Liverpool transfer window 2015: now Rodgers must deliver results

Liverpool transfers: Bacca and Benteke to follow Firmino?

26 June

Liverpool have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of attacking reinforcements this summer, as The Guardian reports that the agent of Sevilla's Carlos Bacca confirmed that the prolific striker is interested in a move to Anfield.

The agent revealed that there was a list of three things they are looking for in a club. The first is the happiness of his family while "the second is to find a good team with a good project" revealed Sergio Barila. "Before he went to Chile, we wrote down a list of clubs that fit that description and Liverpool was on that list." It will come as no surprise that the third thing on the list is the player's salary.

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Sevilla's sporting director has admitted that the Reds have been in touch over a move for the 28-year-old Colombian, who scored 28 goals last season, including a brace in the club's Europa League Final triumph, but said that no club has yet made a firm offer.

The Reds are seemingly spoilt for choice in their hunt for firepower, with the Daily Mirror claiming that the club are preparing to launch a fresh £25m bid for Aston Villa hitman Christian Benteke, after their initial £22m approach was snubbed by the midlands club.

Brendan Rodgers appears to have a sizeable war chest at his disposal, with the club already having secured the £29m signing of Roberto Firmino, and having reportedly agreed a £12.5m fee for Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne, but Villa want to stretch the Reds' wallet open even further as they hold out for the full £32.5m stipulated in the 24-year-old Belgian's release clause.

Benteke is currently still on his summer break, but the paper says that he is expected to return next week and will confirm his desire to leave the club for bigger and better things after last season's relegation battle.

Liverpool transfer news: £29m for Firmino and more to come

24 June

Liverpool's summer rebuilding has continued with the signing of Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino, subject to a medical. The 23-year-old has agreed to join the Reds from Hoffenheim on a five-year deal for a fee of about £29m, reports the BBC.

Firmino has agreed personal terms and will become Liverpool's second most expensive signing after flop Andy Carroll, who moved to Anfield from Newcastle in 2011 for £35m and proceeded to do very little.

He is described by the Daily Telegraph as "one of the most dangerous attacking players in the German league" who would make an ideal replacement for wantaway winger Raheem Sterling.

"He is not yet a household name in England," says the paper, but if the Reds do offload Sterling for their asking price of £50m, Firmino "could be a fantastic replacement" and Liverpool would still have £20m in their pocket.

He might have Firmino on board but Sky Sports says manager Brendan Rodgers wants to bring in more strikers and he's noted that 28-year-old Colombian forward Carlos Bacca "wants to leave Sevilla". And there is more as the Reds also have eyes for Salomon Rondon, currently on the books of Zenit St Petersburg. He is highly rated and his 20 goals helped Zenit win the Russian title last season. The 25-year-old Venezuelan frontman would cost £15m and Rodgers thinks he has great potential.

Meanwhile Talksport reports that Monaco centre-back Aymen Abdennour "is in talks with Liverpool" and will not be prevented from leaving the French club. The 25-year-old Tunisia international has been linked with many clubs after a stellar season and his agent, Abdelkader Jilani, has said Abdennour will be allowed to leave Monaco this summer. "There are clubs who have approached us and who will enter into contact with Monaco," Jilani told Foot Mercato. "There's AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Liverpool."

Liverpool transfer news: £16m for Illarramendi, Firmino to sign

23 June

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is said to be closing in on Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi. The news comes from Spanish newspaper Marca, which claims that the Reds have made an offer of £16m for the Spain Under-23 star.

Illarramendi has struggled to fit in at the Bernabeu, following his big-money move from Real Sociedad in 2013 and it's believed new Real boss Rafa Benitez is prepared to sell him on to his old club. The 25-year-old has been on Liverpool's radar for some time and Talksport claims that Liverpool have already had "an £11m offer rejected" but that has only strengthened Rodgers's determination to land Illarramendi.

Meanwhile the Daily Express reports that the Reds are "close to striking a deal for Roberto Firmino". Taking its cue from Brazil's Globoesporte, the paper says that Rodgers is "on the brink of sealing an £17.8m deal" for the Brazilian frontman. That would see the forward, currently on duty at the Copa America, move from Hoffenheim to Anfield on a five-year contract, and it would also be a victory for Liverpool over Manchester United who have also been tailing the 23-year-old in recent weeks.

Liverpool transfer news: Clyne inches closer to Anfield move

19 June

While the Raheem Sterling saga rumbles on like summer thunder, Talksport reports that Liverpool "remain interested" in signing Nathaniel Clyne.

The Reds were first linked to the Southampton defender earlier in the year but were apparently unsuccessful on that occasion. But Talksport claims that Liverpool are "prepared to be patient in their pursuit" of the 24-year-old in the knowledge that the Saints have valued Clyne at £15m.

It's believed Liverpool offered £10m with their opening bid but such is Brendan Rodgers desire to land the defender that he's expected to up his offer to secure Clyne's signature in the coming weeks.

The Reds chances of landing the defender may also have been given a boost by the news that the Saints have signed Portuguese full back Cedric Soares. The 23-year-old has joined from Sporting Lisbon and his arrival could "spell the end of the line for Nathaniel Clyne", says the Daily Express. It says that Clyne is expected to join Liverpool or Manchester United.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds close in on Tevez and Gomez

17 June

Liverpool have been given what the Daily Express describes as a "boost" in their pursuit of Carlos Tevez.

Reports emerged last week linking the stroppy Argentine striker with a move away from Juventus, although the likeliest destination seemed to be a return home to Boca Juniors. But the Express says that Boca are on the verge of pulling out of the deal because of Tevez's "high wage demands".

The 31-year-old frontman is expecting similar wages to those he received in Turin, and that's on top of Juventus's £10m asking price. "It's all to play for," admitted his agent, Adrian Ruocco in conversation with Tuttomercatoweb. "Especially as we don't know if Boca Juniors are even capable of paying his wages."

The Express adds that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is "keen" on a deal and could be given the funds by the club's board.

At the other end of the age scale, the Liverpool Echo says that the Reds are "closing in on the signing" of Charlton youngster Joe Gomez. A deal could be agreed as early next week after the Anfield club beat off competition for the 18-year-old from Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund. The Echo says that a fee for the England Under-19 defender is "yet to be agreed with Charlton", but it's expected Liverpool will accept the London club's asking price of £6m for the highly-rated teenager.