It seems as though Liverpool are already preparing for life after Luis Suarez, as Dutch international striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been linked with a move to Anfield.
Plenty of rumors have had Huntelaar, 30, heading to the Premier League over the years, as the Schalke forward has been reportedly courted by Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United in the past.
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Now Liverpool, who will only possess Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert as recognized PL strikers if Suarez does leave for Barca, look set to snatch the predatory Dutchman (nicknamed ‘The Hunter’) in a cut-price deal as he enters the final year of his contract with Schalke.
The former Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan striker addressed the Liverpool rumors with German newspaper Bild and revealed that he plans to speak with Schalke when the World Cup is over.
Will getting Huntelaar on board be a good move for Liverpool?
Like the Rickie Lambert signing, it screams stop-gap. Over the past two seasons Brendan Rodgers has had to get creative with signings as their has been a lack of cash at Anfield after previous regime’s spent flamboyantly. Schalke would likely sell Huntelaar for less than $15 million as he only has one-year left on his deal.
Now that they have UEFA Champions League soccer to look forward to and they have returned to the upper echelons of the PL, you’d think Liverpool would be heading for more expensive forwards than Huntelaar. Yes, he is good in the air, can score when given the chance and has a good track record in European competitions and for the Dutch national side, but it doesn’t seem like a forward-thinking move.
That said, I can see it happening. Huntelaar has scored 91 goals in 139 games in German soccer since joining Schalke from AC Milan in 2010. He is prolific, has experience and has shown at the 2014 World Cup that he can came off the bench to change games. The Netherlands were trailing Mexico 1-0 in the final stages of their last 16 match against Mexico, Hunterlaar then came off the bench to set up the equalizer and the score the winner from the penalty spot.
If Liverpool want to sign him as an impact player of the bench and someone who can add depth to a squad challenging for PL and UCL success, this is a good move. Let’s see if they can agree a fee with Schalke.