Does Assaidi have any chance of breaking into Rodgers’ plans?

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The Liverpool winger’s proposed move to Stoke City has reportedly ‘gone cold.’

They say silence is golden – but not for Oussama Assaidi.

Over the course of pre-season, Brendan Rodgers has signed no less than seven new players, while at the same time handing out starts in friendlies to many on the fringes of his squad last season.

Assaidi, however? Well, the Moroccan is no nearer resolving his future or breaking into the Liverpool team.

And things haven’t gotten any easier for the 25-year-old once the silence has been broken, of course, with Stoke boss Mark Hughes revealing that the Potters’ move for Assaidi has ‘gone cold.’

“It’s common knowledge Ozzie is somebody we would like to bring into the club, but at the moment that deal has gone cold,” he said.

“He is one we have chased for a while now, but there hasn’t been any real movement on that front, so we will just have to wait and see what the situation is with regards to that deal.”

But the winger will no doubt hope a move can indeed be brokered, as his chances of breaking into Rodgers’ squad appear remoter than ever.

As Opta stats show, Assaidi scored four Premier League goals while on loan at Stoke last season.

That means seven players currently on Liverpool’s books either scored or assisted more times than the Moroccan. Add Fabio Borini, Lazar Markovic, Emre Can and more into that equation and the situation becomes even more challenging for Assaidi.

The 25-year-old did average more accurate crosses per game than anyone other than Steven Gerrard, though his tally of dribbles won per game was lower than that of Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana.

In short, Assaidi’s chances of breaking into Liverpool’s side look virtually hopeless.

Should he end up staying at Anfield, Rodgers will no doubt try to accommodate him. But it will be a solution neither club or player will want.