Liverpool’s transfer window has officially started. The last couple of weeks have seen them work hard to finalise two deals that have been rumoured for a long time now.
First, James Milner was confirmed a Liverpool player last Thursday. The club supposedly fought off interest from Arsenal as well as a huge contract offer from his current club Manchester City who were desperate to keep him.
Milner will become a Liverpool player on July 1 and so will Danny Ings. The club confirmed that they had agreed personal terms with Ings on Monday. A tribunal will decide the fee if Liverpool and Burnley fail to reach an agreement in the near future.
In the last two or three seasons, Milner has shown everyone that he has become more than a consistent midfield player. He has fantastic technical ability and an incredible work rate. His goal return in the last couple of years has been impressive and it is no wonder that Manuel Pellegrini was so desperate to keep him.
Milner is said to have chosen Liverpool with promises of a starting berth in central midfield. He could be an instrumental player for the club. His winning experience will be a massive help in the dressing room. Milner is also fantastic from set pieces which may be a help with Steven Gerrard leaving the club this summer. There is no question that this signing improves Liverpool’s midfield options.
Ings is an interesting signing. The Telegraph’s Mark Ogden believes he can prove himself to be a better player than Harry Kane and various Lancashire based reporters also believe Ings can be a big success at the club. He is much more of a Brendan Rodgers type of player than the likes of Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli.
He has always scored goals. His return of 11 last season wasn’t bad for a side which struggled so much in the Premier League. It is Ings’ many attributes that impress. He scored a range of goals last season with both feet and his head. He is relentless in his work rate and is always making clever runs. He is quick, links up well with his teammates and can finish well. It will be interesting to see how Ings settles at a club where he has more quality around him.
It is good to see Liverpool getting deals done early and if reports in the media are to be believed, Adam Bogdan will be joining Milner and Ings at the club on July 1. The Bolton shot stopper, who had a fantastic game against Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season, is set to leave Bolton with his contract due to expire.
The Liverpool Echo believe he is the man Liverpool want to provide competition for Simon Mignolet. It remains to be seen whether he is the only goalkeeper the club want to sign. Bogdan is highly rated at Bolton and at 27 you’d assume he still has his best years as a goalkeeper ahead of him.
Real Madrid’s Keylor Navas was linked with the club via The Daily Mirror last week as Rafael Benitez’s side continue to pursue David De Gea.
In my last article I mentioned that reports suggested the club were not looking to bring in a right back this summer and would instead give the likes of Andre Wisdom and Javi Manquillo chances to impress. However, last week it was revealed that Liverpool had lodged a bid for impressive Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne, who has been strongly linked with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.
The bid of £10m was apparently rejected, but Liverpool are expected to return with an improved offer. Press Association reports that Manchester United are no longer interested in the England right-back and that Liverpool are in pole position to acquire his services.
There is no doubt that Clyne would be a big signing for the club. It is said that Southampton are looking at around £15m for the 24-year-old who is set to enter the final year of his contract at the club. Clyne is an a good all round full-back who likes to get forward but is also well disciplined and likes a tackle.
There are not many in the Premier League who are better. He would be a fantastic signing for the club and one I really hope can be finalised. The Telegraph believe that Liverpool will wait until after England’s Euro 2016 qualifying match with Slovenia to launch an improved bid.
A couple of weeks ago there were widespread reports that Liverpool were set to make their move for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke after the FA Cup Final. However, no such move has been reported yet and the Belgian is still being linked with Chelsea and Manchester United.
Benteke’s agent was last week recorded in conversation with a prankster claiming his client would do everything he could legally do to leave Aston Villa. At the moment there are no signs that Liverpool have prioritised another big money striker over Benteke.
Real Madrid’s Denis Cheryshev has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield in the Spanish press but a potential move for Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been rubbished by the club.
Martin Skrtel’s claims that he has rejected a contract from Liverpool have seen him linked with Besiktas and Inter Milan in media overseas. Raheem Sterling is still being linked with a move away from the club as his contract saga continues.
