Willian should reject Liverpool and sign for potential title contenders Tottenham
19 Aug 2013 17:33
Darren Lewis, despite being a Liverpool fan, reckons that the Brazilian should choose White Hart Lane over Anfield
A month ago he was marooned in Russia when he would rather be here in the Premier League.
Now Willian has a choice to make - Does he fancy a move to Spurs or Liverpool?
Don't read too much into claims from Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas that a formal bid from the north Londoners hasn't gone in yet.
Anzhi simply want to get the big-earning player off their books. So the club are happy for Willian to get himself fixed up with someone else then they'll agree a fee with the outfit concerned.
Liverpool believed they were that club until as late as Sunday with Spurs briefing that they had pulled out of the running.
The Reds went on to agree terms with the Brazilian who by then was even talking publicly about how excited he was to go to a club of Liverpool's great standing.
Spurs, however, have come back in to give the 25-year-old Brazilian a real conundrum.
And it pains me - as a Liverpool fan - to say it but Willian would be mad not to choose Tottenham.
They are the club with the better chance of breaking back into the Champions League. They are the club bringing in the better quality players.
Liverpool are a massive club, steeped with history and tradition, yes. But the harsh reality of the here and now is that, in World Cup year, Spurs can offer Willian European football.
They can match anything Liverpool offer in terms of wages. And for all the promise of the Reds' opening day win over Stoke (they really were terrific), Liverpool are still hostages to one man.
Even if Luis Suarez - who hit 30 goals last season - does stay, an injury to the Uruguayan would be catastrophic. Daniel Sturridge is talented but has yet to prove that he can maintain his form over a season.
Jordan Henderson doesn't score that often and Iago Aspas has it all to prove at a higher level.
Compare that with Spurs who also have their own concerns about Gareth Bale.
Let's not kid ourselves. The 24-year-old winger looks all set for Real Madrid. It is simply a case of Spurs getting the time to bring in replacements.
But if the north Londoners get that part right, then in the most open title race for years who is to say that Tottenham wouldn't have an outside shot at the title?
Right the way through the team there is already quality. Hugo Lloris is the French no.1 keeper. Jan Vertonghen would walk into any team in the top four.
Paulinho was one of the best players at the Conderations Cup, Nacer Chadli - who himself can play second striker - comes with Champions League experience.
If Tottenham lost Soldado they could turn to Jermain Defoe - a proven poacher. Whatever happens, they are going to bring in at least one more quality striker anyway. They simply have much better depth than Liverpool.
To help him settle in the Reds may have Willian's Brazilian countrymen Lucas and Coutinho in their ranks but Spurs have Paulinho and Sandro AND a manager who knows the player.
Villas Boas, who tried to sign Willian at Chelsea and in January for Spurs has remained in constant contact with him - despite his decision to move to Anzhi. The pair have a good relationship.
Willian would fit easily into either team formation. Assuming Luis Suarez stays at Anfield, Brendan Rodgers would have a rather tasty trio of Suarez on the left, Coutinho in the hole and Willian on the right - all interchanging.
In the Spurs team, with Roberto Soldado up front, Willian would either play just off the striker, with Nacer Chadli on the left and Aaron Lennon on the right.
Or Willian would move to the right and if, say Spurs brought in Christian Eriksen from Ajax or Adem Ljajjic from Fiorentina - both entering the final year of their contracts - to play in the hole.
Speaking earlier today, Villas Boas confirmed that the club are not finished with their transfer dealings (why would they be with so many good players available cut-price in the market?) and are looking at increasing their depth.
"We haven't finished." said the Spurs boss who also wants another defender and a left-back.
"We have a very good squad. We have done most of our activity in the market, but we are looking further."
Willian himself needs to look further. Liverpool are a magnificent club. An institution in this country. But the Champions League beckons if he chooses Tottenham.
. Im pretty much fed up of what is happening at Arsenal. Cant see myself even enjoying everytime we go out on the pitch especially as we havent signed anyone and are down to 9 fully fit first team players for Wed's game against Fenerbache.
. We have ****ing £154mill sat in the bank doing sweet FA and this is the rubbish we are bidding for??. The more i read about Arsenal and their cackhanded way of doing business this summer the more it irritates me. 
