Liverpool transfer window 2015: now Rodgers must deliver results

Liverpool transfer news: striker Benteke wants Anfield trophies

23 July

Liverpool have wrapped up the signing of striker Christian Benteke from Aston Villa after meeting his release clause of £32.5m.

"I'm very happy to be here and I would like to thank the owners, Ian [Ayre] and of course the manager for their massive effort to bring me here." Benteke told the club's official website. "When I came here with Aston Villa [it was] a great feeling to play at Anfield. Now, to be in the home shirt is going to be an exciting feeling."

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The 24-year-old is the Reds' seventh signing of the summer and, says Sky Sports, is the club's second most expensive purchase ever behind the £35m they paid for Andy Carroll. According to Sky Sports Benteke - who scored 49 goals in 101 game for Villa - has penned "a long-term contract", and will probably make his debut for the Anfield outfit in a pre-season friendly against HJK Helsinki in Finland on 1 August.

The Carroll question is a concern for some, but the Daily Telegraph insists that although Benteke is burly and expensive he is "more technically proficient than Carroll... [and] has a track record of scoring regularly in the Premier League rather than the Championship."

And Benteke had this message for Liverpool fans: "I came here to win trophies. I came here to reach some great goals with the team."

Liverpool transfer news: deal for Benteke 'a formality'

17 July

Liverpool have offered £32.5m for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, triggering the release clause in his contract and the Belgian forward is expected to head for Anfield soon.

Reds chairman Ian Ayre formally submitted the bid from the club's tour in Australia days after Raheem Sterling was sold to Manchester City for £49m. The deal will take Liverpool's summer spending past £80m.

Benteke is keen to join Liverpool, reports the BBC. "It is understood personal terms between Benteke and Liverpool are a formality, although the Anfield club do not yet have permission to do the medical."

Villa wanted to keep hold of the 24-year-old striker, but have to let him go now that Liverpool have met the release clause.

The Reds struggled in front of goal last season without Luis Suarez. Daniel Sturridge was injured for much of the season, while Mario Balotelli proved a flop in front of goal.

With Sturridge ruled out until September with an ongoing hip problem, stand-in striker Sterling now departed and few other options available Brendan Rodgers was desperate to bolster a new look attack alongside new arrivals Danny Ings and Roberto Firmino.

Liverpool transfer news: Mario Gomez in Balotelli swap deal?

15 July

Fiorentina director general Andrea Rogg has confirmed that the Italian club has received several offers for striker Mario Gomez in recent weeks and Liverpool are thought to be among his suitors.

According to the Daily Express Liverpool are keen on the 30-year-old hitman now that they've sold Raheem Sterling to Manchester City. With the Reds wealthier to the tune of an estimated £49m, money is no object to Liverpool although the Express claims manager Brendan Rodgers wants a "straight swap deal with Mario Balotelli".

The Italian frontman has failed to fire since arriving at Anfield 12 months ago for £16m and Liverpool are desperate to move him on. A swap with Fiorentina would be the ideal scenario but apparently Turkish outfit Besiktas are "also lining up a move" for Gomez with reports in Italy suggesting they're poised to table a £5.6m bid for the German.

"We received more than one offer for Gomez and we're evaluating them with the player," said Rogg. And asked about the possibility of a swap deal with Balotelli, he replied: "Mario has a certain price-tag that is tied to his career, so we must find the right balance. If not, it means we'll have a champion in our squad who we will continue to work with."

Liverpool transfer news: Reds wait on Sterling, McAllister to join

9 July

Liverpool have held talks with former player Gary McAllister about the vacant first team coach role.

It is a story carried by most of the papers and The Daily Telegraph says the Reds want him to develop the next crop of youngsters at the club.

The paper says McAllister left a strong legacy during his first spell at Anfield, where he had two impressive seasons as a player and won five trophies under Gerard Houllier, and helped nurture the young Steven Gerrard.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is keen on bringing in a former player to help instill the values of the club.

Rodgers has overseen a major reshuffle of his backroom staff after the disappointments of last season. Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh have left the club, while Sean O'Driscoll and Pep Ljnders have come in. McAllister, 50, is a former manager at Leeds and Coventry.

Liverpool are waiting to see if Manchester City come in with a third bid for wantaway winger Raheem Sterling.

Sterling has refused to go on the pre-season tour to Australia and the Far East and yesterday failed to attend training because he was ill.

The Daily Express says City are adamant they will not match Liverpool's £50m valuation for the England man having had two bids rejected. The second offer is said to be worth up to £40m and Sterling will hope a move can be finalised before Liverpool leave for the tour this weekend so that he does not have to travel.

Liverpool transfer news: rebel Sterling refuses to go on tour

08 July

Raheem Sterling has refused to go on Liverpool's pre-season tour, and his latest act of rebellion could be the last straw for the Reds as Manchester City launch a third bid for the 20-year-old, according to The Sun.

Sterling has been agitating for a move away from Anfield since the end of last season and the player's latest tantrum will trigger a £50m bid for the petulant winger from Man City, even though he only managed a paltry seven league goals last season (one more than Jordan Henderson) despite spending most of the campaign playing up front.

The Sun says Sterling has had showdown talks with boss Brendan Rodgers in the last 48 hours and made it clear he does not want to be part of the tour to Australia and Asia which starts this weekend.

The England man did at least show up for pre-season training this week but apparently that is not enough for Liverpool, who have made it clear they expect him to be on the plane with the rest of the squad.

Sterling has been booed by Liverpool and England fans since going public about his desire to leave Anfield.

City, who have yet to make a big money signing this summer despite being linked with a host of star names, are now free to splash the cash again after having Financial Fair Play restrictions relaxed.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds to land Benteke 'this week'

6 July

Liverpool are closing in on striker Christian Benteke although Aston Villa are refusing to budge on his £32.5m fee.

As Brendan Rodgers throws around the money for the second summer in a row, the Daily Express reports that Liverpool are prepared to meet Benteke's buyout clause in a deal that will take their spending past the £80m mark.

Rodgers has already signed six players since the end of last season and seems determined to land the hitman from Belgium, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Tottenham. He is expected to make the move to Anfield "this week".

The Express also claims that former Liverpool fullback Glen Johnson is in talks with West Ham about a return to Upton Park after being released by the club.

There are more comings and goings at Anfield this week, with Sean O'Driscoll, the former England under-19s manager, set to be unveiled as Rodgers' new assistant today. At the other end of the age spectrum Metro reports that Liverpool have lured Arsenal starlet Elijah Dixon-Bonner to Merseyside.

The 16-year-old impressed for the Gunners youth team last season and was offered scholarship terms to remain with the club, reports Metro. "But the exciting midfielder confirmed on Instagram he turned down that offer and has now signed for Liverpool instead."

Liverpool transfer news: moves for Benteke and Abdennour

1 July

It's a day that ranks up there with Christmas, birthdays and deadline day in terms of unbridled delight and excitement - the summer transfer window has officially opened and Liverpool could be the first to leap through it.

After securing the services of Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne earlier this week, according to the Daily Star at least, the Reds are now pursuing Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.

The big striker had been linked with a move to Spurs, but the Daily Telegraph cites reports that Benteke is "not keen" on a move to White Hart Lane - news that has given Liverpool a "massive boost" as they aim to bolster their attack for next season. The 24-year-old Belgian will not come cheap however, Villa are demanding £32.5m for his services.

There could also be reinforcements at the back says Metro. It claims the Reds "have been cleared to sign Aymen Abdennour" after his agent confirmed he wants to leave Monaco. The 25-year-old defender, who came to Premier League prominence last season as he helped his side knock Arsenal out of the Champions League, is contracted to the French Ligue 1 side until 2019 but Metro says "it looks increasingly likely" that Abdennour will be moving on from Monaco in the coming weeks.

It's reported that the Reds are "in talks" with the strapping defender although agent Abdelkader Jilani had this to say to Italian media outlet Calciomercato: "Abdennour wants to play in the Premier League or La Liga, not in Italy." The Tunisian international was at one stage linked to Upton Park but Jilani declared: "The path leading to West Ham is closed."