After inclusion of a few players up front, it seems Brendan Rodgers is looking to settle down things in defense, especially in the left back position. After Jose Enrique’s not-so-thrilling performance combined with an injury plagued season, the Liverpool manager has shown a penchant for a new left-back this summer.
After failing in his attempt to lure Ashley Cole’s understudy Ryan Bertrand from Chelsea, recent reports suggest that Rodgers’ has an eye on the 29-year old Tottenham’s left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto. The fact that would make this deal easier for the Kop boss is that Ekotto has no sentiments attached to his current North London club. He considers playing for Tottenham as a part of earning his bread and butter and he won’t turn down a chance that will alleviate his business.
Rodgers is building his team keeping a vision in his mind and this is the reason he is going for comparatively young but promising players who are in their early 20’s. Whereas this Cameroonian is 29-years old and you can be certain of the fact that he won’t show his skills in Anfield on a long tenure.
“There are obviously certain areas of the squad where we’re a bit thinner than others,” Rodgers said. We probably need a bit more support – that extra bit of quality – at the top end of the field and that’s something we’ll look out for.
“That’ll be mixed with needing cover in the left-back position – that’s something we’re looking at. It’s not really about numbers, it’s about quality. If we can do that over the next number of weeks we’ll be happy.”
That said, Express reports that Valencia left back and an alleged Sunderland target, Aly Cissokho is set to sign for Liverpool. The French International if reports are to believed will move to the Premier League club on a season-long loan from Valencia for a fee in the region on £900k and an option to buy him for £3.5m at the end of the season.
Aly Cissokho came to lime light while at Lyon before moving to Valencia for a £6m deal but failed to revive his form the French League.
Whereas Reds fans will keep a track of this deal, they would also be aware of the fact that Fabio Borini is being targeted by a host of clubs from his homeland Italy. The 22-year old striker kept his feet at Merseyside just a year ago, but a succession of injuries stalled his Anfield career and he only managed to score twice in his 20 appearances.
Albeit, if Suarez does leave the Reds, Borini could add value to the team whatever his role may be. Italian side Lazio are ready to spend around £10.3m for the forward, according to Lazio’s sporting director Igli Tare.
But much to the fans delight, Borini’s agent, Marco De Marchi confirmed that in spite of so many clubs proposals, Borini will wear Reds jersey this year too.
“I can confirm that Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has always been a fan of Fabio, but I have not had any contact with Lazio,” he told Radio See. What I can assure you is that Borini is concentrating on doing well for Liverpool to beat the competition for places in attack.
“At this moment in time he only has Liverpool in his mind. We are talking about one of the greatest clubs in the world.”