We’re acting fast this window, aren’t we? I’ve taken a keen liking to seeing us learn from mistakes and take the experience through to other situations further down the line.
Only a single day separated the confirmation of Kolo Touré and now Liverpool have reportedly confirmed a deal for Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas for a fee in the region of €9m. I almost feel a bit queasy thinking about Liverpool signing players quickly. Quick, get me a chair.
Right, whilst I’m seated, I’ll give you some information on the player himself:
The striker has played for Celta Vigo ever since he turned professional in 2006. Starting in Celta B, he moved up the ranks into the first team in 2008 and has gone on to score 46 goals in 137 games.
The fee that most media outlets are reporting is about £7.7m and the forward, who has scored 12 goals this season, will be on a weekly wage of £39,000 approx. This fee is expected to be his buy out clause which is about €9m. It is also rumoured that if Celta Vigo were to go down this season (they lie in the relegation zone with one game to play), the fee would drop substantially.
The 25-year-old Spaniard is yet to play for his country but did pick up the award for ‘Best Forward’ in the Spanish second division in the 2011-12 season.
Iago Aspas is Celta’s top scorer with 12 goals in 33 appearances and with this has scored precisely a third of all the goals his team have produced this campaign. For the majority of this season he has played as the lone centre forward with players supporting him, but he’s more than capable of operating from a deeper attacking midfield role or cutting in from a flank. This could be an indication that he is part of a variable triumvirate that can move in flux across the front. It could also mean he is Stewart Downing’s replacement on the right wing, giving Coutinho the full-time number ten role.
Aspas has also collected six assists in addition to his goals this season, making him a threat on behalf of the team, not just himself. The Spaniard has created more chances (65) in La Liga than Ronaldo (62) and Messi (45) this season – an impressive stat.
He plays in a system that Rodgers will admire; with quick feet, a quick turn of pace and certainly an eye for goal. He also very much enjoys a one-two with his teammates on the edge of the opposition’s eighteen yard box and it’s this movement and vision that will have impressed the Liverpool scouts.
He is also a very talented left footed player, meaning that playing him on the right gives Liverpool the option to cut inside with the winger and let Glen Johnson’s right foot as the overlapping crosser of the ball. This would certainly work in balance if a right-footed player was to play on the left hand side.
He seems a good buy for the money but I think it’s certainly too early to tell. Along with his talent he also brings a fiery side to his game; hunting every ball and certainly not letting anything go. This side of his game has seen him pick up four yellow and one red card this season. Perhaps he is the fight in the team we are looking for? A Dirk Kuyt-like willingness to perform.
As a replacement for a mundane Downing and also to pack a squad with yet more depth, I don’t think we can complain for the money. It’s just about getting the best out of our front four.
We can’t put too much pressure on him though; with history we know this. We put pressure on Downing, Carroll and Henderson to perform – yet didn’t expect as much from Sturridge and Coutinho. This may be in part down to the price tags, but it’s about baring with players and trusting the committee who have obviously done their research.
