Brendan Rodgers thinks the solution to his goalkeeping problems could be a fellow Irishman.
Everyone knows Liverpool are in the hunt for a new goalkeeper. It’s as obvious as that two-stone you’ve put on over Christmas from devouring tin after tin of Quality Street. Well it seems that Anfield could be about welcome a Republic of Ireland international to the fold according to today’s Sheffield Star.
Keiren Westwood, who’s been frozen out of the Republic of Ireland squad due to presence of David Forde and the return of Shay Given, has been linked with a bit of a surprise move to Anfield this month.
The 30-year-old has said he’s happy at the Championship club and wouldn’t be tempted by a move to try and unseat Simon Mignolet. It says a lot about Liverpool’s current standing that someone would rather stay at Sheffield Wednesday than move to Anfield.
Staying on the goalkeeper theme and it seems that Tottenham could be about to cash-in on one of their prize assets.
Hugo Lloris is one of the club’s top performers but the bean-counters at White Hart Lane think that at £25 million an offer for the France international would be too good to turn down.
According to The Sun Lloris is wanted by a number of clubs across Europe and will be allowed to leave even if the Londoners qualify for the Champions League.
At the other end of the field it seems there’s a tug of love/money between Lille and Liverpool over the status of striker Divock Origi.
There are mixed reports today of whether the Reds’ are considering bringing back their own striker to the club after a six month loan spell with Lille or are happy enough to leave him in France until the summer.
The Liverpool Echo reports that Brendan Rodgers wants him in January but there are contrasting reports this morning the club are willing to meet an extra fee of £3 million after spending £10 million on him last summer
If he does arrive his recent barren spell of no goals since October should make him fit right in at Melwood.
It might not be such a happy new year at Chelsea and Manchester United as both clubs could be priced out of a deal for Raphael Varane.
According to the Daily Express greedy-guts Real Madrid want £20 million for the centre-half but both Premier League clubs have baulked at the figure. He might be good but Jose and LVG don’t think he’s that good.
The France international is struggling to get a regular spot under Carlo Ancelotti and his price may become more tempting in the summer, especially to Chelsea who will have to start thinking of a future without John Terry shortly.
Yaya Toure is off to the Africa Cup of Nations and Manchester City are looking to provide some cover for the Ivory Coast international by signing a World Cup wining midfielder. As you do, just for cover like.
Schalke’s Julien Draxler has endured an injury plagued season since the summer but the 21-year-old is a a class act and according to today’s Daily Star fancies a switch to England.
Arsenal were believed to be the front-runners for the midfielder but with Arsene Wenger unlikely to spend big in January on a midfielder rather than a striker or defender, City could be about to swoop with either a loan deal or else a permanent deal worth about £25 million.
