LIVERPOOL

The Belgian defender has been in talks with Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen, but talks have been unproductive, according to his father and representative, Vic Alderweireld.

Vic Alderweireld told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “The proposal [from Leverkusen] was interesting in sporting terms, but financially we had some questions.”

“We have a counter proposal and will wait to see how Leverkusen reacts.

“We are not in a rush to sign. At worst, he plays another season in Amsterdam and leaves as a free agent after next season.

Alderweireld is looking for a new challenge, and is expected to be sold this summer in order for Ajax to get some money for the defender. The Belgian international is set to start his last contracted season with Ajax.

Deals for Iago Aspas and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are close to completion, after Rodgers had already signed Kolo Toure on a free transfer.

The Liverpool boss could hijack the Alderweireld deal, and add the Belgian to his list of signings this summer.

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Tottenham are also interested in bringing the 23-year-old to the Premier League, whilst there is also interest from Rubin Kazan and Bayer Leverkusen.

Boudebouz has enjoyed a terrific season with the French club, who finished 15th in the Ligue 1 table. The Algerian international scored 3 goals in his 32 appearances for Sochaux.

Boudebouz could be sold this summer, as his contract with the Ligue 1 outfit expires at the end of next season. But the Reds will face strong competition, with Tottenham, Rubin Kazan and Bayer Leverkusen all able to offer European football next season, with Leverkusen playing in the Champions League next year.

The midfielder, who can comfortably play with both feet, could replace Jonjo Shelvey at Anfield, who has been linked with a move to Norwich this summer.

It’s not the first time Liverpool and Tottenham have battled for the same player, after Spurs signed Reds targets Gylfi Sigurdsson and Clint Dempsey last summer.

And AVB will be hoping he can once again beat the Reds to the highly rated Algerian, who featured in the nation’s two friendlies this month. Algeria beat Rwanda 4-0 before losing to Mali 2-1. Boudebouz didn’t score in either match.

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IN

As things stand right now I think we can assume the following players will be seen as key contributors for Liverpool FC next season: Lucas Leiva, Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez* and Daniel Sturridge.

Lucas aside, the remaining four of that quintet are the main attacking contributors Rodgers will need to rely on to produce the majority of the team’s goals.

*I’m including Suarez here because he still very much is a LFC player; as of yet there are no real indications of Florentino Perez and Real Madrid making a move.

Lucas and Gerrard look like being the preferred duo in midfield, with the other three being clear first choice attacking players. The Lucas-Gerrard combination definitely has its pro’s, but also its con’s, and in many ways these con’s dictate the last player in the front six and how Rodgers can set up his team.

The main argument against having Lucas and Gerrard in midfield last season was the lack of intensity they provided when the team was pressing to win the ball back; and also their lack of recovery pace, meaning once the midfield got turned our defence was pretty much left alone. However, this seemed to be the case no matter who we had in there, hence me attributing it to the fact that our defensive line was deeper than it should be – and deeper than it will be the coming season. As I have mentioned earlier, that is also the reason why I don’t think another central midfielder is a pressing concern: pushing the line a few yards up will naturally reduce the amount of ground our midfield has to cover, which should suit the likes of Gerrard, Lucas and Allen to a tee given they are all very intelligent players.

Regarding the front three or front four I think we can all agree that Sturridge, Coutinho and Suarez seem to be nailed on as regular starters; the latter is an obvious one, and the two January signings did more than enough after joining to suggest they will both be first choice players when the fun starts again in August.

As we saw last season there were games – particularly away from home – where a player like Jordan Henderson was very useful because of his defensive work rate and selfless running; and there were other games – particularly at home – where he wasn’t that useful because of his relatively limited ability on the ball in tight situations in the final third. He’s a tidy player when given a bit of space, but against a more compact defence I think he’s far more suited to play as one of the deeper midfielders.

What Henderson did last season was to complement Lucas and Gerrard in midfield, while also providing defensive cover for our creative attacking players (Coutinho in particular benefitted from his presence) and giving them a passing option because of his constant running. He was the unsung hero who finally got some nods of approval, and I think he could be a valuable member of the Liverpool squad for years to come.

However, because of his limitations going forward I don’t see him as a regular starter for a Liverpool team trying to evolve. I think he will get his fair share of games – hopefully enough to keep him happy – and I can see him continuing to be particularly useful away from home and against teams where we need extra solidity and a busy pair of legs.

I think the ideal player to stick into this team would be someone who offers some of the running and the defensive cover Henderson does, and can couple this with a bit more quality in the final third and also add a few more goals. Someone who can play in midfield in a 4-3-3 and also take the hybrid role Henderson had for quite a few games. Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk could be that player, but what happens with him this summer remains to be seen.

As I write this the deal for Liverpool to sign Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo looks pretty much done and dusted, and Rodgers also seems to have genuine interest in Luis Alberto from Sevilla. Both are players who do most of their work in the final third, and will probably come as supplement or backup to our creative attacking players; but I don’t think any of them are the final piece in the attacking puzzle.

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WHO

The names currently being linked are illogical in any case. Any player in his prime, playing for Real Madrid/Barcelona’s first team will have many Champions League club offers, and offers for crazy money from oil rich clubs around the world.

If they move to a club outside of the clubs that have got a realistic chance of winning the Champions League, then it will either be to a club they supported as a child (from their own home nation) or they have become mercenaries and want the pay day.

One player fellow Liverpool FC fans like to mention is Angel Di Maria. I would like to remind my LFC brothers and sisters his name is Angel Di Maria not Saint Di Maria! I dream too.

Higuain or Angel Di Maria, like any professional at the top of their game – established – would not want to join us. We don’t (I hope) pay crazy money anymore and he will (like Suarez) want to play in the Champions league. He is not a boyhood fan, admittedly he might turn into a boyhood fan if, once signed you stuck a camera crew in his face. If Arsenal, Chelsea or any other Champions League team came knocking on his door and offered the same money then such players would pick them! If he was available then they would knock just as loud as us…but are more likely to be heard.

Liverpool FC are in a special place right now. We can build with a British coach and give British players who have to live in the UK a chance to start a long fruitful career. I’m tired of seeing British players overlooked, forgotten and ignored in favour for more interesting sounding foreigners. I fully accept there is a premium to be paid for British players.

We already have Kelly, Henderson, Wisdom and Sterling as well as Gerrard and Johnson. Ok, so maybe Gary Hooper isn’t the type of player we want but what about the others? Who else would you like us to sign?

Now I’m not Xenophobic. I fully rave about and rate our Coutinho, Enrique and others. I just see a longer term future return from players who are British, likely to stay at the club longer, likely to stay in the UK and looking even further into the future…be TV football pundits with a bias towards Liverpool FC!

You can follow me on Twitter @LFCVee

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The Ligue 1 side share the Reds’ interest in Capel, who turned 25-years-old earlier this year.

The Sporting Lisbon winger is contracted to the Portuguese club until 2016, but the side could sell Capel in the summer due to their financial woe. Capel scored 5 goals in his 26 league appearances this season.

Liverpool have also been linked with the Spaniard, who has been capped twice by his national country. Brendan Rodgers has eyed Capel as a possible replacement for Stewart Downing, who has been tipped for an exit from Anfield this transfer window.

The 25-year-old was linked with Tottenham back in 2008, but stayed with Sevilla, before joining the Lisbon side in 2011 for €3.5million.

Capel was part of the Spanish Under-19 European Championship winning side in 2006, and the Under-21 winning side in 2011. But after just two seasons with Sporting Lisbon, Capel has been tipped to leave Estádio José Alvalade this summer.

Marseille, who finished 2nd in the Ligue 1 table and 12 points behind league winners PSG, are set to rival Liverpool for the Spaniard, who has also been tipped with a move to Atletico Madrid.

French newspaper L’Equipe claims that Marseille have made a £3million bid for the winger.

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The Dynamo Moscow winger is contracted to the Russian side until December 2015.

But his agent Jozsef Vorosbaranyi has claimed that the Reds are looking to approach Dzsudzsak. The 26-year-old scored 5 goals in 27 matches last season, catching the eye of Brendan Rodgers.

Vorosbaranyi told fcinter1908: “Numerous clubs made an approach including Internazionale and Liverpool, but I can’t say more concrete things.

“Balazs didn’t ask the club to let him go because he feels good at the team and has a good partnership with coach Dan Petrescu.

“But anything can happen.”

Dzsudzsak spent 3 years at PSV, before joining money spending giants Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011. But after an injury hit season, the Hungarian winger joined Dynamo Moscow, after the club paid the €19million release fee in his contract.

But Sky Sports are expressing that Dzsudzsak’s expected value now is only €12million, which is just over £10million.

Dzsudzsak scored an equalising goal against Holland in a World Cup Qualifier in September, only to see his Hungary side lose the match by 4 goals to 1. It was the second time he had scored against the Netherlands, after opening the scoring in a friendly in 2010, as Hungary lost 6-1.

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PEPE

The Reds still have some details to thrash out with Sunderland, though, with the main dispute being the transfer fee Sunderland are after.

Liverpool are keen to keep the figure below Sunderland’s asking price of £10 million, but are going close with a £9 million offer which they are hoping the Black Cats accept.

Mignolet, signed in 2010 from Sint Truiden, has played over 100 times for his club and is a firm fan favourite. However, Sunderland seem to be willing to let Mignolet go, in order to increase spending funds for Paulo Di Canio to strengthen a squad that struggled to stay up last season.

La Liga champions Barcelona are believed to be keen to bring Reina back to Spain, though Liverpool have yet to receive any official offers for the 30 year old.

If Mignolet completes the move to Anfield however it could all but confirm the departure of Pepe Reina, who is known to be keen on ending his career in his native Spain.

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The Valencia left-back has expressed his desire to play in the Premier League after just 1 season with the La Liga side:

“In the second part of the season I don’t have as much playing time, unlike the first. Are English clubs my future? I am proud that my name is matched with these clubs but I’m fine here. I just hope to play more,” Cissokho said.

“Liverpool? I have never hidden that the Premier League is the league that attracts me the most. It’s pleasing to see my name linked to that of the Reds. They’re a great club, and not just anyone can wear that shirt. For now, however it is just rumours.”

The 25-year-old was close to joining Everton last summer, as a potential replacement for Leighton Baines, if the English defender was to leave Goodison Park.

Brendan Rodgers could bring Cissokho to Anfield for just £7million, as questions remain still unanswered over Jose Enrique’s future at the club.

Cissokho played in both of Valencia’s Champions Legaue Group Stage matches against Lille this season, as the Spanish side won both the home and away tie.

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AS

It was reading through comments on my last article ‘Goldfish Syndrome’ and the following quote from a comment that got me thinking:

‘It’s unbelievably naive to think that a [sic] unproven manager without any history of success will be successful.’

This really got my juices flowing and wondering whether this statement carries some logic or not. Let’s see both sides:

#showmethemedals

There will be a stage in every manager’s career where they are unproven and without that background of success – but success in itself is relevant.

If you look down the road at Alex Ferguson you can see the career progression from St Mirren to Aberdeen to United, having success relative to each club. You can argue that success at St Mirren earned him a chance at Aberdeen and success at the Dons earned him the opportunity at United, effectively using that well known saying ‘paying his dues’.

Undoubtedly a quality young manager with huge potential, but realistically would a move from St Mirren to United have been feasible? Accepted by the fans? Probably not. When you are looking at the upper echelon of clubs, there has to be that experience, that C.V.

Similarly Arsene Wenger saw success at both AS Monaco and Grampus Eight before earning his shot at Arsenal.

Whilst reality must bite for the modern-day Liverpool fan, it should not be forgotten the size and the history of the club along with the global appeal of the ‘brand’ (I felt dirty saying that, and not the good type of dirty). Would Liverpool have even considered Benitez whilst he was at Tenerife?

Personally I doubt any serious consideration would have been given. It took his tremendous success at Valencia to enter the fray. As a club, Liverpool have to be looking towards a manager who has taken the appropriate steps in their career before being awarded the Anfield hot seat. The appointment needs to be justified through previous success, through previous evidence of silverware, this club is not a stepping stone for anyone, it should be the pinnacle of a manager’s career.

This kind of statement and attitude is the epitome of what is wrong with modern football. Everything has to be instantaneous and a known name. Look at the problems at England U21 level. How has Stuart Pearce got the job other than his ‘name’, similarly with the man linked to succeed him, Southgate? Football needs to evolve and the talent available in managing and coaching should not be linked at all to a playing career.

Wenger, Mourinho and Benitez did nothing, playing wise, but look at what they have achieved.

Previous success at a playing or coaching level can often mean nothing. Shevchenko was the best forward in the world at Milan but awful at Chelsea. Scolari is a World Cup winner but struggled at Chelsea, Hodgson managed the third best international side in the world…(sorry I couldn’t bring myself to finish that one sensibly).

If we look deeper, at possibly the managerial flavour of the moment, Jurgen Klopp, and assess his track record prior to Dortmund. At Mainz, the success he achieved was no great shakes in the grand scheme of things, but for Mainz it was good – but good enough to be considered for a job like Dortmund? Especially following a relegation and failed promotion attempt?

Rather than simply dismiss the man on the basis he wasn’t a league or cup winner for example, he was awarded the opportunity based on his talent, and through an initial period of patience hasn’t that worked out well! Looking internally, what had Shankly achieved prior to Liverpool? What managerial success did Paisley, Fagan or Dalglish have prior to taking the helm?

Where do I stand (I know you have been awaiting this bit)? Whilst I don’t fall firmly in either camp, I do have a very heavy lean towards the #behave argument.

I firmly agree that Liverpool should not be a stepping stone for anyone, be it player or manager, but certainly cannot act as a wet nurse either. A glittering CV is always a pleasant thing to look at, but to judge a person merely on this is, for me, naïve and potentially very expensive. Any prospective incoming to the club, playing or not, needs to be fully assessed as to ability, personality, temperament and so on to make sure they are the right fit.

Does Rodgers lack of trophy success worry me? Not at all. I am particularly encouraged by his motivation, drive and dedication. Giving up the playing dream early because you know you will not make it would have been a bitter pill to swallow, but taking yourself round Europe to learn and watch the best and to develop your own style impresses me.

Yes, Watford and Reading didn’t go well (who has an unblemished record?) but the work he did at Swansea impressed. To date I think he has done well in trying circumstances, certainly well enough after his first year to be allowed more.

Where do you stand? Do you need the medals or do you look firmly forward? Leave a comment, let me know, come find me on Twitter @timdibs

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SO

While Steven Gerrard has been club captain since 2003, for me, the vice captain has always been the real ‘captain’ of the team. From Sami Hyypia, through Jamie Carragher – both of these men where the real team captains.

Let me say though, that this isn’t a slight on Gerrard; he is still a magnificent player and has been the spearhead, talisman and figurehead of this club for the better part of the last decade but he is not a ‘captain’, in the traditional sense.

On the field, Gerrard has always led by example; it has always been his performances that have inspired his team-mates, whilst his vice captain has organized the team, did all the shouting and berating of referees. In that regard, Gerrard has always left those particular duties to his understudy.

Which is no bad thing, as it shows he knows his strengths and weaknesses; allowing his vice captain to share responsibilities. It also means that whoever is to take the reins from Carragher is going to need to step into this role.

The three obvious choices are Dan Agger (as mentioned already), Luis Suarez and Pepe Reina. Lucas Leiva may be one for the future and Martin Skrtel would’ve been a consideration had his future not been the most in doubt of any Reds player.

With a huge 63% of LFC.tv visitors voting for Daniel Agger as vice captain, it would appear that the favourite is already in place. With the Dane having had the backing of the likes of Robbie Fowler too, it’s hard to not consider him the people’s and the legends’ choice.

In many ways, it’d be hard to argue either, as he has demonstrated many times over the years that he has the qualities to lead, not least of all because he is currently the Denmark captain.

Not only that but Agger is a fine, fine footballer, which is a huge bonus for a captain (or vice), particularly one which plays as a centre-back.

One the downside for Agger, he does still have tendency to get caught out from time-to-time and his positional awareness is still not up to the same standards as a Carragher or Hyypia. But at the young age of 28 (he’s still got a good 6-8 years left at that age, for a defender) that isn’t such a huge worry and this could be the season when Agger truly comes into his own, particularly as he’ll be the most senior defender at the club.

As for Reina, he would have been my first choice for vice captain as he has shown himself to be a captain in a greater sense of the word for years. Reina is a great man and a huge personality, not only a great goalkeeper and top footballer. He combines all the aspects of a ‘club captain’ that you would expect and want.

Whilst Steven Gerrard is a leader from the front on the pitch, he has always been quite introverted off it. Which is no bad thing, as his ability speaks for itself. But like Jamie Carragher, Reina is able to represent the club and present himself as a leader at every level.

Coupled with great experience and ability and a mouth so big he can be heard at the other end of the pitch, Reina is a strong candidate for vice captain.

Then there is Luis Suarez. The fact that England, the press and the fans of our two biggest rivals hate the Uruguayan so much would be enough of a reason to elevate his status at the club.

But we’re surely not that petty and vindictive? Well then, those reasons aside, we’re blessed to have a player of Suarez’s ability to support every week and it is rare to find a player of such quality, with great leadership qualities.

Like the previous vice captain, Suarez is a ball-buster; constantly berating his team-mates, whether they’re 5 years older or are making their début – he doesn’t let up

And like other Liverpool stalwarts, Agger and Carragher, he is always first to the referee to protest injustices (although these are primarily against himself!) and fight for his side. Any player that gives 150% every week, like Suarez, whether playing a friendly or an international cup final has the make-up and cojones to be a captain or vice-captain.

All three of those mentioned have what it takes and fully deserve the chance, should it be offered and I don’t think many fans would argue if any of them were presented with such an opportunity.

The only negative against any of these players would be Suarez and his…shall we say, ‘engineering’ of a move away to Real Madrid. If he does indeed end up spending another season with the club, I think much more of his behaviour in the press would leave a sour taste in many mouths should he be promoted to vice captain.

Then again, on the other hand, promoting him might make leaving even harder to do. Suarez is a very emotional and passionate character and the gesture alone may inspire him to stay on and lead the club.

On the other hand both Reina and Agger have shown great loyalty to the club in the past few years, when many of us would’ve found it hard to argue if they’d chosen to leave for more successes.

While it would be a tough choice, I think that at present Reina would be my preference. At his age it is the right time to promote Reina to vice captain. The Spanish stopper has never agitated for a move and has never seemed like he wanted to go but we can only hold onto such a top player for so long in the face of the mediocrity we’ve suffered over the years and the gesture, as with Suarez, would mean a lot to him I’m sure.

Not only that but after last season, with only Bran Jones for competition, he really needs something to inspire him to push on and return to the form that made him the best in the country, even Europe and while I don’t believe that signing Simon Mignolet is it, I think becoming Steven Gerrard’s understudy could be that.

I would not argue for a second if Dan Agger was offered this privilege but Reina is the choice for me.

Who would you choose to become the clubs’ new vice-captain this coming season?

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