LIVERPOOL FC made their first transfer signing under Brendan Rodgers last week with the arrival of striker Fabio Borini, and the new boss has been heavily tipped to bring in additional firepower to the squad over the next week or so.
Here is a look at the hottest news regarding three strikers who could arrive on Merseyside, and the possible departure that will drive any of those deals.
Theo Walcott
According to The Daily Mail and various London press, Liverpool are in the hunt for Arsenal winger Theo Walcott. Walcott has just a year left in his contract with the Gunners and could follow Robin van Persie’s lead by seeking a move away from the Emirates Stadium if the club does not improve his wages to £100,000 per week. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to keep hold of Walcott, an alleged Liverpool fans, but some of the club’s board are ready to cash in.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is pondering a £15m move and could use money from any sale of Andy Carroll to pay for the deal. As a pacey winger with an eye for goal, Walcott would fit seamlessly into Rodgers’ preferred playing style. Liverpool however, would have to beat competition from Chelsea and super-rich Paris Saint-Germain, who are also reported to be interested in the 23 year old England winger.
Clint Dempsey
Liverpool’s link with Clint Dempsey just refuses to die down as every week a new development comes up in the long standing transfer saga. Fulham’s Clint Dempsey is one player, according to the latest from goal.com Liverpool are planning to snap up should Andy Carroll leave. The Reds are reportedly willing to offer Fulham £5m for the American ace as they look to “offload Carroll permanently”. In recent days speculation has been rife that the England striker is on his way out of Anfield after an unsuccessful 18-month stint.
While other reports suggest the Magpies are eager to welcome back Carroll after his fruitless foray on Merseyside and according to goal.com, Liverpool will use some of the money made from selling Carroll to bring in Dempsey as a replacement.
The website says the 29 year old Fulham forward “has rejected a new contract offer” from the Cottagers in the expectation of moving to Liverpool. Apparently Fulham have yet to receive an official offer from Liverpool, who are first waiting to get rid of Carroll before making a play for Dempsey.
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Andy Carroll & Demba Ba
After 18 disappointing months, it appears Liverpool are now finally planning to let Andy Carroll return to Newcastle United. Newcastle’s bid to take the 23 year old on a season-long loan, with Liverpool asked to make up a significant proportion of the forward’s £80,000 a week wages, was flatly rejected on Sunday. While another bid to take the player back permanently for around £13m had been mooted by the Newcastle hierarchy and could still be submitted, it has now emerged that Liverpool will sanction the England international’s departure only for a far higher figure.
Liverpool, according to The Guardian, are holding out for a higher figure of around £20m as they look to recoup a more significant chunk of their original outlay.
As reported yesterday here on L4L, Pardew told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: “That whole process is a little bit more involved with the chairman and the board at Liverpool.
“We’ve got a great team here, a great squad, and if Andy Carroll comes it’ll only add to us.”
He continued: “It’s simple, really. Sometimes transfers are done at corporate level. I’m slightly detached from that.
“It’s been said that he’s available, and if we’re involved then we’ll be involved because of the figures, not anything else, because we know he’s good enough.”
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew spoke of his admiration for Carroll last week and would like the Gateshead-born forward to support Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, however this morning’s suggestion is that the Tyneside club could look to ‘sweeten’ any deal involving Carroll by also offering Demba Ba to the Reds.
It’s widely believed Ba has a £7m release clause in his contract that runs out at the end of this month and is hardly surprising the Northern Echo has therefore mooted this possibility.
So that’s three strikers – Walcott, Dempsey and Ba – whose futures are intrinsically linked with the fate of Andy Carroll this summer.
Thanks for reading. Only time will tell how much truth do these news contain however, please share your thoughts and comments. You can also find me on Twitter @LEONGUI7E
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i would like to see Demba Ba thou
I’m sorry but I really hope Fulham ask too much for Dempsey, and for those who think I’m mad 2 wirds for you Charlie Adam. Just like Dempsey, Adam had a stellar season (10/11) and was hyped up and just like a year ago the thought makes me feeling less than enthused. What would he bring? Some say a guarantee of goals but wasn’t Adam supposed to add goals from set plays? By the way did anyone ever find out where his penalty v Cardiff landed? What most fail to realise when advocating this type of player is the huge pool Liverpool is, it’s fine being huge at your Blackpool’s and Fulham’s but that is little guarantee of even treading water at Anfield.
Dempsey please! Joe Allen and Gaston Ramirez.
i have to agree with andrew, a player with a year left on his contract. 10 mil is a lot of money for a player who is running the countdown of ending his career, hes had one good season and it seems now that any player that has one good season liverpool want to buy. I agree with the other two they would compliment the team nicely and have years on theyr side. scrap dempsey and spend the ten million muted on joe allen only 22 and the sxth most accurate passer in europe and knows BRs tactics(no brainer)
I agree that paying 10 million for Dempsey is bit expensive but please dont compare him to Charlie Adam. Adam has never been a player like Dempsey. I am from the states so I have seen Dempsey play for years and every year her has gotten better. I realize that he doesnt fit FSG youth policy but I truly believe that you have to have some veterans on the pitch. If we want to compete this year we need some new players that have experience. Dempsey fits that bill. He has played in countless battles vs Mexico in Mexico and that in it self is a tough place to play. He understands pressure games and believe me, if we get him, he will win us a few games due to his calm demeanor.
I also believe that it is a great PR move for FSG to land an American on Liverpool. My country has come a long way and having an american striker on one of most decorated clubs in the world will only help the club achieve more notice (if that is even possible).
All in all, I hope we land him. Trust me…. the doubters will love him.
PS.. I would much rather have a 10 rated Dempsey than a 20 rated Henderson any days of the week
See you in one weeks time in Boston my beloved Reds
YNWA
YOU HEARD
Insightful comments. I believe you will be interested in an article scheduled to publish later on the site – stay tuned, and add your thoughts!
we need veterans, yes you are right about that. Gerrard,carragher,bellamy and pepe. to me that is enough experience in the squad. as to your comment about you would rather have dempsey for 10 than henderson for 20, i would take henderson every time, and buy this time next year you will think the same. granted dempsey had a great season buy 28/29 is when footballers hit there peak. dempsey is 30 in march i think so to pay 10million for him is insane in my eyes.