Liverpool transfer window 2015: now Rodgers must deliver results

With Brendan Rodgers given a more influential role in transfer dealing this summer, Liverpool were far more efficient and focused than last year. Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling departed but there is evidence of a well-considered rebuilding project at Anfield, rather than a mad trolley dash.

Rodgers oversaw a far more "decisive and coherent window", says The Guardian, although "doubts remain over the quality" of some of the new signings adds the paper. However, most weaknesses were addressed, with the exception of central defence.

One thing is clear as far as Rodgers is concerned, says the Daily Telegraph: "The excuses are over. Time will tell on the quality of the signings, but the manager has nowhere to hide if this season is poor."

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Players in: Roberto Firmino (Hoffenheim), James Milner (Man City), Danny Ings (Burnley), Adam Bogdan (Bolton), Joe Gomez (Charlton), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Christian Benteke (Aston Villa).

Plyers out: Steven Gerrard (LA Galaxy), Sebastian Coates (Sunderland), Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid), Glen Johnson (Stoke), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Rickie Lambert (West Brom), Lazar Markovic (Fenerbahce, loan), Mario Balotelli (AC Milan, loan), Fabio Borini (Sunderland).

Liverpool transfer news: deal for Yarmolenko on deadline day?

1 September

After offloading striker Fabio Borini to Sunderland and loaning winger Lazar Markovic to Fenerbahce over the weekend Liverpool are set to get rid of another player deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield on deadline day, as full back Luis Enrique closes in on a move to West Brom.

The Spanish defender is in the final year of his Reds contract and will move to the Hawthorns for what the Liverpool Echo calls a "nominal fee". The paper adds: "Liverpool have been desperate to get the 29-year-old's £65,000 per week salary off the wage bill having informed him that he had no future at the club."

Having fallen behind Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno in the Anfield pecking order Enrique "appears to have accepted that he needs to leave in order to kick-start his flagging career".

Enrique's departure appears to undermine reports that Real Madrid were closing in on Moreno. Over the weekend Metro, citing Italian website Tuttomercatoweb, claimed that a move was on the cards and that Moreno was "close to securing a return to his native Spain".

Could Brendan Rodgers spring one more surprise before the window shuts? Despite now having five strikers in his squad, the Daily Express is convinced that the Liverpool manager is weighing up a shock move for Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko.

The 25-year-old has attracted interest from Everton, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund during the transfer window but now Liverpool are keen. "Brendan Rodgers has a strong interest in the Dynamo Kiev winger and is willing to pay his £14.5m [buy-out] clause," says the Express.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds pay Balotelli to join AC Milan

25 August

So, farewell then Mario Balotelli. Liverpool are to offload the controversial Italian striker back to his former club AC Milan after a second stint in the Premier League that was nothing short of a disaster for both club and player.

There were doubts over the signing of Balotelli for £16m from the very outset, and it was soon clear that the Italian did not feature prominently in Brendan Rodgers's plans. He did his cause no favours by failing to impress when he did get the chances, and he ended the season with just four goals in 28 appearances and one solitary strike in the Premier League.

Surplus to requirements at Liverpool, Balotelli has opted to head home to AC Milan for the rest of the season in an effort to stop his career from unravelling. He is even taking pay cut and sacrificing some of his £90,000-a-week salary to escape Anfield, reports the Liverpool Echo, which adds that Liverpool will still pay some of his wages.

"An agreement between the clubs close to being confirmed," says the paper. "Under the terms of the deal, there will be no commitment on Milan's part to make the transfer permanent next summer as it's strictly a loan."

The player has returned to Italy and was today undergoing a medical at his former club, which has done well out of the deal.

Liverpool transfer news: Bayer Leverkusen after £7m Sakho

20 August

Mamadou Sakho's days at Anfield appear to be numbered with Talksport claiming that the Liverpool defender is being eyed up by Bayer Leverkusen.

The German outfit are reportedly poised to stump up £7m for the services of the 25-year-old, who arrived in Merseyside from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 for £18m but has failed to earn a regular place in Liverpool's starting line up and has only made 34 league appearances in two seasons.

Earlier in the summer Roma were said to be circling the Frenchman, who is desperate for regular game time in order to make next year's European Championships in his native land. But that move fell through leaving Sakho to look elsewhere, and according to Talksport Leverkusen have come calling "and are ready to pay" as much as £7m before the transfer window closes.

But according to ESPN, the Reds "are not interested" in selling the centre-back with sources telling the broadcaster that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers regards Sakho as an important part of his squad for the coming season.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds to sign Barcelona winger Traore

07 August

Liverpool are winning the race to sign Adama Traore from Barcelona. The 19-year-old winger was reportedly mulling over an offer from Stoke earlier in the week, while also considering interest from Aston Villa, but according to Metro he's now "ready to sign for Liverpool".

The talented teenager has been given permission to leave Barcelona by coach Luis Enrique and that's alerted a number of clubs who've been told Traore comes with a £4.2m price tag.

Meanwhile Talksport reports that the Reds "are demanding an improved bid from Fiorentina" if the Serie A club are serious about signing striker Fabio Borini. The 24-year-old hasn't been a success at Anfield and is allegedly desperate to leave Liverpool. The Italy international has "been the subject of a £5.5m offer" from Fiorentina (still on a high after beating Chelsea on Wednesday night) but Liverpool have said they'll only accept £8m for the Italian, who has two years left on his contract.

According to Talksport Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa is eager to conclude the deal before the start of the new season and will discuss the situation with Borini's representatives over the weekend.

Liverpool transfer news: £7m for unwanted striker Balotelli

31 July

Liverpool travel to Helsinki today for a pre-season warm-up game but Finnish football fans hoping for a glimpse of Mario Balotelli will be disappointed. The Italian striker has been left out of the squad to face HJK Helsinki on Saturday and according to The Sun the snub means his "Liverpool career is effectively over".

The 24-year-old Balotelli, who arrived at Anfield 12 months ago in a £16m deal from AC Milan, has never impressed manager Brendan Rodgers, and the Sun says that after missing the tour of the Far East and Australia he no longer fits into the Reds' plans.

Balotelli, along with Fabio Borini and Jose Enrique, "have been told they can go" and as far as the frontman goes Bologna, Sampdoria and Lazio are all interested. And so desperate are Liverpool to get shot of Balotelli they will listen to offers as low as £7m.