Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Defenders on Brendan Rodgers' Summer Wish List

As the summer transfer window begins to open up, Liverpool fans can only hope for a bright future ahead.

Already bolstering up the offense by adding Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, the Reds now have to bring their focus to a defense that has been up-and-down all season.

With 35-year-old Jamie Carragher set to retire and speculation of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger leaving at the end of the season, Liverpool would suddenly have to replace veteran leadership and key starters.

The days of contending for the Champions League are long in the past, but club manager Brendan Rogers looks to change all that this summer.

Here are a couple defenders that could be on Liverpool’s radar once this season ends.

Ashley Williams (Swansea City)

Williams would be a perfect fit into Rogers’ pass-and-move system. The 28-year-old completed slightly over 85 percent of his passes last season. It also helps that Williams and Rogers are familiar with each other; Rogers coached Williams at Swansea before making his move to Liverpool.

Williams can come right in and replace Daniel Agger if Agger chooses to leave. The biggest concern, as always, is the price. According to reports, Swansea is looking for €8 million for their defender, but with Arsenal also looking at Williams, the price could go as high as €10 million.

Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)

This would be the priciest defender the Reds would pay for this summer.

Like Williams, Ogbonna fits Rogers’ system perfectly after having a 94-percent pass completion rate in Serie A this season. He has also helped Torino have the second-most clean sheets in Serie A as well (11). He can’t help that his offense has failed to score in 11 games this season as well, tied for third most in the league.

With an already expensive €16 million price tag on Ogbonna, Liverpool can expect to see that number rise while competing with Arsenal and Milan to sign him.