This week, Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers has seemingly geared up his work in the transfer department, and this weekend speculation on deals for Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Alberto Moreno have reached a peak.
He must be pointing at more targets.
The transfer window hasn’t even opened yet but Brendan Rodgers is looking to seal a plethora of deals seemingly before the World Cup begins in mid-June.
The first deal of the summer is likely to be the £4 million signing of Rickie Lambert from Southampton, with the Telegraph reporting this weekend that the striker is set for a medical prior to his transfer this weekend.
The 32-year-old was reportedly set to “head to Liverpool after Friday’s international friendly with Peru at Wembley to complete a dream move to his hometown club, after a fee was agreed between the clubs.”
In true 21st-Century fashion, pictures have appeared on Twitter of the Southampton man arriving at Liverpool’s Spire Hospital, apparently confirming the rumours.
Seen this flying around. Rickie Lambert about to go for his medical. pic.twitter.com/kx8f1pESkA
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) May 31, 2014
Continuing their prospective plundering of the South Coast club, Liverpool have made a ‘take it or leave it’ £25 million offer for Lambert’s teammate, Adam Lallana, as per BBC Sport.
It is believed that Rodgers wants to secure the midfielder’s transfer before he heads “to the United States with England on Sunday ahead of next month’s World Cup.”
This £25 million fee is a mark up on the club’s previous offer by around £5 million, and it is believed this is to compensate for a 25% sell-on clause in the 26-year-old’s contract following Southampton‘s signing him from AFC Bournemouth.
“Southampton must pay 25% of any transfer fee for Lallana to Bournemouth, who sold the midfielder to his current club.
“The Saints turned down Liverpool’s opening offer of £20m after indicating that they wanted to end up with that amount from any deal themselves.
“Liverpool’s latest bid would leave Southampton with £18.75m with the remaining £6.25m going to Bournemouth.”
As the BBC’s Ben Smith attests, swift action is also key to Liverpool’s transfer work elsewhere.
Brendan Rodgers also hopeful of signing Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Emre Can in the next fortnight
— Ben Smith (@BSmith) May 30, 2014
Stalemate in Lallana's proposed move to #LFC. Player wants future sorted before WC. #SaintsFC want to wait.
— Ben Smith (@BenSmithBBC) May 31, 2014
Lallana and Lambert’s teammate Dejan Lovren would hopefully fill the club’s defensive void, whilst Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can would provide competition in the middle of the park; both deals could signal the end for current stalwarts Daniel Agger and Lucas Leiva respectively.
The Guardian reported earlier this week that the Reds have made a £16 million bid for Spanish left-back Alberto Moreno, hoping to seal the deal before the World Cup.
The 21-year-old has just been omitted from Vicente Del Bosque’s Spanish squad for the World Cup, but would still benefit from a full pre-season at Melwood in what would be a significant transition.
Rodgers “has prioritised a new left-back for this summer and, having considered an approach to Chelsea for Ryan Bertrand, has made Moreno his preferred option.”
Furthermore, any deal for Moreno may include Liverpool’s Spanish attacking midfielder, Suso, going the other way.
“The 20-year-old Spaniard spent last season on loan with the La Liga side Almería and has been offered to Sevilla on a similar basis.”
In an increasingly ambitious move, Liverpool have been linked with Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez, this weekend, by the Daily Star.
The Chilean is set to star at the World Cup with the tournament’s dark horses, but finds his game-time at the Catalan club limited by higher-profile names such as last summer’s Brazilian signing, Neymar.
“Barcelona have insisted that the Chile winger is not for sale and remains part of the club’s plans for the 2014/15 La Liga campaign.
“But according to reports, Liverpool will test Barca’s resolve to keep Sanchez at the Camp Nou by tabling a £20m offer.”
A £20 million fee would represent a coup for Rodgers at Liverpool, as Sanchez is a genuine world-class talent, who would add further depth and undeniable quality to the Reds’ front line.
The timescale of any deal will unlikely endear the Liverpool hierarchy in their pursuit, however, as “a move to the Merseysiders is unlikely to be completed until the conclusion of the World Cup.”
Sanchez, however, would be one worth waiting patiently for.
In less encouraging news, the Daily Mirror report that Swansea City‘s signing of Lukasz Fabianski earlier this week may not signal the end for reported Reds target Michel Vorm.
“Vorm has been linked with a move to Anfield to provide Simon Mignolet with stiff competition, but the keeper himself sees no reason why he should leave his current club.”
The publication quote the Dutch international as claiming “[For me to leave] there must be [an offer]. As long as that is not the case, Fabianski and I will have to fight. I do not necessarily have to leave.”
It is likely that signing the Polish shot-stopper, who left Arsenal in search for a first team position, will draw Vorm’s spell in Wales to an end, but as of yet it seems that the Reds haven’t made their interest concrete.
What are your thoughts on the latest Liverpool rumours? Let us know in the comments below.
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