With the Premier League season fast approaching here are some of the latest LFC transfer stories this Monday.
Stewart Downing looks like his move to West Ham is almost sealed after the two clubs agreed a fee of around £6M (according to Tony Barrett at The Times). Sky Sports quoted a figure of £8M.
The player was linked with initially Newcastle and then the Hammers prior to the weekend's friendly against Celtic. Brendan Rodgers decision to play the winger ahead of youngster Jordan Ibe had led some to suggest that maybe Downing still had a future at the reds.
However the two clubs have agreed a fee and the player looks set to be reunited with Andy Carroll and Joe Cole who have also left Liverpool for West Ham this year.
The player is believed to have passed a medical today and agreed a salary of £70K a week.
As a replacement for Downing the reds are rumoured to be targeting Diego Capel of Sporting Lisbon. The 25 year old could command a fee of around £6M.
Guilherme Siqueira, the Granada left-back, has edged ahead of Aly Cissokho as the reds primary target for left back.
Talks with the player are at an advanced stage who could cost around £5M according to the Liverpool Echo.
Christian Eriksen, the Ajax midfielder linked with Liverpool and Spurs, saw his Ajax side reduced to ten men and suffer their first defeat of the season at the weekend.
Eriksen bagged the first goal with a great free kick and now heads off on international duty. The weekend papers suggested that Spurs now had the upper hand in the transfer but with the player heading out to play for his country - this story is unlikely to be concluded this week.
Liverpool's new vice-captain Daniel Agger has had the Barcelona interest confirmed by the player's agent. The agent responded saying that the player had a contract at LFC and the two clubs would have to reach agreement on a fee.
Meanwhile LFC boss Brendan Rodgers has insisted that club HAVE money available and ARE looking to spend.
Liverpool have only spent around £1M net so far this summer, taking into account player departures, and with the potential departure of Stewart Downing this could turn into a transfer profit. But Brendan's words may calm some of those concerned at Liverpool's summer spending.
He said:
"There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes. Obviously it's not easy.
"We have seen that from other clubs' experiences as well. But I'm confident we will add to the team. I don't think there is any doubt that we need that.
"Everyone at the club, the recruitment team, the board and ourselves, we are all working hard to make that happen, and hopefully we can.
"There's money there available to get in the right types of players, but we don't want to panic and just bring in anyone. It has to be someone who can come in and improve the team."
Page Last Updated: 10:13pm
The truth is that remit of BR would appear to be to cut the wage bill but this is at the expense of watering down the talent in the squad. Think back to Henryck debacle, Brendan on holiday and Ayre nowhere to be seen, we never put in bid and never spoke to the player and he was said to be our top target. If the latter is indicative of how we approach our top target then it follows that there will be NO marquee players at Anfield this summer. I hate to face up to the fact that a top ten finish is where we are heading at best. There is no transfer target list, this is evidenced by the haphazard signings thathave overloaded midfield, brought another Borini upfront, ignored defensive frailties and wasted 26 million last summer. YNWA
People comparing Liverpools way of signing players to arsenals are deluded. LFC tried to sign Mikhitaryan however the player chose to go to Dortmund for champions league reasons. Nothing can be done about that.
Unfortunately LFC do not have that “pull” that we use to have to attract top players due to recent league positions aswell as not playing champions league.
I believe Brendan is bringing in players who will give there all and will fight passionately for the cause.
Liverpool must buy Cisoko and Squirrel to strengthen the left side. Squirrel can be the wingback while Cisoko replaces Enrique. About time to sell Enrique as well as he offers nothing in the offensive area as his final passes are very very poor. This is very frustrating for the forwards and on the right we have another overhyped right back doing the same thing that Enrique does on the left. It is no wonder that Suarez wants out of this club. It will take at least another two years before all the position can have quality players with FSG being Skint.
Apart from a £23 million bid for Mikhitaryan, so far haven’t seen Liverpool going for any other top players. Does not convince me there was an alternative plan for another player. It all seems like a smoke screen by FSG, something similar like Arsenal and Arse Wheinger tactic. Just keep bidding for players unlikely to come to the club and make it look like the club wants to spend big on a marquee signing. Arse have stagnated, so they are most likely to drop from top four. Spurs have bought well and are still going for all players Liverpool are after too. They are investing big based on money yet to receive for Bale. You will see Bale leaving after Internationals to Real for £85 million. But they have adequately bought players and will replace Arse in the Champions League. Liverpool will drop to eighth and be replaced by Swansea who have also bought well. They are going to stun Manure in the opening game while Liverpool and Stoke will play out a boring 0-0 draw. If Liverpool thinks that Stoke will role over at Anfield, they are mistaken.