TRANSFER ROUND UP. PEDRO. The Mirror reports that the 26-year-old Barcelona star could be the subject of an audacious bid by the Reds.With new Barcelona boss Luis Enrique expected to sell a number of players this summer, it’s reported that they are willing to let Pedro leave his boyhood club for approximately £25m. The Spaniard, who has scored 87 goals in 268 games since his debut in 2008, would be a huge coup, and he would add a great amount of pace and quality in wide areas. Happiest on the right of a front three, Pedro can also be effective on the opposite flank or in a more central role. He also has the knack of scoring in big games, which is another very positive attribute. ALEXIS SANCHEZ. Pedro’s Barcelona teammate Sanchez is also being watched closely by Liverpool managerBrendan Rodgers, according to the Daily Star. The flying Chilean winger is a huge talent, but he has never quite managed to hit the heights expected of him when he joined the Catalan giants from Udinese in 2011. Like Pedro, Sanchez’s future at Camp Nou appears unclear, and acquiring his signature would be a huge statement of intent by the Reds. His wage demands could be a stumbling block, however. Quick, skilful and with an eye for goal, the 25-year-old would make Liverpool’s attack even more potent, and his stunning performance for Chile against England at Wembley last year highlighted his quality. MICHEL VORM. With Rodgers clearly wanting to add a top quality goalkeeper to his squad as a rival to Simon Mignolet next season, the Echo claims Vorm could be on his way to Anfield. The 30-year-old was signed by Rodgers when he was Swansea boss back in 2011, and he has been hugely consistent for the Welsh side. The Holland international is a top class all-round ‘keeper, but his ability on the ball is his major strong point, and caters hugely towards Liverpool’s style of play. He is expected to cost around £5m, but a potential issue could be whether a player of his calibre is willing to risk being second-choice. XHERDAN SHAQIRI. The Guardian reports that Shaqiri could swap Bayern Munich for Liverpool this summer, having struggled to nail down a first-team place at Allianz Arena. The 22-year-old winger rose to prominence at FC Basle, and was exceptional against Manchester United in 2011, providing two assists against them to help knock them out of the Champions League. The Switzerland star has great technical ability, can beat defenders with ease and delivers an excellent final ball. His ability to play in wide or central attacking areas clearly appeals to Rodgers. With Shaqiri wanting regular football, and Liverpool qualifying for the Champions League next season, the move certainly has potential. DEJAN LOVREN. According to the Daily Star, Lovren is one of the Reds’ most wanted centre-backs this summer. With defence clearly a huge weakness in the Liverpool side this season, Rodgers is looking to bring in a commanding, consistent centre-back, and the 24-year-old Southampton star ticks both of those boxes. He is at an age where he still has years to improve, but he is also very experienced. With Rodgers reportedly unsure who to pair alongside Mamadou Sakho or Agger as a right-sided centre-back next season, Lovren would be a terrific addition. BigC #lfc.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 07:28:44 +0000