With Liverpool rumoured to be eyeing a shock move for Samuel Eto'o, two TEAMtalk writers debate if the striker is the right man for the Reds.
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Would Samuel Eto'o be a good signing for Liverpool?
With Liverpool having already embarked on a busy transfer period following the sale of Luis Suarez the Reds have been eager to plug any gaps in their relatively small squad. The major area of concern for Brendan Rodgers all summer has been in the forwards department with Rickie Lambert the club's only permanent signing so far.
As the club are set to begin a huge season that sees Liverpool's involvement in the Champions League for the first time since the 2009/10 season, Rodgers has reportedly turned his attentions to Samuel Eto'o to fill the strikers void in the squad. With the stakes so high this season, TEAMtalk's James Marshment and James argue if the former Chelsea man would be a good acquisition for the Reds?
James Marshment @marshyleeds) Yes
While there's rarely such a thing as a "free" transfer in this day and age of inflated wages, I believe Eto'o would prove a worthwhile signing for Liverpool in what will be a busy season on the European and domestic front.
With Brendan Rodgers' squad last season lacking somewhat in quality beyond their first XI, Eto'o can prove an experienced addition at Anfield and help the squad maintain an interest on all fronts.
Granted, he may not be a first-team regular, but his signing would provide Rodgers with an experienced back-up to call upon if and when their first choices need a breather. And let's face it, Liverpool fans would be more confident knowing they have Eto'o's experience in reserve, rather than the likes of say, Iago Aspas, for a Champions League away trip.
Although 4-4-2 at the very top level as a formation appears a thing of the past, I retain the belief that the top clubs still need four quality strikers to compete, both with one another, and to help maintain a club's interests on as many trophy fronts as possible.
Eto'o wouldn't arrive at Anfield to be first choice - he'd know that - but with Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert already there, Eto'o's arrival would still leave space for that all-important Luis Suarez replacement to be drafted in. I'm still working on the assumption that the Reds will still make a marquee striker signing (Marco Reus perhaps?) to partner Sturridge, leaving the likes of Lambert and Eto'o in reserve. Not bad!
Commercially (and perhaps cynically) his signing makes sense too. There's huge interest in the Premier League on the continent of Africa and Eto'o's potential arrival at Anfield would further increase the Reds' appeal and their global marketing opportunities.
OK, he may be 33, and in the twilight of his career, but he showed last season at Chelsea (12 goals in 34 appearances) that he can still contribute at the highest level and that, primarily, is why I think Eto'o - if only on a one-year deal - would be a very beneficial signing for Liverpool.
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James Dixon @JDixon_88) No
It's impossible to question the credentials of Samuel Eto'o - a proven goalscorer, complete striker and born winner who has achieved every honour that can possibly be bestowed on a player. However at 33, the glory days are well and truly in his past.
After chipping in with a respectable 12-goal haul for Chelsea last season, Eto'o showed glimpses of his predatory prowess and scored crucial goals including a hat-trick against Manchester United and a strike against Galatasaray in the Champions League.
But despite his shrewd brain, much of the electrifying pace that was a key attribute to his game, has gone.
And despite scoring a dozen goals last season, that was only one more than the much-maligned Fernando Torres!
Rodgers may be looking to bring in the Cameroon international for his wealth of experience for the big occasions like the Champions League, but it's a dangerous game having a reserve player with a history of being paid astronomical wages (he received more than £6million for his season at Stamford Bridge.)
Clearly replacing Luis Suarez is a near-impossible task, but Eto'o is hardly an inspiring name Liverpool fans wanted to hear when Barcelona stumped up the £75million needed to bring the Uruguayan to the Nou Camp.
What Liverpool had to do was find a way of replacing Suarez's goals and creativity and that may already be too late. If Eto'o were to repeat his haul from last season, the Reds would still be looking for another 19 goals and despite having a stronger squad that is more likely to chip in, this season they have Champions League on the agenda.
If the club bring in a striker like Eto'o, it could be a very long and difficult season for Rodgers who needs to take the strain off a still young and relatively inexperienced Daniel Sturridge.
Ultimately they've lost a leading man and are trying to fill the space with extras. And with what looks to be the most competitive Premier League in years about to get underway, it would be hard to see the Reds finishing anywhere near as strong a position as they did in the last campaign.
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