Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers convinced he's close to solving their top-four puzzle
11 Jun 2013 22:31
Reds have improved squad's depth and, with more signings to come, boss predicts "we won't be too far away" from Champions League
Aiming high: Rodgers feels Liverpool will be back in the Champions League argument
The Reds' boss has quietly performed a major overhaul of the Anfield squad since arriving a year ago, dramatically reducing the wage bill by axing some of the overpaid dead wood he inherited, while discovering exciting new talent such as Philippe Coutinho.
And that process has continued this summer, with Rodgers slipping under the radar to already land little-known Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas - who will complete a £7million move this week - while lining up another young Spaniard in Luis Alberto.
Sevilla winger Alberto, 20, is likely to be next through Anfield's front door.
Rodgers knew his first season as Kop boss would be a struggle given the lack of depth in his squad, but with more young stars, such as Armenian hot-shot Henrikh Mkhitaryan and highly-rated Greece centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos also lined up, the Liverpool manager is far more confident of reaching his top four target.
And Rodgers revealed his sights are set far higher than the disappointing seventh placed finish of last season, insisting he is desperate for the pressure of competing for the top four.
"I'm not here to be comfortable, to sit and earn the money and just enjoy being Liverpool manager," he explained.
"There's a pressure that comes with it and I believe we're in a much better place to challenge now. I think we can do it - I believe we have built a real good base this year.
"Of course, it will be a tough ask because, as we improve, other clubs will have masses more money to do so as well. But it's not my job to look for excuses, I have to find the solutions to try to push us in there - and I believe we won't be too far away."
What that means is finding players of talent such as Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, who performed brilliantly in the second half of the season after arriving from Inter Milan and Chelsea in January, and proved real bargains in the transfer market.
Aspas in largely unknown outside Spain, but made an impact on La Liga last season with 15 goals, while Alberto impressed on loan at Barcelona's B side, and shows huge promise at a tender age.
Mkhitaryan, despite playing for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, appeared on the radar of Europe's top clubs, but Rodgers has stolen a march by committing more than £20m to capturing a player who scored 25 goals from midfield last season, and interested the likes of Juventus and Chelsea.
With Kolo Toure already lined up on a free to add experience to the back line following Jamie Carragher's retirement, the widely admired Papadopoulos set to join from German side Schalke for a fee of around £12m and Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori a target, Rodgers believes he is starting to strengthen a squad that had lacked depth because of cost-cutting measures that trimmed more than £25m a year off the wage-bill.
"What we showed last season was promise. There were moments of disappointment and moments of delight, but when I look at the reality of it we scored 47 goals the year before and this time got 71 - and we hope to add to that amount," he explained.
"Defensively, for a team that was supposed to be very strong a year earlier, we only conceded three more goals.
"So in terms of numbers and performance wise we improved. Now I believe we will improve again - and we have to because we want to sustain a challenge and aim higher every season."
Rodgers knows next season, at least, he won't have to rely on youthful rookies at the start of the campaign has he was forced to do last year when he drafted in the likes of Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom.
That lack of depth cost Liverpool dearly with their top four challenge over before Christmas.
But they reinforced significantly at the turn of the year, and the second half of their campaign delivered a top four performance.
The big problem he faces, of course, is the likely departure of Luis Suarez, with the unsettled striker reiterating again on Tuesday his desire to join Real Madrid.
Walk on... Liverpool will buy a striker if Suarez, as expected, leaves
Suarez claims to be hounded in England for his past misdemeanours and has been brazen in his desire to join Real.
But if that deal goes through as expected, Rodgers will simply look towards a replacement who can inject goals into the team, with the likes of Aston Villa's Christian Benteke and Real striker Karim Benzema on his list.
Goalkeeper is also an issue with Sunderland's Simon Mignolet and Michel Vorm, who played for Rodgers at Swansea, being mentioned as targets amid ongoing talk of Pepe Reina's departure.
And he explained he will continue to quietly work towards a squad that can challenge for a Champions League place.
"We need one/two centre-halves, and I'm looking to bring 20 more goals into the team - so I'm also looking at an offensive player to give us a real threat on goal and another attacking midfield player," he added.
"We definitely need to do that, especially if we're going to put some young ones out on loan to gain experience.
"It's not easy when you can't make mistakes, but we want to keep the acceleration and pushing on so this is a very important window for us."
Liverpool's possible new pieces
Iago Aspas This 25-year-old's style is not dissimilar to Suarez's - a creative forward who produces chances for others as well as taking them himself. Aspas will complete a £7million move this week. Came through the ranks at Celta Vigo, and played just one season in La Liga following promotion in 2012.
Luis Alberto An exciting young winger whose promise persuaded Barcelona to take him on loan last season from Sevilla and groom him in their B team. Rodgers has stolen a march and hopes to complete a deal worth around £5m for the 20-year-old. Plays behind a striker or on the left of a forward three, which suits Liverpool's system perfectly.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan Attacking midfielder with a real eye for goal. He scored 25 times last season, and came onto the radar of clubs such as Barcelona, Juventus and Chelsea as well as Liverpool. It will take a big fee to land the Armenian, but many judges rate the 24-year-old the most exciting player at his position in Europe.
Kyriakos Papadopoulos Described as "verruckt" - crazy - by his own Schalke fans in Germany, the 21-year-old Greece international central defender has a bull-like physique and a mentality to match. At 15, he became the youngest player to appear in the Greek super-league. His reputation is growing, and he will cost in the region of £12million.
Taigo Ilori Born in London but a Portuguese U20 international. Liverpool have had a £3million offer for the Sporting Lisbon central defender turned down, but will maintain their pursuit as they look for cover in defence.
Christian Benteke Needs no introduction to Premier League observers. The Aston Villa striker is on the radar as a possible goalscoring replacement should Luis Suarez leave. Other alternatives include Real Madrid's France international striker Karim Benzema.
Kolo Toure On the surface, an odd one - given his age and Liverpool’s emphasis on youth. But he was out of contract at Manchester City, was prepared to cut his wages by two thirds, and has the vast experience of winning titles with both Arsenal and City. A sensible replacement for the departed Jamie Carragher. Will be called on to add depth.
Simon Mignolet Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League following a fine season with Sunderland. The unsettled Belgium international should arrive for around £7million - even if Pepe Reina isn’t signed by Barcelona - to add competition at a troublesome position.
Michel Vorm The Mignolet deal could depend on how Sunderland boss Paolo di Canio reacts to the prospect of losing him, so Rodgers also has his former Swansea keeper Michel Vorm on the radar as a similarly priced alternative. Asmir Begovic is third choice, given Stoke’s high asking price.
Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpools-brendan-rodgers-top-four-hopes-1946482#ixzz2VwtUtuB1
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11 Jun 2013 22:31
Reds have improved squad's depth and, with more signings to come, boss predicts "we won't be too far away" from Champions League
Bullish Brendan Rodgers believes he is finally piecing together the transfer puzzle that will launch Liverpool's top-four assault. The Reds' boss has quietly performed a major overhaul of the Anfield squad since arriving a year ago, dramatically reducing the wage bill by axing some of the overpaid dead wood he inherited, while discovering exciting new talent such as Philippe Coutinho.
And that process has continued this summer, with Rodgers slipping under the radar to already land little-known Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas - who will complete a £7million move this week - while lining up another young Spaniard in Luis Alberto.
Sevilla winger Alberto, 20, is likely to be next through Anfield's front door.
Rodgers knew his first season as Kop boss would be a struggle given the lack of depth in his squad, but with more young stars, such as Armenian hot-shot Henrikh Mkhitaryan and highly-rated Greece centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos also lined up, the Liverpool manager is far more confident of reaching his top four target.
And Rodgers revealed his sights are set far higher than the disappointing seventh placed finish of last season, insisting he is desperate for the pressure of competing for the top four.
"I'm not here to be comfortable, to sit and earn the money and just enjoy being Liverpool manager," he explained.
"There's a pressure that comes with it and I believe we're in a much better place to challenge now. I think we can do it - I believe we have built a real good base this year.
"Of course, it will be a tough ask because, as we improve, other clubs will have masses more money to do so as well. But it's not my job to look for excuses, I have to find the solutions to try to push us in there - and I believe we won't be too far away."
What that means is finding players of talent such as Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, who performed brilliantly in the second half of the season after arriving from Inter Milan and Chelsea in January, and proved real bargains in the transfer market.
Aspas in largely unknown outside Spain, but made an impact on La Liga last season with 15 goals, while Alberto impressed on loan at Barcelona's B side, and shows huge promise at a tender age.
Mkhitaryan, despite playing for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, appeared on the radar of Europe's top clubs, but Rodgers has stolen a march by committing more than £20m to capturing a player who scored 25 goals from midfield last season, and interested the likes of Juventus and Chelsea.
With Kolo Toure already lined up on a free to add experience to the back line following Jamie Carragher's retirement, the widely admired Papadopoulos set to join from German side Schalke for a fee of around £12m and Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori a target, Rodgers believes he is starting to strengthen a squad that had lacked depth because of cost-cutting measures that trimmed more than £25m a year off the wage-bill.
"What we showed last season was promise. There were moments of disappointment and moments of delight, but when I look at the reality of it we scored 47 goals the year before and this time got 71 - and we hope to add to that amount," he explained.
"Defensively, for a team that was supposed to be very strong a year earlier, we only conceded three more goals.
"So in terms of numbers and performance wise we improved. Now I believe we will improve again - and we have to because we want to sustain a challenge and aim higher every season."
Rodgers knows next season, at least, he won't have to rely on youthful rookies at the start of the campaign has he was forced to do last year when he drafted in the likes of Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom.
That lack of depth cost Liverpool dearly with their top four challenge over before Christmas.
But they reinforced significantly at the turn of the year, and the second half of their campaign delivered a top four performance.
The big problem he faces, of course, is the likely departure of Luis Suarez, with the unsettled striker reiterating again on Tuesday his desire to join Real Madrid.
Getty
Suarez claims to be hounded in England for his past misdemeanours and has been brazen in his desire to join Real.
But if that deal goes through as expected, Rodgers will simply look towards a replacement who can inject goals into the team, with the likes of Aston Villa's Christian Benteke and Real striker Karim Benzema on his list.
Goalkeeper is also an issue with Sunderland's Simon Mignolet and Michel Vorm, who played for Rodgers at Swansea, being mentioned as targets amid ongoing talk of Pepe Reina's departure.
And he explained he will continue to quietly work towards a squad that can challenge for a Champions League place.
"We need one/two centre-halves, and I'm looking to bring 20 more goals into the team - so I'm also looking at an offensive player to give us a real threat on goal and another attacking midfield player," he added.
"We definitely need to do that, especially if we're going to put some young ones out on loan to gain experience.
"It's not easy when you can't make mistakes, but we want to keep the acceleration and pushing on so this is a very important window for us."
Liverpool's possible new pieces
Iago Aspas This 25-year-old's style is not dissimilar to Suarez's - a creative forward who produces chances for others as well as taking them himself. Aspas will complete a £7million move this week. Came through the ranks at Celta Vigo, and played just one season in La Liga following promotion in 2012.
Luis Alberto An exciting young winger whose promise persuaded Barcelona to take him on loan last season from Sevilla and groom him in their B team. Rodgers has stolen a march and hopes to complete a deal worth around £5m for the 20-year-old. Plays behind a striker or on the left of a forward three, which suits Liverpool's system perfectly.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan Attacking midfielder with a real eye for goal. He scored 25 times last season, and came onto the radar of clubs such as Barcelona, Juventus and Chelsea as well as Liverpool. It will take a big fee to land the Armenian, but many judges rate the 24-year-old the most exciting player at his position in Europe.
Kyriakos Papadopoulos Described as "verruckt" - crazy - by his own Schalke fans in Germany, the 21-year-old Greece international central defender has a bull-like physique and a mentality to match. At 15, he became the youngest player to appear in the Greek super-league. His reputation is growing, and he will cost in the region of £12million.
Taigo Ilori Born in London but a Portuguese U20 international. Liverpool have had a £3million offer for the Sporting Lisbon central defender turned down, but will maintain their pursuit as they look for cover in defence.
Christian Benteke Needs no introduction to Premier League observers. The Aston Villa striker is on the radar as a possible goalscoring replacement should Luis Suarez leave. Other alternatives include Real Madrid's France international striker Karim Benzema.
Kolo Toure On the surface, an odd one - given his age and Liverpool’s emphasis on youth. But he was out of contract at Manchester City, was prepared to cut his wages by two thirds, and has the vast experience of winning titles with both Arsenal and City. A sensible replacement for the departed Jamie Carragher. Will be called on to add depth.
Simon Mignolet Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League following a fine season with Sunderland. The unsettled Belgium international should arrive for around £7million - even if Pepe Reina isn’t signed by Barcelona - to add competition at a troublesome position.
Michel Vorm The Mignolet deal could depend on how Sunderland boss Paolo di Canio reacts to the prospect of losing him, so Rodgers also has his former Swansea keeper Michel Vorm on the radar as a similarly priced alternative. Asmir Begovic is third choice, given Stoke’s high asking price.
Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpools-brendan-rodgers-top-four-hopes-1946482#ixzz2VwtUtuB1
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