Welcome Iago Aspas

[Rich]

Aspas is a big fan then - boyhood red

[Alex]

They look sooo similar.

Father and Son?

[Sarb]

Aspas is a big fan then - boyhood red

Yeah. I bet he played as us on Playstation

[Shaggy]

Ayre: Brendan spotted him long ago
24th Jun 2013 - Latest News

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has hailed the signing of striker Iago Aspas as a significant reward for the transfer work being carried out behind the scenes at the club.



The Spaniard became the latest player added to the Reds squad by boss Brendan Rodgers after completing a switch from La Liga side Celta Vigo.

Ayre revealed that Aspas had been picked out by Rodgers 'a long time ago' and pledged that efforts will continue to further strengthen the playing options this summer.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's fantastic, the third signing of the summer and very early in the window.

"He's a great talent, one that Brendan identified a long time ago.

"The scouting network and everybody else have done a lot of hard work to get him here and I'm pleased that we've been able to get his signature and have him in the squad.

"As we've always said, we've got our targets. We will work as hard as we can to bring them in. As we've said before, it's always about getting the right players and the right deals for both sides.

"There's a lot of work going on, there's certainly no shortage of that. Hopefully we'll have some more success."

Aspas is the third player to agree a move to Liverpool already since the 2012-13 season concluded, following the announcement of a deal in principle with defender Kolo Toure and the signing this weekend of Luis Alberto.



"It's always important," Ayre said when questioned on the benefits of concluding transfers early. "It's not always possible but it's always important.

"Particularly from the playing perspective, the manager and the coaches and all of the staff want to know that they've got the squad together, particularly ahead of pre-season.

"We've worked tirelessly, a lot of people behind the scenes worked ahead of the transfer window to identify those players that interest us.

"Then the hard work starts, negotiating and bringing these deals together."

[Shaggy]

http://espnfc.com/feature/_/id/1474096/corrigan-perfect-replacement-luis-suarez?cc=5739

Reds gamble on Galician firebrand

June 11, 2013

By Dermot Corrigan, Spain Correspondent

If Liverpool were looking for a cut-price replacement for want-away striker Luis Suarez, Iago Aspas fits the bill in more ways than one. Just like the Uruguayan, Aspas has undoubted creative and goalscoring talent alongside a wayward streak that has more than once led him into trouble.

Aspas, who turns 26 on August 1, managed 12 goals and seven assists for Celta Vigo last season, and Liverpool had reportedly been tracking the attacker for months. The €9 million move was delayed, according to reports, by late haggles over his release clause and a bonus due to the player, which meant the local lad, and previous fan favourite, had to cancel a Caribbean holiday to make sure the move went through.

This would not be the first time in which a situation involving Aspas became more complicated than it really should have been. His most (in)famous showing in 2012-13 came in February's derby against Deportivo la Coruna, which began with the teams 20th and 19th in the table. Aspas had stirred things up in the local media the week before the game, and then half an hour in - with his side 0-1 down but dominating possession - was spotted aiming a sly headbutt at marker Carlos Marchena while both players were grounded after a challenge. Depor went on to win 3-1 against the ten men, and Aspas was banned for four games. Such petulance led his own team-mate Mario Bermejo to memorably lament: "When you go to bed with children, you wake up covered in piss."

Celta fans have learned over the years to take the rough with the smooth with Aspas. After joining Celta's youth ranks aged just eight, he was initially overshadowed by much-hyped older brother Jonathan, a Spanish underage star who made his first-team debut aged just 16 but now plays for Alki Larnaca in Cyprus. Iago had to wait longer for his first start, but it was a dramatic one: he scored twice against Alaves late in the 2008-09 season, a brace that ensured Celta did not drop to the third tier. The following two seasons were less spectacular, the player gradually nailing down a starting spot but scoring just nine goals in 66 Segunda games.

Aspas' fortunes changed when coach Paco Herrera – Rafa Benitez's former assistant at Anfield – settled on him as a lone front man, and built the rest of the side around him. The 2011-12 brought 23 Segunda division goals, including a number of crackers, as Celta were promoted back to the top flight. But again there were some 'distractions' along the way, such as an inflammatory local media interview before the season's first Galician derby followed by an underwhelming performance in the game.

Such issues are maybe a good reason for Aspas to try his luck outside of Galicia. The performances before his derby red card, such as the match-winning display at Rayo Vallecano in December, had even caught the eye of Vicente del Bosque, but the Spain coach admitted to his own doubts. "He was a player we were following," Del Bosque said. "We had good reports about him, but he was the protagonist in an action that stalled his season and did great damage to his team."

On his return from the ban Aspas played a key role in Celta's unlikely escape from relegation. There were vital goals against Athletic and Valladolid, and then the assist for Natxo Insa's winner in the last-day 1-0 win over Espanyol that ensured his side stayed up while Depor went down. He then left the Balaidos pitch in floods of tears, showing both his feeling for the Celta cause and that he was now moving on.

A transfer to Valencia had reportedly been agreed last winter, with then Los Che president Manuel Llorente agreeing to pay the €10 million buyout clause inserted in Aspas' contract just last September. But Llorente's successors at Mestalla were less keen, and the move was dropped. At that asking price, only two La Liga clubs can compete, and neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid showed any interest. Elsewhere, Chelsea, Swansea, Nantes, Shakhtar Donetsk and Benfica were all named in speculation, but Liverpool's willingness to meet Celta's asking price seems to have sealed the deal.

Given the Herrera connection, you would assume Liverpool know what they are getting. Aspas has almost always played as a lone front man in recent seasons, understandably as he was clearly Celta's biggest goal threat, but his best position might be coming from deeper. At 5' 10" and about 10 ½ stone, he is more a mobile link-man than traditional No. 9. He's more likely to beat his marker with a trick than sheer pace, and as comfortable laying on chances for others as shooting himself. A career record of about one goal in three games also suggests an all-rounder rather than an out-and-out poacher. You could see him linking well with Liverpool's other nifty, interchangeable attackers like Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge (not to mention Suarez, if he stays).

"I am relaxed, but at the same time very excited because I am making a very important step in my career," Aspas said last weekend. Brendan Rodgers' main challenge with his new attacker will be to ensure he stays relaxed, and does not get overexcited. The presence of Spanish players such as Pepe Reina, Suso and Jose Enrique, who spent a season on loan at Celta when Aspas was in the youth team, could help him settle. A firm hand from Rodgers, and not the indulgence previously shown to Suarez, might still be needed to keep him in check.

"What worries me is that Iago has birds in his head," Herrera, the most important figure in Aspas' career to date, said in December when the striker's form dipped amid the Valencia rumours. If those Galician birds find the Merseyside air to their liking, then Liverpool might have a bargain on their hands. However, €9 million looks quite a gamble on a player whose CV continues more missteps than top-flight experience.

[Vermilion]

Oh ffs we've bought a kid that wets the bed!

[McDermotX]

Aspas is a big fan then - boyhood red

Yeah. I bet he played as us on Playstation

Sure aren't they all.

[McDermotX]

'Birds in his head'

Excellent

[Shaggy]

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/la-liga-expert-on-iago-aspas

La Liga expert on Iago Aspas
24th Jun 2013 - Latest News

Journalist and La Liga expert Andreas Vou tells us what we can expect from new striker Iago Aspas...

What are your thoughts on Liverpool signing Iago Aspas?

I feel it is a very positive move from Liverpool. Iago Aspas will bring a lot of energy to the team; he looks to have finally come of age and is currently in the best form of his career after playing a pivotal role in keeping Celta Vigo in Spain's top division. Brendan Rodgers is extremely picky, in a positive way, in the sense that he only goes after players that he is 100 per cent sure about. Bar Kolo Toure, the players signed in the Rodgers era have all been 25-years-old or younger who are hungry, who have great potential and are determined to showcase their ability at a top club. Aspas very much fits that profile.

Was there other interest in him?

Swansea made no secret of their interest in December and he was one of their top targets for this summer. Valencia were in fact close to agreeing a deal in May but their financial problems hampered the chances of the deal going though. Other offers were said to have come in from Italy and Portugal too but that was only after Liverpool were in advanced negotiations.

What are his key attributes?

His most prominent attributes are his first touch, his agility and his dribbling. His small stature gives him an extremely low centre of gravity which allows him to jink past players just when it looks certain he'll be dispossessed. He has blistering pace too while his finishing has substantially improved in the last two seasons.

Where do you see him slotting into our side?

His preferred and most common position is centre-forward. However, similar to Daniel Sturridge, moving him to different positions in the front line where he could have more of the ball and a bigger influence on matches helped him vastly improve his all-round game. He is a very versatile player and will have no problem playing as either the centre-forward, on the right wing of a front three or even just behind as a playmaker. Also the fact that the newcomers in the Rodgers era all have common traits will help Aspas adjust to Liverpool's philosophy.

Do you think he'll be able to adapt to the Premier League?

Judging by the success of Spanish players in England, it's now more of a question of whether the British players can adapt to them. The Premier League still holds its core characteristics but, year by year, it is evolving technically, a quality which Aspas possesses in abundance. He is known for his aggressive nature and determination; he works for the team and will fight to regain the ball if he is dispossessed.

If you had to compare him to another player?

His playing style reminds me very much of Italy's Giuseppe Rossi: left-footed, very nimble, extremely elegant on the ball and developed into a complete player as his career progressed. In terms of his character, I would liken him to someone who the Liverpool fans took to very well in his time at Anfield - Craig Bellamy.

Should supporters be excited?

Liverpool fans have every reason to look forward to seeing their new man in action. It is important that they do not put too much pressure on him by expecting the same kind of instant impact that Luis Suarez had. They must be patient but I am sure the fans will give him all the support he needs for him to feel at home.

[Rich]

So could be a Reira-type then. Sounds like he'll need to be carefully managed but has the potential to be a steal.

[destinydude]

Rossi's skill + Bellamy's head = One hell of an exciting player

[McDermotX]

I'm always a bit unimpressed when these so-called 'region' experts get wheeled out to talk about signings.

[jono]

The article states Swansea were interested in him. I wonder if that was because Rodgers was scouting him from that far back?

[Darkon]

No, it's because Laudrup is a big fan of him. Apparently, and if true, it's one of the reason why the board and him had a spat recently as he wanted Aspas signed up before we entered the race, and Laudrup was angry losing out because of a slow board.

[Cormack74]

They look sooo similar.

Father and Son?

Same thought occurred.