Liverpool Transfer News: Star Names Rumoured to Be on Brendan Rodgers' Radar

The international break means all is quiet on the club level, and as expected, the rumour mill is once again working overtime. Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool were very active during the summer transfer window, and it looks like things won't be any different when the January window opens.

The Reds invested heavily in the future by targeting youth during the summer, and while the early results have looked promising, the club finds itself well below the European places in the Premier League standings.

It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that Rodgers is reportedly targeting more experienced contributors, so let's have a look at the latest transfer rumours surrounding the club.

Victor Valdes

Paul White/Associated Press

The deal to bring former Barcelona stopper Victor Valdes to Anfield has reportedly stalled after the Spanish veteran refused to go on a four-day fitness test at Melwood, per the Daily Mirror's Neil Moxley.

The 32-year-old saw his 2013-14 campaign cut short with a knee injury and became a free agent during the summer, and he reportedly has no interest in going on any form of trial before signing a new contract.

Rodgers had identified the former Spain international as the perfect challenger for Simon Mignolet, but Valdes' refusal of the four-day visit could see the entire deal collapse.

While standard medical examinations are common practice, it's somewhat understandable for the experienced veteran to cringe at the thought of going on trial. At the age of 32, Valdes is a world champion and winner of multiple Champions League titles.

Plenty of clubs will be interested in his services, if he checks out medically, and most of them won't require Valdes to undergo a trial period. While the Reds still present the stopper with the best situation, this bump in the road will have to be resolved in a hurry before he signs for a different club.

Sebastian Giovinco

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press

Juventus winger Sebastian Giovinco's contract is set to run out in June, and according to the Daily Express' David Wright, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing him on a free transfer.

The 27-year-old Italy international found some success early in his career on loan at Parma but was never a good fit for the Bianconeri's 3-5-2 formation, and he is not expected to re-sign with the Italian giants. His latest comments point in the same direction:

"

There are things to evaluate and at the end of the year I will consider whether or not to continue with Juve.

The season has just started, we’ve only played eight games, so we’ll see as time goes on.

"

Giovinco reminded everyone of his talent with a phenomenal match against Azerbaijan, and GianlucaDiMarzio.com's David Amoyal thought he made one man in particular very happy:

The Atomic Ant has started just a single match for Juve so far this season, via WhoScored.com, and at this stage in his career, a transfer seems almost inevitable. While Giovinco won't excite fans as a marquee signing, he has a lot of value on a free transfer.

His quickness and constant movement make him an intriguing weapon off the bench, where he can abuse defenders who have already played a long match. He won't wow people with his statistics or production, but he has a strong work ethic on the pitch and would add some much-needed experience to the Reds' squad.

Dele Alli

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MK Dons' Dele Alli is the latest English youngster to rise to fame thanks to a strong performance in his team's 4-0 Capital One Cup win over Manchester United, and the Daily Star's Paul Hetherington claims Liverpool are in the lead for his signature.

Rodgers will reportedly complete a deal in January and loan the 19-year-old back to MK Dons, bringing him along slowly in a manner similar to Belgium international Divock Origi.

Alli is expected to cost around £9 million, a steep price for a relatively unknown player. His talent is undeniable, however, with even Bayern Munich reportedly watching the youngster, per Hetherington.

His current club have confirmed there is a keen interest from some of the biggest English teams:

Alli is remarkably polished for such a young player, and he has the versatility to play all over midfield. He has strong physical tools and a good understanding of the game, although he will benefit from another six months with the Dons to gain more playing experience.

How he'll handle himself on the Premier League level is anyone's guess, and there's no denying there's some risk involved with this transfer. Rodgers has already proven his proficiency in working with young talent, however, and for Alli, there's no better place to develop than Anfield.

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