Sergi Canos: Liverpool’s Barcelona signing – everything you need to know

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Name: Sergi Canós Tenes
Date of birth: 2 February, 1997
Birthplace: Nules, Castellon, Spain
Position: Striker
Club: FC Barcelona
International appearances: Member of Spain U16/ Catalonia U16 squad

What’s the latest?
A report in Barcelona-based paper Sport from a few months ago revealed that the Catalan club are scrambling to sign several youth players to new deals, with the youngsters that have recently turned 16 currently free to sign for Premier League sides. One of those clubs is Liverpool, who Sport say are prepared to offer superior contracts to those on the table from Barcelona, and indeed, have already done so in the case of Sergi Canós, according to his agent Eduardo Rivera. It has emerged in recent days that Canós has accepted the offer, and is expected to join the Liverpool youth set-up before the end of this month.

Did you know?

1) The young striker started out in the youth ranks of Club Deportivo Castellón in Valencia, before joining FC Barcelona’s academy in 2010.

2) In his first season at Barcelona, Canós won a league title in his age group, and after being promoted up a year in 2011, he achieved the same feat for a second consecutive season.

3) In the current campaign as part of Barcelona’s ‘Cadete A’ team, Canós has been used across all three forward positions. Along with his versatility, he has been lauded for his strength, speed on the ball and finishing ability.

4) In October 2012 the young forward joined the exclusive club of Barcelona players to score five goals in one game, a feat even FC Barcelona’s record-breaking youth level striker Bojan Krkic failed to match.

5) The striker cites his idol as David Villa, and has been featured in Barca TV’s round up of the best of the club’s youth team goals for this strike, below.

They say
“The first signs of a Barcelona exodus have already occurred. Liverpool’s academy started to negotiate the signing of Sergi Canós several weeks ago. The young striker has kept quiet, while his agent, Eduardo Rivera, received a formal offer from the English club.”

I think out of all the transfer rumors and speculations so far, this looks like a done deal. Although 16 year old, the profile is exciting and if he can go on to have an impact like his idol David Villa, what more should we ask for? I am very excited by this news and I feel he will be our first signing this summer. 

 

 

Liverpool set to lose out on signing Stefan Kiessling

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Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling doesn’t seem to be going anywhere thanks to Serie A giants Fiorentina.

The Italian club have had a move for the big forward rejected, which means it’s going to be even more difficult for Liverpool to sign the forward if Brendan Rodgers thinks he fits the bill for his Anfield project.

The problem is that because of the Chelsea Andre Schurrle deal, Leverkusen seem reluctant to talk through deals for any of their other major players until that has been sorted out.
As that is a deal which seems to rest on the future of Kevin De Bruyne, it’s impossible for Fiorentina, Liverpool or any other major side to come in and sign Kiessling until that has been resolved.

This is one news that doesn’t upset me. For some reason I don’t fancy 29 year old striker with limited abilities joining Liverpool. Yes, limited ability. I have seen a bit of him but never overly impressed. I think we should instead go for Kevin Gameiro whom I think is a perfect fit for Liverpool, also cheap.  

Daniel Agger urges Liverpool to buy Christian Eriksen

English: Danish football player, Daniel Agger, during Liverpool FC pre-season training in Singapore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Christian Eriksen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Daniel Agger has urged Liverpool to buy his national teammate Eriksen and believes that the 21-year-old is exactly the type of player Liverpool needs. I think most Liverpool fans would agree to that. Talking to sky sports Daniel Agger said that:-“We want to play attacking football with the ball on the ground and that is exactly what Christian Eriksen is all about. That is the kind of player we need,” 

It all depends on which team he plays for.”

“If he plays for a team who want to keep the ball on the ground, then the answer is yes – due to his passing, his runs and his hard work.”

“He has to do what he believes is best and no-one else but him should decide his future. You must never listen to anyone else other than yourself.”

As much as I hate to say this but I think Eriksen would definitely like to play in Europe and with Borussia Dortmund interest in him, it looks less likely that he will be wearing Red Jersey next season. Eriksen himself confirmed his desire to join Dortmund:-

“Dortmund are a club where I would like to play,” he said. “I think I would be a good fit there with the football there.

“Dortmund play nice, attacking football. The Bundesliga has never really been my preferred choice and a few years ago I would not even have considered it, but now I do.

“The competition is getting stronger and it is no coincidence the two Champions League finalists are German clubs.

“I know there has been contact between the two clubs, and both Ajax and Dortmund have already talked to my agent.”

Liverpool target Raul Albiol to replace Jamie Carragher

According to the reports in Italy Liverpool considers Raul Albiol to replace Jamie Carragher. 

Raul Albiol has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabue behind the likes of Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Varane. He wants to play regular football in order to feature in 2014 Brazil World Cup and will welcome the offer from Liverpool. Since the rumors about Ashley Williams has calm down, Liverpool has reportedly shown strong interest in signing Albiol whose experience will help fill the void that will be left by Jamie Carragher.

I hope these reports are not true, Raul Albiol is well past his peak and I would like Coates, Wisdom or Kelly to take over Jamie Carragher instead. Even if we sign a CB, we should sign someone young and ready like Toby Alderweireld.

Liverpool after Fred Onyedinma, who is he?

According to the Daily Star,

ARSENAL are preparing a bid for Millwall’s teenage starlet Fred Onyedinma.

But they will have to fight off competition from Liverpool and Manchester City to land the 16 year-old.

Attacking midfielder Onyedinma has been watched by a host of top flight clubs this season after impressing for Millwall’s youth sides.

The battle to sign him is now down to a three-horse race with the Gunners set to make the first move.

Arsenal, Liverpool and City all had scouts monitoring Onyedinma in his last game against Brighton.

He has already trained with Millwall’s first team and scored twice in his last four games for the Lions’ Under-21s.

But he is yet to sign a professional deal so will only cost a compensation fee, which is likely to be in the region of £200k.

I seriously don’t know how many youngsters are we going to sign? We already have so many waiting on the wings to play first team football. Is it really important to sign youngsters if we are just going to sell them again like Tom Ince? I think we should first give chance to the current crop of youngsters already at the club before signing anymore youngsters unless some real special talent is available.  I would like to see us investing in first team players this season.

Liverpool sign Sergi Canos?

According to the reports today,

Liverpool have been linked with young Sergi Canos for a while now and if Catalan newspaper Sport are correct he already has ‘one foot in Liverpool’. They say that Canos will be the third cadet to arrange a move away from Barcelona recently, with Josimar and Julio Pleguezuelo Selva both likely to go to London. Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City are the clubs chasing the latter two youngsters, but it’s Liverpool out on their own for Sergi Canos and Sport say negotiations have been ongoing for some weeks now.

The Catalan newspaper say that Barcelona have made some last minute moves to keep him but that they don’t think they can convince the youngster to change his mind and stay at Barcelona  The contract he could get with Liverpool would be worth far more than what Barcelona are able to offer youngsters and that leaves a situation which the La Liga club think is unfair.

Canos, 16, is a forward but can also play out wide on the right.

 

Kevin Strootman is good enough for Liverpool: Manager admits.

A tall, left-footed midfielder with exceptional vision and a strong shot, Kevin Strootman broke into the Dutch national side during UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying. His profile has also been raised by a series of fine showings for PSV Eindhoven following a summer 2011 transfer from FC Utrecht.

PSV coach Dick Advocaat would like to keep hold of Strootman but he admits a move away from the Eredivisie this summer should happen if he is to progress his career.

“For PSV it would be good if he stays, but for Strootman himself it’s better to leave,” Advocaat told De Telegraaf.

 “He’s the reserve captain of the Dutch national squad and PSV will make another step next season.

 

“This guy fits everywhere. He’s a fantastic player because he knows exactly what his qualities are.”

 

He added: “[He would be good for] Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, but I think he’s also good enough for Manchester City and Manchester United.

 

“Strootman is nothing less than Gareth Barry. He’s a very useful player for every team. Especially when he’s surrounded by better players.”

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This is certainly a green signal from the manager, club and possibly the player who wants to play for a bigger club next season. He is a quality youngster and will add a much needed competition for Lucas Leiva. But the biggest stumbling block could be his transfer fee which is said to be around  €17mn, too much?

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Liverpool’s new summer target: Left-back Lucas Digne

 

According to the Sunday people,  Liverpool are in talks over signing £8m rated Lille defender Digne

Liverpool have held talks over signing £8million-rated teenage French defender Lucas Digne, writes the Sunday People.

The 19-year-old Lille left-back is one of the hottest properties in Ligue One and Kop boss Brendan Rodgers has identified the youngster as a key signing this summer.

Digne – who has played for France at every level from Under-16 to Under-19 – has been linked with both Manchester United and City, Ajax and Udinese and is under contract until 2016.

Rodgers is looking at the youngster as a player he could blood straight away – putting a question mark over the future of current first choice, Jose Enrique.

Lille know they might have to cash in on Digne, with Liverpool aiming to do a quick deal once the season is over.

I like the idea of signing a young left-back as Jack Robinson is still too young to play and compete with Jose Enrique but to suggest that Jose Enrique future is doubtful is utter nonsense. If we want to challenge for the top 4 next season we want more than one player at every position to compete. At the moment, there is no competition for Jose Enrique and I hope we buy a good youngster who can help to built such competition and fight for the starting place. We must not SELL Jose Enrique, I think he is an excellent athlete, strong, sometimes quick, good going forward, good crossing ability and he also has that little bit of Spanish flair as well. We need depth in the squad and I know we will do that in the summer. £8mn for Lucas Digne sounds too much for a youngster but if we can get him under £5mn then I have no problem. Haven’t seen much of him other then in Youtube but looks very good nonetheless.  

 

 

Liverpool scouting Aymen Abdennour?

According to Metro,

Liverpool are monitoring Toulouse’s Tunisian centre-half Aymen Abdennour as they plan for life after Jamie Carragher retires. 

Boss Brendan Rodgers’ scouts are at Marseille v Toulouse in Ligue 1 to run the rule over the defender, valued at £5million.

Same source also mentioned that,

Spanish giants Barcelona are also said to be interested in securing the services of Abdennour as they bid to strengthen their backline, which has looked less than solid this season. But it is believed he has set his sights on a move to the Premier League.

With Liverpool watching him this weekend, Abdennour will hope to convince the Reds to launch a bid for him by impressing against  Marseille.

Boggles my mind as to how anyone will prefer Liverpool or Premiere League for that matter over the mighty BARCELONA!! First team football can be a factor, but can Liverpool provide him with it? Is he that good? Who is Aymen Abdennour?

Profile (Metro):- 

The 23-year-old is a powerful left-sided player, who can play at full-back or centre-back, and loves to help his side from an attacking point of view – much like the modern day defender these days.

He is seen as a future lead of the senior national side, having been captain of Tunisia’s under-21 team, and played at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations but could not help his country advance from the group phase.

Since playing for Toulouse, he has not been sent off in 60 league matches, so clearly possesses good discipline on the field and has also chipped in with three league goals.

Profile looks strong but I don’t watch too much of a french football to judge on the players playing in Ligue 1. I am sure many of you all follow the league, what’s your opinion on him? 5mn looks reasonable? 

Pepe Reina and Martin Skrtel not for sale: Brendan Rodgers

Numerous reports regarding the imminent departures of Skrtel and Reina scattered around the football globe as the form of both the ‘used to be’ key players kept declining this season. Skrtel who won the best Liverpool player award last season is now struggling to find his place in the team having lost it to retiring Jamie Carragher. Pepe Reina is no more considered one of the best goalie in EPL let alone Europe due to his performances in last 3 years and rightly so. If the rumors are to be believed, Liverpool will be busy in the market this summer to find at least couple of center backs to replace Jamie Carragher and for possible departures of Martin Skrtel and Sebestian Coates. Rumors aside, Liverpool gaffer Brendan Rodgers has rubbished any such reports and maintains that all of it is just speculation and none of the mentioned players are for sale. Speaking to ECHO he said:-

“It has been difficult for him and I’ve acknowledged and recognised that,” Rodgers told the ECHO regarding Skrtel.

“The great professional he is means his focus has been outstanding and he’s trained very, very hard everyday and has been there when he’s been required.

“We made the change a few months back and I think Jamie Carragher has arguably been one of the best defenders in the league and Daniel Agger has been fresh and played very well.

“It has been unfortunate for Martin but he has been a loyal member of the squad and is still very much part of my plans here.

“He’s happy here, he’s not in any rush to leave but players want to play.  I haven’t had any concerns with Martin at all, his attitude has been first class.

“It is important they know where they stand and he knows where they stand.

“He is very much a part of what we are trying to do here.

“We are trying to build up a group with a winning mentality and he’s got a winning mentality.  It’s just unfortunate he lost his place.

“It wasn’t so much through his form, it was just I felt we needed more of an organiser and a leader.”

“You can become a leader but I also think it is something a lot of people are born with,” he said.

“He is certainly a player we want to keep and we have no ideas of selling him.  He is an important member of our group.”

Rodgers, meanwhile, has reiterated that goalkeeper Pepe Reina is not for sale.

“It’s that silly season now that starts up all the rumours and whatnot but Pepe’s not for sale.

“He’s got three years left on his contract here, he’s happy and obviously there’s speculation but it’s not worth commenting on.”

I think we should sell Reina only if there is an offer above 15mn but we should keep hold of Skrtel at least until the end of next season. I think he is great and will prove himself again next season. What do you think?