Liverpool, United, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern? Who Needs Marco Reus The Most?

By Aakriti Mehrotra
10 years Ago

Marco Reus has been the hot subject of transfer rumors since the beginning of this year’s transfer window. The German international has been the prized asset of Borussia Dortmund but top European clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich have been linked with a move for him throughout the summer. Arsenal joined this group of suitors towards the end of the transfer window while Manchester City have been linked with the attacking midfielder for about four days now.

And now it has been reported that the player has refused a contract extension at Dortmund.Ai??The 25-year-old has a A?20m release clause that kicks in next summer and the lack of willingness apparently shown by the player means that a club can come and price him away for a pretty meagre sum. With so many clubs showing interest in him, Dortmund might still receive a good amount of money for the star player, but if Reus shows inclination towards a particular side (like Kroos’s for Real Madrid or Suarez’s towards Barcelona), the club could benefit by getting a player of immense talent for a bargain fee.

However, the big question is that who needs the player the most?

BarcelonaAi??were linked with the player during the World Cup but after they got Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic, these rumors died down. However, very recently it has been brought to the fore that the Catalan giants have a deal agreed with the player for 2016. While this is just a rumour, Barcelona certainly have the finances, credentials and power to attract Reus. But do they need him?

Luis Enrique has played the 4-3-3 formation this season with one holding midfielder and two central or attacking players in the middle third of the pitch. In the attack, two wingers line-up with Messi acting as a false 9. Reus can play as a winger, but with Suarez coming into action soon, the big-money signing from Liverpool is likely to line-up along with Neymar and Messi in the front three. Reus will therefore probably be used along with a defensive midfielder (Busquets). Iniesta is now 30 and Xavi 34. While Iniesta still has 3-4 years in him, getting Reus as a long-term replacement and to add more quality in the squad makes sense. The midfield comprisingAi??Busquets (26), Reus (25) and Rakitic (26) is obviously a department sorted for a good four-five years, if not more.

Therefore, Reus will be a sensible investment for Barcelona.

Manchester UnitedAi??are the other club to have been linked with the player. However, following the arrival of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid,Ai??it is not even certain that Van Gaal wants Reus to be the player coming from the city ofAi??Dortmund. Even if he does, United certainly don’t need the player. Presently, the squad is extremely potent in the attacking department with the presence of Di Maria, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Adnan Januzaj and Ander Herrera. United’s main area of concern is the defence and adding another attack-minded player will not make much sense for the club.

ArsenalAi??have also been linked with the player. The Gunners are strongest in the attacking midfield/winger department but still, every year, they have this big injury crisis which is usually blamed for their lack of success.Ai??In that sense, having an army full of attackers is a good option. But as Wenger pointed out (at the reason for not going for Fabregas in the summer), that the club already has enough ‘offensive players’. In Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and not to forget this window’s big buy Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal have a number of players who can play in several attacking positions. However, three of these players are out on the sidelines with injuries so in that context, Reus would be more than a welcome addition to the side. But by next summer (presumably), this would be a luxury signing.

Manchester CityAi??are also looking at Reus, as claimed by recent reports. Pellegrini’s side most certainly does not need the German playmaker as in Silva, Toure, Nasri, Navas, Milner, Jovetic and Lampard (albeit temporarily), they’ve got the attacking department astutely covered.

LiverpoolAi??have been linked with the player ever since Suarez departed for Barcelona and fans are certainly hoped that the German international is the marquee player Rodgers brings in to replace the Uruguayan. Liverpool fans made such a hullabaloo about it in the summer window that club owner John W Henry even jokingly tweeted about the matter. Do Liverpool need him? Yes.

With Sturridge out due to injuries for the past month, the Reds have been extremely poor in their display and Rodgers’ last season’s side has been almost unrecognizable. While it is incorrect to pin this down to just one reason as concerns like a new set of players adjusting, players returning from injury, sizable amount of players out on the sidelines, fixtures coming thick and fast also matter, basically, the lack of creativity in the second and final third has been the reason for very meek and lacklustre displays.

Marco Reus can easily fit in the Liverpool starting 11. In a 4-2-3-1, he would be part of the attacking trio alongside Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana/Philippe Coutinho; in a 4-4-2 formation (preferred by Rodgers), he would be either providing competition for 19 yr old Sterling in the number 10 spot or competing with Henderson or Lallana for a midfield spot. In a 4-3-3, he could either line-up on the wing, or in the midfield.

Basically, Reus could comfortably walk into the Liverpool starting 11 right now and last season’s runners up will be more than boosted with his presence.

Bayern Munich,Ai??Dortmund’s arch-rivals, have been the other club to show interest in the player. Dortmund would certainly not want to sell the player to Bayern and have already had disputes regarding the playmaker in the transfer window. But the big question is whether the Bavarian giants need Reus.

Pep Guardiola already has eight forwards- Robert Lewandowski, Claudio Pizarro, Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Xherdan Shaqiri and Julian Green. However, Ribery, Robben and Pizzaro are all in their thirties, and Green is extremely raw and still 19. Therefore, Reus could actually be a smart buy for Bayern, who have time and again (despite the refutes from Guardiola), shown interest in the 25 year old. But the club signing yet another important Dortmund player will send a wrong message to the German footballing fans whose belief that the club is trying to monopolize the Bundesliga will be reaffirmed.

Verdict:

Reus is currently still out injured and Dortmund are struggling in the league. They are in the 13th place (at the time of writing) with just two wins and a draw from seven games. If anyone needs Reus, it is his own club. Of course, inAi??Mkhitaryan, Kagawa,Ai??Ramos,Ai??Emerick Aubameyang, they have players in the attacking department, but their vice-captain is a vital cog in their system, as shown by comments made by Klopp and the management. The fact that they are offering him an extension only reiterates this.

Out of the interested parties, at present, Reus could only walk into Liverpool’s starting 11 and that clearly shows that he is needed at Merseyside the most (out of his suitors). For Bayern and Barcelona, he would be a smart buy.

Categories: Arsenal FC, Borussia Dortmund, English Premier League, Features, German Bundesliga, Manchester City, Manchester United, Transfer News
Tags: Arsenal FC Barcelona Bayern Munich Borussia Dortmund Liverpool FC Manchester City Manchester United Marco Reus

Verdict:

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