Fantastic Four Liverpool weekly transfer update

Welcome to this weeks Fantastic Four transfer update. Here we’ll be discussing the pick of this week’s transfer speculation for an insight into the comings and goings of everybody’s favorite football club.

Brendan Rodgers and the men behind closed doors, or The Transfer Committee as they’ve come to be known, are no doubt locked away in a darkened cigar smoke filled room with downed scotches and heated debate Purposefully ticking off or crossing out names from the list in between calls to high level figures at Southampton, Chelsea and Bayern Munich… Probably not exactly the reality but that’s the way I prefer to picture it.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at who those supposedly in the know feel will be donning the red shirt of Liverpool Football Club come mid August. As usual, the BS rating indicates the likelihood (1) or not (5 – total BS) of a deal being struck.

Max Meyer – According to the Metro everybody’s favorite commuter rag, Rodgers is preparing an £8m move for the 18 year-old Schalke play-maker. Meyer is well thought of in the Bundesliga and last year had an impressive season with the German side. Meyer had attracted the attentions of Chelsea last season and it would make a nice change for a player to prefer the Reds over the west London outfit instead of continually losing out to them. Personally, I think he’d make a great addition to the side and I’m watching this one with interest. BS Rating: 2 – This could be a very likely purchase for Rodgers and at a reported £8m represents good value over other clearly overpriced prospects.

Alberto Moreno – Speaking of overpriced prospects, the Liverpool boss retains an interest in the Sevilla left back. However according to the Mirror there is a cooling of interest from Liverpool as the Spanish club hold out for £18m for a relative unknown with very little top flight experience. Quite rightly, Rodgers is refusing to play ball. I’m hoping this is true. When you consider the Reds shelled out £12m for Mamadou Sakho, a French international with proven experience, it’s hard to justify the price tag being placed on the 18 year-old. Judging by Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas showings in the red shirt, it’s a gamble that’s not worth taking. BS Rating: 4 – Can’t see this happening. Far too pricey when compared to other options.

Ryan Bertrand – The Chelsea loanee has been mentioned a couple of times as a cheaper, more realistic and, let’s not forget, more experienced alternative to Señor Moreno. With a price tag expected to be in the region of £7-8m, what could possibly go wrong? Well for a start, if Bertrand is genuinely any good then it’s unlikely that Jose Mourinho will want to sell to a club that one cannot deny is now a direct rival according to the Telegraph. Bertrand is definitely a player who could add some solidity and depth to the left back position. He has Premiership and Champions League experience (albeit only one game in the latter – and even then he came of after a knock). BS Rating: 2 – I’d prefer to see Bertrand in a Liverpool shirt than Moreno for both footballing reasons and for knowing that the club is £10m better off because of it.

Dejan Lovren – the Southampton centre back has been linked with a move to Liverpool since the close of last season. However, according to reports, the 24 year-old Croatian has signaled his intention to bring his season long stint at Saint Mary’s to a close by handing in a transfer request. The Daily Star has even gone so far as to suggest the player has outlined his intention to move to Liverpool. Personally, I think this is great news for Liverpool and if Rodgers is able to do a deal, he’d have addressed the clubs biggest problem over the last few seasons, let alone last season. I’ve seen prices ranging from £12-15m which would be round about right for a player of his experience and ability and would make an ideal partner for Martin Skrtel. BS Rating: 1 – There’s been so little written about this in the press up to now, I can’t help feeling that there has been some genuine effort gone into this behind the scenes. Watch this space.

So, that’s my Fantastic Four for this week. Rodgers and his crew have clearly read our article from last week and decided to get a move on with strengthening the defence. The inclusion of Lovren in the list is reassuring and indicates that the manager isn’t going completely keeganesque and being intent on playing a 1-1-8 formation. I like to believe that he’s learnt the lessons from last season and is actively seeking to address the clubs most urgent weakness.

The Adam Lallana and Xherdan Shaqiri stories remain but I’m beginning to think those are both coming to nothing. At least the Moreno situation looks to have been nipped in the bud so the club doesn’t get a reputation for being total mugs.

So all together a quiet week, and now with the World Cup finals well and truly under way, it’s unlikely there’ll be much business done, if at all. Still, the fire isn’t out and we remain hopeful.

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