Liverpool Transfer News: Post-Deadline Day Rumours and Round-Up of Done Deals

Liverpool failed to make any new signings in the flickering embers of the winter transfer window, but the club appears set to land Burnley's Danny Ings this summer, while Brendan Rodgers will hope a smattering of young players gain vital experience out on loan.

The highly promising Sheyi Ojo agreed a deal with Wigan Athletic until the end of the season, while Lloyd Jones extended his temporary stay at Cheltenham Town up to the summer:

Just as had been the case in the build-up to the final day of the transfer window, much of the focus surrounding Liverpool on deadline day was centred around Ings. Murmurings early in the day suggested the Burnley man had signed a pre-contract agreement with Real Sociedad, but his future appears set for Anfield.

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According to Ian Herbert of The Independent, the Premier League must approve of any deal before the club completes a move for the striker:

Herbert elaborated on the circumstances surrounding the player:

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Such a deal between two clubs in the top flight is unusual. But it is likely to get the go–ahead from the Premier League under Rule U8 – by which the Premier League Board scrutinises the terms of the arrangement to ensure that it cannot create conflicts of interests.

Though there are few precedents, the possibility of such a contract affecting Ings’ performance at Anfield are remote. If anything, he would be more motivated there, as Thibaut Courtois seemed to be when facing parent club Chelsea for Atletico Madrid in last season’s Champions League.

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Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star claims a deal with Sociedad will not materialise and that Ings is willing to wait it out at Turf Moor before signing with Liverpool on a free transfer this summer.

With attacking players like Suso and Oussama Assaidi leaving the club in the January window, it seems as though manager Rodgers is clearing space for Ings and other transfers amidst another big summer spree:

Player	Team Signed For	Fee
Suso	AC Milan	Undisclosed
Oussama Assaid	Al Ahli Club	Undisclosed
Connor Randall	Shrewsbury Town	Loan
Kevin Stewart	Cheltenham Town	Loan
Lloyd Jones	Cheltenham Town	Loan
Jack Dunn	Cheltenham Town	Loan
Sheyi Ojo	Wigan Athletic	Loan

There were some murmurings about potential incoming players on deadline day, but nothing came to fruition in the whole month for the Reds.

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Ezequiel Lavezzi is a player who was linked with a Liverpool switch in perpetuity during the window, per Simon Rice of the The Independent, after he reported late to Paris Saint-Germain training following the club’s winter break. As noted in the aforementioned piece, there was some chatter surrounding a late £14 million switch.

Bleacher Report’s French football expert Jonathan Johnson has moved to clarify why Lavezzi reported late:

He also confirmed the player is likely to be off in the summer despite being settled in Paris:

The Argentina international has the class to make an impression at Anfield, but he doesn’t really fit in with the direction Rodgers is looking to take this squad. He’ll be 30 years old come the end of the campaign, and with the Parisians likely to command a hefty fee for his services, this one is probably best left alone.

At one stage it looked as though Liverpool might be on the hunt for a forward. As noted by Aaron Flanagan of the Mirror, Aston Villa were keen on signing Rickie Lambert from the Reds, but the 32-year-old has apparently been offered the chance of more first-team football and has decided to stay. Flanagan claims the England forward could yet leave in the summer, though.

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Bleacher Report’s Nick Akerman isn’t sure the England man is making the right decision by sticking it out at Anfield:

Another segment of positive news for the Reds faithful was Philippe Coutinho’s reported contract extension. As reported by Tony Barrett of The Times, the effervescent Brazilian has agreed a new five-year deal with the club: 

Coutinho has shone in recent weeks. Liverpool have got their season back on track, and from now until the end of the season, you suspect he’ll play a vital role for the Reds. As noted by WhoScored, the former Internazionale man has been a creative force of nature since rocking up in Merseyside:

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After tying Coutinho down to a long-term deal, you suspect Rodgers will be desperate to get Raheem Sterling to follow suit. They are effervescent, improving talents that the manager will looking to mould this team around, and tying these sorts of players down for the future will provide everyone at the club with some real initiative moving forward.

Some may be disappointed that Rodgers hasn’t added to the squad in January, but stability was key for the Reds in this window. After a seismic shift in personnel last summer and Steven Gerrard’s departure looming large in the one approaching, a full season of sustained continuity for this crop of players will only serve to benefit this team in the long run.