Liverpool Lodge £8million Offer For Sakho

Liverpool has made an £8million bid for PSG defender Mamadou Sakho as Brendan Rodgers looks to continue his summer spending.

The Reds have already made moves to bring in Simon Mignolet, Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto and Kolo Toure to Anfield during the transfer window, but Rodgers is not stopping there.

A new centre back is a main priority, and the Reds have now lodged an offer to try and bring in 23-year-old France international Sakho.

The defender has been told he is free to leave PSG this summer, after they signed Marquinhos from Roma, and Liverpool have moved in.

According to reports in France, their opening bid for Sakho is around £8million, and PSG are currently deciding whether to accept or reject it.

Liverpool’s move comes after they failed to sign Schalke ace Kyriakos Papadopoulos, who has been a long-term target.

The Greece international is valued at around £18million, and Rodgers has been unwilling to match that amount.

Liverpool is also in the market for another left-back, but has so far been unable to bring in anybody.

Liverpool Tipped To Sign City Winger

Liverpool is now favourites to sign Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair.

Bookmakers have slashed their odds on the former Swansea star moving to Anfield this summer, with the Reds moving ahead of West Brom in the betting market.

The Baggies were ahead of the pack in the race to sign the player, according to The Daily Express, with Steve Clarke ready to hold face-to-face talks with the 24-year-old.

However, a season-long loan move to the Hawthorns now looks in doubt, and the Reds are ‘fancied’ to bring the player to Merseyside, according to the paper.

Brendan Rodgers has worked with Sinclair in the past of course, with the pair instrumental in the Swans’ promotion to the top flight.

Now, the duo could be reunited at Liverpool, with BetVictor slashing their odds from 66/1 to 6/4 over a move to Anfield before the end of the transfer window.

His arrival would also come following Stewart Downing’s move away from the Reds, after the former £20million-man left for West Ham.

Sinclair has been surplus to requirements at Manchester City since moving to the Etihad Stadium last summer.

Former manager Roberto Mancini used the player sparingly at best, and Manuel Pellegrini has also utilized the speedster on few occasions during pre-season.

Were the former England U21 international to remain at Manchester City, then another season on the bench could be expected.

At Liverpool, the probability of featuring is now much greater.

Liverpool Join Tottenham In Chase For Willian

Liverpool is reported to be preparing to rival Tottenham in the battle to buy Anzhi Makhachkala winger Willian.

The Brazil international cost the Russian club £32million when he joined them from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in January.

However, he is now being made available at a bargain price after Anzhi decided to cut costs and end their free-spending ways.

Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas is a long-term admirer and tried to sign Willian when he was in charge at Chelsea as well as being linked with a move for him in January.

The South American could be enticed to White Hart Lane by the prospect of playing alongside countrymen Paulinho and Sandro but it is not clear whether any Tottenham interest is dependent on Gareth Bale staying at the club or joining Real Madrid.

Liverpool wants a marquee signing if Luis Suarez is sold to either Real Madrid or Arsenal – Willian would fit the bill but his wages could be too rich for both the Reds and Spurs.

Coentrao Move Could Block Liverpool In Siqueria Signing

Liverpool’s proposed move for Granada defender Guilherme Siqueira could be challenged by Spanish giants Real Madrid should Fabio Coentrao decided he wants to leave.

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool has made an official bid for Siqueira worth £5million but Real Madrid have their eye on the left back should Coentrao decide to quit the Bernabeu.

The article reveals that Real boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted the Portuguese international was “thinking about leaving” but the defender is yet to comment himself on his future.

This could see a three way battle for Siqueira’s signature as the Daily Mail revealed Everton were also interested in the 27-year-old as a replacement for Leighton Baines if a big offer from Manchester United came in.

Siqueira has proved himself as a threat going forward as well as a promising defender, scoring 12 league goals in his past two seasons at Granada, including scoring twice at the Nou Camp in the 2011/12 season.

Downing Completes His Move To The Hammers

Liverpool has cashed in £6m for England winger Stewart Downing after paying £20m for him only two seasons ago.

The 29-year-old joins West Ham on a 4-year-deal and will rekindle with former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

The left winger, who began his career at Middlesbrough before joining Aston Villa failed to live up to expectations at Liverpool and was highly criticized by the high price-tag that Kenny Dalglish paid for him.

He made 65 appearances for The Reds with the most notable coming in the League Cup Final and was the first player in seven years to miss three consecutive penalties in the Premier League.

But for Downing, he is ready for a fresh start in London. He told West Ham's official website: "I'm very excited. It's a great opportunity for me being here, it's a great club and I'm really excited to get going.

"I'm ready and I'm fit for the first game against Cardiff City. I've played a decent few games for Liverpool in pre-season, so there will be no problems on that front.

"It's all happened quickly, but I'm really excited and hoping to play a part on Saturday."

Downing has featured for England 34 times but has fallen down the pecking order in Roy Hodgson’s selections. With his move to London searching for regular, first team football, he will be hoping he can be part of the England set-up in next year’s World Cup.

West Ham In For Sterling

Raheem Sterling is in for a possible shock move to West Ham before the transfer window closes it has been reported.

According to the Daily Star West Ham is likely to make a bid for the winger in an attempt to lure the youngster to Upton Park.

The article reveals that the bookmakers have drastically shortened the odds on the transfer and this has sparked speculation that the player is on his way out of Anfield.

Apparently, Skybet has made the England international just 4/5 to make the switch to the London club before the transfer deadline, according to the same article.

Sterling made an impressive 34 appearances for Liverpool last season and his form lead to the youngster earning a call up to the full England squad last October.

Sterling will be hoping to impress this season at either Liverpool or at West Ham if he makes the move in order to catch the attention of Roy Hodgson ahead of the World Cup next summer.

If Sterling makes the move to West Ham he will follow former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll who completed his move to Upton Park for £15 million earlier this summer.

Agent Hints Agger May Fancy Barca Switch

Liverpool could be set for another transfer saga as Daniel Agger's agent has hinted that he would like to move to Barcelona this summer if an agreement between the two clubs can be met.

Agger was the subject of a £15 million bid from the La Liga champions last week but the Reds rejected the offer and subsequently made the Dane the club's vice-captain behind Steven Gerrard.

But it appears that the offer may have caught the Kop favourites attention has his agent, Per Steffensen, told the Metro, “We are aware that Barcelona have made an offer for Daniel that Liverpool has rejected.

“Daniel has a contract with Liverpool for the next three years and it would be up to the clubs to agree a fee for his transfer in order for that to change.”

Brendan Rodgers would be incredibly frustrated to lose Agger this summer having lost Jamie Carragher to retirement this summer and Martin Skrtel appears to be close to joining Napoli.

It doesn’t end there either for the Northern Irishman who is battling to keep hold of star striker Luis Suarez who appears determined to leave Anfield this summer to rival Arsenal in a bid to play Champions League football.

Suarez Bans Questions Concerning His Future

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez has asked for there to be a ban on questions regarding his future at Liverpool while on international duty this week, it has been reported.

According to the Daily Mail, Suarez does not want to have to answer any questions about his desire to quit the Merseyside club while away on international duty.

The striker has joined up for the national side ahead of Uruguay’s friendly against Japan on Wednesday night.

The same article further reveals that Suarez has apparently asked the Uruguayan FA and his international teammates not to question him on the ongoing situation.

Moreover, it is reported that Suarez’s agent is still hoping to talk with Liverpool officials at the end of the week in an attempt to get the striker out of the club.

The Daily Mail also expressed that Arsenal would probably make a third offer for the want away forward this week, though it is believed that it may not match the £50 million that Liverpool is demanding for the player.

Liverpool Set To Recruit Highly Rated Youth Coach

Crewe Alexandra academy coach Neil Critchley is set to become the new Liverpool Under-18 manager after being approached by the Premier League giants.

Critchley has been credited with the development of the likes of Nick Powell, Ashley Westwood and Luke Murphy, who have joined Manchester United, Aston Villa and Leeds United respectively in the last year.

Davis showed the true worth of the club's academy by fielding an entire XI made up of home-grown players for the final game of the 2012/13 season against Walsall, a youth system which was initially developed by director of football Dario Gradi.

And Davis, rather than be disappointed at losing Critchley, is delighted to have a member of his staff recognized by one of the biggest clubs in the world in Liverpool

"It looks like Neil is moving on to Liverpool under 18s, he told me he had been approached," Davis said. "I imagine he is considering a fantastic offer and opportunity to go to Liverpool.

"He will be a great loss to us because he is a great lad, and a great servant to the club. He has done a brilliant job with the young players who have come through. I've a lot of time and respect for Neil and we all wish him well.

"It is not a negative thing, it is a real positive that one of our bright young coaches is considered by Brendan Rodgers.

"You look at our record, what we have produced and what we have sold over the past year, three top players, and that is all down to the standard of the coaches.

"That's why we are the academy we are, we have a lot of fantastic coaches, a lot of ex-players. Neil has been very loyal and been developed himself. That doesn't go unnoticed, if a club is selling players for millions of pounds there is a reason for that. There is obviously some quality people involved in that process and Neil is one of them.

"For him to get noticed by one of the top clubs in the country is of great benefit to us, it shows where the academy is."

During the back end of Critchley's playing career he began taking his FA and UEFA A coaching badges, laying the foundations to be a success at his former club at Gresty Road.

Rodgers gave many youngsters their break through in the Liverpool first-team last season with Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom, Jordon Ibe and Suso among the players to benefit from the Northern Irishman's faith in Liverpool's youth system.

Skrtel Hoping For Swift Recovery

Liverpool's Martin Skrtel has confirmed that he has strained knee ligaments but hopes to be back in training this week.

Skrtel has not been released by the Reds to participate in Slovakia's international friendly against Romania on Wednesday because of the injury.

The centre-back explained: "The MRI scan confirmed that I have pulled ligaments in my left knee.

"It is nothing serious but when I want to put full weight on the knee or I kick the ball, it hurts a lot.

"I believe that I will resume training in the next few days."

When asked by the Slovakian media as to why he failed to report for international duty, Skrtel added: "We discussed the possibility of me at least going to watch the lads play.

"I was for this option, but Liverpool was against it. They didn't want me to give two days of possible treatment away like that."

Skrtel has been linked with a potential move away from Anfield but he insists is only focused on his fitness.

"Anything is possible," he explained. "There are alternatives, but the current priority for me is to be healthy again."

There has been a lot written about interest from Napoli but Skrtel denies that for the present, adding: "So far the manager of Napoli, Rafael Benitez, has not called me."