Comings and Goings: Trying to Separate Fact From Fiction

IT has been a week since Liverpool FC announced that Brendan Rodgers would be taking up the mantle of gaffer to lead the club into the 2012/13 season and beyond. Since his appointment and with so much still be revealed, there has been much speculation surrounding future comings and goings at Anfield, from playing staff to coaching staff and members of the hierarchy.

As usual the media machine has been in overdrive, linking the Anfield club with Tom, Dick and Harry too, so this article is an attempt to round up things that have definitely/will definitely happen and things that are likely to happen, in terms of the changing or keeping of personnel, as well as things which are not.

First off, Steve Clarke has left Anfield. Clarke, formerly of Chelsea, who was brought to Anfield as Kenny Dalglish’s assistant manager, has left the club following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers and the latter’s decision to bring his own assistant, Colin Pascoe, to join him at Anfield. Clarke, who has been credited with improving the Reds as a defensive unit last season, has left the club on amicable terms and was tipped to make the step-up to management by being announced as the new boss at West Bromiwich Albion – something which has now been confirmed. Kevin Keen has followed Clarke out of the Anfield exit door. The first team coach enjoyed a year with the Reds under Kenny Dalglish but now moves on.

Liverpool are still interviewing candidates for positions on the new Football Executive Team. This group, which is to be part of the new structure at Anfield in place of the proposed Sporting/Technical Director’s roles, will liaise with Brendan Rodgers, forming an inner circle to help the new boss on footballing matters. Reliable sources confirm that Liverpool are in talks with ex-Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain over a position at Anfield, with current Academy chief Pep Segura, also formerly of Barcelona, expected to be promoted.

Dirk Kuyt has left the club. The Dutchman who scored 51 goals in six seasons at Anfield, including a memorable hat-trick against Manchester United, has moved on to join Fenerbahce of Turkey. A clause in Kuyt’s contract allowed the 32 year old to move for a fee of £1 million and, although Kuyt’s presence will be sorely missed, it is regarded as a good piece of business for the club. Kuyt’s performances suffered last season and his reported £100,000 a week wages were a financial strain on the club for a player who had dropped out of the first-team. He is a true professional who loves the club and gave everything every time he pulled on the Red jersey. We wish him well for the future.

Luis Suarez will definitely not be leaving Anfield this summer. The Uruguayan front-man has been linked repeatedly by the media with a move away from the club, with suitors such as Paris Saint Germain and Juventus, reportedly, more than interested. However, Brendan Rodgers has spoken to Suarez about his future at Anfield and the importance of the role that the new gaffer expects him to play. The Northern Irishman has, apparently, told Juventus that Suarez is not for sale at any price and, that the only way that he would leave the club would be if the player himself forced the move. This seems very unlikely with, Suarez known to be happy with life at Liverpool and settled with his family life on Merseyside.

Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani will return to Merseyside for pre-season training. Cole, who endured a torrid season at Anfield under Hodgson and then Dalglish, looked to be finished in the Premier League. However, a successful loan spell at Lille in France has boosted his profile once again and, with Brendan Rodgers having worked with him for a long time at Chelsea, Cole has said that he can’t wait to return to Anfield and prove himself in a Red shirt. Aquilani has had two loan spells at different clubs in Italy; Juventus and then Milan. Although he featured heavily for both clubs, neither side triggered the clause in his contract requiring them to make the move permanent. Rodgers is keen to speak to Aquilani and see him in training before making a decision on his future.

As far as new signings are concerned, there have been many rumours, some, a whole lot more realistic and truthful than others. Firstly, it looks like a very good bet that Icelandic international Gylfi Sigurdsson will not be joining Swansea City and will, in fact, join Brendan Rodgers at Anfield. The Hoffenheim player had agreed personal terms with the Welsh club, with a £6.8million bid accepted by the German outfit. However, Sigurdsson has since commented that he will not be joining the Swans, given the uncertainty at the club at the moment and, with Rodgers known to be interested and having been instrumental in bringing Sigurdsson to the Premier League in the first place, Liverpool now looks as if it will be the player’s preferred destination.
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Reports that Liverpool will sign Clint Dempsey from Fulham are believed to be wide of the mark. Many newspaper column inches have been devoted to the Reds desire to sign the American, however, reliable sources claim that Dempsey has never been a target for Rodgers. At 29 years old, the American doesn’t fit the profile of a player that Rodgers would sign as the man from Carnlough has consistently expressed his desire to work with, bring in and educate young players.

Likewise, with Rodgers apparently on the verge of snatching Sigurdsson out from under his old club, it is unlikely that Joe Allen will be making the trip across the border to the North West of England. Rodgers is known to have a written agreement with his former chairman stating that he will not recruit Swansea players for a minimum of twelve months and, while it may not be legally binding, Rodgers is not the type of man to go back on his word. Allen, 22, played exceptionally well at the heart of the Swans’ midfield, recording staggering passing stats, and Rodgers is known to be a big admirer. However, should he wish to bring him to Anfield, it will surely not be until next season.

As reported on live4liverpool, with Liverpool and other clubs being warned off Barcelona youngsters, such as Cuenca and Tello, by Tito Vilanova and, with Ibrahim Afellay having been told that he has a future at the Camp Nou, Liverpool fans can expect to see Rodgers attempt to sign another player who came up through the ranks of La Masia. Giovani dos Santos, who, playing for Mexico, put Brazil to the sword in a friendly match last weekend, is currently in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. He has hardly featured for Harry Redknapp’s side though and is known to want a move away from White Hart Lane. Rodgers is an admirer of the 23 year old former Barca man and, as he searches for options on the flanks, is thought to be keen on bringing the Mexican to Anfield. Dos Santos should be available for around £4million.

Finally, the possibility of seeing Adam Johnson in a Reds shirt seems to be looming ever larger on the horizon. The former England man has fallen out of favour at Manchester City. Not a first choice and, with boss, Roberto Mancini, thought to think him too lightweight for the Champions’ League, Johnson will, almost certainly, leave Eastlands in the summer window. Whether Brendan Rodgers is keen to sign the winger is unclear, however, he does fit the profile being young, good in possession, British and a wide player who can score goals. Reports today claim that Liverpool have offered £16 million for Johnson; whether these prove truthful or not, remains to be seen.

Certainly, I was led to believe that City wouldn’t be conducting any business until after the Euros, added to which I think that a fee around the £10-12million mark would be more appropriate. Only time will tell.

So, as you can see it has been a busy first week at the helm for Rodgers with one thousand and one reports and rumours flying about. Some things have definitely already happened so those are absolutely correct. As for the rest, I have tried to make sense of some of them and picked out a few which I believe have legs/or don’t, as the case may be. Whether these events actually come to pass, only time will tell! One thing is for sure though, it’s gonna be an exciting summer.

You can catch Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 or on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/

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