Liverpool: Can Rodgers make Liverpool a team to be feared once more?
Although Liverpool Football Club reached two cup finals last season their league form was dreadful. The King Kenny Dalglish was unable to guide the Kopites into the coveted Champions League places. In fact, Dalglish was unable to even finish above Merseyside rivals Everton.
The board decided to axe the King and appoint a new one capable of turning Liverpool around. Brendan Rodgers was the man the owners turned to and the majority of Liverpool fans are firmly behind their new gaffer. But business so far has been slow.
Amid all the speculations and rumours linking Andy Carroll to West Ham United and Newcastle, Liverpool just haven't been able to strike a deal for the most expensive flop in the club’s history.
West Ham had made an audacious offer to loan Carroll for a season with a view to buying the player at the end but the forward doesn’t fancy the bright lights of London and wants to fight for his place at Anfield. Liverpool has slapped a £20 million fee on Carroll's head and it will be interesting to see if he does indeed leave the club this month.
In the meanwhile, Daniel Agger has been heavily linked with a move to the champions Manchester city and Rodgers is trying to pull in as much as £20 million from the oil-rich champions for the Dane. A deal is possible for far less amount if Adam Johnson moves to Anfield in exchange.
If deals for both Carroll and Agger are finalised soon and Liverpool gain about £40 million from them, the Reds will be able to complete deals for Swansea midfielder Joe Allen and possibly a winger. Liverpool are reportedly in talks with Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and Bologna’s Gaston Ramires. However, a deal for Clint Dempsey seems to be off as Fulham’s asking price (£10m) is too much, especially considering his age and the lone year left in the contract of the playmaker.
According to the Kop gaffer, a loan deal or two could also be possible with Real Madrid’s star Nuri Sahin thought to be on the verge of joining Anfield thanks to Rodgers' relationship with Mourinho. Also the Catalan wonderkid Christian Tello has been on Liverpool’s radar for quite some time and reports from Spain suggest that he can leave Barcelona for regular first team football, as his name is missing from the squad announced for upcoming La Liga campaign.
Brenden Rodgers has called for patience as the deals for the new faces are taking longer than expected. His target was to do all the business as soon as possible but the Premier League starts next weekend and Liverpool's squad is still in the phase of reshaping.
Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez have already parted ways and Bellamy’s departure to Cardiff is also imminent. With Suarez having signed new long term deal, Liverpool has been given a huge boost. The former Ajax man can form a formidable partnership Fabio Borini and the possible arrivals of Joe Allen, Gaston Ramires and Adam Johnson will make Liverpool a dominant force in Premier League which will be one to fear.
Article by Amir Jalal
Calling all Liverpool fans: What are your expectations for Liverpool this season? Can they emerge as shock title contenders or is a place in Europe the limit? Who would you like Rodgers to sign? Whatever your views, we'd love to hear from you.
