Ajeccio Goalkeeper Fuels Liverpool Transfer Talks

Ajaccio goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has handed Liverpool a boost after revealing his desire to test himself outside France.

The Mexican claimed last month Liverpool had sounded him out over a move away from the Ligue 1 side during the January transfer window.

Despite returning to form in recent weeks, speculation continues to surround the long-term future of Reds keeper Pepe Reina, who has been tipped to rejoin his former club Barcelona.

And Ochoa has been touted as a possible replacement for the Spaniard, with the 27-year-old suggesting he would not be averse to switching to England.

He told Mercato365: "I do not regret being here, I have adapted to the way of life in France.

"My future? I think about finishing the season in the best possible way, then I will compare options.

"However, I cannot deny that I would love to play in other leagues. I want to develop and join a major project."

Rodgers Watched Daniel Carr In Action

Liverpool trialist Daniel Carr featured for the club's Under 21s in their draw with West Ham on Monday.

Dulwich Hamlet striker Carr was taken on trial by Liverpool last week after catching the eye for the Ryman League Division One South outfit this season.

The former Reading youngster has scored 23 goals in 23 appearances this season for Dulwich Hamlet and a number of Premier League and Championship clubs have been tracking Carr.

Carr played an hour of Liverpool's 3-3 draw with West Ham in front of the onlooking Brendan Rodgers.

Liverpool is expected to keep tabs on Carr as they weigh up making a move for the 18-year-old.

Dunn Double Fires Reds To Semi-Finals

A second-half strike from Lloyd Jones followed by an impressive brace from Jack Dunn sent Liverpool cruising into the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup after their comfortable 3-0 victory over Hull City at the KC Stadium on Tuesday.

Two goals in four minutes from the Reds in the second period secured a passage into the next round and a second goal from Dunn, late into the match, helped make it a memorable evening for Steve Cooper's side.

The win sets up a mouth-watering two-legged tie against Chelsea in the last four of the competition.

Hull's Danny Chambers posed the greatest threat in the early stages when his attempt caused a brief scare.

Joel Sutton remained composed under pressure in Liverpool's area as he flicked the ball towards the striker, who chested it down before rifling a shot into the side netting.

Despite early pressure from the home side, the Reds responded well and created an opportunity for themselves in the 12th minute.

The influential Dan Trickett-Smith was typically looking to cause problems for the opposition and found Dunn in space on the edge of the area. The midfielder attempted to curl an effort towards the far corner but the resulting shot was a tame one that flew straight at goalkeeper Joe Cracknell.

As the first half progressed, both sides' defences remained resolute and restricted opposing attacks to minimal space until two attempts in as many minutes nearly broke the deadlock as half-time approached.

The first chance fell to the Tigers when Ryan Fallowfield met a cross with a looping header that soared onto the roof of the net before Jordon Ibe's devastating pace presented him with a glorious chance to send the Reds into the lead.

Liverpool countered when Ibe surged into Hull's half and continued his pacy run into the home side's box but was foiled by Cracknell as the goalkeeper reacted well to smother the winger's low shot.

The second half proved to be much more eventful as two goals inside the opening quarter of an hour condemned Hull.

The first goal came from an unlikely source in the form of Jones when the defender displayed predatory instincts to gift the Reds a lead.

A chipped pass from Jordan Lussey surprisingly drew no contact from several players in the area as it found its way to Jones, who immediately spun and fired an unstoppable drive past the helpless Cracknell to net his first U18s goal.

The Reds didn't allow Hull time to react to falling behind as Dunn ruthlessly struck again to extend Liverpool's tally shortly before the hour mark. It means the local lad has scored in every round of the competition so far.

Jones was the provider on this occasion as his long ball was expertly taken into Dunn's stride before the midfielder skipped behind the Tigers' backline and accurately bent a shot across Cracknell and into the far corner of the net.

After securing a two-goal cushion, the Reds adopted a more disciplined approach and dominated possession while still creating opportunities.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Dunn came back to haunt Hull as he struck a third goal for the visitors.

A through-ball from Rossiter towards the midfielder was intercepted by Cracknell. The 'keeper's attempted clearance ricocheted into the onrushing Dunn, who gratefully slotted the ball into the gaping net to confirm the pleasing victory.

LFC Aiming For Results With Latest Venture

Liverpool Football Club is teaming up with the London School of Business & Finance (LSBF) to launch a new educational institution that will offer courses combining classroom theory and soccer.

The collaboration, said to be the first time an English top-flight soccer club and a business school have joined forces, will see the creation of the Education and Learning Initiative Training Entrepreneurs in Sport (E.L.I.T.E.S) institution.

“We’re extremely proud to have entered this partnership with Liverpool FC. Both LSBF and the club have put a lot of effort into the development of the programs, which are unique to the market,” said Aaron Etingen, the founder and executive chairman of LSBF.

A Management and Leadership course, which will aim to develop skills such as team building, motivation and strategic management, will be the first E.L.I.T.E.S program to be launched. The five-day course, which kicks off at the Liverpool FC Academy in Kirkby in June, will be split equally between time in the classroom with LSBF lecturers and time on the field with Liverpool coaches.

“Football develops many transferable skills, including team work, leadership and management through change,” said Billy Hogan (pictured), Liverpool’s chief commercial officer. “The Management and Leadership course offers participants the chance to enhance these skills using football as a tool to learn.”

In line with Liverpool’s wider plans to grow its brand globally, the course will be rolled out across the world after its initial launch in the UK.

Hogan added: “We are delighted to be part of this groundbreaking venture, using football to educate and help develop life skills. E.L.I.T.E.S is a great way to offer exclusive programs to people across the globe, enabling participants to benefit from courses in their home countries.”

Additional programs and qualifications are currently being developed and while further details of those will be announced at a later date, Hogan revealed to SportsPro in November of last year that other courses will focus on "language and football".

"That's going to give us the opportunity to offer a whole new different insight on Liverpool and provide a whole new different outlook on the football club", added Hogan at the time.

Match Report: Liverpool 3 - 2 Tottenham

Luis Suarez edged the battle of the player of the year contenders as he scored and earned the match-winning penalty to eclipse Gareth Bale and keep Liverpool's slim top-four hopes alive with a 3-2 victory over Tottenham.

The Premier League's leading scorer drew first blood with his 29th goal of the season - and 22nd in the top flight - and, although his opposite number had a hand in both of Tottenham's strikes, the Uruguay international had the last laugh by winning the late spot-kick from which Steven Gerrard scored.

Centre-back Jan Vertonghen had scored twice after Suarez had put the home side ahead only for calamitous misjudgements by Kyle Walker and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to gift Stewart Downing the equalizer.

Suarez showed again just how sharp he is in the penalty area with an instinctive first-half finish and while Bale's danger was restricted to crosses he could not match his rival's threat in the penalty area.

The Wales international drilled in an early swerving free-kick which Brad Jones, back in the side because of Jose Reina's calf injury, batted away unconvincingly but then had to cede centre-stage to Suarez.

Philippe Coutinho, who impressed last week at Wigan and had already curled a shot over, combined well down left with Jose Enrique, starting the move with a cheeky backheel.

The pair then exchanged passes before Enrique, holding off Walker, slid a perfectly-weighted pass for Suarez to run onto and surprise Lloris at his near post with the outside of his right foot.

Bale's response was to plant one left-footed shot into the Kop and then drive an angled right-footed effort wide

Gylfi Sigurdsson, who rejected a summer move to Anfield, missed an even better opportunity from Bale's flick as he shot wide of Jones' right-hand post with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Suarez had been receiving particularly close attention from the visitors without much interest from referee Mike Oliver but when Gerrard challenged for a header with Tottenham's flying Welshman the Reds captain was penalized by a free-kick in the centre-circle.

Bale - playing mainly through the middle - went off after treatment which allowed him to rejoin play on the right wing and this contributed, in some part, to the equalizer on the stroke of half-time.

The ball was soon worked out to him on that flank and he curled a left-footed cross over the head of Jamie Carragher, on his 500th league appearance, for Vertonghen to get in front of Glen Johnson and head inside far post.

Liverpool may have been aggrieved they did not get a penalty late in the half when Coutinho appeared to be pulled back by Walker as he tried to get on the end of a cross but they had conceded 10 minutes' of pressure to the visitors.

Bale played a part in Tottenham's second just after the break when his free-kick was weakly headed down by Carragher to Vertonghen who fired home.

A trademark driving run by the Wales international saw him pick out Sigurdsson in acres of space at the far post but his shot was deflected onto a post by Johnson.

Liverpool had lost all their composure and their disposition was not helped by Jones flapping at a Moussa Dembele shot but it was Tottenham's nerves which faltered next.

Walker's attempted an inexplicable back-pass/crossfield ball from the right touchline which succeeded only in drawing Lloris out of his goal to clear.

When he failed Downing nipped in to advance on goal and drill a shot through the legs of Vertonghen on the line.

The pace of the game went up a notch and Sturridge headed into the side-netting and Bale nodded wide before another dreadful backpass, this time by Jermain Defoe, forced Benoit Assou-Ekotto to barge into Suarez.

Gerrard, so often Liverpool's big man for the big occasion, stepped up to slot home his ninth of an increasingly profitable campaign.

Rodgers: We Were Good Value

Brendan Rodgers hailed Liverpool’s ‘big win’ in their 3-2 victory over Spurs.

Goals from Suarez, Downing and a late penalty from Steven Gerrard led to the win and Rodgers was happy that the team has found their form.

"It is a big win," he told The Guardian. |It is a big game when you are playing against an opponent that has been challenging for the Champions League for the last three or four years. It's a few years since Liverpool have beaten Tottenham. This is another marker in terms of our growth."

"We're on a great run and we knew this would be a severe test of our qualities and our character.

"They're a team on great form and have been together for a few years. For us to get the three points was fantastic and I'm delighted for the players because they've worked ever so hard.

"It's not important that we're sixth. It's just important that we continue to move – it was always going to be difficult early on. But you could see the mentality on Sunday. This was a real test and I think we had to show different characteristics to what we have in the last few weeks. We've been comfortable in a lot of games and been able to control them. But against a top side we were able to come through. We had to make some changes and once we did that we were good value."

Carragher Hails Massive Win

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher hailed the performance as they clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory against Tottenham at Anfield.

The Londoners were on course for a valuable three points when Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen struck twice either side of half-time after Luis Suarez gave the hosts an early lead.

But Stewart Downing capitalized on woeful defending to equalize and then Steven Gerrard put a dent in Spurs' bid to qualify for the UEFA Champions League with the winner from the penalty spot.

Carragher told Sky Sports: "I think the turnabout was the second goal, really. Tottenham were playing well at the start of the second half and went ahead and it's not something that we've done too often this season, come from behind, so it's a massive win for us.

"We showed character and quality to beat a top team like Tottenham.

The 35-year-old also praised man of the match Luis Suarez for his contribution, saying: "I've been saying it for how long that Luis has been a top player and we're delighted to have him.

"There's a lot of talk of him, (Gareth) Bale and (Robin) van Persie for the Player of the Year award but the two today are top players. Bale showed some tremendous touches but he (Suarez) is man of the match so he's obviously come out on top today."

But Carragher is unsure whether Brendan Rodgers' side can qualify for the Champions League, despite closing the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea to seven points.

"It's something we'd love to get, but at the moment we're not thinking about that," he said. "We're winning games and just concentrating on the next game, so I'd say the way we're playing, we should just carry and playing and see where we end up at the end of the season."

Gerrard: Spurs Victory Proves We Can Compete

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes that his side's first win against a top five team this season demonstrates that they can compete with the best in the Premier League.

Until they picked up all three points at the weekend the Reds had only managed to take four points off any of the teams above them and Gerrard hailed the victory.

"It's a big win for us. With our performances against the top sides this season I think we've been very unlucky not to get a win,” he told Sky Sports.

"It's been too long so there's a bit of relief really that we have proved we can beat one of the top sides in the league.

"I think on current form, along with ourselves, Tottenham are probably the best team in the league."

"When we went out of the Europa League the message from the manager was that we needed to try to win as many of our remaining games as possible.

"Our form is good but we can't afford to get carried away just because we've beaten Tottenham. We need to show what we've shown in all of our remaining games. We want to finish above Everton and as high as we can in the league."

The England skipper also went on to praise Liverpool's goalkeeping coach who put together a video for him to watch, should he get an opportunity to take a penalty.

"There are so many details that go into the games nowadays. John did a montage on their goalie for me before the game.

"He (Hugo Lloris) consistently went to the right and I think he had saved four out of eight going to his right.

"I was always going to his left having watched that, but if I had never got that montage then I would probably have gone to his right so credit to John."

Mounir El Hamdaoui Linked With Move To Liverpool

Fiorentina striker Mounir El Hamdaoui admits he’s flattered to be linked with a move to Liverpool.

The former Ajax star only moved to the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the summer, but speculation in Morocco suggests the player could be on the move once again at the end of the season.

And, the link to Anfield is one that delights the player, with El Hamdaoui happy to admit that playing for the Reds would be a dream.

"Being linked with Liverpool is flattering but I really think it is paper talk so far,” he told Sky Sports.

“Liverpool is a great club and to play there in a legendary stadium like Anfield would be fantastic and a dream. But I am at Fiorentina and I'm happy."

Brendan Rodgers isn’t flush with attacking options on Merseyside, with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge the only central options following the latter’s arrival during the January transfer window.

Andy Carroll may also be available if West Ham rejects the option to sign the England forward permanently, although the former Newcastle-man appears to be out-of-favour with Rodgers after his exit for east London.

28-year-old El Hamdaoui would add experience to the Liverpool attack, having previously played in three different countries, although his 18-month spell at Tottenham Hotspur between January 2005 and June 2006 was anything but a success.

Liverpool Closing In On Polgar

Liverpool are expected to give a contract to 16-year-old Hungarian Kristof Polgar after he impressed during a trial.

The 16-year-old centre-half took in two spells at Anfield during January and February, allowing him to catch the eye of the Reds' coaching staff.

His representatives are confident that an agreement will be reached to take the promising youngster to England on a permanent basis.

Tibor Pataky, director of the Careers Management Group which owns Polgar's registration, told www.csakfoci.hu: "Kristof trialled with Liverpool on two occasions earlier in the year, and he and his parents are currently in Liverpool enjoying the hospitality of the club.

"We are looking forward to an exciting day, and in a few days the Hungarian presence at Liverpool will be extended."

Liverpool already have Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi in their first-team squad, while Krisztian Adorjan is captain of their Under-21 side.

Joe Allen To Have Shoulder Surgery

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is to have surgery on a shoulder problem, manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.

The Wales international, on the bench for the Premier League match at home to Tottenham having started the 4-0 win at Wigan last week, needs an operation to fix an established injury.

"We made a change on Sunday with Joe Allen having been struggling since October with his shoulder and he'll probably need an operation," the Reds boss told Sky Sports.

Pepe Reina Injury Latest

Brendan Rodgers is hopeful that Pepe Reina will be fit to face Southampton this weekend.

The Spanish custodian missed our 3-2 victory over Tottenham on Sunday with a calf problem.

Brad Jones deputized as the Reds climbed to sixth in the Barclays Premier League.

Rodgers said: "It was disappointing because we thought he would probably make it on Sunday.

"He had a tight calf in a fitness test on Sunday morning and unfortunately for him he didn't get through it. Hopefully by this weekend he'll be fine.

"Big credit to Brad Jones, who came in at the last minute. He equipped himself terrifically on Sunday and made a great stop, especially in the first half.

"We'll see how Pepe is later this week."

Suso Knocks On First Team Door

Liverpool starlet Suso showed his first team potential with a brace for the U21s in their entertaining 3-3 draw against West Ham United earlier on Monday.

The Spaniard was a regular for the seniors earlier in the season, but has been less frequently involved under Brendan Rodgers in recent months, and hasn't featured at all since January.

However, the 19-year-old gave the Northern Irishman a glimpse of what he can do in Monday’s clash against the Hammers at the Kirkby Academy.

Indeed, Rodgers was in attendance and watched the young side go a goal behind after just four minutes, with defender Dan Potts heading the visitors ahead.

But, the tied turned on 24 minutes when Raheem Sterling, another player looking to impress after recently falling down the pecking order at Anfield, struck a 25-yard stunner that flew in off the underside of the crossbar.

Not to be outdone, Suso put the Reds ahead six minutes later, beating defenders with a fine sole run before firing past Raphael Spiegel.

The hosts were pulled back again on 56 minutes and it was another corner that did the trick for the Hammers, with Wellington Paulista the beneficiary from another Kieran Bywater set-piece.

Suso appeared to have won it for Liverpool with ten minutes left on the clock, with the forward cutting in from the right-flank and beating Spiegel with a well-placed drive into the bottom corner.

It wasn’t to be though, with Elliot Lee volleying home the equalizer deep into injury-time after another corner caused chaos in the box.

The defending would have been a concern for Rodgers, but the performances of Suso and Sterling would certainly provide cause for optimism.

Liverpool Fans Insulted By Ticket Price Rises

Fans' group Spirit of Shankly has condemned Liverpool's season ticket price rises for next season as "an insult to long-standing supporters".

On Friday the club announced a six-tier system, which will see prices increase by up to nine per cent in some areas of the ground.

Season tickets in the Kop will remain the same or be reduced, while a £5 child ticket option is to be introduced for certain games, much to the chagrin of the Spirit of Shankly group.

"Supporters in the Main Stand and Paddock endure facilities that survived the Shankly era redevelopment, with so-called "concourses" dating back to 1907, while the cramped seating in the Lower Centenary has been notorious since that structure was built as the Kemlyn Road stand in 1963,” said a statement from the group, who recently launched a campaign to reduce away ticket prices nationally.

"It is our guess that not one of Liverpool's multiple "owners" has ever watched a match from any of these seats and that none of them have ever availed themselves of the so-called "facilities" in the Paddock or Main Stand.

"If we are wrong, then more shame on them for believing £815 to £850 is fair price to pay for 'the product' on offer.

"While the announcement regarding Kop season tickets is a relief to many, it is our belief that ticket prices are already too high, pricing out many of those that kept the club on its feet during its darkest days."

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre, told liverpoolfc.com: "Over the past two years the club has given careful consideration to ticket prices and pricing structures in consultation with the Supporters Committee.

"Following last year's price freeze this year we have reviewed our overall stadium pricing structure and, similar to many other Premier League clubs, from next season we will also be introducing a multiple-tier pricing structure which will more accurately reflect seat location and view."

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Tottenham

High-flying Tottenham make the trip to Liverpool on Sunday looking to stretch their four-match winning run as they target a UEFA Champions League spot.

Andre Villas-Boas' men have enjoyed a hot streak of form of late to propel them into third place in the Premier League, five points behind second-placed Manchester City and two ahead of London rivals Chelsea.

Spurs' latest triumph came in Europe on Thursday night as they took control of their UEFA Europa League tie against Inter Milan with a comfortable 3-0 first-leg win at White Hart Lane, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight, while they have lost just one since mid-December.

That success came on the back of victory in last weekend's North London derby, when they saw off neighbours Arsenal 2-1 in a fourth straight league win.

Liverpool are likely to be wary of the in-form Londoners ahead of Sunday's showdown but can take comfort from their own resurgence, with back-to-back wins leaving them seventh in the table and within touching distance of sixth-placed rivals Everton.

Those convincing triumphs, over Swansea and Wigan, mean Brendan Rodgers' men have lost just one of their last six league encounters.

They will look to build on that run at Anfield on Sunday in an encounter which will see two of the Premier League's hottest stars pitted against each other in Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale.

Bale has stolen the headlines for Spurs with his recent scoring exploits, netting 10 in his last eight games for the club in all competitions, while his league tally stands at 16.

He will go up against the league's current top scorer in Suarez, who has grabbed 21 goals this term as Liverpool's star man, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 thumping of Wigan last weekend.

The two sides met earlier in the season at White Hart Lane, with Bale's own goal unable to derail Spurs' 2-1 win after he and Aaron Lennon had scored in the opening half.

Should the Welsh winger add to his goal rush on Merseyside he would become the first Tottenham player to score in six successive Premier League games.

Striker Daniel Sturridge and defender Martin Skrtel will both return from injury for Sunday's match at Anfield.

Sturridge has overcome a thigh problem which kept him out of last weekend's 4-0 win at Wigan and he is likely to regain his spot in the side.

Skrtel also returned to training this week after a knee injury but he will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is a doubt for Sunday's game at Liverpool after suffering a hamstring injury in last night's win over Inter Milan.

Midfielder Mousa Dembele is expected to be fit despite coming off in the second half of last night's game while Emmanuel Adebayor will return to the squad after overcoming a knee injury.

Tom Huddlestone (knee) and Clint Dempsey (calf) are doubts, but Younes Kaboul and Sandro (both knee) are definitely unavailable.

Suarez: Liverpool has Slight Chance Of Champions League

Liverpool's pursuit of a top-four Premier League finish this season can really take off with a win against third-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, red-hot striker Luis Suarez said.

Liverpool, in seventh, are 10 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and 12 in arrears of Spurs with 10 games to go in another mediocre season where Suarez's goalscoring has been the highlight.

"We've been in good form recently and it's a good opportunity to reduce the gap between ourselves and Spurs," said Suarez, who with 21 goals leads the Premier League scoring charts by from Manchester United's Robin van Persie.

"There is a slight chance we can make Champions League football - and if we want to do that, this is the sort of game we need to win," added the Uruguayan on the club's website (www.liverpoolfc.com) ahead of the clash at Anfield.

Liverpool last played in the Champions League in the 2009/10 season after memorably winning the trophy in 2005 and then making the 2007 final.

Suarez said Liverpool's performances have improved after bolstering the squad in January with attacking options in Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool has scored nine goals without conceding in drubbing Swansea and Wigan in their last two league games.

"Things have been going really well with Daniel, but not only him - there's also Philippe. They have both brought something and maybe given us an extra cutting edge.

"The lads who were here before their arrival were doing a fantastic job, but now we have more options as a team."

Liverpool defender Jose Enrique will also be a key component of Brendan Rodgers' line up against Tottenham, whose greatest threat will come from the in-form Gareth Bale.

Enrique said there was nothing to fear from the Welsh winger, who has scored 11 goals in his last nine appearances.

"Every player is just a person. Gareth Bale is a person as well. Of course, he's a good player and a complete footballer," said the Spaniard.

"Even if you are a really good player, like Bale, if you are against two players it can be really difficult to play. So we will try to stop him and all his team mates."

Liverpool Braced For Barcelona Bid

Danish defender Daniel Agger could be leaving the Premier League at the end of the season as Barcelona prepares an offer for the Liverpool centre-back.

The Spanish La Liga leaders will be looking for a future replacement for Carles Puyol (34), as the skipper faces the end of his career and the club plans to rejuvenate the defence, the Mirror reports.

The Catalans are ready to approach Liverpool with a formal bid, although the Reds seem likely to resist given the club already faces a back-four change this summer.

With Jamie Carragher hanging up his boots at the end of the season, Skrtel likely to be sold and Sebastian Coates failing to meet the expectations, keeping Daniel Agger is a top priority for the club.

The Spanish giants targeted the 28 year-old last season after first priority Thiago Silva signed with PSG, and the club has been keeping tabs on the Danish since then.

Manager Brendan Rodgers counts on Agger as the focal point in the back-four. The club could be preparing three signings for that line, possibly funded with the sale of Andy Carroll as West Ham seem to have decided not to keep the player after a six-month loan.

Liverpool Could Use Henderson To Land Mignolet

Liverpool is ready to sacrifice Jordan Henderson to land a replacement for Pepe Reina.

According to the Daily Mirror, Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers wants Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and could send Henderson back to his old club as a makeweight in any deal.

There has been much speculation surrounding Reina’s Liverpool future this season and he has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Barcelona and Arsenal.

Rodgers is rebuilding at the Reds and the report claims Mignolet’s form for the Black Cats this season has led the former Swansea boss to believe he could succeed Reina as Anfield number one.

A switch back to his former club would confirm Henderson’s move to Liverpool an expensive failure, having failed to hit the heights since they paid a staggering £17million for him.

However, the England international has improved of late and the report claims Rodgers would only let him go reluctantly.

Arsenal & Liverpool On Alert Over French Hitman

Arsenal and Liverpool have been put on ‘red alert’ over the availability of Kevin Gameiro, according to reports.

TalkSPORT cite speculation in French publication Le Parisien when claiming that the eight-cap French international striker will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, starting a potential transfer scrap for the player in the summer.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers attempted to lure the 25-year-old to Anfield in the January transfer window, according to the report, but failed to secure a loan deal.

Instead, the Reds welcomed Daniel Sturridge to Merseyside instead, but remain short in the attacking department with Luis Suarez the only other out-an-out forward at the club.

Arsenal are another side short of attacking options, with Olivier Giroud the only senior central striker currently available to manager Arsene Wenger.

And, that particular Frenchman also made the move to the Emirates Stadium from Ligue 1, a route well travelled by players during Wenger’s 16-year stint with the Gunners.

Gameiro could be the next in a long line of players switching France for Arsenal, but Liverpool is unlikely to let the player join their rivals without a fight.

Liverpool Eye PSG Star Mamadou Sakho

Liverpool is eyeing up Paris Saint-Germain defender Mamadou Sakho as a potential replacement for Jamie Carragher.

Reds legend Carragher will hang up his boots at the end of the season, and manager Brendan Rodgers has identified Sakho as an ideal replacement.

Rodgers is thought to have asked Carragher to re-consider retirement, and stay for another season, but the 35-year-old is adamant this will be his last campaign as a professional footballer.

‘I’ve not had any second thoughts,’ said Carragher.

‘I want to stay in the team for the rest of the season and help the club get as many wins as possible – that’s my target. I can’t think of a better way to go out.’

That news has meant Liverpool have ramped up their pursuit for a replacement, and with interest cooling in Lazio’s Modibo Diakite, Sakho has emerged as another option.

The PSG star is keen to move on at the end of the season, having lost his place to Thiago Silva and Alex, and Liverpool could offer up to £8million to try and land him.

Arsenal and Tottenham have previously scouted Sakho.