Scouting Report: Gylfi Sigurdsson

Name: Gylfi Sigurdsson
Age: 22
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Club: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
League: Germany - Bundesliga
Nationality: Icelandic
Estimated Fee: 6-8 Million Pounds
League Stats 2011/12 = Games: 25, Goals: 7, Assists: 6

Icelandic attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson is widely expected to sign for Liverpool this summer, but just who is he and what can fans expect to see from him next season? Sigurdsson currently plays for German club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim who he moved to from Reading in 2010 in a £4.5m deal. In his first full season with Reading in the English Championsship Sigurdsson scored an impressive 17 goals and achieved 8 assists in 32 starts. This then prompted Hoffenheim to acquire his services in 2010. During the 2010/11 season Sigurdsson scored 9 goals with 2 assists in 10 starts for the German club before being sent on loan to Swansea City in the January transfer window for the rest of the 2011/12 season. At Swansea Sigurdsson played under new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers where he set the Premier League alight with some great performances for the Welsh club. He finished the season with 7 goals and 5 assists in only 18 games.

 

Strengths

Gylfi Sigurdsson is a very talented young midfielder who possess a great eye for a pass and a lethal finish from distance. His goal scoring ability from midfield is one of his main attributes and he has scored many cracking goals from outside the box. Sigurdsson is technically strong and his decision-making ability is of a very high standard which allows him to set up his teammates or make and opportunity for himself. All his strengths are in the attacking area of the field and it is there where he can excel for a Liverpool side starved of creativity.

Weaknesses

Being an attacking midfielder Sigurdsson is not that strong defensively and often does not track back. He is not blessed with pace and is generally limited to the centre of midfield although he can operate in wider positions yet not as effectively.

Quote

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers: "'If he comes into the market for whatever reason - and I'm sure there will be a number of clubs interested in Gylfi - then of course I would like to be in a position to put our case here at Liverpool to sign him."

Conclusion

Gylfi Sigurdsson is exactly what Liverpool have been lacking in recent years. He will provide creativity and a goal threat from midfield and finally provide adequate cover for Steven Gerrard. At a fee of around £8m Sigurdsson is a relatively cheap acquisition for Liverpool and still posses much potential to improve in the future. Overall Gylfi Sigurdsson would make for a very good signing for Liverpool and the fans can be relatively excited for his arrival.

References:

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/gylfi-sigurdsson/aufeinenblick/spieler_90466.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2159705/Liverpools-Brendan-Rodgers-keeping-tabs-Gylfi-Sigurdsson.html
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/121910/gylfi-sigurdsson?cc=3888

Scouting Report: Iker Muniain

Name: Iker Muniain
Age: 19
Position: Forward/Wing
Club: Athletic Bilbao
Nationality: Spanish
Estimated Fee: 15-20 Million Pounds
League Stats 2011/12 = Games: 33, Goals: 2, Assists: 3

News

Iker Muniain is a player that has caught everyones eyes with two scintillating displays against Manchester United. He tore them apart with some truly excellent play that made everyone stand up and take notice. Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has to been watch Muniain and a few of his teammates on a couple of occasions. Muniain is said to have 18 months left on his contract and although Bilbao want to keep hold of their prised asset he would be available for the right fee. He has also recently become a full Spanish international at the age of 19 which considering the quality of the Spain team is a great achievement.

Pros, Cons and Stats

His nickname is the Spanish Messi and if you didn't know anything about him that would tell you all you need to know about his playing style. A tremendously skillful player who runs at and past players with complete ease using his great control and short bursts of pace he can terrorise any defence in the world. He generally cuts in from the left wing and jinks his way into the box to attack the goal. Muniain has a very direct style of play, something that Liverpool currently lack out wide with Downing hugging the touchline. He would excite fans and scare defences and posses that something special that can win you any game. Although like Messi the defencive side of his game is lacking yet when you posses the attacking skill he has no one will even notice. His stats this season may not be anything special but at 19 you can be assured he has a massive future.

Conclusion

The concern with Muniain is that without Champions League football it would be difficult to attract him. He would been seen more as our major signing of the season if we pulled it off. Due to his young age though he would not be desperate to play Champions League and may be interested in a good project like Liverpool. He has all the attributes to take the Premier League by storm and looks like he is going to develop into one of the worlds greats. GET HIM

References:

Transfermarket, Accessed 14/05/2012, Available at http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/youns-belhanda/profil/spieler_118022.html
ESPN Soccernet, Accessed 14/05/2012, Available at http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/_/id/274/montpellier?cc=3888

Scouting Report: Luciano Narsingh

Name: Luciano Narsingh
Age: 21
Position: Right Wing
Club: SC Heerenveen
Nationality: Dutch
Estimated Fee: 6 - 10 Million Pounds
League Stats 2011/12 = Games: 34, Goals: 8, Assists: 22

News

Following the appointment of Jen Chang as Liverpool's director of communications it is safe to say he will have a word with the scouts about Luciano Narsingh. He is a player Chang has followed extensively and rates very highly. Ajax and Fulham have already made moves to sign the speedy youngster. Ajax were priced out of the move yet but Narsingh did travel to Fulham to check out there training facilities at Craven Cottage. His Heerenveen technical director had this to say upon his and a fellow players return from Fulham: "Narsingh and Assaidi had to have a good feeling with a club. It doesn't make any sense if we reach an agreement with a club and the players won't want to go there." Narsingh has been included in the Netherlands provisional Euro 2012 squad.

Pros, Cons and Stats

Luciano Narsingh in basically the speedy, beat a man and set up a teammate type player that Liverpool have been crying out for. He is blessed with extreme speed and as his tally of 22 assists will tell you he has the ability and the composure to pick out a teammate. He has been compared to Theo Walcott yet Chang and others believe that he has more potential than the Arsenal man. Despite being a player Liverpool desperately need the fact that he is relatively unknown means he is available for 10 million Euros which is a complete bargain for a player of his talents and potential. His only flaws are that he is defensively weak in the tackle and that he tends to not track back regularly.

Conclusion

Narsingh for me is a no-brainer of a signing for any team that is working on a budget like Liverpool. He would instantly add a whole new dimension to our attack especially as the right side of midfield has been a problem area for many years. His pace alone is something our team sorely lacks and he is blessed with everything a winger needs to succeed in the premier league. At a fee of 10 million Euros for a player who can only improve, at such a young age the decision is an easy one. GET HIM

References:

Transfermarket, Accessed 18/05/2012, Available at http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/youns-belhanda/profil/spieler_118022.html
ESPN Soccernet, Accessed 18/05/2012, Available at http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/_/id/274/montpellier?cc=3888

Scouting Report: Luuk de Jong

Name: Luuk de Jong
Age: 21
Position: Striker
Club: FC Twente
Nationality: Dutch
Estimated Fee: 10 - 15 Million Pounds
League Stats 2011/12 = Games: 31, Goals: 25, Assists: 9

News

Luuk de Jong is a player that Liverpool have been following for a few transfer windows now. He has recently become a full dutch international and has attracted interest due to his superb goal record this year. Louis Laros who is de Jong's agent had this to say: "Liverpool are closely monitoring Luuk. But there are at least 15 more teams who are after him. Three big teams that have qualified for the Champions League preliminaries have told us that they are ready to open talks with Twente." He is expected to be avialable for around 15 million euros and has a contract that runs until 2014,  at the age of 21 he also fits FSG's recruit young policy.

Pros, Cons and Stats

In essence de Jong is a typical number 9 who is blessed with a natural finishing ability, good movement and superb aerial skills. He is perceied as relatively strong and would be able to handle himself in the premier league. He is young and has showed exceptional growth over the last few years and would be expected to grow even more as a player. The issues with him are that he is not blessed with great pace and can struggle with his decision making at times. He tends to go missing in games and some people may argue he is too similar to Andy Carrol.

Conclusion

de Jong is a fantastic prospect and has the one thing that Carroll lacks and that is his finishing ability. The things that could count against him would be Liverpool looking for a faster striker to what they have and his inexperience in a major league. If Liverpool are going to operate on a more limited budget this year as expected at 15 milllion euros, de Jong would be a great bit of business for us. He is expected to get even better and the attributes that he lacks are those that come with experience. All in all a relatively risk free bargain transfer in a position Liverpool are desperate to fill. GET HIM

Transfermarket, Accessed 16/05/2012, Available at http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/youns-belhanda/profil/spieler_118022.html
ESPN Soccernet, Accessed 16/05/2012, Available at http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/_/id/274/montpellier?cc=3888
Goal.com, Accessed 16/05/2012, Available at http://www.goal.com/en/news/462/netherlands/2012/05/01/3073755/liverpool-are-closely-monitoring-luuk-de-jong-says-agent

Scouting Report: Gaston Ramirez

Name: Gaston Ramirez
Age: 21
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Club: Bologna
Nationality: Uruguayan
Estimated Fee: 12-18 Million Pounds
League Stats 2011/12 = Games: 32, Goals: 8, Assists: 5

News

Gaston Ramirez is a name that has been consistently linked with Liverpool over the last two years. Various reports claim that Liverpool have already made a 16.3 million pound bid to buy him this summer. Ramirez's agent Bentancur is quoted as saying; 'Bologna have received an offer near to 20 million euros from an important club in the Premier League'. Although these reports may be a little off the mark there is definate interest from Liverpool in acquiring his services.

Pros, Cons and Stats

Like Belhanda from previous reports, Ramirez is blessed with great dribbiling ability, technique, decision-making and a playmakers vision. He has a decent turn of pace and is blessed with a sweet left foot that allows him to operate very effectively on the left wing which may be a solution to the Stewart Downing problem. He can aslo play across the front four on either wings, in the hole or even as a striker. He is Uruguayan and comes with that steely determination to win that we have seen in Suarez. He is also young enough to fit FSG's U23 recruitment policy and his value would be expected to grow. On the down side Ramirez has struggled with consistency and is lacking a bit in the defensive area of his game. His consistency should increase as he matures and as an attacking player we can get away with his slight defensive weaknesses.

Conclusion



Like Belhanda I feel that Ramirez would be a great signing for Liverpool, we are in desperate need of an attacking midfielder that can link our midfield and attack. He would also add to our growing list of Uruguayans at the club which would hopefully make Suarez more comfortable. The only decision to make is whether him or Belhanda would be the better signing as can only afford one attacking midfielder to come in this summer. On paper they are very similar and either one would be effective yet I feel Ramirez's left foot and nationality may give him the advantage. PSG are also interested in Belhanda so Ramirez may be the smarter choice. GET HIM

References:

Transfermarket, Accessed 14/05/2012, Available at http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/youns-belhanda/profil/spieler_118022.html
ESPN Soccernet, Accessed 14/05/2012, Available at http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/_/id/274/montpellier?cc=3888

Scouting Report: Younes Belhanda

Name: Younes Belhanda
Age: 22
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Club: Montepellier
Nationality: Moroccan
Estimated Fee: 12-18 Million Pounds
League Stats 2011/12 = Games: 28, Goals: 12, Assists: 6

News

Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clarke were at Montpellier's game against Toulouse where Belhanda scored the only goal of the game and were impressed with what the saw. Reliable French journalist Julien Laurens then reported that Liverpool are front runners for Belhanda's signiture this summer. (Link to the interview with Julien Laurens: http://t.co/N58at1B6)

Pros, Cons and Stats

Belhanda is a fast, technical attacking midfielder with an eye for a pass and and a quality finish. He is someone who loves to run at a player and beat him with skill. He has had a fantastic season where he has scored 13 goals and got 6 asssits in 31 appearances across all competitions and was recently nominated for the French Player of the Season award. Belhanda is currently on wage sof only 15 000 pounds a weak so a move to a better league and a larger paycheck would appeal to him. The cons of him are that their have been a few questions about his attitude and that PSG are also interested in him which could start a bidding war.

Conclusion

In my opinion Belhanda would be a great signing for Liverpool if we could get him for under 15 million pounds. He has the vision and trickery that our midfield has been lacking and also has the ability to play out wide. He would be able to link up with Suarez effectively and play off Carroll which gives us options. He has that sense of arrogance and confidence that our attacking players, bar Suarez, have been lacking and would really excite fans with his play. SIGN HIM.


References:

Transfermarket, Accessed 14/05/2012, Available at http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/youns-belhanda/profil/spieler_118022.html
ESPN Soccernet, Accessed 14/05/2012, Available at http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/_/id/274/montpellier?cc=3888