Rodgers desperate not to make mistakes in the transfer market as Liverpool chase top-four berth
By DOMINIC KING PUBLISHED: 22:16 GMT, 11 June 2013 | UPDATED: 22:16 GMT, 11 June 2013
Brendan Rodgers has admitted Liverpool cannot afford to make mistakes in the transfer market this summer if they are to become credible top-four contenders. Having drafted in Kolo Toure to provide cover for his defence, Rodgers will add Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas to his ranks once he completes a medical, while Liverpool’s manager is also close to landing Sevilla winger Luis Alberto. Aspas and Alberto will cost in the region of £12.7million and Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s American owners, have promised Rodgers he will receive the necessary backing to boost the club’s chances of competing for a Champions League place.
Looking up: Rodgers is desperate to keep the momentum going in the transfer market
Signing another central defender is Liverpool’s next priority — Schalke’s Kyriakos Papadopoulos is his top target — but while he will not put a figure on the numbers he intends to bring in, Rodgers is aware each new face must be the right fit. ‘I’m looking to bring 20 more goals into the team,’ said Rodgers. ‘I’m looking at another offensive player to give us a real threat on goal and another attacking midfield player. We definitely need to do that, especially if we’re going to put some young ones out on loan to gain experience.‘But it’s not easy when you can’t make mistakes. We want to keep the acceleration and pushing on, so this is a very important window for us in the summer. We have to do our best to make it right, because the players who need to come in have to be effective right from the off.’
January dealings: Liverpool were savvy in January, bringing in Philippe Coutinho (left) and Daniel Sturridge
In or out? Suarez has reiterated his desire to leave Liverpool
This is going to be a big year for Rodgers, who has had 12 months to become settled into his role at Anfield. He is aware there will be scrutiny on his performance from the first game of the new campaign but is relaxed about the burden he will carry.‘I’m not here to be comfortable, to sit and earn the money and just enjoy being the Liverpool manager,’ Rodgers explained. ‘There’s a pressure that comes with (the role). And I believe we’re in a much better place to do that. What we showed last season was promise.‘There were moments of disappointment and moments of delight but when I look at the reality of it, we scored 47 goals last year and this time got 71 — and we hope to add to that amount. Defensively for a team that was supposedly very strong last year we’ve only conceded three more goals.
Movements: Iago Aspas (left) will have a medical at the club, while Rodgers has also brought in Kolo Toure
‘So in terms of numbers, and performance wise, then we have improved. I believe we will improve again and we have to because we want to sustain a challenge. I think we can do but it will be a tough ask because as we improve other clubs will have masses more money to improve also.‘But I believe we have built a real good base this year. It’s not my job to look for excuses, I have to find the solutions to try and push us in there and I believe we won’t be too far away.’
Luis Suarez, meanwhile, has reiterated his desire to leave Liverpool after again turning his ire on the British media. The Uruguayan, who wants to move to Real Madrid, will need to submit a written transfer request and a bid of more than £50million would need to be received if he is to get his wish.‘My agent (Pep Guardiola’s brother, Pere) has said to remain calm rather than quiet,’ Suarez said. ‘Liverpool is a club that I dreamt about playing for as a boy. Any player would like to play for a great team and Real Madrid is certainly that but I have had nothing concrete.’
Top target: Schalke¿s Kyriakos Papadopoulos (left) is on Rodgers' radar
Looking up: Rodgers is desperate to keep the momentum going in the transfer market
Signing another central defender is Liverpool’s next priority — Schalke’s Kyriakos Papadopoulos is his top target — but while he will not put a figure on the numbers he intends to bring in, Rodgers is aware each new face must be the right fit. ‘I’m looking to bring 20 more goals into the team,’ said Rodgers. ‘I’m looking at another offensive player to give us a real threat on goal and another attacking midfield player. We definitely need to do that, especially if we’re going to put some young ones out on loan to gain experience.‘But it’s not easy when you can’t make mistakes. We want to keep the acceleration and pushing on, so this is a very important window for us in the summer. We have to do our best to make it right, because the players who need to come in have to be effective right from the off.’
January dealings: Liverpool were savvy in January, bringing in Philippe Coutinho (left) and Daniel Sturridge
In or out? Suarez has reiterated his desire to leave Liverpool
This is going to be a big year for Rodgers, who has had 12 months to become settled into his role at Anfield. He is aware there will be scrutiny on his performance from the first game of the new campaign but is relaxed about the burden he will carry.‘I’m not here to be comfortable, to sit and earn the money and just enjoy being the Liverpool manager,’ Rodgers explained. ‘There’s a pressure that comes with (the role). And I believe we’re in a much better place to do that. What we showed last season was promise.‘There were moments of disappointment and moments of delight but when I look at the reality of it, we scored 47 goals last year and this time got 71 — and we hope to add to that amount. Defensively for a team that was supposedly very strong last year we’ve only conceded three more goals.
Movements: Iago Aspas (left) will have a medical at the club, while Rodgers has also brought in Kolo Toure
‘So in terms of numbers, and performance wise, then we have improved. I believe we will improve again and we have to because we want to sustain a challenge. I think we can do but it will be a tough ask because as we improve other clubs will have masses more money to improve also.‘But I believe we have built a real good base this year. It’s not my job to look for excuses, I have to find the solutions to try and push us in there and I believe we won’t be too far away.’
Luis Suarez, meanwhile, has reiterated his desire to leave Liverpool after again turning his ire on the British media. The Uruguayan, who wants to move to Real Madrid, will need to submit a written transfer request and a bid of more than £50million would need to be received if he is to get his wish.‘My agent (Pep Guardiola’s brother, Pere) has said to remain calm rather than quiet,’ Suarez said. ‘Liverpool is a club that I dreamt about playing for as a boy. Any player would like to play for a great team and Real Madrid is certainly that but I have had nothing concrete.’
Top target: Schalke¿s Kyriakos Papadopoulos (left) is on Rodgers' radar
