The top talents on Brendan Rodgers’ Anfield wish-list.
Liverpool are looking to spend some money this summer following a disappointing season where they finished 7th in the Premier League, a place behind bitter rivals Everton. The club have already signed Simon Mignolet, Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas but they are still in the market for many quality players. Here are the top ten players who could be joining Liverpool this summer.
10- Christan Atsu- FC Porto
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to sign some quality wide men this summer and the club are incredibly interested in making a move for FC Porto winger Christan Atsu. The Reds made a move to sign Atsu last summer but Porto put a huge price tag on the winger’s head, putting Liverpool off. However, the club are back this summer and are much more likely to sign the 21 year old. Atsu has only one year left on his contract at Porto and has made it clear to the club that he won’t be signing another one. This means that Liverpool could sign Atsu for as little as £3 million, when last season they may have had to spend around £20 million to sign him. The winger is quick and talented but sometimes erratic and despite this, Rodgers will be happy to only pay £3 million for the winger and will look to blood him into the first team. Atsu is only young, so he is erratic nature may grow out of him over time.
9- Christen Eriksen- Ajax
Eriksen is seen as one of the most talented young midfielders in Europe and has been attracting the interest of a host of top clubs throughout Europe. Liverpool have been interest in the Dane for a number years and were considering making a move for him last summer. However, that never materialised, meaning Eriksen stayed in Holland for another year. Liverpool could be back for the midfielder this season as the player has yet to sign another contract with Ajax and the Danish national coach, Morten Olsen, has said that he believes it is time for the player to leave Holland and play at a higher level. Eriksen national team-mate, Daniel Agger, has urged the player to make a move to Liverpool as the way he plays fits Liverpool’s style of play perfectly. However, Liverpool will face competition for Eriksen, with Borussia Dortmund interested in bringing the Dane to Germany as a replacement for Bayern Munich bound, Mario Gotze. The midfielder is thought to be available for between £10-13 million, so Liverpool may have to act fast if they are going to sign one of their long term targets.
8- Arouna Kone- Wigan Athletic
The striker was one of Wigan’s success stories during the club’s Premier League season and scored 13 goals as the Latics won the FA Cup, beating heavy favourites Manchester City 1-0 in the final. However, despite Wigan’s success in the FA Cup, they were still relegated from the Premier League and Kone has already indicated that he doesn’t want to be playing in the Championship next season. The striker is now 29 and wants to make the most of his career while he is still in his prime. This means that Kone is likely to leave the Latics this summer and Liverpool is one of his possible destinations. The Reds are short of striking options for the start of next season with Daniel Sturridge out injuryed and Rodgers could target Kone to strengthen his squad. The striker could also be available for £5 million, a relatively cheap amount for a striker. However, Liverpool will have competition for Kone and it comes in the form of arch rivals, Everton. The Toffees new boss Roberto Martinez bought Kone when he was Wigan boss and the Spaniard is keen to bring the Ivorian to Goodison Park.
7- Kyriakos Papadopoulos- Schalke
The Greek international has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and Liverpool are chasing the centre-back this summer. Brendan Rodgers wants to strengthen his back-four following the retirement of Jamie Carragher and the uncertainly surrounding the futures of Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel. The defender is known to be a strong, physical presence at the back and would fit in well with the Premier League’s physical style of play. However, Liverpool aren’t the only team interested in the highly-rated centre back, with Arsenal also tracking the Greek international. The Gunners could offer Papadopoulos Champions League football, whereas Liverpool can’t and that could have a factor in where the defender ends up next season. Italian club AC Milan were close to signing Papadopoulos last summer and could be back for the centre-back this year, although it is unknown whether they could match Schalke’s asking price.
6- Diego Capel- Sporting Lisbon
Liverpool have been pondering whether or not to make a move for Diego Capel for most of the season, especially as the wingers has had a disappointing season at Sporting Lisbon, scoring only 2 league goals for his club. The Reds are certainly in the market for a pacy, skilful winger and Capel would fit the bill when he is playing at his best. The winger is also set to be placed on the transfer list at Sporting Lisbon, with the club having serious financial troubles. This means that Liverpool could possibly sign the winger for a reduce price, which would please those in the boardroom at Anfield. The only problem could be the doubts surrounding Capel’s form and whether Liverpool would be getting value for money should they make a move for him. Brendan Rodgers may decide it is better to go for a promising young winger like Christan Atsu over Capel. A move for Atsu may be more likely as Rodgers likes to sign young players and give them a chance to gel into the team.
5- Gerard Deulofeu- Barcelona
Brendan Rodgers is known to like buying young, talented players and then let them get better over time. He has already seen the potential in Barcelona’s young winger Gerard Deulofeu. The wide player is one of Barcelona’s most highly rated young players, which is quite some praise considering the amount of quality young players that Barcelona produce. With Liverpool in the market for a wide player this summer, Rodgers may take the opportunity to approach Barcelona about Deulofeu. The club are unlikely to want to sell Deulofeu and will see him as a player for the future but Liverpool could still sign the 19 year old on loan, maybe with an option to buy next year. Deulofeu is unlikely to play much next season for Barcelona’s first team due to the arrival of Neymar, so the winger could benefit from some time away from Barcelona, getting some first team football at another club. Liverpool aren’t the only club interested in Deulofeu however, with Tottenham also looking into bringing the Barcelona youngster to their club.
4- Ashley Williams- Swansea City
Williams has had an incredibly strong season at Swansea, helping the Swans to win the League Cup in February and a place in the top half of the Premier League table. The defender is a huge presence at the back, with his physicality able to put off even the best strikers. Williams impressive form has led to speculation that the defender may seek a move away from the Liberty Stadium. The Welshman is approaching his 29th birthday and wants to make the most of his career while he is still in good form so a move to one of Europe’s top clubs is in his mind. Brendan Rodgers managed Williams when he was Swansea boss and was interested in bringing the defender to Anfield last summer when he became Liverpool manager. Swansea blocked Liverpool’s approach, meaning Williams stayed with the Swans but the Reds are interested in the Swansea captain once again. A move to Anfield would appeal to Williams, who would enjoy working with Rodgers again however, many other teams appear to be interested in the defender, most notably Arsenal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been a long time admired of Williams and has been monitoring him for most of the last season. Williams to could be interested in a move to the Emirates as it would mean he could play Champions League football. However, Swansea are not willing to let Williams go without a fight and are demanding £10 million for the defender, an asking price that neither Arsenal nor Liverpool are willing to pay at this stage.
3- Christan Benteke- Aston Villa
Benteke has had a fantastic debut season in the Premier League, scoring 19 goals as he helped Aston Villa avoid relegation to the Championship. The Belgian is a natural goal scorer and has pace and power which will upset even the best centre backs. Liverpool have been monitoring Benteke for most of the season and appear ready to make a bid for the striker. The Belgian could be seen as a replacement for Liverpool’s want-away striker Luis Suarez, who almost certainly will leave Anfield this summer following his comments in the media and reports that he has already agreed personal terms with the club of his choice, Real Madrid. Liverpool would look to spend a sizeable amount of the money made from the sale of Suarez on a bid for Benteke but Aston Villa will do everything they can to keep the Belgian at Villa Park and are reportedly demanding at least £20 million for the striker. Also, Tottenham are known to be in the market for a striker and have recently made an approach for Benteke, meaning Liverpool will face competition for the Belgian’s signature. It may come down to which club can offer the striker the most as both will offer Benteke wages well in excess of what he is earning at Aston Villa.
2- David Villa- Barcelona
David Villa is one of the most highly rated strikers in European football, having scored many wonderful goals for Barcelona and Spain. He is capable of scoring spectacular volleys and predatory tap-ins. He has become one of the most wanted strikers in Europe this summer because reports state he is looking to leave Barcelona. The striker has struggled to hold down a regular place in Barcelona’s first team after coming back from injury and will face even more competition for a place next season after Barcelona signed Brazilian star Neymar. Villa is desperate to be a part of Spain’s squad for next summers World Cup and he knows that he will have to be playing regularly in order to keep his place in the side. That is why Villa is looking to move and Liverpool is one of his potential destinations. Rodgers is interested in Villa because he would bring undoubted quality to Liverpool’s squad and plenty of goals which could help the Reds get into the Premier League’s top four next season. However, the Reds will face competition for Villa from many different sides, with Tottenham, Arsenal and Fiorentina all interested in the Spaniard. Spurs appear closest to Villa at the moment and will make a formal approach for the striker once he returns from the Confederations Cup.
1- Henrikh Mkhitaryan- Shakhtar Donetsk
Mkhitaryan is one of Europe’s most talented attacking midfielders and has been linked with a move away from Shakhtar for most of last season. Liverpool have been front-runners for the midfielder for awhile and it appears that a deal to sign Mkhitaryan could be close. The midfielder is known to want to move away from Shakhar and fancies playing in the Premier League. His current club don’t know where he is at the moment after he skipped a pre-season training camp in Austria, apparently in protest at the way Shakhtar are trying to keep him at the club. Signing Mkhitaryan will not be cheap, with the Russian club demanding £25 million for the midfielder, a price that Liverpool may think twice about paying. It the past few days, Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund have entered the race and have had a £19.5 million bid rejected by the Russian club. Dortmund have money to spend having sold Mario Gotze for £31.4 million so Liverpool may have to move quickly in order to sign Mkhitaryan.
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