Summer 2011

[Skully]

From Tony B in Times - a new name , French centre half. Cost a few whack if get half those on the list

 

Liverpool are considering making a bid this summer to sign Connor Wickham, the £15 million-rated Ipswich Town centre forward.

 

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the Merseyside club’s parent company, is determined to bolster a squad that John W. Henry, the principal owner, has acknowledged is lacking in depth.

 

Wickham has been watched on several occasions by Damien Comolli, Liverpool’s director of football, who is keen to recruit another forward to support the first-choice pairing of Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez.

 

At 18, the England Under-21 striker is widely regarded as an exciting talent and Liverpool’s interest is in keeping with FSG’s desire to attract top young players and lower the average age of their squad.

 

Ipswich have gone to great lengths to keep Wickham at Portman Road, rewarding him with two improved contracts in the past 12 months. But it is believed that his present deal has a clause that would allow him to leave if the club receive an offer of £15 million.

 

Liverpool are unlikely to match that fee, but could be willing to negotiate a deal based on an initial fee supplemented by performance-related payments.

 

It promises to be an extremely busy summer for Liverpool, who have already identified a number of transfer targets. José Enrique, the Newcastle United full back, has been added to a wanted list that also features the names of Gary Cahill, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, but, contrary to reports, no deal has yet been struck for the Spaniard.

 

Mamadou Sakho, the Paris Saint-Germain centre back, is also being monitored by Liverpool. The 21-year-old would provide a cheaper option to Cahill, the Bolton Wanderers defender, who is likely to command a transfer fee in the region of £15 million in the event of Bolton sanctioning his sale.

 

Sakho made his debut for France in the 2-1 win over England at Wembley in November, coming on as a substitute at half-time for Philippe Mexès. His physical style has prompted observers of French football to champion his suitability for the Barclays Premier League.

[Unrighteous]

Sakho would be ace.

[Hugo Sanjeev]

Maddock is also reporting the Sakho link:

 

 

Liverpool will turn to France's next major star Mamadou Sakho if their campaign to land Gary Cahill ends in failure.

 

Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish has earmarked the Bolton and England centre half as a major priority when he is given funds in the summer.

 

But the Reds manager is painfully aware that Wanderers are determined to hold out until the bidding reaches £20million.

 

And with moneybags Manchester City also in the race, Dalglish has wisely lined up a back-up, with 21-year-old Sakho his preferred choice.

 

The Paris St Germain defender has already made a massive impact in France after winning his first full cap in the recent victory over England.

 

Sakho is doubly attractive because he can also play left back as well as centre half, and would cost only half the fee Cahill is likely to command.

 

Dalglish has other targets, with Aston Villa's Ashley Young, Charlie Adam of Blackpool and Ipswich wonderboy Connor Wickham, who only turned 18 last week, on his list.

 

The Liverpool boss wants to concentrate on exciting young stars, after presiding over a massive improvement in the youth structure at Anfield since he returned to the club 18 months ago.

 

King Kenny gave teenager John Flanagan his debut against City on Monday night, and wasn't disappointed as the defender turned in an immaculate performance.

 

And his display was further proof of the giant strides made with young players coming through the ranks in the past 12 months.

 

Dalglish originally returned to the club as an ambassador with special responsibility for academy recruitment, and he has maintained that interest by promoting several kids into his first team squad.

 

Liverpool have seriously failed to develop young, local talent in the past decade, since Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher burst onto the scene at the end of the 1990s.

 

Yet this season Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly have already established themselves, along with Jonjo Shelvey and now Flanagan knocking at the door.

 

Other exciting young stars such as Conor Coady, Jack Robinson, Andre Wisdom, Raheem Sterling and 16 year old goalscoring sensation Adam Morgan all seem to have a big future at Anfield, and Dalglish wants to ensure that happens by continuing to identify the best young talent.

 

Flanagan showed enough in 90 minutes against England winger James Milner to suggest he can make the grade, and previous academy graduate Carragher believes it is a massive boost for the future of the club.

 

"I'm delighted for John and I think it gives the whole club a lift when you see a local lad come through - the supporters love it," he said.

 

"I think at the Academy it gives all of them a lift. The young lads at the Academy, it shows them it can be done.

 

"There's a bit of competition now between him and Kelly for the local lads. It's great for everyone really that you've got two local lads like that coming through.

 

"To be honest there's a few more down there so it's up to them lads to take their chance. Flanno's done that, but I'm pretty confident that there are more down there."

[StevieH]

Liverpool Eyes Birmingham City Wing Sebastian Larsson As Summer Transfer Approaches

 

FanFeedr | Soccer | 14 Apr 11 | Liverpool Eyes Birmingham City Wing Sebastian Larsson As Summer Transfer Approaches

[jackofdk]

[YOUTUBE]vmRJxn6cvKA[/YOUTUBE]

 

With a Youtube like that I think it is safe to say that Sakho is the best thing since sliced bread.

[Scott_M]

What happened to Mavinga?

 

I remember hearing bitching Hodgson only liked English players and then never heard of him again.

 

Has he been sold or loaned out? If it's a loan, where to and how's he doing?

[Deepz]

He's at Genk, and judging from his twitter comments, he wants to be back at LFC ASAP. Sakho is top class by the way, if the club were looking at getting rid of Agger, he'd be a great replacement.

[FidelMurphy]

He's on loan at Racing Club Genk and has made 2 appearances according to Wikipedia, can't really see him making it here where you consider the latest bunch coming through.

[Best Believe It]

Sakho is very, very good. Him and Cahill please. I know we won't get both, but I'd like two.

[NorwegianRed]

Hehe, good stuff this. Sakho was a favourite of mine 3 FM's ago. Together with Saivet and Feghouli from france. Azpilicueta from spain, Hazard, Sanchez. Good stuff..

[Eljeficito]

Sakho will now become one of those "we must buy him at all costs if we dont its a total fucking disaster" players despite people never seeing him play

[LFC64]

episode 93 of the Daily Mail's policy of link enough players and they're bound to get one right!

Sakho would however be class especially at half the price of Cahill. One centre back is enough. With Carra Skrtel Wilson Kelly Agger plus Sakho I think we'd have enough combinations to get by adequately.

Matt Hummels would be ideal too

[El Rojo]

Sakho will now become one of those "we must buy him at all costs if we dont its a total fucking disaster" players despite people never seeing him play

 

My 'Song for Sakho?' thread will go live any minute now.

[shaunstrudwick]

Cahill would be a great addition

 

but he will cost £20m

 

Skrtel to be shipped

[silverlining]

Sakho will now become one of those "we must buy him at all costs if we dont its a total fucking disaster" players despite people never seeing him play

 

*hops on board*

[Dani Pacheco]

Sakho will now become one of those "we must buy him at all costs if we dont its a total fucking disaster" players despite people never seeing him play

 

And rightfully so, I'm sure you realize how dominant he becomes on FM08.

[Aldonose]

paul_tomkins Paul Tomkins

RT @bensmith_Times Gary Cahill, Jose Enrique, Ashley Young, Mamadou Sakho and Connor Wickham have all been identified as targets by #LFC

 

RT @bensmith_Times From everything I hear, #LFC have, for the first time in a long time, a very clear transfer strategy for the summer

[moof]

paul_tomkins Paul Tomkins

RT @bensmith_Times Gary Cahill, Jose Enrique, Ashley Young, Mamadou Sakho and Connor Wickham have all been identified as targets by #LFC

 

RT @bensmith_Times From everything I hear, #LFC have, for the first time in a long time, a very clear transfer strategy for the summer

 

Swap Cahill for Hazard and that would be my ideal transfer window. *joins Sakho bandwagon*

[El Rojo]

I assume Cahill and Sahko is either/or. I'd also look at replacing Wickham with another wide player on that list.

[Aldonose]

They all look pretty realistic targets as well.

[Eljeficito]

is regards to Wickham has anybody seen a lot of him? What kind of player is he ? Seen him for England u21's the other week but he hardly seen a pass

[RobbieOR]

I remember I had a Kompany/Sakho dream team on FM08. It won me everything. Go get 'em Kenny, and if he doesnt he can fuck off.

[The Dude Abides]

Wait. Sakho is a real player? I was sure he only existed on FM.

 

We're mugs if we go back in for Charlie Adam. It's clear to see now having kept a closer look at him that he's not what we need.

[Eljeficito]

I disagree, Charlie Adam is very technically gifted, more so than Spearo or Lucas and there might be games against the likes of Stoke at home where we'll need craft over graft. Its all about having options

[diamondjoe]

Sakho will now become one of those "we must buy him at all costs if we dont its a total fucking disaster" players despite people never seeing him play

 

Don't know this Sakho, never heard of him, but I pronounce him to be the greatest player currently playing and should we not sign him it'll be a biblical disaster.