Liverpool link with Sporting Lisbon winger

Liverpool are looking at alternative targets to Mohamed Salah.

Sky Sports claim their pursuit of Salah have hit the rocks (due to his £35million valuation), and Jurgen Klopp is exploring the possibility of bringing winger Gelson Martins to Anfield.

The Portugal international has been watched by Liverpool representatives and could be tempted by a Premier League switch.

Martins, 22, has a £46.5million release clause in his current contract - although it's claimed Sporting Lisbon will accept £40million.

The winger produced seven goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season.

That quality would likely see him fit in well under Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool are in need of quality reinforcements this summer as they prepare for a campaign in the UEFA Champions League and look to sustain a title challenge in the Premier League throughout next season.

Martins has the pace and trickery you'd expect from a promising young winger, but it's clear he possesses real end product given his excellent assist record.

While his goal record isn't overly inspiring, it's equally worth noting he only started 25 matches in all competitions, so 13 strikes overall isn't a bad return.

He still needs to prove he can be a prolific goalscorer, but if brought in relatively cheaply he could be an astute buy.

Liverpool also have joined the race for out-of-favour Real Madrid forward James Rodriguez, according to reports in Spain.

A lack of game time has led to suggestions he will be playing his football elsewhere next term with Manchester United mooted as his next destination.

But Spanish publication Don Balon claim Liverpool are ready to battle their rivals for his signature.

Madrid chief Florentino Perez is refusing to lower his £52million valuation of the Colombian that has proved to be stumbling block in negotiations with United - but Liverpool are reportedly willing to meet his price tag.

Picture of Mo Salah credits to TWITTER @only1essam

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Liverpool move for versatile winger

Already moves have been made to sign a winger, with Roma's Mohamed Salah the priority.

But, for a variety of reasons, Jurgen Klopp couldn't quite bring a new wide midfielder to Anfield.

Now, as the summer transfer window prepares to swing open, the Reds boss isn't going to make the same mistake twice.

The Bayern Munich winger is keen to make a move this summer having struggled to earn a regular spot under Carlo Ancelotti.

And Bild claim several clubs have been sniffing around including Liverpool and Tottenham.

Juventus, Manchester City, and Manchester United are also mentioned.

However they are looking at alternatives and Costa appears to be one of those.

German publication Bild claim he is on Jurgen Klopp’s radar.

Klopp has already agreed the signing of Dominic Solanke, who will arrive on July 1, but he wants a forward who can go straight into the team.

And Salah and Costa fit the Klopp prototype of fluid players who can play anywhere in the front line.

Costa would cost around £35million - a similar fee to Salah - but Liverpool would face competition from a number of clubs.

The deal to take Salah from Roma is in the works with wages of £90,000 a week said to be agreed, but a an agreement with Roma still to be reached.

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Liverpool in the hunt for £52million Colombian play maker

Liverpool have reportedly joined Manchester United in the race to sign Real Madrid star James Rodriguez.

The Colombia international looks set to leave the Bernabeu after struggling for game time under Zinedine Zidane.

And Spanish outlet Don Balon say the Reds are now among the clubs interested in snapping him up.

Liverpool are willing to match his £52million price tag, while the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Bayern Munich are also keen.

However, the 25-year-old is said to favour a move to their fierce rivals United instead.

Rodriguez rose to prominence at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and enjoyed a fine first season in the Spanish capital thereafter, but he struggled during the 2015-16 campaign and hasn't reached the same heights this season, either.

Team-mate Isco has been the more consistent of the two during his limited appearances, however. He's consequently played more when injuries have opened up a spot in the starting XI.

The belief is Rodriguez could return to his best with consistent playing time, something he likely won't find in Madrid. Spending £65 million on the Colombian would be a risky move and uncharacteristic of the Reds, who have been more careful with their spending under manager Jurgen Klopp when compared to other top Premier League clubs.

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Liverpool switching transfer targets after Roma rejection

Roma have rejected a £28m bid from Liverpool for Mohamed Salah.

The winger has agreed personal terms with Liverpool, but Roma have remained firm on their £35 million asking price.

Jurgen Klopp has now begun considering other options and have lined up a few alternatives.

The 24-year-old signed for fellow Premier League side Chelsea in January 2014, but left on loan to Fiorentina in 2015, before signing permanently for Roma in a €15m transfer last summer after a loan spell at the club.

While Chelsea only paid £11m to sign Salah from Basel, Liverpool could have to pay almost triple that for the forward, who scored 15 goals in Serie A last season.

He also grabbed 11 assists in the league over the last campaign, as Roma finished second.

Liverpool refuse to pay over the odds for Salah and do not believe he is worth the £35 million Roma are demanding.

Roma president Jim Pallotta addressed Liverpool's interest in the player earlier this week when saying there was “nothing in it at the moment”.

It is an excellent return for a right winger and Liverpool see him as the perfect man to add some much-needed pace and width to their side.

Liverpool also need to expand their squad and add depth in quality with the Champions League on the horizon for the Reds.

Liverpool made their first signing of the transfer window this week, with Chelsea's Dominic Solanke to join the club on July 1, when his contract with the Premier League champions expires. The fee will be set by a tribunal but is expected to be in the region of £3m.

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Virgil van Dijk wants transfer to Liverpool

Liverpool are preparing to make Virgil Van Dijk the most expensive defender in the world after the Dutchman decided he wants a summer move to Anfield.

Now the Merseyside club will test the resolve of Southampton to keep the 25-year-old international, who is likely to cost a record £60 million should he leave in this transfer window.

Southampton have indicated they are ready to fight to retain Van Dijk and feel they can resist any offers.

Van Dijk is one of the most in-demand players ahead of the transfer window, which officially opens in July 1.

Chelsea and Manchester City have also been strongly linked with a move for the 25-year-old.

It’s a huge boost for the Merseyside club, who had made Van Dijk their top summer target after their leaky defence almost cost them a place in the top four of the Premier League and Champions League qualification.

Van Dijk will become Liverpool’s highest-paid player if the move goes ahead and can expect to earn as much as £200,000 a week. His fee is sure to eclipse the current world record for a defender - the £50 million paid by Paris St Germain for David Luiz in 2014.

The onus will now switch to the negotiations between Liverpool and Southampton.

Liverpool have become accustomed with dealing with Southampton every year for the last few seasons, securing Sadio Mane in 2016 having earlier recruited Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert from the club.

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Rumour Mill: Liverpool plotting for January swoop on Argentine midfielder

Although the summer transfer window is officially closed that doesn’t stop clubs working hard behind the scenes to prepare for future signings, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest gossip. We take a look at one such prodigious talent, Javier Pastore.

Liverpool are ready to launch a January bid for PSG play-maker Javier Pastore after the player’s agent admitted his client has grown unhappy with life in France.

Pastore kick-started PSG’s big-spending when he arrived from Palermo in 2011, but despite a handful of good performances, he has largely struggled to impress.

The 24-year-old was linked with a move away over the summer, but said at the time he wanted to prove himself to new manager Laurent Blanc.

However, Roma are set to step up their interest in Liverpool target with the PSG star desperate to secure regular first-team football.

Pastore wants to assure his place in the Argentine World Cup squad for next summer's finals in Brazil, but has made only six starts for the French champions this season.

According to reports in Italy, current Serie A table toppers Roma are looking to secure Pastore, 24, on a six-month loan deal and will battle Liverpool for his signature.

The earlier comments are a welcome boost to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who is now ready to swoop in the new year after months tracking the Argentine.

Liverpool have been on the lookout for a big money marquee player, but missed out on Willian to Chelsea in the summer, and are yet to find an available alternative.

But it’s thought around £17million would be enough to get Pastore from PSG – and the Argentine international would reportedly relish the opportunity to move to the Premier League.

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Luis Suarez to Arsenal but not with £40M price tag

Liverpool admitted for the first time they will sell Luis Suarez, after the player told them he wants to talk to Arsenal.

However, Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers has put a £50million price on the head of his Uruguay striker.

Arsenal triggered a clause in Suarez’s contract with a stunning £40,000,0001 bid, although Liverpool rejected the offer. It’s like a game of poker - bottom dealing and hope no other clubs enters the bidding war.

But the first signs Arsenal’s strategy is working came when Suarez was told he can to speak to the Gunners as Liverpool finally admitted they are prepared to sell him.

Arsenal are ready to raise their bid slightly plus add-ons and bonuses but they are unlikely to go to £50M.

Rodgers, however, is unmoved. He has had a number of conversations with Suarez at Liverpool’s base in Melbourne and will have more discussions with the 26-year-old when they arrive in Bangkok on Thursday.

Earlier, Suarez made an 18-minute cameo appearance as a substitute on as he returned to the Liverpool team for the first time since April 21. In front of 95,000 fans at the MCG, he set up the second goal in the Merseysiders’ 2-0 win.

Brendan Rodgers has compared Suarez's value to that of Edinson Cavani, who joined Paris Saint-Germain last week for £55M, but the Anfield manager has stopped short of completely ruling out the Uruguayan's departure, merely saying every player has his value and he will only leave "if something drastic happens".

A bid rising to £42M for a 26-year-old who is banned for the first six games of the new season might be regarded as tempting by Liverpool's America-based owners Fenway Sports Group but a tweet sent from John W Henry's Twitter account seemingly ridiculed Arsenal’s latest bid for Suarez. "What do you think they are smoking over there at Emirates?" the account said.

Mockery aside, Liverpool are angered it took Arsenal two weeks to improve their initial offer of £30M plus £7M in add-ons, and only then to a sum that their chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, had been told would be instantly rejected. For their part Arsenal, evidently encouraged to believe that £40,000,001 would prompt negotiations with Suarez, hope the 26-year-old will agitate for an exit from Anfield in the coming days. A Premier League or legal hearing could ultimately be required to resolve the stand-off should it continue.

It was a message echoed by Brendan Rodgers after Liverpool's 2-0 pre-season friendly victory against Melbourne Victory at the MCG on Wednesday.

Suarez owed the fans, he said. Suarez had a debt of gratitude to a city that has taken him in like a son and sheltered him as he served lengthy bans for racially abusing Patrice Evra and biting Branislav Ivanovic.

And yet the controversial Uruguayan remains intent on leaving Liverpool this summer, intent on walking away to join a club that can offer him Champions League football.

Arsenal’s biggest concern is Real Madrid making a late bid, and they are set to receive a £30M boost to their transfer kitty after agreeing to sell Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli for £30m.

Arsenal will put a five year, £150,000-a-week contract on the table to tempt Suarez.

Arsenal believe they have been given enough encouragement by the Uruguayan's representatives that he is keen to move to Emirates Stadium in search of Champions League football.

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Liverpool’s fourth signing imminent

Liverpool are on a spending spree. First, the Reds signed Kolo Toure on a free transfer. Luis Alberto checking in from Sevilla and Iago Aspas completed his move to Anfield yesterday.

Liverpool are ready to rekindle their long-standing interest in Eljero Elia.

According to TalkSport, Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers has set his attention to Elia, currently at Werder Bremen.

Liverpool's interest in the Dutchman dates back to his time at Hamburg but they missed out on him when he signed for Juventus.

Elia moved to Bremen in 2012 for £5million and Rodgers has tracked his progress - with a potential move now in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have yet to agree a deal with Sunderland to sign goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, according to the player's agent.

The two clubs had reportedly agreed a fee in excess of £11million for the Belgium international, who has won 13 caps for his country.

But the 25-year-old's representative, Guy Vandermissen, says he has still not been informed from either club that a deal has been done.

Elsewhere, Liverpool have reportedly agreed to meet the €10m (£8.5million) release clause written into Barcelona attacker Cristian Tello's contract but now must look to persuade the young Spaniard to move to Anfield according to Sport.es.

Barcelona may well be ready to sell a number of their squad players as Tito Vilanova eyes up the purchase of a central defender this summer, having already forked out £48m to sign Brazilian starlet Neymar.

However 21-year-old Tello is apparently leaning towards sticking with Barcelona for at least another season to see if he can force his way into a more prominent role in Vilanova's first team set-up.

The adaptable forward, who can play up front in an central striking role or out wide on either wing, was handed just 12 La Liga starts last term and only two starts in the Champions League but did manage to net eight goals in all competitions.

The arrival of Neymar is sure to leave Tello playing an even more limited role in Tito Vilanova's first team set-up with the locally born Barcelona player already having to challenge the likes of David Villa, Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro for a spot supporting Lionel Messi in the Catalan giant's attack.

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Liverpool pushing for a new goalkeeper

Liverpool are believed to be closing in of the signing of Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, plunging the future of Pepe Reina at Anfield into serious doubt.

A deal for the Belgian international could go through as early as this week, with a fee believed to be in the £10 million region. Should he make the trip south to Liverpool, the likelihood that either Mignolet or Reina would be comfortable sitting on the bench is hugely unlikely, with recent reports linking Reina with a move back to Spain.

Barcelona were considered to be interested in his services with the seemingly impending departure of current goalkeeper Victor Valdes, but Valdes has recent announced that he will complete his final year on his contract with the La Liga champions before leaving after next season.

Sunderland, though, will not be keen to sell Mignolet, who was their Player of the Year in the 2012/13 season.

But the 25-year-old, who has also been linked with Arsenal, has only two years remaining on his contract and Sunderland will know his value will decrease as time drags on.

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Liverpool set for double raid on Spanish club

Liverpool are preparing for a double raid on Spanish Primera Liga side, Sevilla. Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic has admitted he is flattered to be linked with a move to Liverpool.

Luis Alberto, 20, has been linked with a move to the Reds for some time and last week spoke of his imminent arrival at Anfield, saying he’d be “foolish” to turn down the Reds’ offer.

Alberto spent last season on loan at Barcelona B, scoring 11 times in 37 appearances.

Sevilla were keen to keep hold of their exciting young prospect but are now believed to be willing to do business as long as the Reds agree to some supplementary add-ons that could eventually take the deal up to £8million.

Meanwhile, the Croatia international is reportedly attracting interest from Anfield and he has now reiterated his stance that he will only stay with the La Liga side if they bolster their squad.

"I'm really flattered that I'm being linked with such a big club like Liverpool," Rakitic told 24sata.

"I heard that something is happening, but for now there is no concrete offer.

"My brother, who is taking care of my career, is doing all the business about my future.

"But I will repeat what I said before: I will only stay at Sevilla if they will strengthen the team.

"I made it quite clear about that and they know that they have to buy some good players."

25-year-old Rakitic has previous playing experience for Basel in Switzerland and Schalke in Germany.

He has made 53 appearances for his country, scoring 9 international goals.

Source: FoxSports

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Liverpool set to complete £7.7M deal for Celta Vigo striker

According to The Guardian, Liverpool are close to completing their second signing of the summer after Iago Aspas arrived on Merseyside to finalise his £7.7m move from Celta Vigo. The 25-year-old forward travelled to Liverpool on Monday, having cancelled a holiday to the Caribbean once he became aware of interest from Anfield, and will undergo a medical on Tuesday before sealing the transfer from his boyhood club.

Aspas, 25, was tracked by Rodgers throughout last season and he initially intended his purchase to complement rather than replace Suárez.

With Suárez’s future looking increasingly to be away from Anfield and Daniel Sturridge fighting to be fit for the start of the season, Rodgers will have to find further striking recruits in the next few months.

Suárez’s public flirtation with Madrid has continued as he has spoken of the attraction of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

Aspas can operate across the front line and scored 12 goals in Celta's return to the top flight last season following five years in the second division. He had offers from Valencia, Portuguese and Italian teams plus Swansea City, whose failure to conclude the deal has added to Michael Laudrup's frustrations at the Liberty Stadium, but cleared the way for a move to Liverpool after settling a contractual issue with Celta Vigo.

Source: The Guardian

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Former Liverpool boss wants Reds defender at Stadio San Paolo

Liverpool have placed a €14million price tag on its central defender, Slovakian international, Martin Skrtel as manager Brendan Roders looks to trim their squad of underperformers this summer.

Reports have widely been speculating that Napoli are interested in signing Skrtel, with incoming manager Rafael Benitez seeing the 28-year-old as a solid defender who can offer continuity to the Serie A side's backline.

This is despite a below par season for Liverpool in which Skrtel ended up losing his place to Jamie Carragher in the second half of the season.

With Brendan Rodgers already acquiring Kolo Toure, Skrtel, could team up again with Rafa Benitez, who brought the defender to England five years ago.

"It is too easy to say, but if there is contact from the Blues then we will begin to evaluate it," Skrtel's agent Karol Csonto told Italian paper Tutto Mercato.

"Napoli are a great club and Benitez is a great coach, but Skrtel is a Liverpool player and for this reason he is already looking to the next season with the Reds."

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Liverpool target already knows he will be Reds

‘Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I could have moved to other teams and countries, but I quickly decided that I wanted to be in England.’

Iago Aspas had plenty of offers when he decided it was time to leave Celta Vigo but there was only one place he was going.

According to the paper the move for the fast and direct left-footer isn't finalised yet, but poised to be sealed for £7.7 million. A local idol, the Vigo-born Aspas was Celta's top scorer with 12 goals in La Liga this season, his first in the top flight.

Aspas is set to earn around £45,000-a-week at Liverpool, and moves on a four-year-contract, having scored a 12 goals in 34 matches last season.

However, Premier League rivals Spurs are one of a handful of clubs thought to have tried to hijack the transfer late on, but Aspas says there was never any doubt about his next destination.

‘I did not hesitate when I heard that Liverpool wanted me,’ said Aspas in Marca.

‘I’m quietly confident, but very excited about this new challenge. This is clearly a huge step forward for me.

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Liverpool in pole position to land £20M midfielder

Liverpool are ready to splash £20million on main summer transfer target,Shakhtar Donetsk's goal-scoring midfielder, Henrikh Mkhitaryan... regardless of whether Luis Suarez gets his transfer or not.

The Anfield club are close to tying up a big money deal for Armenia international Mkhitaryan, despite his Ukrainian club Shaktar Donetsk's high asking price.

Manager Brendan Rodgers will complete the deal for the attacking midfielder he has targeted for months with the blessing of his American owners, regardless of the uncertainty over the Suarez's future.

Mkhitaryan is not seen as a direct replacement for Uruguay striker Suarez, and was identified as the main summer signing long before Real Madrid came calling with an offer that has turned Suarez’s head.

Rodgers wants a midfielder who can knit together his side’s creative play while also providing a goal threat from behind the front line.

The Armenian fits the bill after attracting the attention of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona, Juventus and Atletico Madrid with his 25 goals from midfield this season.

The 24-year-old, who has just set a Ukrainian Premier League record for most goals in a season, signed with Italian super-agent Mino Raiola in May to facilitate his move to a top European club.

Rodgers has stolen a march on his rivals for the player’s signature after sending his scouting team out to watch the midfielder a dozen times in the 2012-13 season.

That is why he is prepared to commit a sizeable part of his summer budget to the capture.

The deal will not depend on securing funds from the sale of Suarez, even though the striker looks certain to leave for around £40m after forcing Liverpool’s hand by admitting he's in the mood for a fresh start away from English football.

The Reds' boss has been guaranteed at least £35m to spend in this summer's transfer window, even before the sale of Suarez.

Striker Andy Carroll is set to confirm his £15m departure to West Ham later this week, and £10m-rated defender Martin Skrtel a contender to follow amid links with ex-Kop boss Rafa Benitez's Napoli.

If Real Madrid follow up their interest in Suarez with a firm offer, then he will insist on exercising a get-out clause in his contract to force the issue.

Rodgers will then look to buy another striker - especially with Daniel Sturridge ruled out for the start of the season after suffering an ankle injury on international duty with England.

Rodgers has already agreed in principle a £7million deal for Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas, but he will also search for a bigger name to cover the departure of Suarez.

Christian Benteke, whose 19 league goals in his first season with Aston Villa included two against Liverpool at Anfield in December, is on his list of targets.

Source: Mirror

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Liverpool defender set for exit

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the fairest of them all? According to Mirror, Liverpool defender, Martin Skrtel admits he may consider quitting Liverpool after what he calls the worst season of his Anfield career.

Centre-back Skrtel says it “bugged him” when he was dropped to the bench by boss Brendan Rodgers in favour of Jamie Carragher for the second half of the season.

The Slovakia international feels unsettled, despite signing a new contract last August, and, with Rodgers shopping for new defenders, says he would listen to any offers from other clubs this summer.

In an interview given in his homeland, the 28-year-old said: “I have not had any specific offers. But if some should come and they interest me, I would probably consider it seriously.

“The club has the biggest say in this in any case, with me being contracted.

“I’m not saying that I want to leave at any cost.

“I feel sorry for what happened in this season. But I have been here for five-and-a-half years and I have built a position here.”

Skrtel says it hurt when Rodgers dropped him after the shock FA Cup defeat at Oldham because the Irishman said he needed more leadership at the back.

“After the game, the coach decided he wanted to change the team and justified to me that we lacked the organisation and defensive leadership personality,” he said.

“That was Carragher. Obviously I was not happy, it bugged me.

“On the other hand, I realise that only 11 can play and the 11 the coach chooses now is without me.

“I decided to add even more in training, so I was ready for a chance to show that I belong on the field, and not on the bench.”

Source: Mirror

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Real Madrid ready to pounce on Liverpool’s star

Reports heat up at the Santiago Bernabéu these few days - Real Madrid have added Liverpool striker Luis Suarez to their extensive list of potential recruits.

A host of Europe's top clubs including Real's city rivals Atletico have been linked with the 26-year-old, who has three years remaining on a contract signed last August.

Bayern Munich, who could be crowed European champions at Wembley on Saturday, are also ready to make a summer bid.

So far Suarez appears to be content with life at Anfield, and Liverpool defender Jose Enrique wants to know the striker will stay.

'Of course we want to keep him. He is our key player,' Enrique said.

'We've not had a great season in terms of our league position but Luis is there as our top scorer.

'For me he can play in any team in the world. If I was a manager I would have him anywhere. Not only for his goals but for how his character is.

'He is the type of player like if you play with Messi: he does impossible things. He does something out of nothing.

'I think if we keep him we will have a good season next season, for sure.

'We don't want to lose Luis because he is a top player but you never know. But if he goes, someone else has to come.

'Hopefully if that happens it will be a good player.;

Luis Suarez will be suspended for Liverpool's first six matches of next season as he serves the remainder of his 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic last month.

Source: Mail Online

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Liverpool ready to offload England centre-forward to Hammers

West Ham have agreed a fee with Liverpool for Andy Carroll but the England striker has yet to decide if he wants to join the Hammers permanently.

The London side will match Liverpool's asking price of around £15m, but the 24-year-old is unsure about the move ahead of a World Cup year.

It is understood interest from former club Newcastle United has cooled.

West Ham are expected to bid for Vitesse Arnhem's Wilfried Bony if Carroll rejects their approach.

The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international finished as 31-goal top scorer in the Dutch league this season, but West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has made no secret about Carroll being his main summer target,

Meanwhile, Carroll has withdrawn from the England squad for the upcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil because of a heel injury.

Carroll was signed by Kenny Dalglish and moved to Liverpool on transfer deadline day in January 2011, for what remains a record fee for a British player of £35m.

He had impressed by scoring 31 times for his boyhood club Newcastle United in 81 appearances, but his time at Anfield was short lived.

Coupled with the arrival of Brendan Rodgers and a new style of play, Carroll's return of just six goals in 44 outings for Liverpool saw him loaned to West Ham in late August 2012.

Despite a knee injury ruling him out for December, Carroll scored seven times for Allardyce's side during the season, form which encouraged the West Ham boss to pursue a permanent deal.

"If we can start with Andy Carroll, that would be a great achievement for us as he can only get better and better," he said after West Ham's weekend win over Reading.

"Then we build around that in terms of how we want to improve next year, with better quality.

"Andy is a player who is wanting to enjoy his football. He lives for his football and wants to play every game. He wants to use his strengths and score as many as he can - but he also works very hard for the team."

Whether the deal goes through appears to rest with Carroll, who has said he has "enjoyed every minute" of his loan spell in London.

"I have had a great season here at West Ham, really enjoyed being part of a great set of lads in the team, with the staff around us and the fans," Carroll told the club's official website.

"Everyone has been so welcoming to me and I have been over the moon to be here. This is a great club."

Source: BBC UK

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Rumour Mill: Reds set sight on £8.5M striker

Liverpool are planning a move for Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas, according to the Mirror. The Spanish club are perilously close to relegation from the top flight and need two wins from the final two games of the season, in addition to having other results go their way, to escape the drop.

Aspas' release clause is believed to stand at €10m but that will drop by almost a third if relegation is confirmed. Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers believes a cut-price fee for the 25-year-old could be a steal and he may have a point. Aspas has 11 goals and six assists from 32 league starts, which means he has had a hand, directly, in half of his side's goals this campaign.

A salary of £45,000 per week has reportedly been agreed but Rodgers' former club, Swansea City, have also shown interest and could look to make a second bargain signing from La Liga in as many years, after signing Rayo Vallecano forward Michu last summer.

Meanwhile, Rodgers has already confirmed the Anfield club will add, despite a meager summer budget, at least two attacking players to the first team. The Northern Irishman has Uruguayan Luis Suarez, England international Daniel Sturridge and young Brazilian Philippe Coutinho as his first choice attacking line but wants cover and reinforcements.

Liverpool fans are used to having a player in Luis Suarez that so ferociously divides opinion. They’ve taken to the Uruguayan as one of their own, irrelevant of the opinions Suarez’s detractors hold.

It will make fascinating viewing then, if another contentious character in Iago Aspas turns out for them.

Aspas too, is of that 'love to have him on your team, hate to play against him' mould. He also happens to be a very, very good footballer.

The 25-year-old plays each game like it’s his last, getting in the faces of opponents and going to the ends of the earth for his team. He’s energy, enthusiasm, and endeavour. But he’s also skill and sublime.

He was born in Moana, a town of just 20,000 in Galician. At school he was a terror too, constantly distracted in lessons with only focus on football.

Asked what his favourite moment as a Celta fan was he didn’t mention a goal, or assist, he recalled when Wagner infamously booted Diego Tristan in the air during a Galician derby.

It was in 2010/2011 that he first rose to prominence, scoring 23 goals in 35 games as Celta pushed towards a return to Spain’s top flight.

He played as a lone striker in the Segunda that season, working in tandem with the various support acts he was handed. His coach at the time was a certain ex-Liverpool man in Paco Herrera, part of that glorious Champions League victory steered by Rafa Benitez.

Herrera had to handle Aspas with care, for he was always on the brink of breaking.

That season he played for every single fan that entered the stadium; would chase lost causes, formed the first part of defence from his attacking role, put in tackles and of course, scored goals.

He’s a passionate character too, constantly muttering to himself when moving around the field and when against an opponent engaging in some exchanged words. It motivated him, psyched himself up. It rarely did not produce an end product.

Aspas' transition from Segunda to Primera was seemingly effortless for the player. He managed three goals in his opening seven games, and as it stands has 11 in 32 matches.

There's a common misconception that Aspas is just a tenacious striker, but there's much more to him than that. He’s a creator too, marking down six assists and generally being the centre of everything good his team produces.

Aspas can drop off into midfield and start attacks, move into the channels and take players on with pace – particularly on the right hand side, where he likes to drift in from with a drop of the shoulder. He can also play on the shoulder like a number 9, offering a team verticality in their play.

His movement is one of the most impressive aspects of his game, harnessing a sweet change of direction and burst of pace. Although he doesn’t have great strength or power, he puts his body between the ball and an opponent intelligently while using skill or that pace to jet away.

His stature and skill set makes him a slippery character, difficult to contain. Out-and-out striker, inverted winger, second striker – Aspas would do any of these roles justice. He is though most at home in that second striker berth.

Aspas is seen as a Jekyll and Hyde character, so much so his ex-coach Herrera referred to him as part Messi and part monster. The latter part came to fruition in two incidents this season; one when he had to be substituted by Herrera to avoid being sent off then another when he head-butted an opponent and was banned for four games. All the while, Celta fans still sung the name of their hero who they felt represented them.

The truth is Aspas had many faces and many talents, and if he can channel that passion he has in the right direction he’ll accomplish great things.

Source: Mirror

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Liverpool ready Papa bid

Brendan Rodgers is hoping to start his crucial summer of spending with a bang by snapping up a long-term replacement for Jamie Carragher.

Liverpool manager Rodgers has targeted highly-rated Greece international Kyriakos Papadopoulos, and will table a firm £13.5million offer for the centre-half.

At just 21, Papadopoulos has the right age profile for a big Anfield signing but already has vast experience, having become the youngest-ever player in the Greek league at the age of 15 and won 14 caps.

His performances with Olympiacos earned him a move to Schalke, and he helped the Germans reach the later stages of the Champions League before turning down a £16m move to Russia's Zenit St Petersburg.

Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City have all monitored his progress in the Bundesliga, but Liverpool have been in contact with the player's father and believe he would choose Anfield.

The Reds will first need a medical thumbs-up on a knee problem that kept him out for the second half of the season, but are expected to make a formal approach within the next week.

Rodgers also wants £7m-rated right-back Sam Byram from Championship side Leeds.

The Yorkshire club have resigned themselves to losing the talented 19-year-old - also a target for Everton - and have already lined up Manchester City starlet Reese Wabara as a replacement.

Source: Liverpool FC

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Liverpool move for £12M striker

Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is due to have a medical at Liverpool today ahead of a £12million transfer.

Liverpool have agreed a deal with Chelsea for the 23-year-old England international and a £60,000 per week contract with the player.

Liverpool are desperate to bolster their forward line, with Luis Suarez their only fit out-and-out striker and boss Brendan Rodgers has been keeping tabs on Sturridge since the summer.

Liverpool cannot officially register any new signing until 2 January when the transfer window opens.

The former Manchester City striker has made seven league appearances for Chelsea this season, scoring one goal.

His last league appearance for the Blues was in the 2-1 defeat by West Bromwich Albion on 17 November.

Sturridge has not featured since Rafael Benitez arrived at Stamford Bridge, due to a hamstring injury.

Source: Sky Sports

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This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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