We all know Liverpool are expecting a quiet transfer deadline day, but that never stopped the rumour mill. We round up the days LFC’s transfer speculation.
So it’s transfer deadline day, the perennially anti-climactic end to the January transfer window and, despite Brendan Rodgers’ repeated claims that Liverpool are not to dip into the market at this stage, there’s a little bit inside all of us that hopes he will.
Just for the sake of it more than anything, of course.
But who are the various capricious media sources linking Liverpool with this transfer deadline day?
After watching Raheem Sterling mercilessly eviscerate him at Anfield on Saturday, Rodgers has clearly decided it would be the right idea to join the bemusing transfer race for mid-table talent and West Ham United chancer Winston Reid.
The 26-year-old has garnered widespread interest from clubs as reputable as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this season, purely because he is a centre-back whose contract expires in the summer.
The Mirror claims that Liverpool will offer an astonishing £6.5 million for the New Zealand international.
“[Reid] rejected a new four-year deal to stay at Upton Park and now Liverpool will test the Hammers’ resolve to hang on to him.”
https://twitter.com/LiverpoolClips/status/562035701483864064
Let’s just say no to this one.
Remember Yevhen Konoplyanka? The Dnipro winger the Reds so desperately pursued this time last year?
Well Rodgers decided once wasn’t enough, and according to Metro has seen fit to deal with Dnipro’s ridiculously difficult president Igor Kolomoisky once more this January.
“Liverpool and Tottenham are to set to contest a deadline-day battle for…the Ukraine winger,” reports suggest, “after [he] turned down Roma in favour of a Premier League move.”
“Konoplyanka is also set to become a free agent at the end of the season, leaving Liverpool and Spurs with the option of attempting to beat each other and the transfer deadline with a late bid, or tying him to down to a pre-contract agreement ahead of a summer move.”
It’s hard to imagine Liverpool will target another winger, what with Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho, Jordon Ibe, Raheem Sterling and Lazar Markovic all able to play there.
And, of course, Liverpool aren’t playing with wingers at the moment are they?
With Steven Gerrard leaving Liverpool for more surreal climbs with LA Galaxy in the summer, now would be the perfect time to link the club with a plethora of potential successors, wouldn’t it?
After Fabian Delph signed a new contract at Aston Villa, and when we’d emerged from our respective unhappy places, a new challenger emerged.
Hannover 96 midfielder Lars Stindl is the man for Rodgers, talkSPORT claims:
“Rodgers is keeping a keen eye on Hannover skipper Lars Stindl since his return from injury as he looks to find the man to fill [Gerrard’s] boots.”
Now how about a quickfire round-up of the more high-profile deals Liverpool have been linked with?
First up, Metro relay reports from Spanish publication El Confidencial, claiming that “Liverpool could be set for a busy transfer deadline day after they were linked with an 11th hour move for Real Madrid holding midfielder Asier Illarramendi.”
The Daily Star continue to entertain speculation that Liverpool will sign PSG winger Ezequiel Lavezzi this January.
“Liverpool have been heavily linked with a £14m move for Lavezzi and the Reds had scouts in Paris watching him in action a fortnight ago,” apparently.
Then Liverpool were reportedly offered Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao, according to the Express: “The Bernabeu club have contacted Arsenal and Liverpool to enquire if they want their 26-year-old Portuguese.”
The most tentative of reports, Sky Sports will be pleased…
Finally, with Liverpool notoriously low on firepower this season, it comes as no surprise that Rodgers is linked with a move for Mareille hotshot Andre Pierre-Gignac, courtesy of the Daily Star.
“[Gignac] has been in red-hot form for the Ligue 1 club this season and reports on the continent suggest Rodgers will try and beat Arsenal to his signature,” reports desperately claim.
Ligue 1’s answer to Tom Hardy, Gignac has scored 14 goals in 23 games so far this season, and is coming to the end of his contract, so shouldn’t be too expensive.
But another big, burly target man, really?
Gignac’s move reportedly hinges on whether or not Rodgers sanctions the loan move of Rickie Lambert, who is undeniably struggling in a peripheral role on Merseyside, despite the joy his surprise move from Southampton brought us all on his £4 million move in the summer.
Likely to spend the majority of the season on the bench or in the stands, Lambert will suffer even more so on the return of Daniel Sturridge.
Luckily for the 32-year-old, the same report suggests that Hull City, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers are all interested in taking him on loan this January.
This stands as one of the more believable of transfer rumours this deadline day—could Rodgers relent and set the previously prolific Scouser free this January?
Of course, Lambert could not be the only player to leave the club on loan, with the Liverpool Echo reporting that 17-year-old academy midfielder Sheyi Ojo is set to move to Championship hopefuls Wigan Athletic today.
“The Reds are in talks with the Championship outfit over a temporary move for the 17-year-old winger.
“Rodgers believes Ojo’s development would benefit from a spell playing regular first-team football.”
Looks like a quiet day ahead for #LFC. No incomings/outgoings expected in terms of senior squad. Few youngsters could head out on loan.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) February 2, 2015
This, finally, is a move we can all get behind—after seeing the benefits of a Championship loan in the development of Jordon Ibe, Ojo moving to Wigan and being awarded regular game time can only aid his progress as one of Liverpool’s most promising young talents.
It seems wrong to end on a believable transfer story, so here’s a selection of reports we’ve plucked out of the air to peddle at your whim:
– Karim Benzema will finally leave Madrid in search for potential Europa League football with Liverpool, after he grew tired of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale’s bickering.
– Borussia Dortmund have decided to cut their losses and offer star centre-back Mats Hummels to Premier League sides this January, and Liverpool lead the race.
– Not content with the three suitcases of hard cash delivered to St. Mary’s in the summer, Ian Ayre will Yodel another to the south coast in an attempt to sign hardworking Southampton midfielder Steven Davis.
– Rodgers will muscle in on Real Madrid’s interest in Spurs striker Harry Kane, despite the striker just signing a new five-and-a-half year deal at White Hart Lane.
– After scoring his first La Liga goal for Sevilla, Liverpool will look to cut short Iago Aspas’ loan deal by offering a fee of £5 million, to compensate for the club’s considerable loss.
Wouldn’t it be nice?
Do you expect Liverpool to make any transfer deadline day moves? Let us know in the comments below.
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