Liverpool are on the verge of completing a deal for Celta Vigo player Iago Aspas in what is to be the second signing of the club after the Merseyside club had transferred in Kolo Toure from Manchester City as a replacement of club legend Jamie Carragher. If reports are to be believed then Aspas has already completed a medical at Liverpool and his transfer is just a matter of official announcement now. Aspas would cost Liverpool not more than £7.5m (maybe £7.7m) and like his onetime teammate, Michu, Liverpool would be hoping he makes the same impact for the club like Michu did for Swansea.
Now many would suggest that the club had gone for the signature of Aspas after they got the feeling that Suarez would be looking for a way out of Anfield, most particularly Real Madrid. But as a matter of fact Liverpool had been looking to acquire Aspas much before Suarez’s desire to leave England, proving that Aspas is not considered as a replacement of Luis Suarez.
Iago Aspas has been one of the most prolific performers for Celta Vigo this season and it is mainly because of him that the club has been able to avoid relegation. Aspas can don many hats for the club by playing as a sole striker and also as a wide forward.
Now in Liverpool he may be provided the job of playing just behind Daniel Sturridge, who has impressed much with his performance after the January transfer. Then he can also be employed in the right side of the flank where Stewart Downing has plied his trade till now and has vastly improved as a player this season. Although Downing has improved a lot and made some genuine contributions to the team, still Liverpool would feel that the right side of the flank could be improved and Aspas be given that role on a regular basis.
It may take some time for Aspas to settle down and get used to the fast paced English league, he may prove to be the next Michu of the premier league. The manager believes that he has made a huge bargain for such a small sum of money and all the supporters would be hoping that Rodgers is again immaculate in his predictions.
* Did you know
In 33 La Liga appearances last season Aspas scored 12 goals, had a shot-conversion rate of 14%, could boast six assists and created more chances from open play than Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. That was after having scored 23 goals in firing Celta back into the Spanish top flight the previous campaign.