Depay
PSV Sporting Director Marcel Brands has revealed that the club did speak with Liverpool regarding a possible move to Anfield for Memphis Depay this summer. After Depay’s move to Manchester United was confirmed last week, Brendan Rodgers claimed that Liverpool were not interested in the Dutch winger and that his team ‘had other priorities’.
Brands said: “I didn’t speak with Brendan Rodgers. I had contact with Ian Ayre. I know there were some problems with Sturridge, maybe that changed the decision. I don’t know. I’m not in the club of Liverpool. I don’t know what the policies are inside. But Man United were very fast and that changed the decision for Memphis. He made the final decision. He made his choice.”
The Times’ Merseyside football writer Tony Barrett reported at the beginning of last week that, despite initial talks between Liverpool and PSV, Rodgers’ side had cooled their interest to concentrate on bringing in a top striker. Brands’ comments fit in with this claim.
When Brendan Rodgers denied Liverpool’s interest in the winger on Friday, he argued that there are already enough players who play in Depay’s position at the club. He said the club already have four wide men, in Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana, Jordon Ibe and Lazar Markovic, mentioning Sterling and Lallana as two players who play on Depay’s favoured left side.
Rodgers outlined his plans to bring in more quality in the attacking areas a few weeks ago now, particularly in the striking role. Depay is the top scorer in the Eredivisie and would definitely have fitted in well at Anfield, but can the club justify bringing in another wide player? It seems that the club cooled their interest in him to prioritise other, more pressing areas.
Depay has obvious quality, and some will argue he is just the sort of player to bring Liverpool the cutting edge in the final third that they have so badly needed this season. But with four wingers already at the club, it seems Rodgers has decided to stick with what he’s got, in the hope that the likes of Sterling, Ibe and Markovic will add goals to their game playing alongside a quality striker.
Benteke
So who will that striker be? The man being strongly linked at the moment is Christian Benteke, who is in fine form for Aston Villa. The Belgian striker was considered last summer before Mario Balotelli was signed, but injury doubts stopped Liverpool from pressing on with their interest. However, The Daily Express’ Paul Joyce, John Percy from the Telegraph, and Dominic King from the Daily Mail, all claim that Liverpool are eyeing up Benteke again this summer.
Tim Sherwood recently claimed Benteke was the best striker in Europe based on current form and that no club would be able to afford him. The potential fee being touted is one in excess of £30m. Would he be worth it?
I think Benteke is a very good Premier League striker, but I have my doubts as to whether he’d fit in with the playing style at Liverpool. Aston Villa very much play to his strengths. Liverpool have used big strikers for a lot of the season and it just hasn’t worked. Neither of Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert have the movement in their game that’s required to lead the line for a Brendan Rodgers team. I’d worry that Benteke would have the same problem and would look at the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gonzalo Higuain over him.
Origi
It’s clear that Liverpool need to revamp their frontline. Daniel Sturridge is more than ideal when fit, but unfortunately that’s not very often. I believe Divock Origi will be a good addition. Lille are not a side that create many chances and I don’t think people should judge him based on this season. At the World Cup, Origi was electric. He had bags of quality around him and a manager that believed in his qualities. He’ll have the same at Liverpool. He was chosen over the likes of Romelu Lukaku on numerous occasions at the World Cup and Brendan Rodgers has gone on record as saying he believes he has all the qualities to become a world class striker. He’s quick, strong, skillful and can finish well. I am confident he will go on to be a top striker for the club.
Ings
With Borini, Lambert and Balotelli all expected to move on, Liverpool almost certainly need to bring in two more strikers as well as Origi. Danny Ings is one who looks to be on his way to Anfield. Numerous reports are suggesting that he is on the verge of becoming Liverpool’s first signing of the summer. Manchester United and Chelsea are also thought to have looked at Ings. Work-rate and movement are two of Ings’ best attributes. He has shown he can finish chances well and there are clearly clubs who believe his goal tally will improve with quality players around him. On a free transfer, I don’t think Ings would be a bad addition. Liverpool will hope that he contributes more than the likes of Borini and Lambert.
Neto
Where else do Liverpool need to strengthen? It’s quite clear that Rodgers would like to bring in a goalkeeper to provide some strong competition for the much-improved Simon Mignolet. Portugese reports last month suggested that the man chosen to do that would be Rui Patricio, but that’s since gone quiet. Last week, the Guardian’s Andy Hunter, as well as Paul Joyce and Dominic King, reported that the Reds have revived their interest in Fiorentina’s Neto. The Brazilian stopper has reportedly had second thoughts over a move to Juventus.
Montoya
Barcelona right back Martin Montoya is being linked to the club for the third year running. Rodgers has confirmed that Javi Manquillo will stay at the club next season, but with Jon Flanagan injured and Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique expected to leave the club, it may well be that the club target another full back. Moreno is clearly the first choice left back, so you’d assume that it’s a right back that the club will target, with Emre Can playing there at the moment.
Milner
With Steven Gerrard leaving, you’d expect Liverpool to try and bring in a midfielder or two. There have been a number of links to young holding midfielders, amidst speculation that Lucas Leiva will leave the club this summer. Rodgers has said that holding midfield is Emre Can’s favoured position this summer, but there have been links to the likes of William Carvalho, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Asier Illaramendi and Ruben Neves. Possibles for the other two midfield roles currently include the likes of Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, Emre Can and Phillippe Coutinho – you’d think that the club would like to add to their options in that area this summer. James Milner has been strongly linked, with Paul Joyce claiming that he is ‘destined for Anfield’ when his contract at Manchester City runs out this summer. I think Milner would be a good signing. He brings a lot of (winning) experience and can play in a range of different positions. Sky Sports Pundit Alan Smith believes Milner may be off to Arsenal, but the England midfielder’s situation is one to watch closely.
Papadopoulos
Liverpool may also want to boost their options at centre back, depending on Rodgers’ judgement of Tiago Ilori and Andre Wisdom during pre-season. Kyriakos Papadopoulos has again been linked, as well as Real Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez.
