Phil Chisnall… What? Who? You may ask. The retired forward was the last player to move directly between Liverpool and Manchester United way back in 1964. The rivalry between the two great North West clubs has ensured that transfer between them have been very, very, very rare, and although numerous players have represented the two sides, they don’t sit down together too often to thrash out complex agreements.
However, 2015 could be the next date on the list, with reports indicating that Liverpool are considering a quite frankly shocking swoop for Javier Hernandez. The Mexico international is currently away from Old Trafford on loan at Real Madrid, but another switch this summer looks to be on the cards.
Here are FIVE reasons it could make sense…
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Liverpool need goals
In the Premier League Liverpool’s top scorers – Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard – are tied on six goals… SIX. That’s a far cry from last term when both Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez smashed over 20 apiece, as the Reds ran riot.
Hernandez’s currency is firmly goals, and despite his lack of playing time at Real Madrid, he possesses a better goals-per-90 minutes ratio than any of Liverpool’s current forwards and has netted over 30 goals in English football already.
Hernandez needs a fresh start
A loan move to Real Madrid was somewhat optimistic on ‘Chicharito’s’ part, with his playing chances at the Bernabeu always likely to be lower than at Old Trafford. Sure enough, he managed just 270 minutes of La Liga action, and with a return to United looking unlikely, a fresh start looks to be best.
Liverpool could offer him a route back to England, more game time, the chance to impress and a nice platform to get one over on his former employers.
Rodgers has a record of saving cast-offs
Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho were struggling while at Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively. But January 2013 switches to Anfield to work under Rodgers have revived their careers to the point that they’re considered to be two of the best players in their positions in the Premier League.
Hernandez is not as young as the aforementioned duo, but he still has cope to turn things around at 26.
Lambert, Balotelli & Borini may be off
Reports have indicated that Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini could all be axed this summer. With a combined total of just four Premier League goals between them, it’s easy to see just why the Merseysiders would look to shift them all on, but doing so will leave them short of options.
Should the threesome be sold, then Hernandez could come in to support Sturridge, whose injury record illustrates just how often he needs someone to step in.
Cheaper than others
Although £8m is a figure beyond the imagination of all us ‘normal people’, in the realm of football it’s actually a relatively low figure. Liverpool, regardless of their Champions League qualification fate, will surely have such funds in place, and other targets are likely to cost far, far, far more.