Liverpool far better off delaying Villarreal striker pursuit
Published:
Having last faced Premier League defeat 11 games ago, the need for Liverpool to rush out and buy a barrow-load of new players this summer is dwindling.
Naturally, Brendan Rodgers will want to add a few trinkets to his squad to keep them competitive, but it is vital that he replenishes in the right areas and with the right personnel in order to keep the Reds’ ship on a steady course.
That makes the latest rumour surrounding Villarreal sensation Luciano Vietto a worry. For one, the Argentine forward can’t be called a bona fide European success, while Liverpool’s willingness to hoard strikers like a clutter-loving stamp collector is becoming problematic.
Vietto, a 21-year-old striker from Balnearia, only signed for the Yellow Submarines this season after switching from Racing Club in his homeland on a five-year deal.
Granted, the diminutive forward has impressed, scoring 18 goals across La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Europa League.
However, the fact that Vietto only has a strong three-quarter on his CV in Europe means that he can’t realistically guarantee Rodgers a source of goals any more than Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert.
A cheap £7.5m release clause is a tempting carrot in Liverpool’s pursuit, but with Divock Origi also due to bed into the Merseyside club’s attack next season, it seems Vietto will struggle to receive anywhere close to the game time he currently enjoys in Spain.
Liverpool’s hunt for the top four has been reignited by their current unblemished run, with Ladbrokes making them 5/4 chances in that race.
Should they retain their Champions League status, saving the Vietto money, sticking with Balotelli and Lambert and adding more highly-regarded centre-backs and a Steven Gerrard replacement would be a better plan.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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