Liverpool Transfer Gossip: Grading the Potential Impact of 5 Rumoured Targets

Liverpool are sure to be active in the transfer market this season. New Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to stamp his mark on the squad and add players who will fit in with his passing philosophy.

As with every summer, Liverpool have been linked with a whole host of names already. Plenty more will surely be on the way.

Whether or not these rumoured moves will come to fruition remains to be seen, but for the most part we can analyse whether or not the player in question will actually add anything to the Reds squad.

Here are five players who have been linked with summer transfers to Liverpool, graded in order of who could have the biggest impact.

Victor Moses, Wigan Athletic

Victor Moses

Winger/forward, Wigan Athletic

Age 21

Moses has been at Wigan since the summer of 2010. After spending a year as a squad player in his first campaign at the DW Stadium, he came to the fore last season as a key player for the Latics.

Playing either from the wing or behind a forward, he was a major factor in the resurgence of Wigan after Christmas and helping them to avoid relegation. His contract is also running down, increasing the speculation that he will be on the move to a bigger club.

Moses would bring certain attributes to Liverpool that the squad is somewhat lacking, such as the ability to beat a man on the run and having the confidence to get into the box and try a shot on a regular basis.

However, the wide man has also been extremely profligate in his shooting, which is something Liverpool could do without adding to the squad.

Question marks also remain over the player's mentality and team-first approach, both of which Rodgers will require at a high level.

Luc Castaignos, Inter Milan

Luc Castaignos

Forward, Inter Milan

Age 19

The Reds were linked with a move for Inter forward Castaignos back in January, but the Italian side held off selling the youngster at the time. Reports suggest that the situation has changed and they might now be willing to part with him.

Castaignos only joined Inter from Feyenoord last summer. He is already a target for several clubs throughout Europe, apparently including Merseyside duo Liverpool and Everton.

Though a tall player at over six feet, he is mobile and quick off the mark with an aptitude for placing his shots rather than going for power.

Liverpool will almost certainly be looking for a centre forward to challenge the likes of Andy Carroll for a starting berth, but a mostly-unproven player might not be the way to go.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, Hoffenheim

Gylfi Sigurdsson

Attacking midfielder, Hoffenheim

Age 22

Icelandic schemer Sigurdsson has been linked with Liverpool almost from the moment that Brendan Rodgers was confirmed as the new manager. Sigurdsson has worked with Rodgers at Reading and most recently at Swansea City on loan.

That Sigurdsson will be moving this summer is almost beyond doubt, with his club having given him extra time off to arrange a transfer away from the club.

Liverpool are not the only interested party though, with Spurs heavily linked with a move over the past 24 hours.

Sigurdsson would bring a calmness on the ball, set piece ability, penalty box penetration from deep and a familiarity with Rodgers' preference for team tactics; all valuable additions to the squad.

He is, however, untested at a bigger club and has never particularly shown loyalty to a club, moving on when it suits his career.

In addition, he is coming back to the Premier League—presumably—having struggled to make an impression in the Bundesliga, despite having shone in his five month stint at the Liberty Stadium.

Andre Schurrle, Bayer Leverkusen

Andre Schurrle

Wide forward/striker, Bayer Leverkusen

Age 21

Currently playing a support role for Germany and Lukas Podolski at Euro 2012, Andre Schurrle has all the attributes to be a top player in the future.

Quick, determined and with a real eye for goal, Schurrle is at his best cutting in from the left flank to shoot for goal with his preferred right foot.

Brendan Rodgers played a similarly right footed player on the left at Swansea, Scott Sinclair, leading some to suggest that he will try and implement a similar strategy with Liverpool.

Schurrle would excel in this role, little doubt about it.

A little raw at times and certainly with plenty to learn at his young age, but his directness, confidence and willingness to break into the box would make him a hit at Anfield.

James Rodriguez, Porto

James Rodriguez

Winger/attacking midfielder, FC Porto

Age 20

Having shot to prominence at Banfield in Argentina, Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez has had a big impact at Porto following his move to Europe.

Two footed, technically gifted and with enough pace to go on the outside of his man or the awareness to cut inside and play a simple pass, Rodriguez is a constant source of chances for his attacking team mates.

He also has managed to bring goals to his game in Portugal, netting 15 in his two seasons with the club so far.

Youth and relative inexperience aside, Rodriguez arguably has only two things not going for him from the point of view of Liverpool—his massive price tag and the interest in him from sides competing in the Champions League.

This might not turn out to be a feasible option for Liverpool this summer, but he is definitely worth keeping tabs on with a view to a future move.

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