More strength to the midfield?

[G Richards]

I would sign Aimar if Garcia is returning to Spain (which seems unlikely, given the recent comments from Rafa).

 

Aimar would give us the skill and trickery of Garcia, but with the added benefit of being better on the ball and a lot more likely to get it to a team mate.

 

Garcia's star is high right now in Spain, so we should get enough money for him to be able to buy Aimar (or very close).

 

If Garcia's wife is indeed unsettled, then this is a deal I would go for. Aimar would be great for us IMO. Small, but tough too.

[cestrianred]

I would sign Aimar if Garcia is returning to Spain (which seems unlikely, given the recent comments from Rafa).

 

Aimar would give us the skill and trickery of Garcia, but with the added benefit of being better on the ball and a lot more likely to get it to a team mate.

 

Garcia's star is high right now in Spain, so we should get enough money for him to be able to buy Aimar (or very close).

 

If Garcia's wife is indeed unsettled, then this is a deal I would go for. Aimar would be great for us IMO. Small, but tough too.

 

A season ago I would have concurred....just!

BUT

Luis scores big goals in big games against big teams....more so than I recall with Aimar.

So whilst I wanted Aimar to come over with Rafa in the early days, I'd prefer Luis to stay given the choice....again...... just!

[Guest Xabi34]

There's room for both.

[_00_deathscar]

A season ago I would have concurred....just!

BUT

Luis scores big goals in big games against big teams....more so than I recall with Aimar.

So whilst I wanted Aimar to come over with Rafa in the early days, I'd prefer Luis to stay given the choice....again...... just!

 

Actually Aimar's goalscoring record is quite poor innit?

[Benitez]

Actually Aimar's goalscoring record is quite poor innit?

 

 

5 goals last season in the league.

 

8 is the most goals he scored in 02/03, otherwise it's been 4's and 5's.

[madskilz]

Buying players like Baraja as cover for our already strong midfield is a luxury we cannot afford at the moment, the money that we have for transfer should be spent on priority signings - i.e. upfront and on the right.

 

I'd also rather us spend money on a goalscorer than another creative player like Aimar.

Edited May 29, 2006 by madskilz

[David Hodgson]

Valencia will be phasing out some of the old guard this summer I'm sure. They did ok last season, but they still had some bad runs of games, and got knocked out of Yerp and the cup too quickly. I think maybe things have gone a bit stale at VCF and a fair few moves will be on for them this summer.

 

But, I really don't think we should be looking at these players right now. We have priorities, Aimar and Baraja ain't them!

 

For me, a player like Aimar would be my No.1 priority this summer. We are too fixated on the need for a right winger and a goal scorer. This Liverpool team would be elevated to another level if it could find it's 'playmaker' - it's Dalglish, Beardsley, Bergkamp.

 

Easier said than done, but I strongly believe a player like Aimar could be our 'missing link'.

[Guest Xabi34]

How old is Aimar?

 

I like Luis, but he's nearly 29 now, and if someone came in with a good offer for him, I think we should take it.

Edited May 29, 2006 by Xabi34

[Benitez]

How old is Aimar?

 

I like Luis, but he's nearly 29 now, and if someone came in with a good offer for him, I think we should take it.

 

Aimar is 26.

 

As for Aimar being the 'missing link', dunno bout that. Any time you bring a new player in, there is a risk involved, with commiting to someone like Aimar, which would cost a fair bit, we'd be taking two risks. A risk as to whether he'd be suited here. And a risk cos it'd mean not commiting to a more needed player.

 

Don't see the desperation to be honest, it'd be a luxury and no more.

 

Don't think we are fixated on needing forwards - cos it's a necessity as Morientes and most likely Cisse will be gone. So we'll have 2 forwards left.

Edited May 29, 2006 by Benitez

[_00_deathscar]

5 goals last season in the league.

 

8 is the most goals he scored in 02/03, otherwise it's been 4's and 5's.

 

Precisely - At least half of Luis' goals every season seem to be 'important' or 'game winning' goals. Don't think he's worth it.

 

I like Luis, but he's nearly 29 now, and if someone came in with a good offer for him, I think we should take it.

 

Little Luis is nearly 28, not nearly 29. Only a 2 year difference between him and Aimar; not much at all.

[madskilz]

For me, a player like Aimar would be my No.1 priority this summer. We are too fixated on the need for a right winger and a goal scorer. This Liverpool team would be elevated to another level if it could find it's 'playmaker' - it's Dalglish, Beardsley, Bergkamp.

 

Easier said than done, but I strongly believe a player like Aimar could be our 'missing link'.

 

We have players like Gerrard and Xabi who can take on elements of the playmaker role, what we don't have is a top quality goal poacher to finish those chances (when we had Dalglish we also had the likes of Rush), the no. 1 priority must be a striker.

[Guest Xabi34]

we don't have is a top quality goal poacher to finish those chances

 

Fowler?

 

I think there's too much emphasis on getting two strikers. I'd rather see a top quality playmaker with bags of skill like Aimar come in.

 

Luis scores important goals, but I think Aimar is a class above in that role, and would take the side to another level.

[Guest harts]

Aimar would have been great.....12-18 months ago.

Things have moved on, I'd take him at up to £6m but it would take £8-10M min to get him & that will buy 3/4 of a good striker!

Aimar, class. But as I've said before, if Garcia is staying there's no way he'll come to Liverpool. Striker, winger first then we'll worry about people like Aimar. Be realistic though people. We're not Chelsea, buying players just for the fark of it.

[hideNseek]

Aimar would be nice, but only if he's brought after our strikers and right winger.

[Rushian]

Wouldn't touch Aimar with a barge pole. Like Riquelme you'd have to build your team around him. His reputation far exceeds what he's achieved, particularly recently, and he's injury prone.

 

I'm all for having a playmaker, but get a playmaker who is taller than an oompa loompa and with the build of a middleweight boxer rather than a featherweight. If we did get a playmaker we'd still need a sharp goalscoring finisher to play off him as neither Crouch or Fowler fit this description.

[Falconhoof]

 

I'm all for having a playmaker,

 

 

Rafa has been grooming Cheyrou for the role.

[Joshytoohotty]

I have a feeling that Rafa doesn't prefer to sign players from Valencia because of that contract dispute between Rafa and Valencia (Momo is an exception because it's Valencia who want to sell in the first place)...

 

And Pellegriono

And Aurelio

[_00_deathscar]

They were both out of contract though so they weren't contracted to Valencia.

[Liverpoolway]

I have a feeling that Rafa doesn't prefer to sign players from Valencia because of that contract dispute between Rafa and Valencia (Momo is an exception because it's Valencia who want to sell in the first place)...

 

The dispute was sorted a couple of weeks ago. Benitez agreed to pay Valencia ?400K...

[Keita]

I have a feeling that Rafa doesn't prefer to sign players from Valencia because of that contract dispute between Rafa and Valencia (Momo is an exception because it's Valencia who want to sell in the first place)...

 

Sissoko

[cestrianred]

The dispute was sorted a couple of weeks ago. Benitez agreed to pay Valencia ?400K...

 

Which (IF true) would have been picked up by Liverpool.

[Maldini]

The dispute was sorted a couple of weeks ago. Benitez agreed to pay Valencia ?400K...

I thought they'd already paid him ?300k

[Earl Hafler]

But being realistic tho - surely the club needs to prioritise.

 

We have Xabi, SteG, Momo, Didi and Bolo Zenden who all play central midfield. We have Gerrard, Garcia, Kewell and apparently Gonzalez as well who can play 'in the 'ole' as it where.

 

Strikers and a right midfielder, thats what we should be concentrating on.

 

 

I agree about prioritising but if a player of Aimar's quality becomes available and we have the means, then we should be interested.

 

Many people thought we'd wasted £7m on Reina last summer when we had other keepers but he was an improvement and now rightly regarded as a key player.

Garcia is a good player and can play between midfield and attack but if you want someone to play off a centre forward, then Aimar is your man.

 

I think he would be an improvement on what we already have and Chelsea, Arsenal and the Mancs have / will improve their squads this summer.

[fyds]

I thought they'd already paid him ?300k

They had - $325k if I remember rightly - they were in the wrong, not Rafa.

[tomasjj]

For me, a player like Aimar would be my No.1 priority this summer. We are too fixated on the need for a right winger and a goal scorer. This Liverpool team would be elevated to another level if it could find it's 'playmaker' - it's Dalglish, Beardsley, Bergkamp.

 

Easier said than done, but I strongly believe a player like Aimar could be our 'missing link'.

 

I can't see the need of spending cash getting Aimar when we have Kewell, Garcia and Gerrard who can play in that role.

We have more pressing priorities imo.