More ins and outs that could happen at Anfield before the end of the summer transfer window.
Liverpool have already had a fairly busy summer, doing some decent business in bringing in the likes of Simon Mignolet, Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto, and Iago Aspas. They have also managed to rid themselves of some deadwood in Andy Carroll and Pepe Reina, but there is still room for some improvement if they want to finally break into the top four.
Out: Martin Skrtel
Martin Skrtel initially looked like a great prospect when he signed from Zenit St Petersburg in 2008, but he has arguably failed to live up to expectations of him at Anfield, and fell down the pecking order at the club last season under Brendan Rodgers. With Kolo Toure arriving in defence this summer, and more targets being linked, Skrtel could still make way before the end of the summer. Napoli are thought to be the main contenders for his signature, with his former boss Rafael Benitez keen to link up with him again. He has also been linked with Arsenal at points, though the Reds are unlikely to want to sell the Slovakian to a rival. Much will depend as well on the future of other defensive players currently at the club, as Rodgers could find himself short of cover at the back.
Out: Daniel Agger
In a less positive exit, defender Daniel Agger could be set to leave Liverpool this summer, even after recently being named vice-captain at the club. The Danish international has been a top performer for the Reds since joining in 2005, but this has not escaped the attention of Spanish giants Barcelona, who are known to be on the lookout for defensive reinforcements this summer. The La Liga champions have already seen bids for David Luiz rejected, and could move for Agger as an alternative. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Agger is also keen on a move to the Nou Camp, and Liverpool may once again find that the lack of Champions League football on offer at Anfield will see them struggle to keep hold of their star names. This would be another big blow to the club’s defensive depth, after the retirement of stalwart Jamie Carragher at the end of last season.
Out: Luis Suarez
In a transfer saga that has lasted all summer, Luis Suarez is still thought to be hoping to force a move away from Liverpool. At first a move to European giants such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus seemed most likely, as he put his reasons for wanting to leave down to a desire to escape the English press, until Arsenal emerged as his main suitors. Liverpool are obviously reluctant to sell, particularly to a Premier League rival, and although Suarez has returned to training at the club and apologised to his manager and team-mates, there could still be time for another twist in this tail.
Suarez scored 30 goals last season, and is certainly a player who should be playing at the very top level of the Champions League. Despite their strong stance on the situation, it is hard to imagine the Uruguayan being settled and back to his best at the club. It would be a big blow to lose such a top talent, but it could work in their favour if they reinvest his vast transfer fee properly. With Real Madrid failing so far to land their prime target of Gareth Bale, could they still turn to Suarez late on?
In: Christian Eriksen
Liverpool have long been linked with talented Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen, and a move could finally be in the works after the Amsterdam club revealed they are preparing for his departure. Tottenham and Juventus are also said to be interested in the youngster, but Liverpool arguably have a more pressing need for a new attacking midfielder of this kind, after missing out to Borussia Dortmund for top target Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Both clubs will receive a considerable financial boost if they sell two of their much-coveted star players this summer, but Eriksen has expressed a liking for Liverpool in the past, so they currently seem the favourites to sign the Dane. It is certainly a mouth-watering prospect to potentially have Eriksen and Coutinho, two of the world’s best young attackers, linking up for the Reds next season, though will their lack of Champions League football play a factor in his decision?
In: Toby Alderweireld
Another talented player from Ajax who could be on the move this summer is Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld. The 24-year-old has been a highly impressive performer for the Dutch giants in recent years, and has attracted a lot of interest this summer. Roma looked close to signing him a few months back, though a move never materialised, and it is now thought that Liverpool are back in for him, after Ajax’s director of football Marc Overmars confirmed that an offer had come in from an unnamed club. Tottenham are also interested in Alderweireld, but Liverpool’s potential loss of Daniel Agger to Barcelona would surely mean they are more able to offer him the first-team football he will surely desire. Like many players produced at Ajax, Alderweireld is also versatile and perfectly capable of filling in at right-back or midfield if needed.
In: Guilherme Siqueira
Formerly a target for both Manchester United and Stoke City, Brazilian left-back Guilherme Siqueira now seems close to completing a £5million move to Liverpool. The 27-year-old has impressed in La Liga with Granada, and looks like a bargain signing who could prove a good upgrade on current first-choice left-back Jose Enrique. Reds boss Rodgers has bought well from the Spanish league so far, and Siqueira looks like another good addition to his squad. A move for Siqueira looked to be off a few days ago with the news that Liverpool had instead opted for a loan move for Valencia left-back Aly Cissokho, though with the club still to confirm these rumours, Siqueira may still be higher on Rodgers’ list of priorities.