Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Adriano, Danny Ings and More

Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on Barcelona utility man Adriano after the player admitted that he is unsure about his long-term future at Camp Nou.

That’s according to Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People (h/t the Mirror), who notes that the Blaugrana man has revealed that he will look at what options are available to him before making a decision. The piece suggests that while there is a £15 million release clause in the Brazilian’s contract, the Reds could land their man for £7 million.

Here’s a look at the qualities Adriano would bring to Anfield:

While Adriano isn’t a player who commands a regular starting berth at Camp Nou, he’s the kind of figure every manager loves to have in his squad. The 30-year-old is capable of doing a job as a full-back or midfielder on either flank, and his admirable diligence has helped endear him to the Blaugrana faithful since signing from Sevilla in 2010.

David Ramos/Getty Images

But Adriano said earlier in the week that unless he gets more minutes in the team, he may have to consider his options, per AS (h/t Football Espana):

"

For now, I’m focused on Barca and I’m only thinking that I want to finish the season with the team. But when the time comes, I’ll listen to my agent and here what offers there are.

I’m in good shape and I’m eager to help the team. I hope to get more minutes to help my team-mates. I am available whenever [Enrique] wants me.

"

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

From Liverpool’s perspective, to have a player like him would be ideal. The Reds are a little short of quality options in the full-back positions, and Adriano’s application, defensive diligence and experience would give this facet of the squad a real boost in quality. But it could be a struggle to convince Barcelona to sell.

The Catalans have yet to resolve the contract situation of Dani Alves, meaning he could walk away from Camp Nou on a free transfer come the end of the season. If he were to leave, Barcelona’s inability to bring in a replacement could leave them short at full-back and consequently unwilling to let Adriano go.

David Ramos/Getty Images

Danny Ings is a player who is in a similar situation to Alves, and he too has been linked with a move to Anfield. But reports suggest that the Reds will not have it all their own way in their pursuit of the Burnley striker.

According to James Cambridge of the Express, Liverpool’s pursuit of the forward is “off the cards”, while Simon Mullock of the Mirror reveals that Real Sociedad manager David Moyes is very keen on landing the 22-year-old star.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Ings has been magnificent for Burnley this season, as we can see here courtesy of Sky Sports News HQ:

On the face of things, Liverpool should command a lot more gravitas than Sociedad. The prospect of playing at Anfield—potentially in the Champions League—at a club relatively local to Burnley is something that’d surely appeal to Ings, but you have to wonder whether the Reds could give the player the requisite reassurances he needs regarding game time.

Nonetheless, the player’s current manager, Sean Dyche, recently told Sky Sports’ Goals On Sunday that he should be looking to sign for an elite club:

"

The middle of La Liga is no use for a young player, I don’t personally think so—albeit it is a great standard. I think he’s better than that. I think he’s top end of the Premier League.

He would only move abroad for financial reasons. It’s not for development. His development is top end of the Premier League. It’s the most powerful league in the world.

"

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

There are definite benefits to moving abroad, though. Ings would surely see an enhancement in his technical abilities playing regularly in a division like La Liga, and if he eventually returned to the Premier League further down the line, he would do so as a much more rounded individual, having sampled a new culture and taken a step outside his comfort zone.

Liverpool will feel as though they’re still in with a sizeable chance of landing their reported target, however. Ings would surely find the lure of Champions League football tough to turn down, and the Reds can make themselves an extremely attractive proposition for transfer targets by finishing in the top four this season.