Rafa Benitez interested in potential swap offer that could see Anfield replace one failure with an exciting addition to the Merseyside outfit’s squad.
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Press reports suggest a number of Serie A’s biggest clubs are vying for the signature of PSV’s attacking midfielder Ibrahim Afellay alongside Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool. The Dutchman’s agent Rob Jansen has suggested that the player’s future is uncertain which will only increase speculation that the player will be on his way to Anfield at the end of the season.
Jansen told Sportweek: “The contract between Ibrahim and PSV expires in June 2011, so we are not in a hurry to renew.
“We decided to take it easy and think carefully before signing any renewal.
“Ibrahim is very happy with what he is doing at PSV and so it is possible that he will stay in Eindhoven.
“But he could also decide to move abroad. At the moment I cannot say anything else. We will see how the situation develops.”
The talented 23-year-old has also been linked to a number of Premier League clubs in the past with Arsenal thought to be very keen prior to the arrival of Andrey Arshavin which ended that interest. Liverpool are certainly looking to add more width and quality to their squad although failure to qualify for the Champions League will scupper their hopes as Afellay is in high demand despite a relatively low-key season for PSV.
Benitez likes his players to show versatility and the fact that Afellay can play on either flank or as a 2nd striker makes him the perfect addition for Liverpool if they can qualify for the Champions League and raise the necessary £10m to sign him perhaps through the sale or a swap deal involving Babel. (Football Pools)
There is no doubt that in recent cameo appearances Ryan Babel has on occasion shown us Liverpool fans just what he can on occasion be capable of, but its really too little to late and if a move could be sewn up that would bring a player of the quality and potential of Ibrahim Afellay to Anfield then that would be a swap deal that would simply be too good to refuse.
The 23 year old playmaker can play in a number of roles but it is perhaps on the wings is where he would be most effective for Liverpool. He is a pacy and intelligent runner with the ball and could be the natural creative force that we have been looking for to help link midfield to attack. The Dutch international must feel that he has done as much as he can in his domestic league, after all he has already collected the Eredivisie title 4 times and as such could well be very open to a move to the Premier League.
Arsenal were said to be close to signing the player a few years back but if truth be told they already have about five other players of a similar ilk and ability and Afellay may well be aware of that and would be open to a move to join us, not least because he has the ability to fit into the starting eleven right now, depending on how Rafa would like to fiddle with the team.
I think that Ryan Babel would probably welcome a move back to Holland and may feel he could resurrect his stuttering career back at home and therefore perhaps a deal could be thrashed out to suit all parties?
YNWA
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