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The preseason, as it turns out, will likely have been the most exciting spell of Iago Aspas' Liverpool stay. Alone up front, leading Liverpool's attack, showing invention and cutting edge, the newly-arrived Spaniard looked more than capable of making an impact . The future of Luis Suarez was tenuous at best, and with Daniel Sturridge still working his way back to full fitness, Aspas was seemingly set for a chance to solidify his spot in the starting eleven under Brendan Rodgers.
And while the chances did come, Aspas failed to replicate his preseason success while operating in a slightly different role; sometimes he played wide, sometimes more withdrawn centrally, but wherever he lined up, he failed to make any sort of discernible impact. The return of Suarez from suspension effectively ended Aspas' run in the starting eleven, and even with Sturridge out for a spell through injury, the chances stopped coming for the former Celta man.
He finally got his first goal in the FA Cup win over Oldham, but minutes continued to be limited, and it's apparently added up to the player looking for a permanent move once the season's over:
'I'm not 20 years old anymore, I can't go on loan and explode. I think the best would be to transfer to another club that I find the best fit for myself and the club. This is the hardest part. I used to play almost all the matches and I arrived here - playing much less. This is the tough side of football.'
Yes, it's the Daily Mail, but the quotes have been around enough to at least be acknowledged, and if accurate, it would make plenty of sense. No matter how long Rodgers refers to him as "young Aspas" the reality is that he's at the point in his career when playing regularly is the expectation. That likely isn't going to be the case at Liverpool, and even with Rodgers praising his commitment and work for the squad as a whole, it would be surprising to see Iago Aspas at Liverpool next season.
