Wednesday’s biggest stories for the Reds.
Brendan Rodgers likens Liverpool ace Raheem Sterling to FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi
The manager has heaped praise on his talented 19-year-old by comparing him to one of the best players of all-time.
Sterling has improved greatly over the past 12 months and Rodgers believes the forward shares the same characteristics as four-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.
“He scored 10 goals last year and this kid is only going to get better. When you look at the finish against Manchester City in New York, how many times have we seen Messi produce a touch like that?” the 41-year-old was quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
Cardiff City looking to sign Reds starlet Tiago Ilori on-loan
Bluebirds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keeping tabs on Ilori as he sees a loan deal for Manchester United’s Michael Keane fall through, according to the Mirror.
The Norwegian is keen to bring in defensive support at the Cardiff City Stadium after selling Steven Caulker to QPR and Ben Turner being ruled out for a month with an ankle injury.
Ilori arrived at Anfield 12 months ago from Sporting Lisbon and spent the latter part of the 2013/14 season on-loan with Granada.
Former Chelsea star Samuel Eto’o to have second round of transfer talks on Merseyside
After leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of last term the striker is yet to find a new club and Rodgers has shown interest in the 33-year-old.
Yet Eto’o has demanded weekly wages of £135,000 in order to join the Northern Irishman’s side, which the hierarchy are not prepared to sanction, reports Goal.
There is much interest in the Cameroon international with Ajax, Everton and West Ham United also keen, but the Merseysiders have not given up hope just yet and will enter negotiations again.
Martin Kelly edges closer to Crystal Palace switch
With Javier Manquillo having joined on-loan from Atletico Madrid this summer and a fee having been agreed for Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno, Kelly’s time at the club is coming to an end.
Manquillo, Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan are all ahead of the 24-year-old for a place in the starting XI and Sky Sports reports that Palace are closing in on a deal for the Englishman.
Kelly is a product of the youth academy at Anfield and has made 62 appearances for the side in all competitions to date.
Moreno bids tearful goodbye to Sevilla after agreeing £12m Reds move
It was confirmed on Tuesday that after weeks of speculation a fee has been agreed for the 22-year-old, with a medical expected to be completed later in the week.
As the Daily Mail reports Moreno bid a tearful goodbye to his boyhood club following their 2-0 UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid.
The Spain international will become Rodgers’ eighth new signing this summer.
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