Liverpool Transfers: Why Tom Ince is Not The Man For Anfield

Liverpool have already been extremely proactive this summer in the transfer market, bringing in four players even before July began.

There were some sections of the media that expected the Reds to return with an improved bid for January target Tom Ince, a winger with Blackpool, but the latest reports indicate that Cardiff City have had a bid accepted for him instead, as per Louise Taylor at the Guardian.

While Ince had a big impact in the Championship last season, scoring 18 goals and creating 14 assists in 44 league games, he is clearly no longer in the mind of Reds manager Brendan Rodgers to arrive this summer. In some instances missing out on a transfer target can be a disappointment, but with Ince, Liverpool can rest assured they need not worry about missing out on him.

Ince's Role

Blackpool managed to have themselves three different managers last season—four if you include caretaker boss Steve Thompson—but Ince's role remained largely unchanged throughout.

He operated from the flanks, usually the left but often switching to the opposite side. Despite being able to cut infield from the right onto his stronger left foot, many of his goals came from a left-sided starting position, with his off-the-ball runs clever enough to find space and his pace giving him a big advantage over defenders.

Ince is capable in one-on-ones against full-backs, but often his more impressive displays arose after quickly passing on the ball and beating his marker to the return pass, getting inside the penalty area and finishing or laying off chances on goal.

Of course, from the left side he can help keep width by sticking to the touchline, while he also tracks back well and helps out his defence.

Liverpool's Options

In terms of opportunities at Anfield, Ince might have found himself severely restricted.

For the left flank, Liverpool have an incredible array of talent, both young and experienced, to call upon.

Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho both played the role over the second half of last season, dovetailing with each other in a central position, while Raheem Sterling also saw plenty of game time up until December. Luis Suarez filled in on occasion, Stewart Downing had the odd game there and Jordon Ibe made his debut in that role on the last day of the season.

There's also the still-present Oussama Assaidi to more or less consider, while the returning-from-injury Fabio Borini has played most of his Reds games from that side of the attack.

As if all that weren't enough, two of Liverpool's four summer signings can also play there, Spaniards Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas.

Considering the left is Ince's primary role, it doesn't appear that Liverpool have a great need for a left-sided attacker with potential to come in over the remainder of the window.

Over on the opposite side, Downing filled the right-wing role for most of the second half of the season, and though some fans think he may be headed out of Anfield this summer, at present he remains the obvious choice to start.

Iago Aspas might see most of his game time come from that side of the attack initially, youngsters Sterling and Suso will hope to get some time in the role. Also, while plans for transfer target Henrikh Mkhitaryan are not certain, he could either play from the right himself or play in a No.10 role and push Luis Suarez out to the right—if the Uruguayan himself stays at Liverpool.

Either way, there's again at least three players ahead of Ince even before he arrives, and not being established at all in the Premier League will not help his own case.

Next Season for Club and Player

Liverpool's attacking options are shaping up nicely for the new season; certainly there should be no repeat of last year, when the Reds were left with only Luis Suarez as a senior forward option to play.

While a couple more might still arrive, dependent on the futures of Suarez and Downing possibly, there appears no great need for another young and unestablished player to arrive. Any further additions have to be genuine first-team starters to aid Liverpool's progression and league position.

Daniel Sturridge, Coutinho and Suarez are, as things stand, a fearsome-looking trio to enter the league campaign with. Add in a new signing to bring out the best of them—read: Mkhitaryan—and a range of talents in the squad players of Borini, Sterling, Aspas, Alberto and Downing, and that half of the team looks set for the new season.

For Ince himself, he has a big decision to make.

While the Cardiff offer has been accepted, Blackpool boss Paul Ince, Tom's father, believes it is far from cut-and-dried that he will leave, as per the Guardian report:

"

Thomas has told me he's in no rush to leave the club. I think it's 50/50 at the moment. He loves it here. It's a tricky one for me – ideally you want your son to be playing in the Premier League but you also want him to be playing for you. I wouldn't put my hat on it that he'll be playing in the Premier League this year.

"

Possibly it's just a negotiating tactic on behalf of his son, possibly it's the truth. Either way, Ince has arguably achieved all he can on a performance level in the Championship other than trying to achieve promotion, and he should probably be looking at stepping up soon.

If he finds a team who can help him cement his place as a Premier League starter, then all the better for him—but that club isn't Liverpool. The Reds don't need him and have no room for him.

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