Cash registers ring at Anfield, but for the right players?

After a very slow start to their moves in the transfer market, Liverpool have started spending (or attempting to), their latest bid being a 10m pound offer for Ajax winger Ryan Babel who has been heavily linked with Arsenal.

While Babel is considered to be highly rated by much of the football world, I would consider him highly overrated. I thought he was brilliant the first few times I saw him, but as time has gone by, he hasn’t really improved much as a player and doesn’t seem like he’ll make it in the Premiership.

Apparently Ajax are holding out for 13m+ for the 20 year old.

The 3.5m pound gap can certainly be negotiated, but I think Liverpool would be making a mistake to sign Babel. There is a reason Arsene Wenger didn’t already pull the trigger, even last season. Babel is a bit wayward and lacks a bit of killer instinct. I agree with Arsenal’s position not to pursue a transfer yet. Let Liverpool make the mistake.

With the sale of Djibril Cisse and Craig Bellamy, Liverpool have recouped much of the costs of signing Fernando Torres. There seems to more money left over, but I think clearly, while more costly, Ricardo Quaresma from FC Porto or Simao from Benfica is a better choice. More experienced, talented and a finished product, Quaresma especially has what Liverpool needs to win now. Babel, unless a surprised comes, won’t produce right away, if ever.

Nigel de Jong

Dutch club Ajax has proved once again to have some of the best youngsters in the World. Its policy is principally to develop young players, who then go to some of the best clubs. The latest "release" has been 21 year-old Nigel de Jong, who had gained main squad status 3 years ago, in last January, to german Hamburger SV. Nigel was inicially centre-back, but his 1m74 and good technique placed him into a new position: full-back. His best right foot leaded him to the right defensive place. In spite of his speed and technique, he never showed good crossing, so he's been, mostly this season, adapted in a new position: defensive midfielder. For me this is the ideal place for the talented youngster, who also showed great offensive characteristics. He scored 11 goals in 36 games (including League, Cup and Champions League). Now in HSV, de Jong, number 28, scored 1 goal in 10 games and still plays in the midfield. He's fast, strong, intelligent, not individualist, has great shooting, tackling, heading and also plays an essencial role in his team, since he can play in any position in both defense and midfield. Before Hamburg "kidnapped" him, the giant Manchester United has shown interest in this Roy Keane would-have-been substitute. He's also one of Holland's capped main players.

Hedwiges Maduro

Ajax Amsterdam is scrambling to resign its latest sensation, Hedwiges Maduro.

Maduro has been an instant sensation after a match changing substitution after the half in the Netherland’s impressive 4-0 win over Finland.

The praise is well deserved: it was an amazing display of a player turning a match around, and to that degree, and on top of that on his debut!

Lookout for this 20 year old talent:

http://www.ajax.nl/show/id=4205/dbid=188/typeofpage=1823

Ryan Babel: yet another Ajax youth talent

Ajax Amsterdam has been renowned for finding players from all over the world. This time they have found one right in Amsterdam: 18 year old Ryan Babel (2nd photo).

A right footed striker, 185cm tall with remarkable dribbling skills, he has been with the club since the age of 11 as have so many of Ajax Amsterdam’s prodigies. Babel particularly likes going past opponents, and was helped along by legend Marco van Basten in the youth squad.

A substitute in the Amstel Cup quarterfinal tonight Babel changed the game, helping to turn a 0-0 tussle into a 2-0 win in 5 minutes, scoring one of the goals with power and style. He did the same thing in injury time on a Jan. 23rd win over FC Utrecht.