Liverpool have already begun to prepare for life after Steven Gerrard, by making moves for THREE players over the weekend.
Despite that reminder that life goes on without him though, the Reds' skipper has been told he WILL be offered a role back at the club when he finally hangs up his boots following his Indian Summer in Major League Soccer.
Manager Rodgers won’t sit still in the meantime, as he attempts to bring in the players he feels will help steer Liverpool into the top four and claim the Champions’ League place required to attract a world class successor to the captain.
The Reds have been in talks with French club Lille for more than a month now, over a settlement to end Divock Origi’s loan agreement early, and allow him to arrive at Anfield in January rather than next summer.
And we can reveal a deal has been struck in principle, with Lille ready to accept £3m to allow the Belgium international...but ONLY IF they can sign a replacement in the current transfer window.
Rodgers is keen to bring in another striker, but with Raheem Sterling showing impressive form in a new central role and Daniel Sturridge due back from long-term injury this month, the pressure is off to bring in a tried and tested scorer, and instead he can use Origi as a high quality back-up as he learns the Premier League ropes.
Liverpool have also made a firm approach for Bayern Munich’s World Cup star Xherdan Shaqiri, with the English club committing to a fee of around £10m with the German champions.
The Swiss international can play in most of the midfield and forward roles, and Rodgers would dearly love to bring him to Anfield after being rebuffed last summer.
He faces stiff competition from Inter Milan and Juventus, but despite reports suggesting the diminutive Shaqiri wants to move to Italy, sources close to the player have revealed he will consider the Reds’ offer seriously, with Bayern keen to complete a permanent deal, rather than the loan agreement Inter prefer.
The third plank in Rodgers’ triple assault on the transfer market is a move for a keeper to challenge Simon Mignolet.
After scouting Brazilian star Neto for the past 12 months, he has made an approach for a fee of around £3m.
Neto has told his Italian club Fiorentina he will not sign a new contract, and with his current deal running out in the summer, that has left them with no option but to try and secure a fee now, and the Reds are in pole position.
Rodgers hasn’t quite given up hope on a loan deal that will bring Chelsea’s Petr Cech to Anfield, but realistically he has pursued the Neto option, to provide a high quality challenge to the struggling Mignolet.
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