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.

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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Goal Highlights: Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United

Daniel Sturridge's early header was enough to secure Liverpool's 1-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Manchester United at Anfield.

The forward's goal - on his 24th birthday - maintained Brendan Rodgers' side's impressive 100 per cent record in the 2013-14 campaign.

Liverpool's win proved to be the perfect occasion to mark the 100th anniversary of Kop legend Bill Shankly's birth.

The match provided the pulsating start that the day deserved as Sturridge became only the second player ever to score for the Reds in the opening three matches of the Premier League season.

The forward instinctively glanced in Daniel Agger's header from a corner in the third minute, causing an already vociferous Anfield atmosphere to erupt.

Sturridge's header proved to be the catalyst for a flurry of attempts at both ends of the pitch as the rapid tempo of the encounter grew.

Robin van Persie improvised with an acrobatic overhead kick after Patrice Evra nodded across the face of goal before Philippe Coutinho dragged a 25-yard effort wide immediately after.

Danny Welbeck failed to trouble the Liverpool goal with an attempt fired straight at Simon Mignolet but the Reds avoided much more of a scare minutes later.

An Ashley Young corner drew no contact in the six-yard box and took the well-placed van Persie by surprise at the back post; the Dutchman failed to control and finish as the ball fortunately bounced away to safety.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

 

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Capital One Cup: Liverpool 4-2 Notts County

Dramatic extra-time strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson sealed Liverpool's 4-2 victory over Notts County in the second round of the Capital One Cup at Anfield.

Early drives from Raheem Sterling and Sturridge were cancelled out by the League One outfit, with second-half goals from Yoann Arquin and substitute Adam Coombes ensuring the tie progressed into extra time.

Despite being reduced to 10 men through an injury to Kolo Toure, goals in quick succession from Sturridge and Henderson cleared a safe passage into the next stage of the competition for the Reds.

Aly Cissokho and Luis Alberto made their competitive bows for Brendan Rodgers' side, although the French defender's night was drawn to a close early due to an injury in the 10th minute.

Liverpool looked to stamp authority immediately and Sterling epitomised that with an impressive solo goal inside the first four minutes.

The winger charged through the centre of midfield past multiple defenders before drilling a powerful shot underneath the arm of Bartosz Bialkowski and into the corner of the net.

Unfortunately for Cissokho, the full-back's first Reds start was ended prematurely as he was forced off through injury and replaced by Daniel Agger.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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Goal Highlights: Liverpool 1-0 Stoke City

Daniel Sturridge's stunning 25-yard strike ensured Liverpool began the 2013-14 campaign in perfect fashion with a 1-0 victory over Stoke City at Anfield.

The forward's goal emphasised how much Brendan Rodgers' side dominated in a match where the Reds hit the woodwork on three occasions.

A heroic Simon Mignolet secured all three points for Liverpool with a penalty save to deny Jonathan Walters in the dying moments of the encounter.

The excitement surrounding the first game of the season was epitomised by a pulsating quarter of an hour that involved the woodwork being rattled twice and the Reds being foiled by the linesman.

Mignolet struggled to properly parry away a cross and Robert Huth failed to hit the target with a rebounding volley that he lashed against the crossbar.

This proved to be the catalyst for Liverpool exercising their dominance and they thought their efforts had paid dividends through Sturridge.

The forward glanced Gerrard's free-kick into the far corner but celebrations were short-lived as he was judged to have been offside.

That didn't dampen the Reds' spirit as they stepped up their search to break the deadlock. Kolo Toure sent a powerful header crashing off the crossbar before Sturridge's follow-up attempt from an acute angle was driven high and wide.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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Watch Liverpool last pre-season friendly highlights

Daniel Sturridge made his return from an ankle injury as Liverpool ended their 2013-14 pre-season preparations with a 1-0 loss to Celtic in the Dublin Decider at the Aviva Stadium.

The striker made an encouraging 45-minute appearance after missing the majority of the summer as the Reds were unfortunate to lose through an early Amido Balde strike.

The clash brings an end to a highly impressive run of friendlies, with Brendan Rodgers' side emerging victorious in all six of the battles that preceded the match against the Scottish side.

Despite appearing increasingly comfortable in possession in the early stages, the Reds found themselves a goal behind against the run of play, courtesy of Balde.

The towering striker managed to knock the ball around Andre Wisdom before his side-footed effort ricocheted off the onrushing Simon Mignolet's trailing leg - unfortunately it wasn't enough to alter the direction of the shot as the ball bounced into the back of the net.

That proved to be the catalyst for a flurry of attempts from Rodgers' charges that forced Celtic custodian Lukasz Zaluska into a string of impressive saves.

The Pole initially anticipated the danger well to race off his line and block Philippe Coutinho's shot from close range before producing a much more eye-catching stop just a minute later.

Stewart Downing cut in from the right flank before sweeping an attempt that was destined for the far corner before Zaluska acrobatically leapt across to palm away the danger.

Glen Johnson surged forward in typical fashion and broke through Celtic's backline but was foiled when his low shot was met by the diving 'keeper.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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Watch Liverpool beat Valerenga Highlights

Liverpool extended their pre-season winning streak to six matches on Wednesday evening with an enjoyable 4-1 victory over Norwegian outfit Valerenga at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo.

In front of the club's principal owner, John Henry, the Reds maintained their impressive form through goals from Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Martin Kelly and Raheem Sterling; their clean sheet record was ended by Giancarlo Gonzalez, though.

The pre-match team news had confirmed nine changes to the Liverpool team which celebrated Steven Gerrard's testimonial by beating Olympiacos on Saturday - Joe Allen and Aspas the two men to retain their starting berth.

An incisive burst by Stewart Downing served notice of Liverpool's threat to the hosts as early as the third minute. The winger knocked the ball around his marker and showed lightning pace to collect the ball on the other side, before drilling a centre which Jordon Ibe was unfortunate not to connect with.

First-half captain Jordan Henderson whipped a free-kick high and wide in the eighth minute and Allen trained his sights with a wayward effort shortly after. Continuing the theme, Ibe skipped beyond two challenges to work space - a rash shot followed, though.

Aspas then had two inviting opportunities to break the deadlock on the quarter-hour. Downing claimed possession and drove forward in a two-on-one scenario, releasing the Spaniard to blast goalwards. Saved.

The summer signing swung a boot seconds later at the left edge of the box but his strike drifted the wrong side of the far post after taking a deflection. The subsequent corner looped off Andre Wisdom and briefly scared home goalkeeper Gudmund Taksdal Kongshavn, and Ibe directed an attempt off target as the Reds established control.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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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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Pre-season friendly: Melbourne Victory 0-2 Liverpool

Steven Gerrard's first-half strike and a late Iago Aspas goal sealed an encouraging 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory in the second game of the Reds' three-match summer tour at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The skipper's composed finish and Aspas' tap-in epitomised the entire team's impressive performance as they eased their way to yet another victory to maintain their 100 per cent record in pre-season so far.

Wholesale changes were made in the second half and the starting side's replacements looked just as assured in front of the 95,000 sell-out crowd as Brendan Rodgers' squad continued their preparations for the 2013-14 campaign.

An opening quarter of an hour that was starved of goalmouth action forced both sides to bid to break the deadlock in more ambitious circumstances.
Raheem Sterling caught a sight of goal but unfortunately sliced his 25-yard effort wide before Andrew Nabbout tested Brad Jones from similar range. A firm effort from the front-man forced the Australian custodian to palm away the danger.

Gerrard cut across Sterling's pass with a fierce strike that Nathan Coe leapt across to save before the Victory goalkeeper was rendered helpless by the Reds captain shortly after the half-hour mark.

Joe Allen surged through midfield and showed patience before sliding a pinpoint pass through to the onrushing Gerrard, allowing the skipper to calmly tuck the ball into the corner.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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