Liverpool certainly do have a lot to offer as strikers up front. Last year, they didn’t find the same combination of attackers that scored all those goals for them in 2013-14. It was a rather special forward group when you had Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling all content and clicking on all cylinders.
Brendan Rodgers, along with the club transfer committee, went out and bought a ton of forwards. They just want mad in their shopping for attack players.
Now it’s gotten too crowded and the sell off begins. Rickie Lambert was offered to Aston Villa in their bid to sign Belgium international Christian Benteke, but instead it’s West Brom who have completed the signing of Lambert, making the announcement on social media just minutes ago. The Baggies gave Lambert a two-year-contract after negotiations moved rapidly.
The Baggies reportedly paid nearly £3 million for the 33-year-old, meaning the Reds will make a loss of more than £1m on the player who only joined them from Southampton last summer.
Benteke will likely be the new number 9, and when you combine him with Firmino, you might really have something. If Brendan Rodgers doesn’t “have something,” then he’s out of a job. Rodgers job hangs in the balance of the Benteke signing. Last season Rodgers led the club to their worst defeat in 52 years.
New signings in the attack means the old flops have to go. And Liverpool flop Mario Balotelli has been offered an escape route by Italian Serie A side Bologna, according to the Daily Mirror. Balo scored just one goal during his time at Anfield, and it was earlier reported that Milan doesn’t want him back.
His old club doesn’t want him back, and Liverpool doesn’t want him either.
According to the Independent, Mario Balotelli has been told he has no future at Liverpool and has not been included in the squad for this weekend’s games against HJK Helsinki or Swindon Town – plus he must train separately from the first team.
When you’re a high priced veteran, who’s been around several clubs, and you have international experience. Yet you’re resigned to training with the kids….ouch. Your days are numbered. Maybe Liverpool should try and find an MLS side that wants Balotelli. Yes, he’s way too young for that, but that kind of move would be fitting, given his career stock.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram