As the season is approaching an end, the management of different clubs have already started doing their homeworks. This is the time they have identify new targets and scout the players and then make a move for him if he deems for the club.
Liverpool have a busy summer ahead of them as they intend to make a number of additions to their team to make the squad larger and more potent. With the additional revenue that they are to receive from the Champions League and the attraction of playing in the top competition, it would not be too tough s job for them to bring in some players whom they could not even think of a year ago. But the media is also reporting of a possible move of the club for long term target Hatem Ben Arfa from Newcastle United.
It was also reported last season that the Merseyside club would go for the French international, but ultimately nothing happened. Now would it be a wise move for Brendan Rodgers to go for Ben Arfa at this stage, when the club has to think about the next stage and bring in players who can suit the additional pressure of Champions League football.
There is not an iota of doubt in anyone’s mind about the talent that Ben Arfa has. But it is the application part which would bother many. After coming into the Premier League from Marseille in 2010, Ben Arfa instantly impressed many with his skill and his knack of cutting back and having a crack at goal.
Blessed with pace, Ben Arfa was extremely agile through the wings and the Newcastle team was built around him. His dribbling and his long range shots tested the opponents more often than not and he soon became a fan favourite. He was given the number 10 shirt in Newcastle and he fully justified that shirt.
But then injury plagued his career and he spent a lot of time on the sidelines. Injuries have been persistent to the 27 year old’s football career and he has often sat on the sidelines. This has resulted in fitness issues and made his comeback to football a lot harder.
Even after his eye catching performance last season, Ben Arfa was once again injured this season and when he returned to the scene he was a shadow of his former self. It was apparent that he had gained weight and it affected his game more than one could think. Ben Arfa never had the same kind of threat this term that he had in the previous seasons and as it looks like, his fitness curve is not on an ascending curve.
Now Liverpool have to make some statement signatures this term after missing out on some key targets last season due to lack of European football and it is hard to decipher a place in the team for a player with Ben Arfa’s fitness issues.
Although he could be grabbed with as little as £6 million, still Ben Arfa would never have the same effect on the club that Rodgers should look forward to and at this stage of his career a move to a club like Liverpool looks out of the cards.