KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum David Silva is Liverpool FC transfer target

March 26 2009 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ is weighing up a summer swoop for Spanish star David Silva.

The Reds boss has identified the Valencia man as one of his top transfer targets – but will only do business if the price is right.

Valencia have hit massive financial difficulties in recent months and are set to sell crown jewels Silva, David Villa and Raul Albiol in an effort to bring their debt of 450m euros under control.

It is Silva who has caught Benitez’s eye though, with the Liverpool manager on the lookout for a versatile attacking player who can figure in a number of positions behind Fernando Torres as he looks to add strength in depth to his squad.

The 23-year-old certainly fits that bill and Liverpool have already made tentative enquiries about his availability.

They will only follow up their initial interest if Valencia are realistic about their valuation of a player who has won 21 caps for Spain.

Reports in Spain suggest the La Liga outfit are holding out for a fee in the region of £25m for Silva and with Barcelona and Juventus also both believed to be interested in snapping him up the battle for his services could be hard fought.

Liverpool are unlikely to be willing to pay that kind of asking price but Benitez will move fast it a compromise deal can be struck.

Reds chief scout Eduardo Macia – who took Silva to Valencia when the attacking midfielder was a teenager – was recently dispatched to Spain to check on Silva’s availability and was not discouraged by what he learned.

Silva was one of the stars of Spain’s victory at Euro 2008, operating in a left sided attacking role which allowed him to support Torres and Villa at every opportunity.

An ankle injury has stopped him from making as many appearances as would have been expected for Valencia this season.

But the midfielder returned to action in January and is currently training with the Spanish national squad ahead of this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Turkey in Madrid.

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano believes he is getting back to his best after struggling to reach top form earlier in the season.He said: “I think in

Reckon Kevin Kilbane could do a job though General? lol

Apparently Rafa wants Silva, dunno about you, but i'd say he was pretty respectable!!

the BIG question as always with these types of signing is whether he'll cope with the speed and the rough and tumble of the EPL (plus the culture, language etc).
Always a gamble...

Had to laugh at the stories that GlamourBoy Cristiano "mind your bottoms" Ronaldo may quit Manure as the refs don't protect him enough - bless 'im! hahaha

I think he's be fine tbh, not like there's no-one in the squad he can talk to.

Pepe and Arbeloa are apparently the 2 most popular players within the Spain squad as they have the best personalitys (sure you'd know whether this is close to the truth better than i would) so they would be able to help him fit in i would imagine.

personally i think he'd be worth the risk.

It's clear Valencia are in financial trouble, and more likely to want, or need, to sell off players. However, as much as I like David Villa, I'm not sure he'd get a game with Gerrard and Torres pulling the strings upfront. Unless Rafa somehow allowed Villa and Torres to play infront of Gerrard, and I can't see Rafa wanting three attacking players, all of whom play more centrally.
Silva is good from what limited vision I've seen of him, Albiol can't really be classed a as 'crown jewel' of valencia, he's young plays well and has a future for sure, but I'd still rather have Agger than Albiol. I might take him if Hyypia left, but then we'd have one central defender over 25, out of four of them.
Quaresma has looked the goods at Chelsea on a few occasions, perhaps he's worth a look at.
I'm not sure who I want to see at right back, perhaps Johnson, I lke arbeloa he offers something upfront, a good cross and composure infront of goal, and he's pretty good at the back. All the other RB players I think about either offer more at the back and less going forward, or more going forward and less at the back, and I'm not sure either is an improvement.

YNWA

As always you can't guarantee a player being a success even before he has pulled the red shirt on...
But i really think silva is worth a chance as long as it's not for silly money. He reminds me a bit of luis garcia with one big difference, he's better at everything and more consistent...
So i think we definitely should buy him if we get the chance, and also bring in barry so we get more depth in the squad..

Silva is a great player. He's miles better than Garcia lol.

Dunk I don't know about you, but I'd bring back Salif Dioa. He's the answer to all our prayers!

Yes Silva is class and will add an extra dimension to the team.

If we get him I'll be delighted.

I think your question should be, what will happen to Babel who was bought originally as a Left winger. Riera has proven to be a decent signing. he's not the best left winger out there, but he is a very useful one.

will Babel be turned into a Right winger?

Rafa is happy with Kuyt's performance, and Benayoun has been useful in the odd matches he played over there. so turning Babel into a right winger would mean that Benayoun could be sold.

also, Rafa is targeting 3 players from what we hear. Silva, Barry, and Keirrison. Keirisson is a striker with a lot of speed and skills and is a very good goal scorer. Is Rafa's Idea is to turn Liverpool's 4231 into a 433 with more attacking front three and a more dynamic midfield?

only god knows what's in his mind.

I just feel that Rafa will sell Dossena and Babel.