Calling True or False on 5 Recent Liverpool Transfer Rumours
With Liverpool's top-four hopes seemingly derailed after losses to Manchester United and Arsenal in recent weeks, Brendan Rodgers will likely have another busy summer on his hands, with signings expected to bolster what is a slowly blossoming young squad.
But who are Liverpool targeting this summer?
We're playing judge and jury to Rodgers' executioner here, providing subjective true or false verdicts on the veracity of recent reports linking five players with a move to the Reds in the summer.
Rounding off with AS Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic, here are five Liverpool transfer rumours and a call on their chances of coming to fruition.
James Milner
1 of 5
Manchester City midfielder is Liverpool's top target to replace the departing Steven Gerrard this summer, according to Steve Bates and Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday People (h/t the Mirror).
"It’s almost certain [Milner] will make the £125,000-a-week switch to Anfield to help plug the gap left by [Gerrard’s] end-of-season exit to LA Galaxy," Bates and Hopkinson claim.
"Milner has been assured by Liverpool he will have chances to play a central midfield role, although he has not been guaranteed exclusive rights to the position."
With Liverpool desperately requiring reinforcement in midfield this summer, Milner's City contract set to expire and Rodgers's apparent interest in his "experience, energy and reputation," this deal seems to be a suitable one for the Reds to make.
Furthermore, with the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce recently telling AnfieldIndex (h/t This Is Anfield) that "the club are certainly interested in Milner, and they would be crazy not to be," there seems to be validity to these rumours.
Verdict: True
Radamel Falcao
2 of 5
After missing out on his signing last summer, Liverpool will renew their interest in Colombia striker Radamel Falcao this summer, according to George Bellshaw for Metro.
Bellshaw writes: "The Reds are in the market for a new striker with Mario Balotelli failing to perform—and believe that Falcao is the perfect target."
With an initial loan deal speculated, are Liverpool likely to take on the striker, who is currently struggling at Manchester United, next season?
Falcao earns £265,000 per week in wages, according to BBC Sport. So far this season, he has not represented anywhere near value in terms of his output in relation to his earnings, recording just four goals and four assists in 20 Premier League appearances.
As the debate roars on as to whether current Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling is worth over £100,000 per week in wages, are Liverpool really likely to sanction such an outlay on a 29-year-old who represents such a risk?
Verdict: False
Danny Ings
3 of 5
A striker more realistically linked with Liverpool is soon-to-be free-agent and current Burnley goalscorer Danny Ings.
Jason Burt of The Telegraph recently wrote of the Reds' interest in the 22-year-old: "Relations between the two clubs remain very good with a will from both parties, despite the growing interest in Ings, to get a deal done even if it means going to a tribunal to set the compensation fee, which appears likely."
Burt suggests that a £7 million tribunal fee is the price Liverpool would need to pay.
Ings has scored nine goals and registered four assists in 28 league appearances for the Clarets this season and will be integral to Burnley in their battle against relegation.
It is likely that Ings' exceptional work rate, polished technique and his potential to develop will appeal most to Rodgers.
Given the persistent links this season between Ings and Liverpool, this deal is highly likely.
Verdict: True
Gerard Deulofeu
4 of 5
According to Jamie Sanderson of Metro, Liverpool are "lining up a shock deal to sign Barcelona wonderkid Gerard Deulofeu at the end of the season."
Sanderson continued: "Deulofeu, who is currently on-loan at Sevilla, is set to be sold in the summer when he returns to the Nou Camp," Sanderson continues.
Deulofeu is one of the most promising young attacking players in Europe and has scored one goal and made five assists in 16 Liga games this season. In addition, he contributed three goals and three assists in 25 Premier League appearances on loan at Everton last season.
Deulofeu would make a solid addition to Rodgers' young squad, but the link is dubious.
Given Barcelona's precarious position in the transfer market at present—they are unable to sign players until 2016, reported by BBC Sport—it is debatable as to whether the club would sell a player of Deulofeu's promise when they have no chance of signing a replacement.
That Sanderson simply cites "reports in Spain" only serves to add to the feeling that this is just another link with questionable credibility.
Verdict: False
Miralem Pjanic
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Like Ings, Milner and Falcao, Pjanic is another player whose name just won't go away when it comes to Liverpool transfer rumours. Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (h/t Henry Jackson of This Is Anfield) relayed further links last month.
Pjanic is reportedly "ready to say yes" to a move to Liverpool this summer, but is there any likelihood in this deal?
After Liverpool's 4-1 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, Rodgers questioned his side's clout in the transfer market without the draw of Champions League football, according to the Press Association (h/t This is Anfield).
"Liverpool is a phenomenal club that players want to play for, but, of course, players want to play at the top level of the game and if you are not in the Champions League it makes it difficult for you," Rodgers claimed.
With Pjanic representing one of European football's top talents, and his side, Roma, looking likely to secure Champions League football through their Serie A placing, Liverpool could well be considered to be a step down for the 25-year-old.
Verdict: False
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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