Saturday, March 26, 2011

Liverpool On Alert As German Defender Eyes Premiership Move

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has been put on alert after learning that German international defender Per Mertesacker has hinted he would consider a move to the Premier League.

The Werder Bremen centre-back has been a regular for his country for a number of years but is enduring a bad spell for his club and has received criticism from the fans for his poor performances.

Bremen is struggling in the Bundesliga this season and currently sits in 12th position, a disappointment after last season finishing third and entering the Champions League.

The 26-year-old, who will start for Germany on Saturday against Kazakhstan, has revealed that he is focused on finding his best form and helping Bremen avoid relegation, only then will he consider a move away from Germany.

"England has been an issue for a few years now, but I cannot make a decision yet," Mertesacker told Die Welt newspaper. “Of course the Premier League is attractive, but right now there is only one issue for me and that is avoiding the drop."

Liverpool is known to be in the market for a defender as they look to bolster their squad next season. Dalglish knows that Jamie Carragher is coming to the end of a long and successful career while Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos could be on his way out of the club at the end of the season.

The Reds have been linked with Bolton defender Gary Cahill and Roma centre-back Philippe Mexes in recent weeks, but German defender Mertesacker may well prove a legitimate target.

The powerful defender's contract runs out in 2012 and should Bremen decide to cash in on the defender then it is most likely that they will try and do business at the end of the season when they can still demand a substantial transfer fee.

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