Liverpool sign Milan Jovanovic: Will He Succeed in the English Premier League?

By Jon Naylor

Liverpool have today announced the signing of Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic on a free transfer , due to be completed this summer. His move will come as a great relief to Reds fans, who have been craving a forward to support Fernando Torres.

But, with Benitez’s chequered record in the transfer market with regards to frontmen, how will the Serb striker fare in the Premier League?

Jovanovic’s record with Standard is not to be sniffed at, with a one goal per two games ratio, so often paraded as the hallmark of a great striker. However, when representing the national side, this ratio falls to 1 in 2.5 games, with nine goals in 23 games.

Additonally, the Belgian League is not noted for its production or nurturing of great strikers. The most notable goal-getters in the past ten years to emerge from the top flight are Jan Koller, who scored two in three for Anderlecht, but never reproduced that elsewhere and Emile Mpenza, who scored an impressive 41 goals in 74 appearances during his two spells at Standard. However, he also struggled after leaving the Belgian League, having unsuccessful stints at both Man City and Plymouth Argyle.

So far, so ominous. But there are some positive signs for Liverpool. They had to fend off interest from a host of clubs, including AC Milan, Juventus, Valencia and Arsenal, with Jovanovic himself turning down a move to Real Madrid last summer during Los Merengues’ spending spree.

His track record might not prove his credentials as well as some might expect, but Benitez will be hoping that the Serb brings more to the side than just goals. If he decides to play him and Torres up front in a 4-4-2, it would certainly take some of the pressure off the Spaniard. Torres has also proved more than capable of operating with another striker, with him and David Villa forging a formidable partnership up front for Spain.

So will he be remembered with Voronin, Morientes and Keane or with Torres? It is difficult to predict whether a foreign player will adapt to the Premier League, but in Jovanovic, Benitez has a player that could well cement a place in the first team and prove a valuable asset when Liverpool attempt to end the 20-year wait for a league title.

Will Jovanovic succeed at Liverpool? Leave your opinion below.