Reports in Portugal suggest Nicolas Gaitan is back on top Premier League clubs’ radars after the forward rejected a big-money move to Dubai-based Al-Ahli.

A Bola (h/t Uche Amako of the Express) said the Benfica attacker was subject to a huge bid from the Middle East club, with his buyout clause set at £24.6 million.

However, despite Gaitan being “tempted” by the switch to the UAE Pro-League side, Amako says the player has pinned his hopes on a move to one of the superclubs of European football, with Manchester United also a possible destination. 

TalkSport say Liverpool could move for the experienced attacker before the end of the current transfer window but highlight Atletico Madrid and Valencia are both monitoring the player’s situation. 

The former Boca Juniors favourite has been linked with transfers every season since his move to the Lisbon giants in 2010. Gaitan has been a consistent domestic performer for the Eagles but has struggled to match his best form in European competition. 

Gaitan has only three goals and one assist from 28 Champions League and Europa League appearances since 2012-13, per WhoScored.com, proving he struggles against better opposition. 

But with Liverpool looking to add balance to their midfield, Gaitan would give Brendan Rodgers a different kind of threat in the final third of the pitch. 

Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas believes Rodgers must address this issue in the coming days as well as adding defensive cover:

Liverpool have enough up front but in terms of midfield they could do with another one. Brendan has got a few choices but I don’t see too many goals coming from midfield. I know Inter Milan are interested in Lucas Leiva but he’s a player I’d be looking to keep.

The defence still looks very vulnerable for me, too. They don’t have cover for right-back Nathaniel Clyne if he gets injured and they definitely need another centre-back.

However, new signing James Milner believes the Reds midfield is perfectly balanced after a summer of transfer activity and told Sky Sports (h/t the club’s official website) he is confident about the campaign ahead:

It depends how the manager wants to play—two or three, or one of us sitting or moving out. There’s plenty of energy in there. Emre came on as well, Adam played in there and Philippe [Coutinho] played in there [at Stoke City]. There’s a lot of options for us and a lot of different styles of players, and a lot of energy. That’s how we want to play, we want to move the ball but we want to put teams under pressure as well when they have it.

Gaitan is an experienced option for Rodgers, but at £24.6 million, he appears to be a pricey addition. Gaitan has been an Argentina international since 2009 but has rarely dazzled on the biggest stages. 

With the progression of Jordon Ibe, Gaitan would be a strange purchase at this time, with Rodgers better off relying on the creative exploits of Philippe Coutinho and new boy Roberto Firmino. 

 

Reds Eye Brilliant Spanish Prodigy

If Rodgers opts to add potential to his ranks—rather than an ageing campaigner like Gaitan—he might look towards Spain for one of their rising stars. 

Spanish newspaper Diario de Sevilla (h/t Simon Jones of MailOnline) reports Rodgers is “monitoring developments” surrounding 19-year-old Real Betis midfielder Dani Ceballos. 

The exciting talent is being asked to sign his long-term future to Los Verdiblancos, but with just a year left on his current deal and an £8 million buyout in situ, Liverpool are ready to pounce, per Jones. 

However, the player could sign terms with Liverpool in January and leave for “minimal compensation,” with Real Madrid and Roma also interested in the teenager. 

Diario de Sevilla say Liverpool have even gone as far as presenting a wage package to Ceballos—a £1.1 million basic salary, including additional bonuses and a car and property. 

Jones said the player has previously been compared to Cesc Fabregas and scored five goals in 33 games for Betis last term. 

Ceballos is very much the kind of talent Rodgers should be chasing rather than the ineffective Gaitan. The Argentinian’s stock has fallen dramatically over the past couple of seasons and would be an expensive waste if he ends up on Rodgers’ bench. 

Liverpool have already been down this road with Mario Balotelli, so a youthful addition to the squad makes sense. 

Ceballos could become one of his country’s best central midfielders after shining for Spain’s under-19 side, and at £8 million, he would have significant sell-on value with very little financial risk.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1E7hDoD
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J