Brendan Rodgers agrees deal to become new Reds manager

Brendan Rodgers has agreed a deal to become the new manager of Liverpool Football Club.

The 39-year-old is understood to have agreed a three-year contract at Anfield and his appointment is likely to be officially confirmed within 24 hours.

Liverpool will pay Swansea City between £4m and £5m in compensation to secure the Northern Irishman's services.

Liverpool sacked former manager Kenny Dalglish on 16 May after finishing eighth in the Premier League.

The Reds were 17 points away from a Champions League qualification spot, but won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final.

In contrast, Rodgers guided his Swansea side to an impressive first season in the top flight, including a 1-0 win over Liverpool on the final day of the season.

After parting ways with Dalglish, Liverpool embarked on an extensive search for a new manager.

The Reds were linked not only with Rodgers and Wigan manager Roberto Martinez but also former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas,  ex-England coach Fabio Capello,  and Ajax manager Frank de Boer. 

Rodgers declined the opportunity to speak to Liverpool about the vacancy 12 days ago, and instead the club's hierarchy sought a meeting with Wigan's Martinez.

But it appears Rodgers was always the preferred candidate, despite Wigan chairman Dave Whelan at one point suggesting his manager had been offered the job at Anfield.

Rodgers' managerial career began at Watford in 2008 after coaching spells at Reading and Chelsea.

His return to Reading was an unhappy onebut, after his appointment as Swansea boss in July 2010, Rodgers guided his Welsh side to promotion to the top flight in May 2011, making Swansea the first Welsh team to reach the Premier League.


Via -> BBC

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Why Liverpool should AVOID midfielders from French ligue

Joe Cole says he would "love to have a chance to put it right" at Liverpool, following his season at Lille. Meanwhile, Sochaux's Algerian midfielder Ryad Boudebouz claims that the Reds have made contact with his agent over a possible move (despite not having a manager). While the rest of the Premier League's top clubs are sniffing around top talent from the French league this summer, a list of Liverpool's previous signings from Ligue Un can only fill Kopites with dread…

Jean Michel Ferri
With France winning the World Cup in 1998 and Arsenal flourishing under the French influence of Arsene Wenger in the late 1990s, Liverpool appointed Gerard Houllier in the hope of grabbing a piece of the Gallic glory. Houllier's first signing was 30-year-old Ferri from Sochaux for £1.5m. Hardly Patrick Vieira, the midfielder's greatest contribution was allowing newspapers to print 'Ferri Cross The Mersey' headlines upon his arrival in November 1998, playing just two games for the club.

Bernard Diomede
In the summer of 2000, Houllier coughed up £3m for French World Cup winner Bernard Diomede. The winger had figured in three games of France's 1998 success, which was one more than he managed during three years at Anfield. In fact, he managed one less game than Liverpool won trophies during the 2000/01 treble cup-winning season.

Bruno Cheyrou
Three words: "The new Zidane". Three more words: "No he wasn't".

Salif Diao -> "With Salif, I knew after a week of training that he wasn't going to be good enough," said Houllier in his autobiography. Why did you pay Sedan £4.7m for him in 2002, then?

El Hadji Diouf -> Probably the most unpopular player in Liverpool history, Senegal international Diouf was signed off the back of some impressive 2002 World Cup performances for his national team, including a goal against France. Houllier duly coughed up £10m for a player more noted for spitting at fans during his time with the club than the six goals he scored in 80 games.

Djimi Traore
To give Traore his credit, the gangly French defender's clearance off the line in the 2005 Champions League final was a vital moment in the Reds' greatest ever match, but then he did typically concede the free-kick that led to Milan's first goal in the second minute. Traore was a trier, but after signing for £550,000 in Laval in 1999, it's fair to say he won't be challenging the likes of Yeats, Hansen and Hyypia as an all-time Anfield defensvie great.

Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama Pongolle
This duo were voted the best two players at the 2001 U17 World Cup, which the French won, prompting Liverpool to sign them up from Le Havre, but neither lived up to early expectation. Pongolle had his moments under the management of Rafa Benitez, notably getting the ball rolling in a comeback against Olympiakos, with an assist for Harry Kewell, in the successful Champions League campaign. Le Tallec made just 17 appearances, scoring one goal, and Liverpool fans would probably struggle to remember that he was a surprise starter in the 2005 Champions League quarter-final win over Juventus at Anfield.

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Liverpool's Possible Transfer Targets

A big summer awaits Liverpool Football Club and during all the recent talk of who is going to be the next manager, a lot of people seem to have forgotten there is a transfer window upon us. Although the window doesn’t officially open until July 1^st it is an almost defunct rule as Premier League clubs persist with signing players well in advance of the opening day of the two month long transfer window.

It would be a hugely detrimental mistake for Liverpool not to make the most of players that are available now and, in the meantime, afford other, rival clubs the opportunity to step in and get themselves some of the best talent the world has to offer.

Here, we discuss who we think should be Liverpool’s top five targets of the summer. Unfortunately, as money is a big issue in football, here at Live4Liverpool we are going to be realistic and won’t be including the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or even Emile Heskey in this group.

So, in no particular order of importance, our five players to make the difference:

1. Clint Dempsey

The Fulham forward has been in blistering form this season for the Londoners and has managed 46 goals in his past two seasons in English football which, for a player who is not an out and out striker, is incredibly impressive. This form, coupled with the fact that he only has one year remaining on his Fulham contract and will therefore be able to be purchased for a cut price, means he should certainly be on Liverpool’s radar.

Proven Premier League class, a relatively cheap price and more than happy to make the move north to Anfield – surely a no brainer? Dempsey could well play in an attacking three, down the middle, just behind the big man Carroll – therefore allowing Steven Gerrard and the returning Lucas to pull the strings in the centre of midfield.

Estimated Value – £10-12 million

2. Gaston Ramirez

Uruguayan? Check. Skillful? Check. A handful for any defender? Check. We’ve already got him I hear you say? Isn’t that just Luis Suarez?

Not quite.

Gaston Ramirez is an attacking midfielder currently plying his trade at Bologna and looks a real talent. He’s made a huge impression on Serie A for the past few seasons and at the age of just 21, he could be a real astute piece of business for the Reds.

Valued at just under £20 million, despite recently signing a long-term contract at Bologna, Ramirez is a young man but has the ability to go straight in to the first team whilst having the luxury of being able to play right across the front line. The signing of Ramirez, who could potentially be purchased instead of Dempsey, alongside a world class winger could well be the final piece to a midfield jigsaw that has long to be completed.

Estimated Value – £16 million                     

 3. Younès Belhanda

Having just received young player of the year in France after an excellent season for newly-crowned French Champions Montpellier, Younès Belhanda is not short of a few admirers. The pacy, direct winger, who has an eye for an incisive pass, could be the sort of winger Liverpool fanshave been desperate to see for years at the club. With the big European teams’ attention on another of the French leagues exports, Eden Hazard, there is a definite chance available to Liverpool to make their move and try to bring in this exciting, explosive winger to provide the assists for the likes of Carroll and Suarez.

Estimated Value – £15 million

4. Mauricio Isla

Every club needs a utility man. The sort of player that excels in his favourite position but, when needed, does a job in an unfamiliar one too.

Mauricio Isla is that guy and, although this may come as a surprise to some of you, he would be a fantastic signing for the Reds.

Primarily a full-back, Isla can play anywhere across the back line, in the centre of midfield and has even been known to play just behind the striker also.

With Fabio Aurelio released from his contract, there is room for a full-back in Liverpool’s squad and competition would spur the likes of Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson on to perform better as both, particularly Enrique, suffered somewhat of a slump in form towards the back end of last season. Rated at just over £12 million, Isla would be an ideal acquisition for whoever the new manager may be.

Estimated Value – £12 million

5. Jermain Defoe

It was well documented that Liverpool tried to bring Defoe to Anfield in January but failed with a loan bid for the England striker. With his game time getting less and less frequent and with Spurs expected to sign Emmanuel Adebayor on a permanent transfer then now is the time for Liverpool to make their move. Defoe is a proven Premier League scorer, something which Liverpool sorely missed last season. The signing of Defoe would provide competition for Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, forcing them into playing well, and would not break the bank either as Defoe is not valued too highly because of his age and lack of prominence in the Spurs side. A striker is a must this summer as we just did not score enough goals last season and with money not in huge abundance, the new manager has to be wise with his signings and Defoe, for Liverpool, would represent great value for money.

Estimated Value – £8 million

After adding all of those estimated values together, an amount of roughly £50 million would be spent on players this summer. If reports in the media are to be believed, the new manager will not get anywhere near that much from the owners to spend. However, the very minimum you would expect a Liverpool manager to get for a summer transfer budget is £30-35 million so that, coupled with a few Anfield exits, could potentially provide the funds needed to make these five signings however, as previously mentioned, it is a distinct possibility that not all these players will be signed or even targeted.

We understand that only one of these players are English and we realise that FSG’s policy in the past has been to look at the best of the English talent, we also realise that particular tactic did not work last season. As these five players are a mix of youth, experience, pace, goals and creativity these are simply the five players we at Liverpoolfccorner believe would make Liverpool a force in the Premier League for next season.

Follow Me On Twitter - @AnujLFCPunj

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The People: LFC plan Bundesliga swoop

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is planning a double transfer-window swoop on the Bundesliga.

The Reds have lined up Werder Bremen winger Marko Marin and Borussia Dortmund striker Luca Barrios.

Anfield director of football Damien Comolli identified Marin - German, but of Serbian descent - more than a year ago and Liverpool are understood to have failed in a bid to sign the winger last summer.

Now they are trying to revive the a deal for a fee of around £12million but time is running out before the window closes on Tuesday night.

Marin, 22, played twice for Germany during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and is ­regarded as a promising young talent.

Tottenham are also ­understood to be keeping tabs on Marin but it is thought Liverpool are ahead of them in the race.

The Reds have only one ­recognised winger in Stewart Downing, signed from Aston Villa last summer.

Attacker Barrios, 27, has ­fallen out with the German club's coach Jurgen Klopp and is no longer a first-choice starter, ­despite being one of the Bundesliga's hottest ­properties a couple of years ago.

Dalglish's spies, as well as QPR talent-spotters, have been in contact with Dortmund to ­register their interest to see whether Borussia fancy sending the Paraguayan into the shop ­window on loan for the rest of the season. The asking price is around £10m. Neither Liverpool nor QPR are willing to pay that much now but would take Barrios on a loan basis - with an option to buy him in the summer if he does well.

French giants ­Marseille are also in the mix and ­are ­prepared to pay a fee. But their ­offer would ­become ­official only if they sold Loic Remy, with Spurs still waiting to see whether the striker's price comes down.

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Abidal 'courted by Liverpool and City'

Eric Abidal is a free transfer target for both Liverpool and Manchester City as he approaches the end of his Barcelona contract.

The France international's current deal is scheduled to expire at the end of the season and he is now entitled to speak to other clubs about a summer move.

Barcelona have offered him a two-year contract extension, but with a number of major European clubs interested, the defender has asked for time to think about his future, reports L'Equipe.

AC Milan have already confirmed they are ready to hand the 32-year-old a three-year deal, but there is also interest from England.

Liverpool and Manchester City have apparently made Abidal aware they are keen, although they have not yet made formal offers.

Both clubs signed players - Jose Enrique and Gael Clichy - who play in the Barca star's preferred position of left-back last summer, but the chance to bring in an experienced international who can cover across the back four is still an attractive prospect to them.

Abidal has previously indicated he would like to stay at Barcelona, as he is thankful for the way they stood by him after he was diagnosed with a liver tumour last season.

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Liverpool FC make enquiry for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent

Liverpool have made an enquiry for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent. 
The 27-year-old will be sacrificed by Villa boss Alex McLeish as he attempts to bolster the mid-table side's transfer kitty during the upcoming window.

Speculation over Bent's future has began to mount after injury sidelined him for Villa's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool earlier this month yet was photographed shopping in Cambridge on the same day.

His fire power and link-up play with England team mate Stewart Downing, who left Villa last summer, is understood to be the key motivation for Liverpool's Champions League charge.

Kenny Dalglish has been mulling over a move for the well-travelled hit man in light of the club's lack of clinical edge in front of goal, which has resulted in six home draws.

Luis Suarez's goal tally has stalled while Andy Carroll continues to shoulder the burden of the excessive £35million price tag which lured him to Anfield just 11 months prior.

Monday's stalemate with bottom club Blackburn Rovers has prompted Liverpool to signal their intent for Bent, who appears set to leave Villa Park almost a year since his arrival.

In spite of McLeish's doubt that 'anybody' could afford the club's record signing, the former Sunderland man will be allowed to leave for significantly less than his £24million valuation.


But Liverpool face competition from both Fulham and newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers.

Damien Comolli, the Reds' director of football, admitted last January that the club had considered a move for Bent prior to his move to Villa but claimed that his "lone wolf" approach to games would have proved incompatible with striker Fernando Torres, who later joined Chelsea.

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Liverpool FC: 3 Strikers That Would Arrive in a Perfect World

Liverpool have encountered a somewhat major stumbling block in the form of an eight-match ban for star striker Luis Suarez. Though the ban will be appealed, the ban will still take place. Regardless of Suarez's inclusion in the starting lineup, Liverpool need a striker that will score goals.

Suarez isn't clinical at times, Kuyt has looked off the mark, Bellamy has to be used sparingly, and Carroll hasn't kicked off yet. If Liverpool are to achieve targets they have set, a proven striker must walk through Liverpool's gates before or on January 31st.

1.- KARIM BENZEMA

 

Given that Real Madrid have one of the best attack forces in the world, it comes as no surprise that Benzema doesn't play as much football as he would like. This may be the pivotal factor in a move away from Madrid and into Liverpool, and he would ensure more goals in a Liverpool squad that are in dire need of some firepower.

2.- HULK

 

3 . - FERNANDO TORRES

 

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

It's funny that now Torres has been linked back to Anfield, all is wonderful. He is no longer a traitor.

I never thought he was a traitor, to be honest. Sure, he left. Ronaldo left United. It happens. I always wanted him to do well atChelsea, simply because I am a Torres fan.

Now if he came back, imagine that. Gerrard's passing coupled with movement by Torres almost won Liverpool a title singlehandedly.

Now factor in Suarez. His movement, Torres' movement. That, ladies and gentlemen, equals goals.

Everyone knows Hulk. He can score the tap-ins and score the spectacular. He is everything you want from a striker. Enough said.

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Liverpool Plot Move to Sign Crystal Palace Youngster Wilfried Zaha

Liverpool are targeting Crystal Palace youngster Wilfried Zaha as the Anfield side continues to plan for the future and will reportedly make a bid for the England Under 19 international in January.

The teenage attacker has impressed many with this performances for Palace this season and is now a regular in Dougie Freedman’s first team plans and is now said to be on the radar of many Premier League sides who have taken a keen interest in his services.

Liverpool’s director of football Damien Comolli has sent scouts to monitor the youngster’s progress and with a number of prospective suitors said to be beating a path to Zaha’s door the Merseyside club are keen to register their interest and make a significant bid for the adaptable starlet.

The Ivory Coast born 19 year old spent much of last season making an impact coming off the bench but has been a virtual ever present for Crystal Palace this season and has been showing growing maturity and his performances in the club’s Carling Cup run have drawn glowing praise.

Kenny Dalglish has blooded a number of youngsters in his first team and the likes of Martin Kelly, John Flanagan, Jack Robinson and Jay Spearing have made the jump from the club’s academy to the Premier League with aplomb and the Liverpool boss is keen to bring in quality youngsters to compliment those coming through the ranks.

Liverpool have invested in the likes of Jordan Henderson, Andy Carroll and Sebastian Coates in 2011 and they are now hoping to bring in Zaha, who can play either as an orthodox striker or out wide and appear to have the potential to make the step up to the top tier.

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Liverpool Keen On £22m Dutch International Pair

Liverpool are monitoring PSV pair Kevin Strootman and Georginio Wijnaldum ahead of a potential raid to sign the duo either in January or more likely next summer. Anfield director of football Damien Comolli has had the Dutch international scouted this season and is said to be impressed enough to consider sanctioning a move to sign the young pair.

Boss Kenny Dalglish and Comolli have brought in a number of youthful additions to the Liverpool squad over the past year and see Strootman as a central midfielder with a great deal of potential and a bid for the 21 year old may be made next month as the Merseyside club looks to bring in a replacement for long term injury victim Lucas Leiva.

Strootman is a powerfully built rangy midfielder who has a great engine and has greatly impressed since his move to PSV from Utrecht. The 6ft 1in battler also has an eye for goal and is now a regular in the Dutch international set-up.

Wijnaldum is an adaptable attacker who can play either in an advanced floating midfield role or more effectively out on the wing. The 21 year old similarly moved to PSV Eindhoven in the summer, from Feyenoord, and has been a consistent performer in the Eredivisie for the past four seasons. The Rotterdam born youngster also scored on his international debut in September when Holland mauled San Marino 11-0.

Though both players have only been at PSV Eindhoven for six months Comolli believes that Liverpool could lure the young duo to Liverpool and the Premier League side are willing to shell out around £22m for two players who only cost Fred Rutten’s side around £8m.

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