As the start of the Premier League edges ever closer, Henry Jackson takes a look at which players have been linked with moves to and away from Liverpool over the weekend.
Potential Arrivals
The Daily Mail report that a deal for Moreno will finally be completed following Sevilla’s Super Cup clash with Real Madrid in Cardiff on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old left-back is expected to cost the Reds £16m, and his arrival will be a huge tick off Brendan Rodgers’ wish list this summer.
The Spaniard should add an extra dimension to Liverpool’s already fluent attacking game, and adds guaranteed quality in an area of the pitch that has been an issue ever since John Arne Riise left in 2008.
Mystery Signing
On Saturday, BBC Sport’s South American football correspondent Tim Vickery told BBC Radio 5 Live’s ‘World Football Phone-in’ that Liverpool were lining up a ‘big-name player’ to replace Luis Suarez.
Although he admitted to having no idea who the player in question actually was, he claimed that it was unlikely to be Radamel Falcao. Other names being banded around include Marco Reus, Edinson Cavani and Gonzalo Higuain.
Here is a link to the show, with Vickery’s comments coming at the 1:10 mark.
Wilfried Bony
Alan Nixon of the Sunday People claims that Bony remains a major transfer target for the Reds, with Rodgers seeing him as someone who can help fill some of the void left by Suarez.
The biggest stumbling block appears to be the reported £19m price tag slapped on the Ivorian’s shoulders, with Liverpool not convinced the 25-year-old is worth that amount.
Bony scored 25 goals in his debut season for Swansea, having found the net 37 times the season before that, at Vitesse. He is a target man in many ways, but has far more to his game than just an ability to bring others into play.
Mauro Icardi
The Reds could be set to swoop for Argentinian striker Icardi, according to Tuttosport.
The 21-year-old Inter Milan star, who played for Fiorentina prior to his move to the Nerazzurri, is also attracting interest from Monaco, who have money to spend in abundance following the sale of James Rodriguez to Real Madrid.
It is believed that Inter are holding out for a bid of €30m, with the youngster keen on playing Champions League football in 2014/15.
Andre Ayew
According the Express, Marseille forward Ayew dreams of a move to Anfield, amid rumours of a move to the Premier League this summer.
Despite this, it appears his wage demands are putting a number of top clubs off the 24-year-old, with Newcastle the current favourites to land him.
It looks an unlikely move, but if the Ghanaian was to join Liverpool, he would add competition for places in wide and central attacking areas.
Potential Departures
Daniel Agger
Despite strong rumours that Agger will leave Anfield during the transfer window, Rodgers claims there have been no offers for the 29-year old.
“I saw some stories on Agger, but we haven’t had any enquiries. Daniel is still getting some work done on his knee. He’s been unfortunate since the tour of America, but we haven’t had anything, no offers,” he said, following Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
The Denmark captain has consistently struggled to become a regular under the Northern Irishman, and the likes of Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho are all now preferred to him.
Kolo Toure
Serhat Demirtas, of Turkish publication Fanatik, claims that Toure has agreed a two-year deal to join Trabzonspor.
The 33-year-old is clearly not a major part of Rodgers’ plans heading into the new season, with Skrtel, Lovren and Sakho all way ahead of him in the pecking order, and Agger and Sebastian Coates also potentially staying too.
He is expected to join the Turkish club for around €2m, bringing an end to a relatively forgettable year on Merseyside.
Lucas Leiva
The Independent on Sunday believe Lucas has edged nearer the exit door at Anfield, with a reunion with former manager Rafa Benitez on the horizon at Napoli.
The 27-year-old has never been the same player having suffered countless injury problems over the last few years, and Steven Gerrard‘s exceptional transition into the deep-lying midfield role has rendered the Brazilian a squad player these days.
Lucas has been a fine servant to the club- he deserves particular admiration for the way he responded from such a tough start to life at Liverpool- but it looks as though his time is up.
[poll id=”224″]
Fan Comments