Liverpool fans are probably the most fragile fanbase drinking in the Football Transfer Tavern of late given Steven Gerrard’s emotional Anfield farewell on Saturday, followed up by Monday evening’s shocking news that Raheem Sterling is looking for a way out of Merseyside.
With the Reds potentially set to be without their bright young thing in Sterling as well as club legend Gerrard next term, Brendan Rodgers knows that he has to bring in multiple new faces who perform a hell of a lot better than the likes of Mario Balotelli, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic who have flattered to deceive this term.
What’s really thrown the spanner in the works however is the fact that Liverpool are set to qualify for the Europa League and not the Champions League as they did last term, bringing with it the harder possibility of signing the very best names in the game.
It isn’t all bad news for Liverpool however with Philippe Coutinho set to remain as well as Jordan Henderson – who is to be instated as captain – not to mention Daniel Sturridge having a whole summer to regain fitness ahead of recapturing his very best form.
Nevertheless, Reds fans will want to see Rodgers – a man questioned over his signings – to pull a few rabbits out of the hat this time round to convince everybody that he is still the man for the job long-term.
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Click on these Kopites below to reveal the 5 midfielders to help Liverpool win the Premier League next season.
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Miralem Pjanic
If Sterling is to depart Anfield as he intends, much of Liverpool’s creative burden will be placed on the shoulders of their Brazilian international Philippe Coutinho.
With the likes of Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana not enjoying the instant impact they would have hoped for, surely Liverpool boss Rodgers needs to add another number 10 flair player kind of addition?
One transfer target the Reds would love to get their hands on is Roma’s Bosnian international midfielder Miralem Pjanic.
With Metro claiming last month that Pjanic is available to sign from the Serie A giants for a fee of £21.8 million, surely this is a fee worth splashing out for the former Lyon schemer.
Capable of playing behind a central striker, on the flanks or even deeper, Pjanic is a versatile midfielder and lets be honest, Liverpool haven’t been shy of splashing £20 million + fees in the past have they? Just ask Dejan Lovren!
Pedro
For a couple of transfer windows now, Liverpool fans have grown used to their club losing out on marquee-type additions such as Alexis Sanchez and Willian only to settle for the likes of Mario Balotelli and Lazar Markovic instead.
If the Reds really do intend to return to European football’s elite competition in the Champions League sooner rather than later, you feel Brendan Rodgers really needs to land an established big name signing who fans can realistically expect an instant impact of.
One man that fits this category is Barcelona’s Pedro who despite his talents has been understandably ousted from the Catalans’ starting line-up following the signing of Luis Suarez from the Reds.
With Liverpool losing out on receiving Alexis Sanchez as part of that deal, perhaps they could be owed a favour this time around?
Whether Pedro would be up for playing Europa League football remains to be seen however.
Asier Illarramendi
Another Spanish-based benchwarmer at present is Real Madrid’s defensive midfielder Asier Illarramendi.
Signed by Los Blancos for a mighty €32.2 million back in 2013 and originally billed as the heir to Xabi Alonso’s throne, such was the similarity of his beginnings at Real Sociedad, Illarra – as he is known – hasn’t really gone on to fulfil this billing at the Bernabeu.
That said, there are easier places to make a breakthrough for the now 25-year-old and Illarramendi will be better off for the experience of playing with the world’s biggest club.
What’s Real Madrid’s loss may be Liverpool’s gain who would certainly be interested in landing somebody who could potentially emulate the former exploits of Alonso.
With the jury still out on Joe Allen’s worth to the team, perhaps Illarramendi would represent an upgrade on the Welshman.
Mateo Kovacic
Earlier this month, it was reported by The Express that Liverpool had made a cheeky £7.5 million for Inter Milan’s Croatian international midfielder Mateo Kovacic that was swiftly rejected by the fallen Serie A giants.
Kovacic, just 21, doesn’t score many goals but what he brings is grace and dynamism to the Nerazzurri midfield, qualities that are rated ever so highly by Brendan Rodgers who will continue to tinker with his formation in an expansive style.
If Liverpool are to land Kovacic this summer, a lot will depend on Manchester City.
This is because Inter boss Roberto Mancini is reportedly keen on giving Citizens midfielder Yaya Toure one last big pay day in a transfer reunion that then may render Kovacic’s talents surplus to requirements.
This will be a situation for Liverpool to monitor as the summer months roll on.
James Milner
In recent days, Arsenal and Liverpool have both heavily been linked with a summer swoop for Manchester City midfielder James Milner who is out of contract at the end of the season.
The unsung hero of the Citizens’ midfield has just reportedly turned down a whopping £165,000-a-week contract to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium beyond the end of the season, handing hope to the likes of the Gunners and Reds.
With Arsene Wenger refusing to be drawn on the subject of interest in Milner’s signature this week, it is still anyone’s guess where the England international will end up but Liverpool could yet represent a viable option.
With Brendan Rodgers having established something of a British core of talent at Anfield, perhaps Milner could become the latest cog in the Northern Irishman’s rebuilding job.
One thing is for sure; Rodgers won’t find qualities of effort and desire lacking in Milner like he has in so many of last summer’s purchases!
