Steven Caulker (Cardiff)

Liverpool set to land Steven Caulker in coming months after missing out on Cardiff defender last summer

Liverpool are ready to capitalise on Cardiff's relegation to finally land Steven Caulker.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers wanted Caulker last summer but Spurs refused to sell to their rivals.

They instead flogged former England U21 and Great Britain stopper Caulker to Cardiff for a smaller £8million fee but with a 50 % sell-on clause.

The Bluebirds captain, 22, has had a decent campaign despite the Welsh club being bottom.

He has scored five goals and Rodgers, who had Caulker on loan at Swansea in 2011/2012, now wants to finally get his man.

Caulker has a relegation release clause which Liverpool now plan to activate.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-transfer-news-steven-caulker-3520084#ixzz31KV6aSZA

BBC also reporting the buyout clause.

Not sure what to make of this really. Would be a good 4th choice if we move Kolo on and loan Ilori out again but I'm not sure he's that leader we're looking for at the back.

Not excited by this. We need a top quality addition at the back, Caulker is just semi decent IMO.

Not watched enough of the lad to make an honest appraisal. I have heard plenty about him though and he's consistently named as the best player for Cardiff this year. In a team that has conceded 72 goals and you're a defender still to come out on top must suggest you've been doing something right or everyone else has been total and utter crap of course.

A very strange move to buy a CB from the bottom club in the league when you're finishing in the top 2, part of that actually makes me like the deal in an odd way. They must see something they like and I'm not going to knock the idea just because they're getting relegated so will reserve judgement until I've seen the lad play a few times.

If it's true we've been after him that long then it's clear this season he's done nothing to put us off. One to keep an eye on this one as I actually do believe we're in for him.

Not watched enough of the lad to make an honest appraisal.

I'd be in same boat. Guess BR knows him from his time in Swansea, maybe he sees something in him. When he was at Spurs playing, thought he looked decent, but not one that shouted 'sign me'. But again, haven't seen enough of him to have opinion one way or the other.

I haven't watched much of Cardiff but I really liked this guy at Swansea. I was actually surprised when Spurs sold him.

He looks a good player from the very little I've seen of him.

Brendan knows him well so if we buy him then he obviously feels he's worth it.

Don't know much about him but it's not a marquee signing, is it?

Maybe Brendan is trying to get in plenty of "decent" players to increase the squad size, with an extra competition to play in next year.  When the WC is over, maybe we go for "top class" targets (I hope).

With the improvement this year, it would be unthinkable that we didn't get in at least 1 player of top quality - availability and clubs not wanting to sell, might be factors, of course.

Don't know much about him but it's not a marquee signing, is it?

Not all of our signings will be or need to be. I'd be concerned if this was our only signing but it won't be, plus I actually think he's an excellent defender.

I think caulker is a good option. Also a calmer head than sakho at the back and handy going forward. I could see a caulker/skrtel combination playing well.

Don't know much about him but it's not a marquee signing, is it?

Don;t care if it's a marquee signing or not, as long as it makes me pitch a tent. 

Obviously bigger names out there and maybe well still be looking at 1 but to be fair he seems to get good reports back on most of his games and I couldn't give a toss if hes not a big enough name if he helps shore up our defence next season

Not seen a lot of him but when I did watch him he was either scoring or picking up MOTM so if we do indeed buy him then ill trust Brendans judgment in believing he's good enough for us.

Should be getting him cheap, not too fussed about signing him to be honest, no more than the $8m he went to Cardiff for

Scenario: Say we do sign Caulker, could that mean Agger is on his way out? Bare in mind for a minute, part of the reason Caulker left Spurs was because he wanted first time football on a regular basis...

‘It wasn’t that I wanted to leave Tottenham but I am at a stage in my career where I want to play regular football,’ said the 21-year-old defender. (Metro) but a direct quote all the same.

Link for the rest of the article: http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/02/steven-caulker-admits-he-left-tottenham-because-he-feared-being-fourth-choice-3909270/

If he comes then don't expect him to be 4th choice or "back up".

Scenario: Say we do sign Caulker, could that mean Agger is on his way out? Bare in mind for a minute, part of the reason Caulker left Spurs was because he wanted first time football on a regular basis...

‘It wasn’t that I wanted to leave Tottenham but I am at a stage in my career where I want to play regular football,’ said the 21-year-old defender. (Metro) but a direct quote all the same.

Link for the rest of the article: http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/02/steven-caulker-admits-he-left-tottenham-because-he-feared-being-fourth-choice-3909270/]

If he comes then don't expect him to be 4th choice or "back up".

The expectation would be to challenge Skrtel and may be eventually replace him as the 1st choice RCB. Sakho & Agger will be the LCBs obviously

The expectation would be to challenge Skrtel and may be eventually replace him as the 1st choice RCB. Sakho & Agger will be the LCBs obviously

Where does that leave Ilori, Toure, Coates, even Kelly?

I expect Coates to leave, Toure might also go, Kelly might not be seen as a CB.  Ilori definitely is and CB and might not be keen on more loan moves...

Also, we know that defence has been our major weakness this term, I would expect more arrivals in that area than Caulker so I think Agger or Skrtel will leave - maybe both if the right replacement(s) are found.

Where does that leave Ilori, Toure, Coates, even Kelly?

I expect Coates to leave, Toure might also go, Kelly might not be seen as a CB.  Ilori definitely is and CB and might not be keen on more loan moves...

Also, we know that defence has been our major weakness this term, I would expect more arrivals in that area than Caulker so I think Agger or Skrtel will leave - maybe both if the right replacement(s) are found.

Skrtel, caulker, vertonghen, Sakho, illori, Kelly. That'll do for me.

Where does that leave Ilori, Toure, Coates, even Kelly?

I expect Coates to leave, Toure might also go, Kelly might not be seen as a CB.  Ilori definitely is and CB and might not be keen on more loan moves...

Also, we know that defence has been our major weakness this term, I would expect more arrivals in that area than Caulker so I think Agger or Skrtel will leave - maybe both if the right replacement(s) are found.

I think Illori will have another year out on loan, then will eventually replace Agger..

Next season with additional games we will look to go in with

Rcb
Caulker (or another)
Skrtel

Lcb
Agger
Sakho

The others I think will leave

That offers decent balance to the squad

I think Illori will have another year out on loan, then will eventually replace Agger..

Next season with additional games we will look to go in with

Rcb
Caulker (or another)
Skrtel

Lcb
Agger
Sakho

The others I think will leave

That offers decent balance to the squad

So we address our biggest issue with a decent defender from the bottom club, who conceded the 2nd highest amount?  I don't much/enough improvement there.

I'm hopeful that if Caulker will comes in, it will be as backup to whichever 2 are going to start regularly.  I'd hope that would be one top class CB with Skrtel/Agger or two new top class with Caulker & Skrtel/Agger as backup.

So we address our biggest issue with a decent defender from the bottom club, who conceded the 2nd highest amount?  I don't much/enough improvement there.

I'm hopeful that if Caulker will comes in, it will be as backup to whichever 2 are going to start regularly.  I'd hope that would be one top class CB with Skrtel/Agger or two new top class with Caulker & Skrtel/Agger as backup.

I can't say I've watched him week in week out, but all these players are good players, some can thrive under different coaches.

I remember some peoples reaction to the potential Sturridge signing.

It's a rumour currently, nothing more, I was just saying it makes sense us looking at a right footer as another option.. Whoever that option is

As for the goals we have conceded  I'm of the mind we need to look at other areas than just the two center backs for full blame. There are numerous reasons we conceded goals and it's not just on the two there

No! Just no!

Agreed - we can't lay blame solely at the feet of the CB pairings we've had.  The whole defence and the rest of the team are responsible for keeping the opposition out, but those who sit at the heart of defence have to be better than they have been this season.

I also think we need to strengthen at full back.  Johnson is very hot and cold and Flanno is still young despite having a great season.  We have little or no cover for these.  Enrique has been out all season and his defensive duties are suspect at best, Kelly doesn't seem to be fancied - as shown when playing Flanno at RB and letting Cissokho on the field.  At a push, Agger can play LB and Toure RB, but that's not the quality needed to improve on this year's form.

I have nothing against Caulker, I just hoped we'd shopping slightly more up-market given we are back in the CL and defence is our biggest weakness.

Not excited by this. We need a top quality addition at the back, Caulker is just semi decent IMO.

He wasn't deemed good enough spurs, so why would we want/need him? Then again it was AVB who got rid of. Imo though we need a leader at the back. Another Carra, or john terry type figure.