Liverpool: 6 Reasons Why They Should and Shouldn't Sign Aly Cissokho

Allan JiangJul 17, 2011

According to Le Parisien, Liverpool will sign Lyon left back Aly Cissokho for £8.7 million.

In the space of five years, Cissokho has gone from being a youth player at French minnows Gueugnon to being the one of the most coveted left backs in the world.

This article will outline six reasons Liverpool should and shouldn’t sign him.

Sign Him: Can You Name One Solid and Reliable Left Back at Liverpool?

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When you look at the Liverpool team, you notice a gaping hole at left back.

Glen Johnson: Became a liability at right back, shifted to left back, and surprisingly looked better. But Liverpool needs a proper left back.

Fábio Aurélio: Spends more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.

Emiliano Insúa: Excellent left peg, but his athleticism is woefully below English Premier League standard. Will always be the Achilles’ heel of the defence if the opposing team has a speedy winger.

Jack Robinson: Can Liverpool afford to burden a 17-year-old with such responsibility?

So wouldn’t it be logical to sign Aly Cissokho, who has world class potential?

Sign him: Aly Cissokho is the best transfer option available

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There is only one other legitimate and logical transfer option at left back, and that's José Enrique.

Though who would you prefer, Enrique or Aly Cissokho?

I take Cissokho because he offers incisive runs, dynamic play, and just an all-action game which Enrique doesn’t offer.

You know what you’re going to get from Enrique—good 6.5/10 performances.

Cissokho potentially can offer outstanding performances, and his potential to become a world class player is so much higher than Enrique.

Sign Him: £8.7 Million for Aly Cissokho Is a Steal

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Either Lyon have a lot of faith in 19-year-old Timothée Kolodziejczak or the transfer fee is incorrect.

Anywhere between £8-12 million would be a fair transfer fee for Cissokho, who in the past has commanded a £20 million-plus transfer fee.

Liverpool do not want to make the same mistake Real Madrid made in buying a talented player for an inflated price, as Los Merengues did when buying Fábio Coentrão for €30 million.

Signing Cissokho for £8.7 million would be very shrewd business from Liverpool.

Don’t Sign Him: There’s a Reason Why Lyon Want to Sell Him for Just £8.7 Million

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As much as Aly Cissokho wants to attribute his failed transfer to A.C. Milan on financial reasons; finances wouldn’t have been an issue if he had passed his medical.

Upon failing his medical, A.C. Milan presumably attempted to strong arm Porto into an extremely disproportionately low transfer fee.

Lyon stepped in and bought Cissokho for €15 million.

Now you’re probably thinking how did someone as fit as Cissokho fail a medical?

His teeth indicated potential spinal problems, which could occur in the future.

According to Daniele Perticari at Goal.com, Doctor Renzo Mandozzi said Cissokho’s teeth could also be linked to the presence of granulomas, which could affect human muscle or the heart.

Given the sudden deaths of footballers like Marc-Vivien Foé, Miklós Fehér, Mohamed Abdelwahab, Antonio Puerta and Daniel Jarque in recent years, can Liverpool afford to take a risk with Cissokho’s health?

Don’t Sign Him: Gabriel Milito Is a Clear Example of Trusting Medicals

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Then Real Madrid Sporting Director Jorge Valdano had to endure the ignominy on basing Real Madrid’s reason in not signing Gabriel Milito on a failed medical.

Real Zaragoza signed Milito, who not only played 151 games in four seasons but looked solid enough that Barcelona paid €18.5 million for his services.

In April 2010, Marca reported that Milito confronted Valdano for questioning his durability—Milito played 42 games for Barcelona in his first season.

A cruciate knee ligament injury, a thigh injury, a hamstring injury and a torn calf muscle later, Valdano had the last laugh.

Aly Cissokho failed his A.C. Milan medical, “passed” his Lyon medical, and so far hasn’t shown any evidence that he is a health risk.

Though the point of medicals are to predict future injuries, to access how much of a health risk this player could be for the club.

Liverpool would be wise to study the case of Milito and properly access if Cissokho is worth the punt, as opposed to blindly signing him because Lyon are requesting such a low transfer fee.

Don’t Sign Him: Aly Cissokho Is Trouble

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Aly Cissokho has yet to play three consecutive seasons for one club in his career, so loyalty is a big question mark.

This season, like the majority of the Lyon squad, he has below par season.

Combine his lack of form with a negative attitude, which was on hand when he clashed with fans and journalists.

When you analyse Cissokho as a left back, his best attribute, which is an all-action style can also lead to his down fall by going in for rash challenges or being beat too easily by diving in.

Also shouldn’t Liverpool be suspicious of Lyon’s nonplus behaviour in negotiating a transfer fee?