Ever Banega: Roy Hodgson to Bring £8.5M Rafa Target to Liverpool
According to reports in both the Spanish and Argentine press Liverpool’s interest in signing Valencia’s talented young midfielder Ever Banega has not ended despite Rafa Benitez leaving. Roy Hodgson is keen on adding his predecessor’s target to the Anfield ranks. The young Argentinean had been a long-term target of Benitez but also David Moyes who attempted to sign the 22-year-old on loan last summer. However, it would seem that Liverpool rather than Everton are still in the race for his signature with an £8.5m fee being touted.
Last summer Everton attended a home office meeting in London to push through the necessary paperwork to seal a late transfer window move but the deal could not be agreed. The Toffees loss could still be Liverpool’s gain as he could be a very exciting signing for the club and fill the role that was vacated by Xabi Alonso’s exit last summer. With Banega’s compatriots Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insua set to depart from Anfield, Roy Hodgson will have the funds available to sign both the Argentine and his other central midfield target Steven Defour.
The 22-year-old joined Valencia in January 2008 but after just 48 League appearances for the club (40 starts) the Spanish side are likely to offload the youngster. Valencia’s financial problems are well documented but they are set to take a loss on a player signed for £14m. Despite selling David Villa and David Silva, Valencia are ready to do business. Ironically, Banega has had his best season with the club in 2009/10 after making 35 league appearances (33 starts) which is a major breakthrough considering in his first season he only started seven league matches and then was loaned out to Atletico Madrid. However, despite a tough start to his time in Europe, Banega has shown enough talent to impress Rafa Benitez and now Roy Hodgson who is keen to bring him to Liverpool to form a new central midfield with Standard Liege’s Steven Defour.
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The youngster has endured a difficult time since joining the Spanish giants. He was signed by Ronald Koeman who was soon sacked and then was also embroiled in a webcam scandal in Argentina similar to that of former Eastenders star Leslie Grantham. Not the best way to start your career at a new club especially one that was severely and surprisingly struggling in the league. Despite a poor 2007/08 season by their standards, Valencia did end up winning the Copa Del Rey. However, despite featuring in 5 cup matches including both legs of the semi against Barca, Banega did not feature in the final.
Banega was loaned out to Atletico Madrid in 2008/09 where he made 24 league appearances but only started 5 of those games while scoring just one goal. The player had suggested he wished to remain with the Madrid club but Atletico did not make a permanent move.
Banega told So Foot at the time that he “wants to continue at Atletico”, but knows that lack of communications suggests the feeling wasn’t mutual.
“I am young but not naive. If they have not spoken with me then it is bad. In any case, I will not return to Valencia, even though I still have a contract with them,” he said. However, despite his comments and Everton’s interest he did return. Now his time in Spain looks to be coming to an end with Liverpool set to start negotiations ahead of positive feedback from the player in Provencias.
Despite struggling in Spain, the player that turns 22 in June has won 3 senior caps for his country against Guatemala, Mexico and USA. He was also part of the Argentine side that won the U20 World Cup in Canada in 2007 and the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. He played alongside the likes of Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero in both of those tournaments. He also represented his nation at the Toulon Tournament where Argentina finished 3rd. Banega is a skilful deep lying playmaker who is mobile and likes to dictate the tempo of his side which is something that Liverpool have lacked following Alonso’s sale. If Defour signs too, the Reds will possess a far more mobile unit which is comfortable on the ball and will not squander possession lightly. These two would free Steven Gerrard to get forward at will and would provide England’s captain with plenty of precise incisive passes.
The young star was born in Rosario, Santa Fe and began his career with Boca Juniors where he came through the youth ranks. He replaced Real Madrid star Fernando Gago in the Boca Midfield when the former star moved to Real Madrid and after just 28 League appearances for the club Valencia stepped in with a big money bid. His last game for the Buenos Aires club was in the World Club Championship 4-2 final defeat to AC Milan.
Banega is a central midfielder very much in the Michael Carrick mould rather than Roy Keane’s. His main attributes are his excellent passing ability, tactical discipline and ability to read the game. The Argentine is not afraid to tackle as 25 bookings and 4 red cards in 100 career League games perfectly illustrates and could turn out to be a key signing for Liverpool who are looking to bounce back from a poor season with a new-look side next season. Roy Hodgson is expected to make a number of changes at the Liverpool this summer, Ever Banega looks set to be one of the first new arrivals at Anfield as the Reds rebuild.
So would you like your club to move for the Argentine wonderkid? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Argentina, Ever Banega, Liverpool, Valencia
July 15th, 2010 at 15:02
Yes yes yes!
July 15th, 2010 at 15:03
Banega and Defour would be dream partnership, skilful and classy. At last some exciting football at Anfield!
July 15th, 2010 at 15:04
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July 15th, 2010 at 15:07
I have liked the facebook page another 100 or so and someone will win that blessed ball! Get a fortune on Ebay lol
July 15th, 2010 at 15:36
Typical Reds, trying to steal a Everton target, you are a joke!
July 15th, 2010 at 15:44
Insane cross field passing, I always want Alonso back but if we can get this guy who is only 22 maybe we won’t need him. Banega cross + Torres= Goal.
July 15th, 2010 at 16:01
Alex you made a mistake there by including Torres in the build up. He is unlikely to be there by the time anyone else signs for you.
Get used to being ‘just another club’ boys.
July 15th, 2010 at 16:57
get Real David Moyes. everton can’t be better than Liverpool even on our worse form, oh yes we were bad last season and where was the blues, yes below us. with banega and Defour, the rebuilding process is well underway, with the sales of Insua, Mascheranoe, Ngog and Degen, we can even bring in Taiwo or Cissokho, and with Martin Kelly and and Stephen Darby we have cover.
July 15th, 2010 at 17:18
Yess he is better than Mascherano…..
Mascherano want to go ,.,,,,,so go Mascherano thank you for ur servic….
July 15th, 2010 at 17:26
keep dreaming liverpool ever is not moving anywhere for 8.5 thats a joke right? a least 20 million but a dont think valencia will sell him i think he will be our best player this season also you wont be playing champions league by the way why liverpool didnt sign manuel pellegrini?he was perfect for you guys .good luck this season a lot of good clubs in england the premier the best league in the world by far.
July 15th, 2010 at 18:26
If Mascherano wants to leave let him, better to let an unhappy leave, who knows what kind of performances he will give us if he stays.
use the Macherano transfer fee and buy Benega + Defour + Gervinho
July 15th, 2010 at 18:37
Question: Is he a holding player or not? Some have described him as a more attacking player, if so then he would be an awful replacement. I prefer the idea of having an old fashioned tackler like Cattermole with Stevie
July 15th, 2010 at 18:41
Ridiculous article as if 2 quality players like that would join Liverpool . To the clown commenting on how Liverpool finished above Everton in their worst season , Everton didn’t start playing until December. ! Anyway good luck with Roy Hodgson at the helm a top 10 finish is a possibility.
July 15th, 2010 at 23:21
to that clown Baz la above me there. he said Everton didnt start playing til December? then when did Liverpool start playing? haha we were hopeless for the whole first half of the season. and we didnt do much better as it closed. and to the other clown cris up there. Banega has a release clause of 8.5m in his contract. so stick ur big price
July 16th, 2010 at 06:09
with the sale of mascherano 30 million, we can buy banega 8.5M + Arda turan 13M + defour 8.5M. Roy, we must buy arda turan..
Sell:cavalieri,degen,el zhar,insua,lucas,ngog,kuyt,mascherano,riera and babel.
Buy:richards,taiwo,drenthe,arda turan,banega,defour,j.cole.
1st team:reina,johnson,skrtel,agger,taiwo,j.cole,defour,banega,turan,gerrard and torres..
July 16th, 2010 at 07:03
Lee i agree, Baz La your statement makes you the clown, just like a true blue always looking for an excuse.
so the fact that Everton started playing in December excuses them for their porr season (as usual).
maybe you toffees should tell David MOyes the season starts in August
July 16th, 2010 at 12:18
that video sure is impressive, i never realised how good his vision was, he sees passes that others dont, or earlier then other do.
the thing i like about him is he can play from deep with his exquisite passing, or can driblle players by using his skill and pace to get himself in great positions.
July 16th, 2010 at 13:22
i think the player who can take liverpool to the top is only player that understand what is liverpool mean. .
I believe torres not going anywhere,
and also i hope dirk kuyt will stand, kuyt is best player that liverpool ever had, he never stop running and never give up. . He was really2 liverpool, brave,ambitious,loyal,and not arogant. .
July 19th, 2010 at 09:33
i reallywant to get banega to liverpool he is a world class player and just the person we need, my first team squad with other signings would be
reina
johnson, carragher, agger, contreao
j.cole, banega, barry, turan
gerrard
torres
subs: taiwo, skertl, aquilani, remy, kyut
sell masch, lucas, babel, riera, el zahr, insua, plessis, cavalieri
July 19th, 2010 at 09:59
25 reina
2 johnson, 23 carragher, 5 agger, 3 contreao
11 j.cole, 24 banega, 6 barry, 7 turan
8 gerrard
9 torres
July 21st, 2010 at 03:42
Nice one roy, buy banega and pls sell mascherano it seems he is unhappy at liverpoool, get Remy, Defour, John arne Riise and lukas poldoski
July 25th, 2010 at 14:01
I really hope we can sign Ozil ! My Liverpool XI for this coming season : (4-3-2-1) Christmas tree formation!
GK:Reina RB:Johnson CB:Skrtel CB:Agger LB:Bridge CM:Ozil CM:Aquilani CM:Mascherano AM:Gerrard AM:Cole FW:Torres
July 25th, 2010 at 16:42
Banega will only arrive IF mascherano leaves. This should free up funds which are at present hard to come by at Liverpool. However Defour coming in is less likely, infact simply impossible. Firstly Hodgson has said Lucas will be given a chance and secondly they simply do not have the money! Thirdly you are also forgetting a certain Alberto Aquilani who began to show promise towards the end of last season. So have your reasons for a. the need for the new look midfield and b. whether it will actually happen need to be justified.