Silly season is well underway following the official opening of the summer window last week, so transfer rumours are flying in and out with incredible velocity here at Football Fancast.
So quickly, in fact, that we’re struggling to keep track of them all. You probably are too, so we thought it would be a good idea to start compiling all the rumours involving the Premier League’s top clubs into one place, trimmed down into easily digestible chunks.
Liverpool have already been particularly proactive in the market, landing three bosman signings in Burnley’s Danny Ings, Manchester City’s James Milner and errrr… Bolton Wanderers’ Adam Bogdan.
But there’s still copious rumours of potential arrivals and departures up on Merseyside, and it’s with that in mind we’ve summarised this week’s hottest Liverpool rumours into a streamlined three in, three out format.
Would the Reds benefit from making this six-man switcheroo ahead of next season?
IN – NATHANIEL CLYNE
In a welcome change of roles for Liverpool, Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne has reportedly turned down a move to Manchester United with his heart set on joining the Anfield squad before the start of next season.
The 24 year-old has just come to the end of a strong campaign at St. Mary’s, playing a vital role in the Saints recording the second-best goals conceded column in the Premier League by averaging the fifth-most tackles per match, 3.3, of any player in the division.
Liverpool will be drafting him in as a replacement for Glen Johnson, who has left the club on a free transfer after rejecting several one-year contract extensions earlier this season.
Interestingly, the Saints signed Portugal right-back Cedric Soares earlier this week in a £4.7million deal, and he’s believed to be Clyne’s replacement.
There’s still the issue of price, however; Liverpool have already seen a £10million bid turned down for the England international and according to reports yesterday evening the Saints want their £15million valuation met in full.
OUT – MARTIN SKRTEL
In what will undoubtedly be of significant concern to Liverpool fans, defensive lynchpin Martin Skrtel blasted Liverpool’s latest contract offer as ‘unacceptable’ last week, claiming its pay-as-you-play structure should be reserved for ageing stars or players with injury problems – not a 30 year-old centre-back amid his peak years.
And there’s no question the Slovakian international has been Liverpool’s most dependable centre-half since Brendan Rodgers took the Anfield helm three years ago, netting seven times as Liverpool honed in on the 2013/14 Premier League title and proving a rare beacon of consistency amongst an otherwise hap-hazard backline this season.
Yesterday came rumours from the Liverpool Echo, claiming Skrtel had rejected the advances of Inter Milan by agreeing to sign a new deal.
But the Mersey news outlet’s source appears to be a fake Facebook account, and the thuggish defender has since declared that he’s no closer to extending his contract past the end of next season.
Along with the San Siro outfit, Bundesliga side Wolfsburg are known to be admirers of the former Zenit star.
IN – JOE GOMEZ
According to reports from The Daily Mail yesterday morning, Liverpool have all but officially confirmed a £6million deal for Charlton Athletic youngster Joe Gomez – with his medical due this afternoon.
The South London outfit have a knack of churning out talented youngsters and the 18 year-old is their most promising prospect for many a year, boasting 25 caps for England across the youth levels and playing every minute of the tournament as the U17s claimed the 2014 European Championship in Malta.
He’s been compared to Rio Ferdinand for his ball-playing, incredibly athletic centre-back style and will likely be sent out on loan next season – with the Addicks and Derby County both interested.
OUT – SEBASTIAN COATES
The arrival of Joe Gomez will probably spell the end of Sebastian Coates’ Liverpool career, who now just has one year left on his Anfield contract.
The 6 foot 5 centre-back has managed just twelve Premier League appearances for the Reds since joining them from Nacional in summer 2011, instead finding himself out on loan to his former club during the 2013/14 campaign and last season at Sunderland.
And according to reports earlier this week, the Black Cats are on the verge of signing the 16-cap Uruguay international permanently for a £4million fee.
It follows a small stretch of games in which the 24 year-old had a pivotal influence on Sunderland’s Premier League survival, helping the Wearside outfit claim three clean sheets and nine points from his last six outings.
Currently on international duty at the Copa America, however, the Coates deal may have to wait a few more weeks before its formally concluded.
IN – AYMEN ABDENNOUR
Despite spending a small fortune on centre-halves over the last three summers, the heart of Liverpool’s defence is arguably in worse shape than when Brendan Rodgers arrived at Anfield in 2012.
According to The Liverpool Echo, the Mersey boss is hoping to remedy the situation with a summer swoop for Monaco star Aymen Abdennour, who has just come to the end of a strong season in Ligue 1.
The Tunisian international certainly seems up for a summer switch to the Premier League, telling French publication L’Equipe earlier this week; “I am ready for anything… I’d love to play for big clubs. Why not leave so I can make more progress?
“I do not think everyone will leave. I am ready for anything. I trust my President and my director. They know me, I will not put pressure on them. We respect each other, we work as a family,” he added – as reported by The Metro.
But the Reds are by no means the 25 year-old’s only suitors; according to The Metro and The Express, he’s also a target of Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
OUT – RAHEEM STERLING
It’s a transfer saga that seemingly has no end – Manchester City’s relentless pursuit of wantaway winger Raheem Sterling.
The England international’s Anfield career seems as good as over, having told BBC Sport he rejected a contract worth over £100k per-week earlier this season whilst renegade Aidy Booth made the audacious claim to The Evening Standard that Sterling wouldn’t extend his Reds contract past 2017 even for £900k per-week.
In desperate need of youthful players and home-grown ones this summer to rebalance a squad lacking both, the Citizens are considered the front-runners in the race to sign the 20 year-old and have already made two offers.
As reported by The Express, City launched a bid worth £25million plus incentives last week and have since upped the ante to £35million – once again, with added incentives based on appearances.
But Liverpool have knocked back both and are seemingly unmovable on their £50million valuation.