Grading Liverpool's early summer signings

03 July 2013 10:42

There haven’t been as many clubs in the Premier league as busy as Liverpool this summer and having already snapped up four players before the summer window had even opened, the club has made an early attempt to strengthen as early as possible and it doesn't seem like their done yet.

Below I've broken down the players and graded each transfer:

Kolo Toure

Price: Free

Age: 32

Experience: 2002-2013 Arsenal, Manchester City (307 apps)

International Experience: Ivory Coast 2000 - (103 apps)

Firstly being a free agent is a massive boost for any club, but getting a player who has stood the test of time within a league for over 10 years is even better.

After the retirement of Jamie Carragher at the end of last season a seasoned centre back with premier league experience was definitely required and for Rodgers to get Toure on a free transfer was certainly a shrewd bit of business for the Reds.

He may be 32 years old but has proved he can still keep up with the pace of the premier league and is sure to contribute when the season kicks off.

Grade B

Simon Mignolet

Price: £9M

Age: 25

Experience: Sunderland 2010-2013 (90 apps)

International experience: Belgium 2011 - (13 apps)

The future of Pepe Reina has been spoken of in depth over the past few seasons with teams like Arsenal & Barcelona all reportedly willing to take the Spaniard off the Liverpool books.

With his high wages, his age and his massive dip in form over the last few seasons it seems that Brendan Rodgers wanted a younger and cheaper goal keeper.

The signing of Mignolet in my view is a massive one as in the long run he has to become Reina's replacement.

Mignolet kept 11 clean sheets in 40 total meetings and, at just 25 years of age, should be Liverpool's keeper for years to come.

Grade A

Iago Aspas

Price: £7M

Age: 25

Experience: 2008–2013 Celta Vigo (136 apps)

International Experience: No Caps

For those that don’t follow La Liga (apart from when Barcelona meet Real Madrid in the El Classico) Iago Aspas came from Celta Vigo a city in the north-west of Spain.

Celta finished the 2012-13 season 17th just fighting off relegation and the 12 goals & 5 assists he provided helped the team go a long way to achieving that.

Aspas has a grit and determined work rate about him, he's a hard-working player who has plenty of skill and has the ability to setup plays as well as finishing them.

While he maybe not be the next Torres or Suarez in terms of goals this season, he’s sure to impress and add to Liverpool's goal tally.

Grade B

Luis Alberto

Price: £6.8M

Age: 20

Experience: Sevilla 2011–2012 (7 apps), Barcelona B 2012-2013 (36 apps)

International Experience: 2013 - Spain U-21 (1 app)

Luis Alberto according to many is a buy for the future; I tend to disagree with this due to a few reasons if Philippe Coutinho can step up and do the job in the Premier League then why Alberto can’t.

He registered 11 goals and 15 assists with Barcelona's B-team in the Segunda division last year.

The young Spaniard's a clever, versatile youngster who will most likely play on the wing for Liverpool but could easily be used centrally behind the main striker or even in a false nine.

He may not hit the ground running like Coutinho did but he certainly has the potential to become a star of tomorrow.

Grade B

Liverpool's early business will hopefully pay dividends as it will give the group time to adjust to each other and will hopefully pay off when the season kicks off.

Source: DSG