Asamoah Gyan: Liverpool Step Up Chase for £10M World Cup Star as Turks Make Move
Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan enjoyed an excellent World Cup after playing a big role in his nation’s march into the quarter-finals. Unfortunately for him, he will forever be remembered for his missed penalty against Uruguay. However, that has not stopped a number of top European clubs showing an interest with Roy Hodgson reportedly prepared to bring him to Liverpool. However, a move to Anfield is under threat following a £10m bid from Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Ghana were the shining lights of the African nations at the tournament as the rest failed to qualify from their respective groups. After scoring three goals including two coolly taken penalties the 24-year-old has risen to the attention of a number of clubs in the Premier League with Liverpool reportedly already making inquiries with the player’s French club Rennes. However, Fenerbahce have made the first official bid which may leave Roy Hodgson struggling to contend with as he seeks deals for Belgian playmaker Steven Defour and Valencia’s Ever Banega.
Last season Gyan enjoyed his most prolific campaign to date with 13 goals in 29 league appearances for Rennes (27 starts). That form has been carried on into the World Cup finals where the big striker has proven to be a real handful for opposition defenders with his raw pace and power. He has also shown a cool temperament when dispatching two successful penalties against both Serbia and Australia which will appeal to his Premier League suitors. Even after missing from the spot in extra-time against Uruguay, the African star still had the mental strength to net in the shoot-out. Gyan’s strike against the USA perfectly illustrated the striker’s strength and pace as well as his finishing ability. He can sometimes be guilty of being wasteful in front of goal as he was against the Germans but he has impressed in each of Ghana’s matches which is why Roy Hodgson has stepped up his chase to bring him to Liverpool particularly now Fernando Torres faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The Reds are set to rebuild this summer with Javier Mascherano and perhaps Lucas set to depart to Barcelona/Inter Milan and Palermo respectively, so Liverpool will have the funds to bring in some much needed new talent. Hodgson is renowned for getting the best from his players and believes Gyan would be as big a hit in the Premier League despite being relatively raw. The striker would certainly improve Liverpool’s options up front as David Ngog and new boy Milan Jovanovic are the Reds only fit first-team strikers now that Dirk Kuyt plies his trade on the wing.
The 24-year-old has been playing in Europe since 2003 when he moved from Ghanaian club side Liberty Professionals to Udinese in Italy. They soon loaned him out to Serie B side Modena where he scored 15 times in 52 league games (28 starts). He returned to Udinese where he made a further 39 league appearances (28 starts) and scored 11 times. Gyan was almost sold to Lokomotiv Moscow after the 2006 World Cup after impressing as he scored Ghana’s first ever World Cup finals goal after just 68 seconds in a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic. However, instead he remained in Italy until Rennes made their move in July 2008 paying €8m for him. Gyan has scored 14 goals in 45 league appearances in France (33 starts) but 13 of those goals came last season and has led to Roy Hodgson’s interest in bringing the powerful striker to Anfield.
Gyan’s international record is excellent; he has scored 23 times in 45 internationals and became the youngest player to score for Ghana aged 17 in November 2003. He also played a key role as Ghana reached the 2010 African Cup of Nations final scoring three of their four goals in the tournament. At 6 ft 1 he is physically built for the Premier League and would provide Liverpool with more variation to their attack, he can play up front on his own like Fernando Torres but could also work in tandem with the Spaniard in an extremely quick and athletic forward line. The striker is likely to want to leave Rennes too for a more lucrative and prestigious move to Liverpool where he could really make a name for himself on the Premier League stage.
The Reds will have to move quickly to compete with Fenerbahce but with Hodgson’s need for a striker increasing after Torres’ injury, Liverpool are set to match the Turkish sides bid.
Have Liverpool fans been impressed with Gyan at the 2010 World Cup? Would he be a useful acquisition for the Reds forward line? Do you need more pace and strength up front at Anfield with Torres out through injury? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Asamoah Gyan, Fenerbahce, Ghana, Liverpool, World Cup
July 13th, 2010 at 15:49
Would be a great signing, powerful, skilful and fast. Get him in Roy my boy!
July 13th, 2010 at 15:50
I was impressed with him, good attitude, we need strikers and at his age is a good deal.
July 13th, 2010 at 15:51
He will join Fenerbahce ahead of fallen giants Liverpool. No chance of them signing our man Gyan
July 13th, 2010 at 15:58
Ha ha ha ha Liverpool cannot win v Fenerbahce, no money, no Champions League!
July 13th, 2010 at 16:06
NO THANKS, 2 GOOD GAMES AT THE WORLD CUP AND WE ARE GOING CRAZY OVER HIM, DO ME A FAVOUR, ONE WORLD CUP DOESNT MEAN YOUR WORTH 10 MILL. DO YOU REMEMBER DIOUF AND DIAO BROUGHT BY ARE OLD FRENCH MANAGER AND FOR A TOTAL OF NEARLY 20 MILL, THEY WHERE PANTS, SO THIS GUY CAN NICELY GO TO PLAY SECOND RATE FOOTIE IN TURKY.
July 13th, 2010 at 16:07
REINA
JOHNSON CARRAGHER AGGER TAWIO
BANEGA DEFOUR TURAN
KUYT GERRARD
TORRES
July 13th, 2010 at 16:14
ROY BRING HIM TO ANFIELD!!! HE WOULD BE AN IDEAL PARTNER FOR TORRES, HIS WORKRATE IS UNBELIEABLE! TORRES-GYAN WOULD DEFINITELY STRIKE FEAR THROUGH ANY DEFENCE!!!
July 13th, 2010 at 16:26
I completely agree Sunil, he is not 2nd rate, he is a real diamond. YNWA
July 13th, 2010 at 16:42
Another Diouf scoring rate in France less than impressive theres much better around at 10 to 15 mill.
July 13th, 2010 at 17:00
No offence most of you but you’re all wrong.
Gyan IS another Torres except for the fact that he isn’t as good in front of goal.
I’d like to think we learnt our lesson regarding one WC wonders with Diouf!!!
July 13th, 2010 at 17:12
To me I will prefer Defour to liverpool rather than Gyan. Torres-Defour or Jovanovic will relief the burden from Torres and add more strenght to the team up-front.
July 13th, 2010 at 18:22
first.. he’s not a one WC wonder. cause he’s been such a great player for them since 2006 WC.
he’s got the experience, power, creativity, youth, skill and a good injury rate comparing to what we have
in short another kuyt but little faster
July 13th, 2010 at 20:29
hes quality hes got everything a good striker needs strength speed finishing and a bonus hes tall sign him up. him and fernanado up top and we’ll be a champions league club once again
July 13th, 2010 at 22:37
No way not good enuf. 2 of his goals were penalties and he is too wasteful in open play. Huntelaar is a much better finisher and we could get him for 10 mil as he is again out of favour at Milan. He would also get regular football at Liverpool and I’m sure he would jump at the chance.
July 14th, 2010 at 02:38
Signing Gyan will be the right choice, because i believe that with the combination of Torres anything will be possible as he “Gyan” can cope with any game speed and skill tactic. Sign him., he will surely become a goal scorer machine.
July 14th, 2010 at 05:17
Dont compare Diouf to Gyan
He was at the top of his game when he took Ghana to the finals of the African nations cup
he had a great season with Rennes and then a great world cup
Diuof had just a great world cup and that was it. Besides Gyan is from Ghana with a football pedigree. Senegal was a one year wonder
July 14th, 2010 at 08:49
i’ve been following gyan for a long time. he is very strong and skillful. he used to be very wasteful but has improved alot since he moved to france. all he has to do is score more goals. even david ngog plays for lpool. i know asamoah is far better than he is.liverppol should sign him.
July 14th, 2010 at 12:02
Anthony Annan is the Ghanaian I would sign.
Looked composed in midfield and knows how to play the right ball. Non of the 50 yard passing bollox for the sake of it.
Plays in Norway and is 23.
Sign him!!!!
July 14th, 2010 at 12:57
Another reason you can’t compare him with Diouf of course is that we bought Diouf BEFORE the World Cup, on the back of 2 African Player of the Year awards I believe..
July 14th, 2010 at 13:33
Nobody can tell if he will click in the prem.
He had a decent world cup and has been consistent on the league for a few years now.
He has the build to be successful against English defences and looks to have good composure.
Could be the next Drogba?????
July 15th, 2010 at 12:09
I think Liverpool can still beat Fenerbahce for a player but will Roy be given the founds or we will have to wait few more players to leave first?
Insua is gone, Yossi too and Hodgson apperantly had no say in this.
Is Mascherano next?
Dont ask Roy about it, he doesen’t know.