Liverpool news and rumour round-up: Saturday’s biggest stories for the Reds…
Long-time target available for just £4m this month
Aston Villa are prepared to sell midfielder Fabian Delph before the January transfer window closes, but will only do so if Liverpool or Tottenham offer £4m for the England international.
Villa are desperate to offload the player this month, despite his importance to their side, as they look to avoid losing him for nothing in the summer when his contract at the club expires.
The Daily Mirror claims that Spurs are not willing to meet the player’s £60,000-per-week wages, while our ongoing interest has so far failed to prompt a bid from Brendan Rodgers and co.
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Ezequiel Lavezzi still available if Liverpool want him
Liverpool could also return for another long-standing target in the coming days, with Paris Saint Germain reportedly eager to sell Argentine winger Lavezzi, who has fallen out of favour with manager Laurent Blanc.
Lavezzi arrived late for PSG’s mid-winter training camp in Morocco earlier this month, with reports in the Metro claiming that this display of petulance was the final straw for the French champions.
The 29-year-old, who has scored 25 goals in 110 games for the Ligue 1 side, is available for as little as £8m with PSG attempting to fund some signings of their own before the window closes.
No go for Reds on Mario Suarez and Easah Suliman
Meanwhile, Spanish publication AS, has revealed that Mario Suarez will not be leaving Atletico Madrid this month, despite the midfielder’s continuing difficulties with tying down a first-team place.
While Suarez has not been a name regularly linked with a switch to Anfield, the report claims that both Liverpool and Inter Milan are interested onlookers as the situation continues to develop.
We have also missed out on England youth team international Easah Suliman, who has signed a professional contract with Aston Villa. The 16-year-old, who was also interesting Bayern Munich, has signed a two-year contract.
Rodgers wants to keep older players, including Glen Johnson
Brendan Rodgers has ruled out a summer exodus from Anfield, insisting that he wants to tie down the likes long-serving full-back Glen Johnson to a new deal.
“We can’t have three or four leaving – it is about the needs of the team,” he explained, referring to out of contract players such as Jon Flanagan, Kolo Toure, Brad Jones and Johnson.
“The intention is to keep the senior players because of the mix of the group. For our young players to develop, they will need seniority around them. You can’t just have a group of young players.”
Heskey discusses long-awaited Anfield return
Emile Heskey has revealed his delight ahead of returning to Anfield with new side Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup later today.
The former England international became the Reds’ record signing when he joined from Leicester City for £11m in March 2000. He went onto score 39 goals in 150 league games before joining Birmingham City in 2004.
He said: “It will be great, it will be wonderful, If I had hair on the back of my neck it would stand up.”
