Rodgers To Add Attacker & Defender

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has praised the recent work done by the club in recruiting players but revealed he is hopeful of adding a couple more before the new season gets underway.

So far this summer the Reds have welcomed goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, experienced centre-back Kolo Toure and Spanish attacking duo Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto to Anfield.

All four were secured in time to report for pre-season training with the rest of the squad, excluding those involved in either the Confederations Cup or U20 World Cup, yesterday.

Speaking about the business done to date, Rodgers told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's great - it's a big thing to the club because we looked at last summer and there were lots of things that were difficult for us.

"That meant that the opening period of the season was difficult.

"From that we've got all our people involved, our recruitment team in - and they got to work as soon as they came in.

"We brought great signings in January and that's really helped us. Obviously the plan was to get our signings in as soon as we possibly could - and we still hope to make a few more.

"I'm very happy with the four players I've brought in, and they'll add to the group."

As well as identifying the need for another attacker and 'probably another defender', Rodgers admitted he would potentially need to look at further players if members of the existing squad depart.

"I still think another attacking, creative player, and depending on what goes out of the club - because naturally there might be one or two players who need to go out and play more - then we'll need to fill those areas that have been vacated," continued the 40-year-old.

"Certainly another attacking player will really benefit us, and probably another defender. We'll see how it develops over the course of the next few months."

The 'creative' recruit to which Rodgers refers could well be Armenian star Henrikh Mkhitaryan with a number of sources suggesting Liverpool are close to tying up a £20million deal for the Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker.

Elsewhere star striker Luis Suarez has been heavily connected with a move away while doubts persist over the futures of Pepe Reina, Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates amongst others.