around for the club to snatch a Europa Spot for next year and right now the best chance of Champions League qualification looks to be winning the UEFA Europa League outright.

The second half of the reason is going to be a bumpy ride, and it starts when the Reds face Fulham on the weekend. Hodgson's form club now under Man City reject Mark Hughes will be looking for revenge and the Cottagers could do even more damage to the already fragile hopes of Liverpool fans on the remaining half of the season. It looks to be another weekend of grief, pain, or pure quick joy and then the realization that there is so much more to go.