Could Taye Taiwo be Coming to Liverpool FC?

Posted on 11. Feb, 2011 by Larry Butz in News, Rumours

Taye Taiwo has announced that he will not be signing a new contract with his current club Olympique de Marseille. The left-back, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is quoted by The Nation as saying, “I have made the decision not to sign a contract extension. I want to change clubs in June.”

There was plenty of speculation in January that the 25-year-old Nigerian would be moving to Liverpool or Tottenham, but OM managed to hold on to him during the transfer window. It now seems he will have his pick of clubs with a free transfer inevitable.

Taiwo has hinted that he has already picked his new club, but declined to name any names, saying, “My agent and I are in advanced talks with a club from one of Europe’s top three leagues and I expect to reach an agreement in the near future.”

Could that club be Liverpool FC? It’s quite possible.

Despite the fact that Liverpool have had their best run of games with Glen Johnson playing either left-back or left-wingback, it is unlikely that that will remain the same next season, as the club looks to move forward with player development. Taiwo comes with power, pace, and crossing ability to provide for new signing Andy Carroll while also shoring up the defense. If playing time is a consideration, Liverpool may be the best option in the Premier League, unless Spurs plan on selling Benoit Assou-Ekotto, as has also been rumoured.

Though it can hardly be called a reliable source, Taiwo’s Wikipedia page has already been updated to say he will be becoming a Red. It claims that Damien Comolli, Liverpool’s Director of Football Strategy, has been scouting the former Lobi Stars player:

“Having turned down a new contract from Marseille in January 2011, Taiwo has said that he will be leaving Olympique Marseille in June 2011. Also, been seen with Steve Hitchen, a Damien Comolli accomplice working in France, for a number of times in past few weeks has further added fuel to the story that Taiwo is in the process of negotiating a new contract with Liverpool Football Club.”

It will be interesting to see how this develops as Taiwo is a very good and realistic option for Liverpool. However, it would likely damper any hope fans may have of signing Fábio Coentrão, unless the Portuguese player were signed primarily as a winger.

Liverpool are also said to face competition from Manchester City, Chelsea, and Sunderland for the player, as well as a host of European rivals.

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18 Responses to “Could Taye Taiwo be Coming to Liverpool FC?”

Edgar Apap

11. Feb, 2011

Better young left backs out there. I dont see him good enough for our new Liverpool team. The owners want younger and better players then him. Walk on reds
- chips2011
  
  11. Feb, 2011
  
  There may well be a select few better young left backs out there but to get a left back of this quality on a free transfer is a great bit of business! I would prefer to sign coentrao as he has looked sensational for portugal in the world cup and for benfica in europe! But for squad depth this would be a tremendous signing!!
Tgan

11. Feb, 2011

Rumours in Liverpool suggesting Everton on verge of administration…….
LiverpoolFan

11. Feb, 2011

C’mon! Fabio Coentrao instead please!
- ralph
  
  11. Feb, 2011
  
  Dam right!
hobble

11. Feb, 2011

World class leftbacks are far and few between and even the average ones come at a premium. That said, taiwo has a kick like that of a mule but he’s an aweful defender when taken on by good wingers. If he can put a little more work defensively then yes, we have john arne riise back.
ralph

11. Feb, 2011

rather have coentrao . taye is good but coentrao is the best!
guy

11. Feb, 2011

HES FREEEEEEEEEE
- chips2011
  
  11. Feb, 2011
  
  EXACTLY MY POINT! A great left back for free!!!!
  - SAJ
    
    11. Feb, 2011
    
    Agreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
jklasser17

11. Feb, 2011

I don’t understand the folks slagging him off. Why can’t we get both him and Coentrao?? It’s not like we have any other LB’s besides Insua. So why not get a rather good LB for free and then get Coentrao. The point is that even if we get Coentrao we will inevitably need another LB. Might as well get a good one for free. A good left foot is hard to find.

Even if we get Ashley Young and Coentrao in the summer this would be a good FREE signing. If Young gets hurt, you can push Coentrao up and pop Taiwo into the LB spot.

Plus, we’re gonna need good squad depth for our Champs Lge run next year!!!
Joel

11. Feb, 2011

Not LFC material, dont care if he is on a free transfer or not.

Voronin, Cole, Jovanovic, Degen……were all also free transfers. They didnt turn out to be “bargains”

Just because a player is available on a free transfer does not make them a great signing.

We are LFC and we should be going for players like Coentrao to take us back to where we belong………at the summit of Football
- timmy
  
  11. Feb, 2011
  
  I think he’s a solid squad player and we should sign both him and Coentrao, but I don’t agree with your logic on free transfers. If Coentrao was a free transfer would you think he isn’t a bargain?
mik

12. Feb, 2011

Red should go for him.His pace and stamina will work as a strong base defense in left.Moreover he is free of cost.While coentrao can be used as a left wing.Both of them should be considered at least taiwo should make the move.
bashir. auditor

12. Feb, 2011

we need twoworld class midfilders and two world class defenders to become a champion again or we want going anywheres
andrew senyonjo THE KOP.

12. Feb, 2011

TAIWO IS A GOOD LEFT BACK. COENTRAO IS MUCH BETTER BUT HAVING BOTH IS EXCELLENT. ARDA TURAN BOJAN KIRKIK LAVEZZI GREAZMAN ETC FOR CHAMPIONS FOREVER. LIVEPOOL FC.
Joel

12. Feb, 2011

He is not going to be a bargain because he is defensively awful.
Coentrao available on a free would be a bargain but we have notoriously been screwed on free transfers there arent many that heve become “bargains”
pesa_kakau

12. Feb, 2011

hahah..yap he free so get taiwo n sell him on next summer..