Post by jockcas on Aug 31, 2013 20:15:32 GMT
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is pushing on with moves to bring in four new additions to his Anfield squad before the transfer window slams shut on Monday evening.
Liverpool manager is closing in on moves to further strengthen his squad with a particular emphasis on beefing up a defence that has been hit by something of an injury crisis.
Kolo Toure and Sebastian Coates have both suffered long term injuries and with Jamie Carragher having hung up his boots Rodgers feels the need to splash the cash on two new defender and is set to welcome in PSG’s Mamadou Sakho and Sporting Lisbon youngster Tiago Ilori who he hopes will both have medicals this weekend.
The pair will cost a combined fee of £25m, a fee that Rodgers can certainly afford given that the additions he has already made have been more than covered by the sales of Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll, Jay Spearing and Jonjo Shelvey.
French international Sakho will reportedly set Liverpool back £18m, a fee Rodgers is willing to pay for the 23 year old, who has found himself pushed down the Parc des Princes pecking order by Brazilian trio Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and Alex.
Ilori’s arrival certainly adheres to the Merseyside club’s youthful transfer policy with the Portuguese Under 20 international considered one of the hottest defensive prospects in Europe.
Liverpool are also closing in on a loan deal to bring in Victor Moses with Rodgers making the most of his contacts at Stamford Bridge to secure the Nigerian winger on a temporary deal that will cost the club £1m, and could well also include the option of making the move a permanent one.
Moses moved to Chelsea last August from Wigan Athletic but has struggled to make an impact at the West London club, making just 12 Premier League starts last term, and the speedy wide-man may well feel the chance of more regular football at Liverpool could help re-ignite his promising career.
Liverpool will also look to secure the services of Aston Villa keeper Shay Given, who will be seen by Rodgers as a more accomplished back-up option to summer signing Simon Mignolet than Aussie Brad Jones.
The Republic of Ireland veteran has become something of the ‘forgotten’ man as Villa Park with Paul Lambert not seeing the 37 year old as a genuine contender for Brad Guzan’s first team berth, indeed the former Newcastle United man hasn’t started a Premier League since August 2012