Liverpool got back to winning ways in the Premier League on Monday night, beating Newcastle United 2-0 in a routine victory at Anfield.
Raheem Sterling made the headlines for the right reasons for the first time in a long while, scoring a superb opening goal – whilst even Joe Allen found the back of the net in the second half with his first Premier League goal at Anfield.
The result gave Brendan Rodgers side a glimmer of hope with regards to a top four finish, with the win moving them to within four points of fourth placed Manchester City.
Whilst Champions League football looks a long shot at this moment in time, a fifth placed finish and success in the FA Cup – they face Aston Villa in the semi final at Wembley this weekend – would represent a good season after such a turbulent start.
The supporters will hope for better next season however, and that may well depend on the transfe business they conduct this summer.
Here we have gone through the rumours, and identified five that the supporters should not get too excited about just yet.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Brendan Rodgers to reveal Forget it! 5 Liverpool summer transfers that won’t happen
[/ffc-gallery]
Petr Cech
The Chelsea goalkeeper has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal since losing his first team place to Thibaut Courtois at the beginning of the season.
We can’t see a switch to Anfield happening for three reasons, the first of which is the price – Mourinho has said it will take a ‘massive’ offer to seal his move from Stamford Bridge.
The second looks to be the lack of Champions League football at Anfield next season.
And the third is the improvement of Simon Mignolet over the second half of the season – we reckon Rodgers is too stubborn to admit he may have got his signing wrong with by bringing in a new goalkeeper.
Javier Hernandez
The Mexican striker has spent the season warming the bench at Real Madrid, and has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs for a permanent switch this summer.
Tottenham, Everton, and Stoke City are amongst those said to be interested – with Liverpool proving the latest name to emerge.
The problem of course is that it will be Manchester United who are doing the selling.
And when do the two bitterest rivals in English football ever do any sort of business with eachother? Simply, never.
Radamel Falcao
The Colombian forward has endured a season to forget at Manchester United, and the Red Devils have made it clear they have no desire to make his loan move from Monaco a permanent one in the summer.
That has seen Liverpool linked with a move, although everyone seems to be forgetting not only the asking price, but the striker’s wage demands.
Monaco want at least £40million for Falcao – which would see the Reds need to fork out a club record fee – whilst the former Atletico man is also on wages of more than £200k-a-week – money Liverpool simply cannot afford.
The only possibility of a deal being agreed is if both parties significantly decrease their asking prices.
Alexandre Lacazette
In many ways, the French forward is the ideal signing for Liverpool – which is exactly why they won’t get him.
Every transfer window it seems the Reds miss out on a target that would be ideal for them. Recent seasons has seen them miss out on Diego Costa, Willian, Yevhen Konoplyanka, Alexis Sanchez and Xherdan Shaqiri to name just a few.
Lacazette has scored more goals than games he has played this season (26 and 25) and is capable of playing anywhere in the attacking third.
Liverpool would love to get him, but we can see the Reds missing out to a major rival for his signature in the summer should they fail to qualify for the Champions League as expected.
Fernando Llorente
The powerful Spanish striker is said to be available this summer, having lost his first team place at Juventus to Alvaro Morata this season.
Liverpool have been linked with Llorente on several occasions in the last few years, and it is thought Rodgers had the chance to sign him when he arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2012.
Reports have linked the Reds with a move this summer, but if Rodgers didn’t want him back then we can’t see any reason as to why he would want him now – especially when you consider his form has dropped significantly from the days in which he was one of the most feared target men in Europe during his time with Athletic Bilbao.
