RealGunner wrote:Bafetimbi Gomis announces departure from Lyon at the end of the season.

Pardew's cue.

Inter Milan interested in Lamela, according to Tuttosport.

Vitesse interested in Wolfsburg striker Bas Dost, according to Voetbal International.

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Al-khelaifi-et-thohir-evoquent-lavezzi/427483

PSG president Al Khelaifi and Inter president Thohir had dinner last night after watching Arsenal-Chelsea in London.  Among the players discussed, Lavezzi was discussed according to Gazetto Dello Sport (l'Equipe is just linking to this source; not their own).

Al Khelaifi was also there to work on the Juan Mata transfer proposal for the winter (this part is according to Le Parisien).

Di Maria getting close to deciding he should leave Real Madrid, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Cabaye priority for PSG according to Lequipe.

We do need a midfielder, good choice Blanc.

Fulham FC is delighted to announce the two-month loan signing of Clint Dempsey from MLS side Seattle Sounders

Awful move....should've stayed with the Sounders since they just sold Eddie Johnson to DC United.

He wants to keep in shape, but that's what pre-seasons are for.

Linked with Rakitic again. How can he have a 33m buy-out clause but be available for 7m? Is he in the last year of his contract or are the journos all doped?


In any case, it would appear Liverpool are after a CM and one or two wide players (LB and/or winger).

I love Rakitic, one of my favorite players in La Liga. Hopefully it's true, he could have a similar impact as Meireles had for us.

Meireles's time with us was mixed, and his contribution was NOT what we appear to be looking for at the moment as Rodgers wants a player that can contribute in all areas rather than just attack.

And before you talk about Meireles on the international thread, remember we're talking about where and how he contributed to LIVERPOOL here, and that was decidedly focused on the attacking play.

Yes Red, I remember Raul's time with us very well. What I meant to say was Rakitic would provide similar impact in terms of scoring from midfield and being a match winner (which Meireles proved on many an occasion). Obviously not comparing their styles of play or how Rodgers might use Rakitic, but from what I have seen Rakitic does tick a lot of the boxes for what we need in that box to box CM position.

Also about the price, I know on echo it said something about 7m but I'm pretty sure it'll take more to sway him away from Sevilla.

Rakitic's contract ends in 2015, as far as I know. Sevilla are trying to renew it, but would probably take £15mil+ for him.

He's not as good as a CM as he is an AM, just so you know.

GoonerJay29 wrote:Rakitic's contract ends in 2015, as far as I know. Sevilla are trying to renew it, but would probably take £15mil+ for him.

He's not as good as a CM as he is an AM, just so you know.

That all seems to confirm what I've said... neither the price nor the position seem to be what we're really looking for at the moment.

Real Betis contact Liverpool to ask for Iago Aspas, according to Estadio Deportivo.

Yohan Modric wrote:Real Betis contact Liverpool to ask for Iago Aspas, according to Estadio Deportivo.

Doubt we'll sell or loan him. He's the only striker we have outside of Sturridge (who is injury prone) and Suarez.

This Jan; Cazorla Out - Costa In
Source: Me   

RedOranje wrote:

GoonerJay29 wrote:Rakitic's contract ends in 2015, as far as I know. Sevilla are trying to renew it, but would probably take £15mil+ for him.

He's not as good as a CM as he is an AM, just so you know.

That all seems to confirm what I've said... neither the price nor the position seem to be what we're really looking for at the moment.

As FSG and BR have stated countless times that price would not be a factor if we do in fact find a player that will improve our first XI. 15m is around what you would expect to pay for a first team player of quality.

As for the position, I don't see how Rakitic's versatility negates his fulfillment of requirements we are looking for in a midfielder. We are in fact very much in need of an AM as much as a box-to-box CM, killing two birds with one stone and what not.

Except we are, by basically all accounts, targeting a CDM/CM, not a CAM. And price is still a concern if the player is considered a luxury signing rather than a definite requirement... which CAM seems to be.

RedOranje wrote:Except we are, by basically all accounts, targeting a CDM/CM, not a CAM.  And price is still a concern if the player is considered a luxury signing rather than a definite requirement... which CAM seems to be.

 
We'll be targeting a back-up DM to contest Lucas, or to rival Lucas. We really should of done that in the summer. I think we all agreed with that in the Liverpool section at the time. We won't splash the cash on a defensive midfielder, not in January anyway. Especially when Rodgers hasn't ever played with a defensive mid / anchor since his managed Swansea / Liverpool. The signing of a DM is pretty much a "plan B". I personally think we should go for Sissoko, he was just released at PSG, loves the club so will actually be dedicated to the cause, and will maraud the opposition.

As for CM, how many do we need? Allen, Gerrard and Henderson can all play that role, and actually excel in the role. They just can't seem to play in that advanced position. (Gerrard probably still can, but we're pro-longing his career by playing him deeper as his distribution is STILL class.)
 
A number 10 is what's needed. But to be honest, the only player we've been continuosly linked with has been Salah, who seems to be a wide forward type of player. There's not too many great sources linking us to anyone else.

I hate going over this exact same line of discussion over and over again, but I'm discussing the type of player we ARE targeting, not the one I or you or anyone else (other than Rodgers and the committee) think we SHOULD.

RedOranje wrote:Except we are, by basically all accounts, targeting a CDM/CM, not a CAM.  And price is still a concern if the player is considered a luxury signing rather than a definite requirement... which CAM seems to be.

We may sign Rakitic and push Henderson back to CM. His finishing is still poor despite his recent good performances.

We also were chasing AM in summer so not really surprising if we are chasing another one january

Except that every single link and indication is that we're pursuing who plays deeper in midfield...

I honestly havent any credible link/rumors for Liverpool the last month apart from Bertrand link (By telegraph).

So not sure how much we can read into these speculations of Mail/Mirror.If anything Rakitic rumor is just as credible Fernando Reges or M'Villa

Not really at all, no. Given that there are multiple semi-reliable/reliable sources on Fernando.