Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Near James Milner Deal, Ezequiel Lavezzi Rumours

The need for reinforcements at Anfield has seen Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers seek to exploit James Milner's contract dilemma at Manchester City and offer Ezequiel Lavezzi a route out of Paris.

According to ESPN (h/t Daily Star's Nick Lustig), the soon-to-be out-of-contract Milner has attracted Rodgers' interest, and the Reds chief is "confident" of landing his target on a free this summer.

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Milner has proved his worth to the Citizens as a reliable and versatile asset of late, most notably filling in as an advanced attacker during Sergio Aguero's recent injury absence.

However, a contract dispute has put the former Aston Villa star's future in doubt, despite manager Manuel Pellegrini recently voicing his admiration of the player, per Sky Sports: "(There is) no news. I hope we will find an arrangement. But I think that I have said already what I think about James Milner. He is very useful. He always plays with 100 percent commitment and intensity."

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Having just turned 29 years of age, Milner isn't the most promising of long-term investments, but given the potentially cheap nature of his signing and the winning attitude he's developed at City, his capture could be of great use.

The saga is far from over, though, as Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail reports that the reigning Premier League champions are looking to reopen negotiations with their playmaker

With Steven Gerrard set for a move to LA Galaxy at the end of this season, there will be a desire at Anfield to bring in another central presence who can partner the likes of Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen in the engine room.

Despite the title wins he's enjoyed at City, Milner would undoubtedly feature as a more prominent figure if he were to move to Merseyside.

The England international currently contends with the likes of Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Fernando and Samir Nasri for a place in Pellegrini's midfield, but emerging as a star under Rodgers would assuredly be a simpler task.

The same can be said of Paris Saint-Germain's Lavezzi, whom Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express reports is soon to become the subject of a £14 million bid from Liverpool.

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The winger is thought to be closing in on a transfer after missing a mid-season training camp and has since been omitted from Laurent Blanc's winter training squad.

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe recently analysed the prospects of a Lavezzi switch to Liverpool, weighing up the positives and negatives of any potential deal:

The 29-year-old maestro has made 15 Ligue 1 appearances this season, but seven of those have come from the bench, and he's only played 16 minutes of league football in 2015, per Transfermarkt.

Despite Chapman's claim, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson can't envision Lavezzi being worth as high a sum as £14 million following his fall through Blanc's pecking order:

The South American isn't as revered a wing figure as he was upon his arrival from Napoli in 2012, but Rodgers could make use of a player who may be surplus to requirements at Parc des Princes.

With one eye on Financial Fair Play, PSG may decide to cash in on their out-of-favour star in the hope of reinvesting any cash gained from the deal, but the Reds must decide if Lavezzi is worthy of an investment.