Reds close in on wide aces.
Liverpool are just days away from completing the double signing of Sporting Lisbon winger Diego Capel and Valencia full back Aly Cissokho.
Boss Brendan Rodgers has been keeping an eye out for the right kind of players this summer and is now set to turn his attentions to the Spanish and Portuguese markets once again in order to solve the side’s problems on the left.
The speedy Spaniard, Capel, would cover the left wing, finally dispossessing the hapless Stewart Downing. Downing may have improved slightly last term, but he’s still not come anywhere near to matching the £20 million that Liverpool paid for him two years ago.
Capel is vastly experienced at just 25-years-old. Having made his Sevilla Debut at 16, he was a key part of the side that won the old Uefa Cup twice in succession and his Euopean adventure has continued at Sporting. Injury may have hampered his career in Portugal, but they are thought to be willing to listen to offers to ease their crushing financial difficulties.
Reports in Portugal have suggested that he would be available for as little as €7 (£6m) million, but Liverpool will have to act fast as French giants Marseille have already had two bids for the player rejected.
Liverpool will also be meeting with Valencia defender Aly Cissokho this week in a bid to thrash out personal terms on another £7 million deal.
The 25-year-old has been vocal over his desire to head for the Premier League in recent months and now looks set to get his wish this summer. He had been in line to join Everton last year as a potential replacement for Leighton Baines, who had been expected to join Manchester United, but they may have now missed their chance as Liverpool are now in pole position to acquire his services.
The French stopper has been identified by Rodgers as the ideal man to replace Jose Enrique should the speculation linking him with a move away from Anfield ring true, and it is a move Cissokho has admitted he would jump at after losing his place in the La Liga outfit’s line up toward the end of the campaign.
Cissokho only joined up with the Spanish side last summer, signing for a fee of around £5 million from former French champions Lyon, who he’d spent the previous three seasons with after joining them from Porto.