The Rumour

Liverpool have reportedly lined up Udinese playmaker Gaetano D’Agostino as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.

Udinese are prepared to sell either D’Agostino or Manchester United target Alexis Sanchez if bidding exceeds £17million.

The Source: (Daily Mail)

The Analysis

Given that the rumour mill has been spinning wildly in relation to the future of Xabi Alonso it it not surprising that the self same rumour machine would begin to churn out potential replacements should the Spaniard opt for a move to Real Madrid.

27 year old D’Agostino has had an up and down career in Serie A that became stuck in a rut whilst at AS Roma but a move to Messina led him to perennial over-achievers Udinese and last month his slow rise to prominence led him to his first international cap.

He is a midfielder with good vision and fair strike rate but not one who could ever be considered a fair replacements for a player in Xabi’s league, Gaetano would represent a big drop down in quality and the fee wanted by his Italian employers is severely inflated.

The Likelihood

D’Agostino to Liverpool: Rafa will not opt for this switch.

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