Liverpool Complete Deal For Luis Alberto

Liverpool Football Club has completed the signing of Spanish forward Luis Alberto from Sevilla, subject to international clearance.

The 20-year-old, who can play anywhere across the attacking line, has penned a long-term contract after passing a medical at Melwood.

He spent the 2012-13 campaign on loan at Barcelona B, where he notched an impressive 11 goals - and was devastating with his creativity, providing 17 assists in 38 appearances.

The Spaniard has represented his country at three different age levels. He has turned out for the U18s, U19s and made his U21s bow against Belgium in February.

Luis Alberto Happy After Sealing Liverpool Transfer

Luis Alberto revealed he is the ‘happiest man on earth’ after completing his transfer to Liverpool from Sevilla.

The 20-year-old’s move was confirmed this morning, as he became Brendan Rodgers second completed signing of the summer, pending international clearance.

And the Spanish striker said he was over the moon with the move, despite admitting surprise at Liverpool’s interest in him.

‘I feel like I’m in a bubble at the moment,’ he said. ‘For me Liverpool is a top team. I feel like I am dreaming and I want to enjoy it to the full.

‘I feel very excited, I’ve never felt so excited before but I’m very happy. I think I am the happiest man on earth.

‘I was surprised [when Liverpool showed interest in me]. You never expect this to happen to you. But as the deal moved forward, I became very happy and I wanted to come to Liverpool.

‘I hope that between us all we can make this club one of the greatest in the world, once again.’

Reds boss Rodgers said Alberto, who scored 11 goals in 38 appearances on loan at Barcelona B last season, will be a great addition to his squad.

‘We are all delighted that Luis has decided to join Liverpool,’ Rodgers said.

‘He has the correct footballing profile and mentality to be a Liverpool player.

‘I look forward to working with him to develop his talent and he joins a group of young exciting players at our club.’

Liverpool Striker Urges Inter Defender To Join Him

Liverpool’s Fabio Borini has called upon Inter youngster Luca Caldirola to move to Merseryside while also discussing where his own future lies.

The Azzurrini teammates starred together in Israel at the European Championships as they reached the final before eventually being beaten by Spain.

“Which player from the national side would I advise Liverpool to sign? I would always tell them to take our captain Caldirola,” he said to Sky Sport 24. “It gives me and would give any player great peace of mind to have him playing behind you.”

Caldirola spent the last six months of the season on loan with Brescia and his Nerazzurri future remains unclear.

Of his future, the former Roma man admitted that while someday he could return to the peninsula, he has no plans to do so soon.

“I do not think that I will return to Italy now but maybe in the future I could go back.”

Liverpool In The Race For Celtic Midfielder Wanyama

Liverpool, Everton and Cardiff City have joined Southampton in the race for Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama.

The Scottish champions have accepted a bid of around £12 million from Southampton for Wanyama, who excelled in last season's run to the Champions League knock-out stage.

The sum represents a huge profit on the £900,000 Celtic paid to acquire Wanyama from Belgium side Germinal Beerschot in July 2011, and is understood to exceed their initial asking price of £10m.

The first Kenyan to play professionally in the UK, Wanyama has a long-standing ambition to become his nation's first Premier League footballer. His preference, however, is to be allowed a choice over his next club.

Prepared to invest aggressively in their first top-tier campaign in over 50 years, Cardiff are willing to pay the 21-year-old a higher salary than Southampton, but believe that Celtic have over-priced his transfer fee. The Kenyan's contract at Parkhead expires in 2015 and he has declined offers to extend it.

Everton regard Wanyama as a natural central midfield successor to Marouane Fellaini, who they expect to leave Goodison Park this summer. However, Roberto Martinez's side are not in a position to lodge an offer until Arsenal have completed their deal to sign Fellaini after activating the Belgium international's £22m release clause earlier in June.

Liverpool may also be restrained by actions elsewhere in the market as Brendan Rodgers prioritizes a radical rebuild of his defence and forward line. With his total transfer budget dependent on sales, Rodgers' ability to move for Wanyama is likely to hinge on adding the exit of the likes of Jordan Henderson to the recent sale of Andy Carroll to West Ham for an initial £15.5m.

While all four of England's Champions League clubs have scouted Wanyama extensively, there remains a concern over whether he is ready to move directly to a team challenging for the title. Jose Mourinho has been impressed with the African's progress at Celtic, but would prefer to bring a more experienced holding midfielder into what will be a key role in his new Chelsea side.

On holiday in Kenya following a recent World Cup qualifying tie, Wanyama said he had yet to discuss Southampton's offer to Celtic with his agent.

Manchester City Turn Attention Towards Liverpool Striker

Manchester City is expected to turn their attention to Liverpool star Luis Suarez after being priced out of a move for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani.

According to The Express, City have made it clear that they are not willing to meet the €63m release clause in Cavani’s contract, thus paving a way for favourites Real Madrid to land their target.

However, new boss Manuel Pellegrini is adamant that the club will bolster their attacking options this summer, with Malaga ace Isco linked with a switch to the Etihad.

Nevertheless, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has emerged as another possible option, despite his desire to quit England after what he believes was over-intrusion and unwarranted criticism from the English press.

Liverpool are said to be reluctant to sell the Uruguayan international, but the latest speculation suggests that they would be willing to listen to offers as they look for a big profit on their £23m outlay on the striker.

Real Madrid are said to be monitoring the situation, but are also rivalling City for the signing of Isco, with the Spanish starlet expected to make the move to the Bernabeu.

If that deal is confirmed and Cavani opts for a move to Spain, then Suarez may well find himself left out in the cold and contemplating his next move.

While it would appear at this stage that he is adamant on a move away from Anfield, should the interest dry up and City emerge as the only interested party, it may well signal a change of heart from the 26-year-old.

Mignolet To Liverpool Not A Done Deal

Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has not signed for Liverpool yet, according to the player's agent Guy Vandermissen, but he remains hopeful the deal will still go ahead.

Mignolet has played over 100 games for Sunderland since joining in 2010 from Belgian club Sint-Truiden, and Vandermissen believes Liverpool would be a big step up for the Belgian international.

"We hope that there can be a deal and he can go to Liverpool," he told Sky Sports.

"If you go from Sunderland to Liverpool it is a big step forward. You have to make decisions at certain times."

Mignolet has played for Belgium 13 times, but is currently behind Chelsea's on-loan Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the pecking order for the national team.

But Vandermissen doesn't believe the lack of European football will affect Mignolet's chances for Belgium.

"When you play Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal every week, this is European football, so what is the problem?" he added.

Christian Tello Reportedly Rejects Liverpool Approach

Ahead of last season there were strong-seeming links to a loan move for talented Barcelona youngster Christian Tello; he wasn't in the mix for regular minutes for the eventual league champions, and Liverpool were in need of something different from the wide areas. Like pretty much everything else last summer, the move didn't pan out, but that didn't prevent a resurrection (if slightly muted) of those rumors during the January window, and they're back once again, this time with Sport reporting that Liverpool are willing to meet the buyout clause for the player.

All that would be left ahead of the club making an offer would be for the player to agree to the switch, which is where the deal apparently gets complicated. By all accounts Tello is intent on sticking with Barcelona rather than heading to Merseyside, and Liverpool's approach is mostly presented as an opportunity for Tello and his agent to negotiate a better contract with Barca.

Tello has not been seduced by the offer of more minutes and more money on Merseyside. They claim 'for now' he'll continue but wants to use the Liverpool interest to negotiate a new contract. This is where Liverpool needs to convince the player, they can get him for the buy-out clause, there's no question surrounding that, but Brendan Rodgers would need to convince Tello that a move to Liverpool would be best for him and his future career.

Going after a player that doesn't want to come but is willing to welcome interest to better his position with his current club is not a position Liverpool want to be in, and if this is all actually a thing, there's nothing to indicate that continued pursuit is necessary or beneficial. Tello's a nice enough player and could turn out to be very good, but with Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas joining up, there's enough depth up front that Liverpool can start to turn their attentions to strengthening in other areas.

Liverpool Ready To Let Trio Leave

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is ready to let a trio of players leave Anfield this summer, according to reports.

The Sunday People claims Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing will be sold, while young defender Andre Wisdom will be allowed to leave on loan.

All three have Premier League admirers, the newspaper claim, but appear to have no future on Merseyside – for next season, at least.

Shelvey, who has been capped once by England, will be allowed to leave for £7million, according to the newspaper.

That would see Liverpool make a considerable profit on the 21-year-old midfielder after signing him from Charlton Athletic for under £2million in 2010.

Stoke City have been linked with him in the past, and Norwich City are interested in him now, the newspaper claims.

However, Liverpool’s asking price may have to come down slightly for the Canaries to firm up their interest with a bid.

As for Spearing, he will be allowed to depart Anfield for £3million, according to the paper.

The Englishman will turn 25 later this year and appears to have missed his chance to establish himself as a first-team regular at Liverpool.

He spent last season on loan at Championship side Bolton Wanderers after Rodgers decided he was not ready to be a part of his team, despite being used regularly in Kenny Dalglish’s days as manager.

Promoted Yorkshire side Hull City would like to sign Spearing, the newspaper claims, while Bolton is keen on capturing him on loan for a second time.

Wisdom is highly-rated at Anfield but Rodgers would like him to gain first-team experience with a loan spell next season, according to the paper.

Rodgers would prefer him to temporarily join a Championship club, but Premier League side Fulham are said to be considering making a bid.

Rodgers: Reds Control Suarez Future

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes the club is 'in complete control' of Luis Suarez's future and insisted the Uruguayan striker still has a part to play in his plans.

Suarez has infuriated the club's supporters by making it clear that he is eager to walk away from Liverpool this summer, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich among the club's believed to be eyeing up a move for the controversial marksman.

With Daniel Sturridge a big money signing last January, the arrival of Luis Alberto confirmed on Saturday and suggestions that Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas and Shakhtar Donetsk's Henrikh Mkhitaryan may not be far behind, a new look attacking line may soon be assembled at Liverpool.

Yet Rodgers moved to dampen suggestions that Suarez will be allowed to leave Liverpool in the coming weeks.

"The club is in complete control of the situation and for me, there is no change," Rodgers told talkSPORT when asked about Suarez's future.

"I'm quite relaxed about it.

"We are in a situation where we've got a player who we don't want to lose. We're trying to build something here and he's a very important part of that and because of the type of player he is he will always give his best."

Rodgers believes the support Suarez has received during his turbulent two and a half years at Liverpool is appreciated by the striker, and will only make a judgement on his future intentions when he gets the chance to speak to him face to face.

"I will always listen to players," he added. "I always work closely with players and listen to their point of view but the biggest word is with the club. Sometimes interviews get put out there and highlighted, but parts of Luis' interviews have been about how much he loves Liverpool, but of course that doesn't get highlighted.

"What I know is that the support Luis has had from the people here in Liverpool, the city and the football club, has been phenomenal and I know he feels that and respects that."

Rodgers went on to insist the imminent signing of Simon Mignolet from Sunderland does not signal the end of Pepe Reina's lengthy spell as the club's first choice keeper, stressing the new arrival will provide competition for the Spaniard and is not viewed as a replacement for the stopper who has been linked with a move to Barcelona.