Liverpool Would Offer Vengeance To Chicharito But Little Else

Many a fan of Manchester United must rue the loss of Javier Hernandez on a weekly basis. Though goals are somewhat more frequent of late (compared to that abysmal stretch of 0-0 results), the most noticeable missing piece in the United arsenal is a deadly striker upfront. Many must ask themselves what this team would have been if Chicharito had been given a place in the squad. Probably only a few goals to the better, considering their other problems, but it’s still a lamentable question to have to ask — especially since Hernandez has proved himself so capable in the Bundesliga. Long thought of as a great second-choice, a “super sub,” Hernandez has spent months proving the point he always tried to make — give him a chance and he will score.

Now, with bridges burnt in Manchester, another English club appears to be interested in giving him the platform to prove himself all over again back in the Premier League. And who better to do that than the club most obsessed with proving itself — Liverpool?

From the club side, this makes all kinds of sense. With Daniel Sturridge proving to be too injury-prone to build a team around and Christian Benteke not offering the right qualities for Jurgen Klopp, Hernandez would fit in perfectly up front for Liverpool. With a top-notch No. 9 who can run behind defenses, Liverpool’s prospects could significantly improve.

From Hernandez’s point of view, a move would also have its benefits. Liverpool would be likely to make him a top priority, a certain starter, at least because they can’t afford to buy the type of players who would create a competition for place. With Klopp in charge, he would have just the type of style that plays to his strengths. And then, how much would he relish scoring for the Reds at Old Trafford against the team that never put enough confidence in him?

Quite a compelling narrative, but it’s still a bad idea. Hernandez is having the season of his career in Germany right now. He’s won player of the month twice so far, and he’s the fourth-highest scorer in the league behind heavyweights Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Most crucially of all, he’s now a key player for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Other than an understandable desire to avenge his humiliations, it hardly seems a reasonable decision to head back to England.

And for all the hope of said vindication, there’s also the chance of exposing himself as still not quite good enough to start in the EPL. Leverkusen offer a sure thing, a position he knows he can excel in. And, club for club, he’s just as likely to win trophies and get into the Champions League at Leverkusen as Liverpool. So why risk it all, especially with a likely influx of top talent into the league over the summer?

In short, Hernandez would be great business for Liverpool, but he’d be a fool to take any deal they offer. He’s a star in Germany, a starter. He’s scoring nearly half his team’s goals right now. He’s all he’s wanted to be. Unless he’s particularly blood-thirsty, Liverpool have little to offer him.