Reds boss Rodgers keen to continue spending on big-name additions.
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Liverpool could attempt an ambitious double raid on Newcastle this January as they hope to sign both Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye from their Premier League rivals, CaughtOffside can reveal.
Brendan Rodgers had a busy summer in the transfer market for the Reds, bringing in the likes of Iago Aspas, Simon Mignolet, Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho, as well as Victor Moses on loan from Chelsea, though he is still keen on improving his squad for a sustained title challenge.
The Northern Irishman has stated that he plans to keep spending, and it looks like he could be given significant funding to make the big-money move to bring in two of Newcastle’s most talented French midfielders.
Ben Arfa has been a long-term target for Liverpool, who continue to look for extra ammunition from the wide areas following the sale of Stewart Downing to West Ham in the summer and the loaning out of Oussama Assaidi to Stoke City, and with the likelihood that they won’t be able to keep Moses on a permanent deal.
The 26-year-old has been a hit at St James’ Park since arriving from Marseille in 2010, though his moments of brilliance have sadly been met with inconsistency and injury problems as well.
As the France international stalls on agreeing a new contract with the Magpies, Liverpool’s interest has intensified, and they may be able to land him for around £14m when the transfer window re-opens as Newcastle will be wary of his price falling further as he draws nearer to the end of his current deal.
An additional £20m may also see Liverpool land Cabaye, a skillful midfield playmaker who had caught the eye of Arsenal over the summer. The 27-year-old is also a France international and has been a highly influential player for Alan Pardew’s side since joining the club from Lille in 2011.
Liverpool are in need of a player of Cabaye’s ability to set the tempo in their midfield, as they have lacked that kind of influence in their side since the sale of Xabi Alonso in 2009. The club tried but failed to re-sign the Real Madrid star during the summer, and may now feel Cabaye is a more realistic target to pursue.
Although Arsenal were keen to land the Newcastle man, their signing of Mesut Ozil instead looks to have cooled their interest, though the likes of PSG and Monaco may still be monitoring his situation when January comes.
Newcastle will be desperate not to lose two key players in one go, though Ben Arfa’s contract situation puts them in a difficult position over his future, and Liverpool are confident they can offer the kind of money that the Magpies won’t be able to turn down.