Ramirez's Agent Arrives In England For Liverpool Talks

Liverpool has moved a step closer to landing Bologna winger Gaston Ramirez after his agent arrived in England for talks.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is desperate to add some much needed width to his new-look team next season, and has turned to Ramirez after baulking at Fulham's £10 million asking price for Clint Dempsey.

A fast, agile and elegant left winger who can play up front, Ramirez is rated as one of the finest players in Italy, and has been tracked by Barcelona, AC Milan and the two Manchester clubs in the last six months.

However, it appears that Liverpool, who held initial talks over a deal with Bologna last month, have jumped the queue, with the players agent arriving in England this week to sort out a transfer to the Premier League:

'Gaston is ready to leave Italy - so much so I am in England for talks with a Premier League club,' agent Pablo Betancourt told Mercato.

'He is one of the most important players in Uruguray, so there are no shortage of offers.'

Inter Milan and Tottenham are two other clubs believed to have significant interest in Ramirez, but neither is willing to stump up the £15 million Bologna want for the 21-year-old.

That clears the way for Liverpool to get their man, and they are hopeful they land the player in the next fortnight, despite the transfer being complicated, as Ramirez will be on duty for Uruguay during the London Olympics.

The former Penarol ace, who is contracted to Bologna until 2016, has already set his heart on a move to Anfield.

Liverpool Interested In Venezuelan International Centre Back

According to reports in Spain’s most read newspaper, Marca, Liverpool have approached Fernando Amorebieta’s representatives to express “a serious interest” in signing the Athletic Bilbao centre back.

The Venezuelan international is currently under contract with the Basque club until June 2013, so they will now have to decide whether to renew his contract this summer or risk him leaving for free in a year’s time.

Sources close to the 27-year-old are suggesting that his preference would be to remain at Bilbao, but only if the club can offer him an extension on his contract with a considerably better pay package, which could prove difficult with his club teammate, the recently-crowned European champion Fernando Llorente, also insisting on a significant pay rise.

The biggest obstacle for Liverpool may prove to be the €35million (£27.4M) buy-out clause in Amorebieta’s contract, but Athletic Bilbao have not issued a flat-out refusal to negotiate that clause, which they did almost immediately after being informed of the interest in Javi Martinez from Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

Speculation in the Spanish press suggests that the Athletic Bilbao president, Jose Urrutia, may be willing to accept an offer around £10million for Amorebieta.

Spurs To Rival Liverpool For Team GB Star

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined Liverpool in the race to sign Swansea City’s Joe Allen.

The Anfield club was the only side reported to have a serious interest in the Team GB midfielder, but now a report in The Sun claims Spurs have joined the race.

Allen was impressive for the newly-promoted Swans last season and, when boss Brendan Rodgers made the switch to Merseyside earlier this summer, it was quickly being reported that he wanted his former charge to make the same move.

The report claims Liverpool offered £12.5million plus Jonjo Shelvey on a season long loan for the 22-year-old, but the bid was quickly knocked back and the Swans are understood to be content to wait for something much closer to their £15million valuation.

Spurs' reported interest will please the Welsh club, as it increases the likelihood of their estimation of Allen’s worth being met.

This interest has created a rift between Swansea and Liverpool, with the former releasing a statement expressing their anger at the Reds approach, as it contravened a written agreement signed when Rodgers left, and certain details of his contract being made public.

Aquilani Aiming To Prove Worth

Liverpool misfit Alberto Aquilani is desperate for a chance to prove his worth at the club after being dismissed by previous managers.

The £20 million signing has spent the last two seasons on loan in his native Italy with Juventus and AC Milan after being jettisoned by Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish.

Aquilani, 28, was signed by Rafa Benitez but arrived at the club injured and never got an opportunity to display his range of skills, but he is puzzled at the treatment he has received from the Spaniard's successors.

"How can you pay £20m for a player and this player is never taken into consideration?" he said.

"I never asked to leave but I was always pushed by the club. I am here and I would like to play for Liverpool but it doesn't depend only on me."

It remains unclear how prominently the Italy international will feature under new boss Brendan Rodgers.

He played in the first half of Liverpool's defeat against his old club Roma in Boston on Monday and is upbeat about his prospects of playing under Rodgers after their initial conversations.

"I had a very good talk with Brendan where we were able to share our thoughts and it was a very positive chat," he added.

"I like his footballing philosophy and I like the mentality he has because it matches my own skills."

Liverpool fans have rightly wondered why a player acquired for such a handsome sum in 2010 has not been able to stake a claim for a first-team place.

But the playmaker remains determined to show Liverpool fans he can make the grade at Anfield.

"The situation changed after Benitez left," Aquilani added.

"In past years, I felt forced out. I never asked to go on loan but they made it clear it was better for me to go.

"I think Liverpool people have to know that I have never said I wanted to leave the city because my family and I were not happy here. This is not true.

"I cannot say I have unfinished business in English football because I really never played but, the little I did, I believe I was able to show to Liverpool fans that I have quality and that I could have helped the team."

Cup Wouldn't Have Saved Kenny

Liverpool owner John W Henry says he would still have sacked Kenny Dalglish even if the manager had led the Reds to FA Cup success.

Anfield legend Dalglish was shown the door by the club four days after the Reds came in eighth in the Premier League - their worst finish since 1994.

Suggestions have been raised that the manager might have survived the axe had he followed up Liverpool's Carling Cup success with another Wembley triumph in the FA Cup, where they lost out to Chelsea in the final.

But Henry, frontman of Reds owners Fenway Sports Group, says the trophy would not have saved the 61-year-old Scot.

He said: "The FA Cup would not have made any difference had he won it, no, no.

"For us we were 17th over the second half of the season and Liverpool should not be in that position.

"I don't place the blame on Kenny and assistant Steve Clarke but I think it was obvious to every fan that something was wrong and something needed to be done."

Henry admits Dalglish, who was in the role for 18 months after replacing England boss Roy Hodgson at the helm and has been succeeded by Brendan Rodgers, was only ever going to be a short-term solution.

He added: "When I first discussed making a change before he took the job, we danced around it and discussed what role he would take at some point.

"He did say that if it was the manager's job, he would only do it until we had the right young man to come in for the long term. We spoke two or three times before he actually took the job.

"Kenny was always saying no one man is bigger than the club. Everyone knows what it meant when he came back, how he did right the ship and brought all the disparate elements back together.

"There were a lot of different directions and he unified the club internally and externally - he did an incredible job of getting us all on the same page."

Excitement Building For Gerrard

Steven Gerrard is looking forward to the start of 'an exciting new era' at Liverpool and claims he is raring to go ahead of the 2012/13 campaign.

The Reds skipper has linked up with the rest of his team-mates in Boston after being granted extended leave on the back of his efforts at Euro 2012 with England.

It may have been a busy summer for Gerrard and those at Anfield, but he believes Brendan Rodgers' arrival as boss and the continued support of the club's American owners bodes well.

Liverpool will have little time to find their feet under the new coaching team, as they prepare for an early entrance into the Europa League qualifiers, but all of those connected with the Reds are in buoyant mood.

"It's great to be here in Boston and it's an exciting new era for the players," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.

"We've been looking in from our holidays and hearing what the manager is saying and what his vision is.

"All we can do is give him our full support and work as hard as we can to make his job a bit easier.

"The Boston Red Sox are such a big team out here and so is Liverpool in England. The challenge for the owners is to try and make both successful at the same time.

"I can only speak on behalf of Liverpool Football Club and promise the owners we will give everything we have got to bring as much success to the owners as possible.

"We started that last year with two big cup finals. We won one and lost one, so there is a platform there for this team to grow and improve.

"With a new manager and new coaching staff, it's an exciting time and I'm really looking forward to bringing more success to this club.

"I just need to get my legs going again and try to stay fit. After two friendlies we're straight into the Europa League. I am really looking forward to that and will hopefully play some part."

Borini Itching To Get Going

Fabio Borini admits he is 'desperate to get started' at Liverpool after cutting short his summer break to settle into new surroundings.

The Italy international became Brendan Rodgers' first signing as Reds boss when he completed a switch from Roma.

He has worked with Rodgers before at Chelsea and Swansea, but appreciates that it will take time to get to know his new team-mates and the intricacies of their game.

For that reason, Borini was only too happy to return to pre-season training ahead of schedule and give himself the best possible preparation for the start of the 2012/13 campaign.

"I chose to come early because I think it's important to be with the team, especially because I'm a new player," the 21-year-old told the club's official website.

"I could have had a month but I didn't play at the Euros.

"I chose to come early to get used to the team and adapt more quickly. I am desperate to get started."

Borini admits Rodgers' presence at Anfield helped to lure him back to English football and he has full faith in the Ulsterman's ability to bring success to the red half of Merseyside.

"First of all he is a good person outside of football, and it's important to work with good people," he said.

"As a manager he is great. He knows what he is going to do every single day, he is very organized.

"You can see at the training ground, he gets there early and he really wants to work and improve every day.

"I think he is the kind of manager players love to play for. I love to play for him.

"We are very close. When he was working at Swansea, he'd text after I scored twice, and I'd text when he achieved good results with Swansea, when he beat the big teams.

"It's a good relationship as a friend, as human beings, and then as a working relationship."

Rodgers Ponders De Vries Move

Sky Sports understands that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is planning a surprise swoop for Dorus de Vries, a goalkeeper he knows well.

De Vries worked under Rodgers during their time together at Swansea City, with the pair helping the Swans secure promotion to the Premier League.

They parted company in the summer of 2011, with De Vries opting to link up with Wolves as a free agent.

He penned a three-year deal at Molineux, but was restricted to just five appearances in all competitions during his debut campaign as the club suffered relegation out of the top-flight.

The 31-year-old could be tempted to move on if the right bid arrives, and Rodgers is understood to be ready to offer him a route to Anfield.

Liverpool is expected to part with the services of Alexander Doni and Brad Jones this summer, leaving them short in the keeping department.

De Vries would provide experienced cover for undisputed number one Jose Reina.

Liverpool To Trigger Release Clause For Swansea Midfielder

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is edging closer to making Swansea City’s Joe Allen his second signing of the summer by triggering a £15 million release clause in the midfielder’s contract.

Details of the clause in the 22-year-old’s contract emerged in The Daily Telegraph this morning, whereby if any club from an elite five of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal or Chelsea meet the valuation of the Welsh midfielder, Swansea are contractually bound to let the player leave.

Strangely, Allen’s contract also stipulates that any other club outside of this quintet can make a bid lower than the £15 million valuation, creating an open market where anyone can pursue the player.

Liverpool would appear to be firm favourites in the race to sign Allen, who is currently with Team GB as they prepare for their group stage opener with Senegal. Rodgers has expressed his desire to make Allen, his former player at Swansea City, a central figure in his Liverpool revolution, conceding last week that if any club made a move for the midfielder before Liverpool, then they would have to make a bid.

Following Kenny Dalglish’s extravagant spending last season, Rodgers has been told to operate under a far more prudent budget, which has seen negotiations for new signings taken in a more meticulous fashion, and the swift departures of high-earners, such as Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt, who did not figure in the Northern Irishman’s plans.

Clint Dempsey is another Liverpool target alongside Joe Allen, as Rodgers seeks to implement his sleek passing game that earned so him so many admirers during his time at Swansea. Should they complete the move, the Welsh midfielder would be Liverpool’s second signing of the summer, following the arrival of 21-year-old Italian forward, Fabio Borini.

Liverpool Target Snubs Anfield Interest To Pen New Deal

Borussia Dortmund star Jakub Blaszczykowski has snubbed rumoured interest from Liverpool, by agreeing a new four-year deal with the Bundesliga champions.

In a statement on Dortmund's official website, it was announced that the Polish international put pen to paper over a new long-term deal, effectively ending any such chances Liverpool had of luring him to Anfield.

Blaszczykowski, who captained his country at this summer's European Championships has been imperative in Dortmund's rise to prominence in Germany, playing a pivotal role in their back-to-back League titles.

He has developed into one of Europe's most sought-after acquisitions, with talkSPORT claiming that Liverpool were considering a move.

With new boss Brendan Rodgers looking to build a squad capable of challenging for honours next season, the 26 year-old could have added a strong influence to the midfield, with his ability to play out wide, as well as in narrower positions.

However any such strengthening will not feature Blaszczykowski, whose contract will keep him at the Westfalenstadion until 2016, with Dortmund reserving the option to extend it by a further year.

The midfielder is the latest player to be offered a new deal at Dortmund, with the club having extended the contracts of defender Mats Hummels, a reported target for Arsenal, and the highly-rated Mario Götze.

Lucas Wary Of Rushing Comeback

Lucas Leiva is confident of being fit for the start of the new Premier League season, although the Liverpool midfielder is refusing to rush his comeback from injury.

Lucas returned to action for the first time in seven months after damaging cruciate ligaments in November, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute in Liverpool's pre-season friendly with Toronto FC at the weekend.

The 25-year-old returned to training earlier than expected following a cruciate operation, and the Brazilian has been lavished with praise by new manager Brendan Rodgers, who has tipped the midfielder to play a key role during his tenure.

Although Lucas is keen to make up for lost time, he is in no hurry to load his body with too much work having suffered such a serious knee injury.

"Firstly it's been a very good two or three weeks training," he told ESPN. "It's nice to be back and building up again in terms of strength and performance. Everything is going well, the progression is going well. I'm looking forward to the new season and hopefully I'm free of injury.

"I'm hoping to play the first game of the season [against West Brom on August 18] but there is still a long way to go. I'm sure the way we do things will be safe, not taking risks because I've been out for a long time and we need to be careful and progress very slow."

Lucas signed for the Reds from Gremio for £5 million in 2007, and he initially struggled to make an impact at Anfield. However, he has since developed into a formidable holding midfielder and now says he is "comfortable" playing in a deeper role.

"I used to play in a forward position but the way I could adapt and the way I feel more comfortable in the Premier League is as a holding midfielder," he said. "We have one of the best players in the world in Stevie [Steven Gerrard] in that [attacking] position so it was very hard for me at the beginning. But slowly I changed, and now I feel really comfortable in my position and the role that I'm doing.

"I had to get used to the football, the country, the people. I came at such a young age, I had to change the way I live and I was far from my family. I started to adapt to the Premier League, in terms of the pace and the physical game, I got a bit older and gained more experience. I had to prove myself, show that I can play [in the Premier League]."

Despite the Reds winning the Carling Cup and reaching the FA Cup final last season, they endured a tough season in the league, finishing eighth. Subsequently Kenny Dalglish was replaced by former Swansea boss Rodgers and Lucas is eyeing a change in fortunes under the new regime.

"If you talk about Liverpool you always talk about challenging for titles and Champions League spots, it's what we want but it's too early to set targets," he added. "It's a new manager and he'll build a new squad. During the season we will see how good will be in terms of targets and what we can achieve. The way we are training and the way the new manger has been approaching the sessions has been good. I think we will have a great season. If we can be more consistent we'll have a great season."

Aquilani Wanted Roma Return

Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani has admitted that he wanted to return to Roma last season, as he prepares to face his former side in a pre-season friendly.

The 28-year-old left his boyhood club in 2009 for the Premier League after then-Anfield manager Rafa Benitez stumped up €20 million [£15.6m] for the playmaker's purchase.

Injuries thwarted Aquilani's settling into his new environment, however, and a subsequent return to Italy fared no better as both Juventus and then AC Milan declined to take up the options to make their initial loan arrangements permanent.

The midfielder has now revealed that he had the option to return to Roma following his spell with the Old Lady at the end of the 2010-11 season, as he gears up to potentially face his former employers.

"I had the opportunity to go back to Roma last year, and would even have been prepared to take a pay cut to represent my old club's colours again," stated Aquilani to Corriere dello Sport.

"Facing my old side is always a strong emotion for me, and to do that in a Liverpool jersey will be different to those when I played for Juventus and Milan.

"[New coach] Zdenek Zeman is the right choice for the club, although I thought Luis Enrique did a good job too."

Liverpool Must Accept Loss On Carroll, Says Newcastle Boss

Liverpool will have to accept making a loss if they wish to part ways with Andy Carroll this summer, according to Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew.

Carroll’s future at Anfield has been under more scrutiny than ever since Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers hinted that the 23-year old forward may not be part of his plans as the club prepares to embark on a new season.

Since then, several clubs have expressed their interest in taking Carroll on loan, including Fulham and West Ham United. But Alan Pardew has made the most significant efforts to bring their would-be-prodigal son back to St James’ Park, initially through a loan bid, followed by an offer on a permanent basis.

Thus far, Newcastle’s efforts have been turned away, but Pardew believes it’s time for Liverpool to cut their losses for the club’s own good.

“[Reading chairman] John Madejski used to say to me about certain players, 'Just wipe your nose and move on', and I think [Liverpool] are going to have to do that with Andy,” Pardew told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"I think it was obvious as soon as Brendan went into Liverpool that Andy's time was going to have to be somewhere else. I think it's quite right we're involved in that.”

Newcastle are yet to make a signing this summer, with the transfer of Lille right back Mathieu Debuchy yet to be resolved. Interest has also been shown in Marseille forward Loic Remy, but Pardew remains open to bringing the Gateshead-born forward back to Newcastle United.

"Whether he comes here, is something that I will take or I will leave,” Pardew added. "It's a lot of money for Mike [Ashley, Newcastle's owner], although we'll obviously be getting a big upside in terms of what we sold him for, and we've got three great strikers here already.

"But of course as the manager, I want the best players I can get."

Liverpool’s Rodgers has made one signing in this summer transfer window, Italian forward Fabio Borini. The former Swansea manager has found himself in a situation where funds for new recruits are scarcer than they were for his predecessor, Kenny Dalglish, and Pardew believes that money generated by any potential deal for Carroll will be used wisely by Rodgers

“Whether it's £15m, £16m or £20m, if [Rodgers] uses that money and gets an uplift in the player that he brings in that's OK."

Liverpool Signs Up Chevrolet As Club Car Sponsor

US carmaker Chevrolet has signed a four-year deal with Liverpool to become the football club's car sponsor.

The firm, owned by GM, signed a similar deal with Premier League rivals Manchester United in May.

The LFC partnership runs to the end of the 2015/16 Barclays Premier League and European campaigns.

Ian Ayre, managing director of the Anfield club, said the deal demonstrated "the value of Liverpool's international appeal".

No financial details have been given about the arrangement.

Chevrolet is also an official sponsor for the cub's North American pre-season tour, which has already seen Liverpool play Toronto FC, and will later play AS Roma and Spurs in the US.

GM's UK-based Vauxhall business sponsors the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland national football teams.

In May, GM said it would drop advertising from next year's broadcast of the National Football League's Super Bowl, and has also pulled out of advertising on Facebook.

Werner Backs Boss On Carroll

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has refused to clarify Andy Carroll's future at Anfield but gave his full backing to manager Brendan Rodgers.

Carroll has been strongly linked with a move away from Liverpool despite becoming the club's record signing for £35million just last year.

Rodgers, who was appointed as Reds boss earlier this summer, is believed to be willing to allow the striker to leave the club this month and Werner appears comfortable with that scenario.

"The only thing I can say is we will do what's best for the club," he told Sky Sports News.

"At the moment, Andy is on the squad. He was an important member of the English team, he's got a lot of talent and we'll see what happens there.

"Brendan is clearly the leader here and hopefully the question will be answered shortly but at the moment Andy is on the team and we're looking forward to his contributions."

Werner and his fellow members of Fenway Sports Group have shown faith in Rodgers by sacking much-loved manager Kenny Dalglish in May and the chairman has once again defended that move.

"I don't think anybody could have been happy with our performance on the pitch last year," he added.

"No disrespect to Kenny, I think he's an iconic figure for Liverpool and he will always be appreciated for the stability he brought to the club.

"Brendan brings a very thoughtful, modern, attacking philosophy.

"I think our fans will be very delighted with the attacking philosophy that he brings to Liverpool and hopefully we'll see improvement."

Werner also reiterated his commitment to finding a new stadium for Liverpool and called for patience.

Werner said on Monday: "There's actually a call later this afternoon to try and move the ball forward but until we are sure of a solution we don't want to make any announcements and people have been disappointed before.

"There's no-one who would like to put this question behind us more than me but until we are clear about the solution and how it's going to unfold we're going to just say please exercise a bit of patience."

Suarez Swipe At English Media

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez hinted at his contempt for the English press as he prepares to return to Old Trafford this week.

The Liverpool forward is part of the Uruguay team taking on the United Arab Emirates in Group A of the Olympic football competition in Manchester on Thursday.

The fixture represents Suarez's first visit to the ground since triggering a row in February by refusing to shake hands with Manchester United's Patrice Evra - the man he was found guilty of racially abusing in October.

But Suarez does not regard that as an unnecessary distraction ahead of international duty for his country.

"I am representing Uruguay and that's all that matters to me," Suarez said.

"I said before that the English press is what matters least to me. I am proud to represent my country."

Suarez also brushed off suggestions that his knowledge of English football will help him, having played in the stadium before for his club.

"I don't really know Old Trafford that well," he added.

"I have played one match there. I have played just once at many stadiums, so I don't have to give advice to anyone on the stadiums we play at.

"It's a great stadium. What we have to do is play football at a spectacular ground."

Liverpool Make Early Move For Brazilian

Liverpool has offered a contract to a 15-year-old Brazilian wonderkid - after watching him on the Internet.

The Reds have moved to sign promising teenager William McLaren, after club scouts spotted him on Brazilian website Pnera, an online project aimed at discovering and promoting young players.

It certainly seems to have worked, with McLaren attracting interest from a whole of host of Premier League clubs, all of whom have since been to watch him in action, before confirming he is now considering an offer to join Liverpool.

'A representative of Liverpool saw me play, liked what he saw and the club sent me a contract,' McLaren told Globo.

'But other teams are also interested - Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. We'll see what happens.'

The exciting youngster, who lists his idol as fellow Brazilian Neymar, is already being compared to the 20-year-old Santos superstar.

Dries Mertens Finds Himself On Liverpool’s Shortlist

New Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to strengthen the club’s attacking options for the upcoming season and is believed to have earmarked young Belgian winger Dries Mertens for this purpose.

The Belgian international moved from Utrecht to PSV Eindhoven last summer and stunned fans by adjusting quickly to life at the Philips Stadion. The 25-year-old enjoyed his best campaign to date last season and went on to notch a tally of 21 goals in 33 appearances for the former Eredivisie champions.

According to Belgian magazine Footgoal, Mertens’ tremendous performances have alerted big European clubs including Liverpool, and the Merseyside giants are ready to splash €15M on the winger, a sum which – if tabled – is likely to persuade PSV’s management to part ways with their young talent.

Mertens was one of the Peasants’ best performers last season; the winger started his career with Gent in 2004 before moving to AGOVV in 2007.

After turning in impressive displays for the Eerste Divisie outfit, he was snapped up by Utrecht in 2009, where he excelled by racking up 16 goals in 65 appearances, before moving to PSV in 2011.

The 25-year-old belongs to a rare breed of wingers who chip in regular goals for their teams. Reds fans may hope that interest in the wide-man will soon materialize into a concrete bid as dearth of quality wingers in Liverpool’s squad has been considered to be one of the primary reasons for their poor performances in recent seasons.

Mertens is under contract with PSV until 2016, putting the Dutch club very much in the driving seat over his future.

Hoops In For Bellamy

QPR vice-chairman Amit Bhatia has confirmed that Craig Bellamy is on the club's shopping list as they plot their next transfer move.

Bellamy is currently preparing to represent Team GB at the Olympic Games, but speculation has continued to mount over where he will be plying his trade for the upcoming season.

Brendan Rodgers has expressed a desire to keep the Welshman at Anfield, while Cardiff are thought to be interested in their former player.

Bhatia has confirmed the Hoops are also keen, telling Sky Sports News: "Mark (Hughes) likes to have a long list of players so we'll see what happens.

"We've been a fan of Craig Bellamy for the last few years.

"His is definitely a name that has been mentioned but he's not the only name that we have discussed for that position so we have a few options.

"Mark has loads of names on his list and many of the players we want are wanted by other clubs.

He added: "Whoever Mark settles on, we will do our best to support him."

Liverpool Set To Offer Skrtel An Improved Contract

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hopes Martin Skrtel will sign a new deal and is not aware of any bids for the defender.

Skrtel gave an interview in Slovakia, suggesting there had been interest in the 27 year-old, but just like the supposed interest in Luis Suarez from Juventus, Rodgers hasn’t received any formal offers for the player.

Liverpool hopes to conclude negotiations on a new deal with the Slovakian and are bemused by suggestions there has been any breakdown in those conversations. The club expects talks to continue in the coming weeks.

Skrtel featured in the opening game of Rodgers’ reign in Canada on Saturday, a low-key 1-1 draw with Toronto, and the Liverpool manager said he would fight to keep his centre-back.

He told the Telegraph: I’ve heard nothing from any other club. Martin has been fantastic and seems happy and contented. He fits into my plans and ideas. I will fight as hard as I can to keep the players that I want here and he is one of them.

“Unfortunately there is always that rumour, speculation and gossip and until the window closes that will continue.”

The Merseyside club is desperate to keep hold of their key players as Rodgers prepares for his first season in charge. He's already held positive talks with Suarez over the phone about his commitment to Anfield and hopes that like Skrtel, he will also sign an improved contract shortly.

Rodgers said: “I’m confident he is really looking forward to playing for us this season and is really looking forward to this way of football.

“I have spoken to him and had nothing but positivity from him. He is obviously at the Olympics and I wish him well, but I will wish him better when he comes back.”

The new Liverpool boss doesn’t have much time to make any changes to his squad, as their season will start in just over a week against opposition from either Belarus or Macedonia in a Europa League qualifier.