Liverpool want "new Adebayor"?

After the sad loss to Tottenham this weekend Paul Konchesky holds his hand up and takes the blame.

Sevilla are set to make a move for Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, who is showing improving form in the Liverpool shirt, in the January transfer window according to reports in Spain, The Daily Mail reports.

A new face on the radar is the Ivorian striker Lacina Traore. The player is according to GiveMeFootball a Liverpool target, and is set to leave current club FC Cluj in January.

The Ivorian striker, called the "New Adebayor" has been linked with a string of European clubs, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is thought to be the latest manager to join the hunt for the player.

New Director of Football strategy at Anfield, Damien Comolli, is thought to be a big fan of the player, and has sent scouts to watch Feroviarii striker in a Romanian Liga I match.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a known admirer of the player, while Aston Villa, Fulham and Bayern Munich are also thought to be monitoring the situation. Liverpool and the rest will be encouraged by the latest comments from the player's agent, Thomas Boehm.

- It is true that there are a number of teams watching Lacina (Traore) and maybe in a couple of weeks we will have some information, but at the moment I cannot say anything regarding specific clubs, Boehm told Sport.co.uk.

- The situation is he is playing well in the Champions League and our goal is to get him playing in a superior league. That is a fact. But I cannot reveal any information on specific clubs at this point.

Another new name for Liverpool supporters to look out for is Brazilian striker Kleber. Liverpool are reportedly after the player in the pursuit of a new striker.

According to the Daily Mail, the Reds are set to re-enter the race for the Palmeiras hotshot - who is also wanted by Everton - after previously showing an interest in his signature during Rafa Benitez's tenure.

- I have a proposal from Liverpool for 7 million euros. We are analysing [it], Kleber said at the time.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has made no secret of his desire to add more potency to his Anfield attack after admitting that Liverpool rely too heavily on Kop hero Fernando Torres.

And it would appear Hodgson has identified £6 million-rated Kleber as a potential target to take the goalscoring burden away from Liverpool star Torres.

The former Brazil under 20 star has an eye-catching scoring record; notching an impressive 28 times in 77 appearances during a spell with Dynamo Kiev, while he has 13 goals in 18 games for his current employers.

A player that has not been linked with Liverpool for a while is former Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz.

Now Liverpool are once again being link with a move for Paraguayan international striker, GiveMeFootball reports.

The Manchester City forward is set to leave Eastlands in the summer, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is thought to be a potential suitor for the player.

Santa Cruz has fallen out-of-favour at his current club, struggling to break into the side since the arrival of Roberto Mancini as replacement for former boss Mark Hughes.

Mancini has admitted that he would be willing to let the player leave in the opening month of 2011, and the player confirmed that he'd consider moving on in a bid to play first team football.

Liverpool have twice been linked with the player in the past, first in April 2009 and then again last summer when the Metro claimed that the Reds were considering a double offer for Santa Cruz and Wayne Bridge.

One of the hottest prospects of the Liverpool transfer radar this fall has been the Lille winger Eden Hazard.

But it seems that in addition to Manchester United, Real Madrid is interested. Real’s new advisor and general legend Zinedine Zidane has expressed his interest in seeing Hazard playing at the Bernabeu, GiveMeFootball reports.

The former French international, who now advises president Florentino Perez, believes it is possible the Belgian ace could be a Madrid player soon, despite Premier League teams Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal also being interested.

- What he has been doing for his club has been extraordinary," Zidane told Canal +.

- Would it be possible to see him one day in Madrid? It may be.

Earlier this week Hazard revealed he would not leave the Ligue 1 leaders in january, despite being heavily linked with a move to Liverpool.

Roy Hodgson recently flew to France to watch his team mate Gervinho in action but came away from the game, between Lille and Monaco, raving about the 19-year-old instead.

Two strikers on the radar

Today has been a slow day for transfer rumours involving Liverpool FC. However it has not been absolutely quiet on the radar...

Yesterday The Daily Mail linked Liverpool with an exchange deal, sendig Dirk Kuyt to Roma with Philippe Mexes in return.

Now it has emerged that Liverpool are keen to keep Kuyt at Anfield and are poised to make a £20m offer for Mirko Vucinic, also being mentioned in the Mail article.

According to TalkSport Liverpool are set to step up their interest in the Roma striker and hope to finalise a deal to bring him to Anfield in January.

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Vucinic (27) has a proven track record in Serie A and is regarded as one of the best forwards in Europe.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is desperate to find a proven partner for Fernando Torres and Vucinic could be just the right man to help Liverpool challenge for major silverware again.

In addition Liverpool is also linked with Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano.

Liverpool are the latest in a long list of clubs seeking the services of fallen Sampdoria ace, Goal.com reports.

The Italian playmaker faces a rescissionary hearing with the Lega Serie A's arbitration panel who will decided whether Sampdoria have legal grounds to terminate his contract after his feud with club president Riccardo Garrone.

28-year-old Cassano has been linked with Genoa, Inter and Juventus, but Tuttomercatoweb.com reports that Liverpool are pushing themselves into the que.

According to reports, Reds manager Roy Hodgson is looking for a top-level partner for Fernando Torres and Cassano fits the bill.

However, reports earlier this week prefigured Cassano had signed an agreement with Inter, his long time admirers.

Carlton Cole back on the radar

Today we have been familiar with the rumour that Italian club Roma want Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt - and are happy to give the Reds Philippe Mexes in return.

Roy Hodgson on the other hand insists he is now keen to keep the current squad intact ahead of the January transfer window. 

The Daily Mail today claims Roma have set their sights on Dirk Kuyt and hope to tempt Liverpool with an exchange for Philippe Mexes.

The paper says reports in Rome claim Kuyt is open to a move to Italy.

Rafa Benitez remains keen to take Kuyt to Inter Milan, but Liverpool put off the European champions by demanding a prohibitive £20m in the summer.

Roma can’t even offer half that and a straight swap for France centre half Mexes looks far from value for money as the 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season.

Kuyt is under contract at Anfield till 2012 and Roma fear Liverpool will ask for Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic in exchange.

Vucinic has many admirers in England, including Manchester United, though coach Claudio Ranieri wants him to stay at the Olympic Stadium.

I can never ever understand how Hodgson would want to sell Kuyt to Rome to get Mexes back. Kuyt is a real quality player that brings a lot to the team. Mexes is going to turn 29 next year. The rest you can figure out yourself.

But now on to anther more likely rumour.

Carlton Cole was a reported Liverpool tranfer target this summer. And he will leave West Ham for Liverpool in January, according to Metro.

The Hammers striker was publicly critical of boss Avram Grant after they slumped to 3-0 defeat at Anfield last Saturday and the east London club remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.

This has led to speculation that the 27-year-old wants out of Upton Park, with Liverpool reportedly the frontrunners for his signature.

Cole said after the Liverpool loss:

- We can come here and talk a good game and say we are going to do this to them and come with a game plan, but we didn’t even turn up for this game.

- In the first 10 minutes we had lost the game, psychologically anyway. I’m lost for words now, I can’t speak too much because I get emotional with these things and it gets on my nerves and I don’t want to talk about certain things, he said.

The £9m rated England forward was linked with a switch to Anfield during the summer and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has recently admitted he was monitoring Cole.

Hodgson has made no secret of his desire to add more potency to his Anfield attack after admitting that Liverpool rely too heavily on Kop heroes Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

Bolton striker Johan Elmander and Aston Villa winger Ashley Young have both been linked with moves to Anfield as the January transfer window draws closer.

In-form Bolton ace Johan Elmander has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs as his future at the Reebok hangs in the balance.

According to the Mirror, Liverpool, Newcastle and Stoke all have the talented Swede in their sights after it was revealed he could leave Bolton for nothing in the summer when his contract expires.

Elmander is Bolton's record-signing after joining the club from Toulouse for around £10 million in 2008, and the 29-year-old has been in magnificent goalscoring form of late.

His performances have led to Bolton launching a surprise assault on the Champions League places and have also reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson has made no secret of his desire to add more potency to his Anfield attack after admitting that Liverpool rely too heavily on Kop heroes Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

And, with Torres' chequered injury history, Hodgson is keen to strengthen his striking ranks and is thought to be interested in bringing Elmander to Liverpool.

However, Bolton boss Owen Coyle has attempted to ease fears that the Sweden international would be moving to Anfield, but admitted that Elmander would be crazy not to consider joining a club the size of Liverpool.

- If players are playing well it is only natural bigger clubs will cast an eye on them. That is the nature of football and I am relaxed about it, Cole said.

- Until those bids come in, it is all hypothetical. When they do we will give them respect and make a decision. I do not get caught up in it too much and beat myself up. Johan knows that.

- If it was a club of a similar size to Bolton I believe he would stay here. If an elite club came in Johan would be crazy not to think about it.

- I have no problems with that. Johan is well within his rights to do what is right for himself and his family. What I will do game by game is try to get the best out of him.

Coyle added: - Phil [Gartside] has had talks with Johan's representative and that will be on-going.

- Johan has been terrific from day one and if they decide they want it to run its course into January, then so be it.

Yet another Lille player supposedly is on Liverpools transfer radar.

Liverpool are now being linked with a January transfer move for French international Adil Rami, GiveMeFootball reports

The Lille defender is the latest Ligue 1 player to be targeted by the Anfield club, with Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson thought to have his eye on a string of Les Dogues players.

Rami, Gervinho and Eden Hazard are all thought to be potential transfer targets for the Merseyside outfit.

A towering defender of Moroccan decent, Rami joined Lille from Frejus in 2007, and has gone on to be an integral part of the team at the Stadium Lille-Metropole.

Experience at European club and international level makes the player a viable target, and the Liverpool boss was thought to have been impressed by Rami's performance in the recent 2-1 victory for France over England at Wembley.

The Reds boss is thought to have targeted 'five or six' players for the opening month of 2011, and new owners NESV look set to offer the Liverpool chief a transfer war chest in the region of £35 million.

Whilst a striking foil for Fernando Torres is thought to be the priority, the former Fulham boss is keen to strengthen in the core areas. Central defence is one of those positions, leading to speculation that Liverpool will make a move for Rami at the first opportunity.

Liverpool to sign World Cup star?

It seems Daniel Pacheco might be on his way out of Anfiled.

According to The Independent Liverpool is ready to reduce their wage bill in January with the 19-year-old Spaniard considered among those manager Roy Hodgson may be prepared to lose.
This seems odd, given that the Reds the next period will focus on young talent...

Liverpool apparently are ready to sign Ghana World Cup star Anthony Annan, and sign him for just £6 million, according to Goal.com.

Annan impressed in South Africa and looked certain for a move to the Premier League during the summer but no offers were forthcoming. Manchester United were the most prevalent team interested in the 24-year-old and Annan admitted he would jump at the chance to move to Old Trafford.

However, now Sir Alex Ferguson’s interest has blown hot and cold, after the Scot revealed he did not want to bring any more new signings to Manchester United in January, plus the fact Annan is cup-tied for the Champions League matches, and Liverpool have moved into pole position.

The Anfield side have already drawn up a shortlist of potential targets for the forthcoming transfer window and Annan, along with Saint Etienne’s holding midfielder Yann M’Vila, is heading that list.

Roy Hodgson is now expected to fly to Norway and watch the Rosenborg ace as speculation of Annan being Christian Poulsen’s replacement at Anfield.

Liverpool’s new director of football strategy Damian Comolli is thought to have alerted Hodgson to Annan’s availability and the relatively low transfer fee would enable the club’s new owners to bring another, more expensive, world class player to Anfield as well.

An earlier reported transfer target is German striker Mario Gomez.

The Reds were keen on a loan deal for striker in the summer and are still keen to find support for Fernando Torres this winter. 

According to The Daily Mail Liverpool will face competition from Juventus if Roy Hodgson renews interest in Germany international Mario Gomez when the transfer window opens.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool are still on Gomez’s trail. The takeover by NESV has brought greater funds, while the appointment of Damien Comolli as director of football strategy has already led to alternative players being scouted.

Liverpool also according to Live4Liverpool is interested in FC Basel midfielder Valentin Stocker. 

His agent Marco Balmelli has told TMW that Liverpool are interested in the Swiss winger:

- Liverpool? Yes, with the English club I have had contact. How much? Five to six million euro. Valentin is good technically, can play multiple roles, both on the wing and the centre, said his agent.

Stocker is only 21 but has already made seven appearances for Switzerland, scoring 3 goals.

Manchester City winger Adam Johnson is allegedly on Liverpool's radar.

The England Player is reportedly weighing up his options at Eastlands after failing to hold onto a regular spot in Roberto Mancini's starting XI.

- Every footballer has to think about it when the time comes. It is still early but I definitely would consider [leaving], Johnson told the Telegraph.

Johnson joined City from Middlesbrough last January for around £11 million and has since found himself become an increasingly influential player in the England set-up.

And now, according to Metro, Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is monitoring Johnson's situation at City with a view to making a move for the midfielder in January.

Liverpool owners NESV are keen to invest in young talent in the New Year and, at 23-years-old, Johnson certainly has a bright future ahead of him.

 

Whether Liverpool will launch a bid for Johnson in the New Year remains to be seen, but it is sure to be a busy January at Anfield as Hodgson and NESV look to continue the rebuilding job on Merseyside.

Hazard interest confirmed

Today Liverpool FC have announced plans to launch International Football Academies across the world.

But even if Liverpool wants to develop new talent in the long term the transfer rumour mill of potential purchases in January still is running hot.

Lately Eden Hazard has been appearing on the Liverpool transfer radar a lot of times. Also, before Liverpool's new owners, and Damien Comolli came in, his name constantly came up.  

The strategy of buying young promising players to the offensive midfielder fit nicely into, as he is only 19 years old, but already an established U17 international for Belgium.
 
Liverpool Echo claims that Hazard is a Liverpool transfer target. Roy Hodgson and scout Laurent Viaud had their eyes on the player, when he helped send Lillle to the top of Ligue 1 on Sunday.  
 
Hazard would have a price tag of £18m, but the reds will according to the Echo have hopes of his signature promising first team action.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has been put on alert after Joan Capdevila reached contract stalemate with Villarreal, The Daily Mirror reports.

The paper remarks that the Spain international is looking for a two-year contract extension, but the Primera Division outfit are hesitant to hand the 32-year-old a deal that lasts over 12 months.

Capdevila's contract expires next summer, and with the Yellow Submarines seemingly unwilling to meet his demands, it is thought that the World Cup winner could be in line to make a Bosman transfer to the Premier League.

Ther former Atletico Madrid and Deportivo full-back, who has missed just five matches in four years from the Madrigal club, is allegedly close friends with the Reds' goalkeeper and international colleague Pepe Reina, and it has been suggested that the defender could be tempted by an offer to head to Anfield for free.

Capdevila was also linked with a move to Serie A giants Juventus during the summer window, but opeted to remain in La Liga.

Karim Benzema reportedly wants out of Real Madrird and Jamie Redknapp is urging Anfield owners to purchase the 22-year-old Frenchman.

Benzema wowed the English crowd last week when he scored for France against England at Wembley last week. Such a performance has prompted Redknapp to urge the Reds to go after the young striker.

- Liverpool need a striker and they should look no further than Karim Benzema, the former Liverpool midfielder wrote in the Daily Mail.

- He played this game like it was his personal audition. He's started only one league game for Real Madrid this season and we could all see last night that he is better than that. Benzema enjoyed his night and put on a bit of a show.

- The new Anfield owners have their first challenge: sign him, he added.

Benzema joined Real for around €30m, but could reportedly be available to Liverpool at closer to €12m.

Elsewhere, Liverpool look set to make an offer for Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross after Tony Pulis declared his interest in Mauricio Victorino, according to the Metro.

The Uruguayan international is keen on a move to the Premier League but it leaves the door open for Shawcross to move on.

The former Manchester United defender has been linked with a move to Anfield for some time now but Tottenham and his former employers could throw a spanner in the works.

Liverpool, though, have moved into pole position even though a centre back is not one of Roy Hodgson’s priorities right now.

But the Liverpool boss will be hoping he can sign the 23-year-old for a knockdown price in January and will be hoping Pulis brings Victorino to the Britannia Stadium.

Sir Alex Ferguson could make a move to re-sign his former academy starlet, though, and a moved to Old Trafford could be too hard to resist for Shawcross.

Liverpool have also reportedly joined the race to sign Japanese international playmaker Keisuke Honda.

The versatile CSKA Moscow player, who is comfortable in wing or striking positions, is thought to be considering a Russian Premier League exit with Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson one of the managers thought to be keen.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was heavily linked with the player in the summer after a series of complimentary comments during the World Cup, but Liverpool have now joined the chase for the player.

Player agent Kees Ploegsma told Sport.co.uk:

- When a big club comes in he will want to leave but at the moment that has not happened.



- A lot of managers will be watching him after he played so well at the World Cup - now they can watch him more for CSKA and hopefully they will decide to try and do something in January.

CSKA are reportedly considering cashing in on the player, and Liverpool are set to challenge AC Milan and the Gunners for the player's signature.

Former Spurs midfielder linked

Today, Liverpool largely is linked with defenders, midfielders and rather surprisingly, a keeper.

Reto Ziegler could be on his way to Liverpool in January after it was revealed Sampdoria are considering an offer from the Reds.'

The versatile Switzerland international, and former reported Liverpool target, will be available for a bargain price in January and could help to solve Liverpool's problems on the left flank, as he can play at full-back or in midfield.

He has less than a year left on his contract and his situation in Genoa has alerted a number of clubs across Europe and Sampdoria have already received several bids, reports IMScouting.

Among them are offers from Serie A rivals Juventus and Lazio, and one from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen. According to German website 4-4-2, none of those clubs have matched the offer from Liverpool and the Reds are now in pole position to land Ziegler in January for a fee in the region of £3 million.

Ziegler will be a familiar name to fans of English football, as he spent three years at Spurs earlier in his career.

Today Liverpool is surprisingly linked with Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach as Pepe Reinas replacement, if he leaves. 

The People says Liverpool, worried about No.1 Pepe Reina’s future, are interested in the England U21 international.

Liverpool is not the only club into Loach. Tottenham boss Harry Redknap has already had offers of £2.2m and £3m, including add-ons, knocked back for the England Under-21 shot-stopper.

Watford want a £4.5m fee for the player.

Another new name on the radar is Fulham midfielder Simon Davies.

Roy Hodgson wants to raid his former club for the midfielder, according to Metro.

Davies was a key player in Hodgson’s Fulham side that shocked everybody by reaching the Europa League final and the pair worked together for two years prior to that.

It seems only a matter of time before a second Cottager makes the move to Anfield, after Paul Konchesky did similar in the summer.

Damian Comolli has been brought in by Liverpool’s new owners to work alongside Hodgson in the transfer market and the pair have drawn up a shortlist of targets for January.

Comolli has insisted John W Henry is willing to fund the signing of a ‘world class player’ in the upcoming transfer window and most of the Frenchman’s scouting work has been done on the continent.

French midfielder Yann M'Vila is a reported target for Liverpool, but our former manager Gerard Houllier is also interested.

The People says Houllier is ready to use his French connections to try to pull off a £9m transfer coup for the 20-year-old Rennes ace, who was in the national side that outclassed England last week.

M’Vila has been linked with several clubs,  but Villa are quietly confident they can get their man.

Finaly, it appears Liverpool is in a race with Arsenal to get France defender Mamadou Sakho.

According to Italian website Tutto Mercato, Liverpool are tracking the 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain ace with a view to making a January bid for the France international, GiveMeFootball reports.

However, it has emerged over recent weeks that Arsenal are keen on Sakho, who has been earning rave reviews for his performances in Ligue 1 this season.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool are thought to be in the market for defensive reinforcements, however, Arsenal would appear to be the favourites for Sakho's signature after he revealed he would favour a move to a club in the Champions League.

Arsenal have a nigh on impeccable track record of developing young talent - in particular young French talent - and Sakho would no doubt add to the vast reserves of quality already at Wenger's disposal at the Emirates.

The Arsenal model of investing in youngsters is something that Liverpool owners NESV are hoping to emulate and Anfield - and a deal for Sakho would certainly represent a good start to their ongoing quest.

Liverpool to swap defenders?

As the week came to an end with a well fought victory over West Ham, according to Goal.com Glen Johnson tells friends he is leaving Liverpool to join Inter in January.

The England right-back still wants to leave Anfield following public criticism from manager Roy Hodgson, despite both men playing down the dispute, they report.

- Glen thinks he's going to Inter in January and wants to leave Liverpool if he gets the chance, a friend of Johnson's told Goal.com. 

Another defender that could be on his way out of Anfield in January is Fabio Aurelio.

GiveMeFootball reports that Hodgson is lining up a £6 million part exchange offer to lure Emre Belozoglu back to the Premier League.

The former Inter Milan winger according to reports in Germany is available for £7m plus Aurelio.

The Turkey international has experienced the Premier League before during a short spell at Newcastle.

Liverpool have already put together a short list of transfer targets in January after the appointment of Damian Comolli as director of football strategy.

Comolli will work alongside manager Roy Hodgson to identify targets from abroad and the focus has previously been on bringing young, seemingly French, talent to Anfield.

However, the club are also aware of the need to combine that youth with experience or risk having similar naivety to Arsenal, whose manager Arsene Wenger admits concerns over his young squad’s squandering of chances.

And Emre has previous experience of playing in England so would not need much time to settle into Liverpool’s team and he has been playing well for Fenerbache this season. 

But there might be changes in other parts of the squad as well. What about putting Stephen Ireland out of his Aston Villa missery?

The former Manchester City midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Villa Park with Houllier at the helm. He does not apppear to be a big fan of the schemer, regularly selecting players such as Nigel Reo-Coker ahead of him Caughtoffside reports.

The Liverpool boss will be given significant funds to strengthen his squad this January, and Ireland looks set to be his first major signing.

Another top priority will be a striker, with names such as Mario Gomez, and Fernando Llorente recently linked with a move to Anfield, they belive.

Roy Hodgson also has been on to France scouting again. This time to see Lille star Gervinho. 

Hodgson took in Lille's win over Monaco at the weekend, but he wouldn't be drawn as to which players he was watching, Goal.com reports.

L’Equipe reports that Hodgson was present at the Stade Lille-Metropole with Laurent Viaud, a French scout for the Reds.

Gervinho’s performance was rather overshadowed by another stunning display from teenage Belgian Eden Hazard, who frequently tore the Monegasque defence to pieces and was directly responsible for both Lille goals.

At the end of the game, when Hodgson was asked if he was following Gervinho, he simply stated that the Ivoirian was not the only good player on the field.

Rumours also keeps on coming about earlier reported target Charles N'Zogbia.

The Wigan winger has stated to the Daily Star that the Latics are only a “stepping stone” in his career:

- They know very well I’m not a player who is going to stay at the club. I give 100 per cent on the pitch, but, if there’s a bigger club that wants me, the manager and the president have always told me the door is open for discussion.

Birmingham had a £9m bid for him accepted in the summer, but could not agree personal terms.

French club Marseille are reportedly interested, and N’Zogbia said an offer from them was “not something you refuse”.

Another reported target for both Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are Xherdan Shaqiri, who reportedly is in talks with Inter Milan.

Italian sources quoted by the German 4-4-2 Web site claim the Treble winners are willing to pay Basel €7 million for the 19-year-old Swiss winger’s services.

Shaqiri has been linked with a host of clubs, including Juventus, Manchester United, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona and Genoa CFC. Liverpool were reportedly taking note of Shaqiri last season, and in September it was reported that he was keen on a move to Anfield.

Shaqiri was one of the youngest players to go to the World Cup, testament to his potential.  His pace and dribbling ability helped FC Basel to the league and cup double last term as he contributed six goals and five assists in his debut season.

Spanish star being priced out?

After that sobering defeat to Stoke at the weekend once again there is speculations regarding Roy Hodgsons future as Liverpool manager.

And once again the Dutch legend Frank Rijkaard is linked with the managerial post.

According to GiveMeFootball the odds have dramatically been shortened on Rijkaard becoming the new man at the Liverpool helm.  

Martin O’Neill and Guus Hiddink are also thought to be in contention, while Liverpool fans’ favourite Kenny Dalglish is a 12/1 shot with SkyBet. 

But regardless of who is the Liverpool manager in january, there will be money available for a star player, if the price is right...

In addition, Hodgson may possibly get money from the sale of Dani Pacheco, who wants out and from Alberto Aquilani who wants a permanent move to Juventus. And he would be willing to take Glen Johnson with him to Italy.

This is money Hodgson probably would need if the following player is on Hodgsons wish list in January;

Athletic Bilbao has slapped a price tag on reported Liverpool target Fernando Llorente. 

Liverpool will have to cough up a massive €63million if they are to land the Spanish, TalkSport reports.

Damien Camolli has been told that the club's owners New England Sports Ventures would make money available for a world class signing in the transfer window.

But their chances of landing the 6ft 5in Spanish international now seem remote after the La Liga club revealed they have increased the his buy-out clause from €36m to an eye-watering €63m.

Real Madrid are also keen on the big striker, but even they seem unlikely to meet that whopping asking price.

A new name poping up is French right-back Rod Fanni.

According to The Mirror Roy Hodgson eyes up the player as Glen Johnson's replacement.

Hodgson flew to watch the Rennes defender against Auxerre on Sunday and is poised to make a bargain offer of around £3m in the New Year window.

Fanni, 29 next month, is one of the most respected right backs in his homeland and has won five caps for France.

He has been close to coming to the Premier League before when Newcastle, Sunderland and Everton tried for him.

Another reported Liverpool target is PSV Eindhoven's Ibrahim Afellay.

PSV Eindhoven have now confirmed they have agreed a deal with Barcelona for the January transfer of highly-rated midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, TeamTalk writes.

Afellay announced last month he would not be signing a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of the season with PSV.

A number of clubs, including the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal were linked with the Holland international, but Barcelona have won the race for the 24-year-old's signature.

French midfielder linked

After the terrible loss to Stoke this weekend Roy Hodgson admits he has doubts over his Liverpool future, as fans call for legend Kenny Dalglish to replace him.

Hodgson, on the other hand, asks us to judge him after 38 to 55 games.

Yann M'Vila.

The hottest rumour the last 24 hours is that of the Rennes youngster Yann M'Vila. Roy Hodgson flew to France on Sunday to watch him.

He saw M'Vila play for his current club against Auxerre.

Although M'Vila's side lost 1-0, according to SportsVibe the Liverpool manager's mind seems to be set on acquiring the youngster to shore up the Reds' midfield.

M'Vila, who plays as a holding player primarily, has received an abundance of plaudits around France for his physical strength and, even at the tender age of 20, has already appeared four times for the national side.

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Mvila burst onto the scene at Rennes last season, displacing former Liverpool player Bruno Cheyrou from the side. M'Vila has excellent physical strength and is renowned as an effective ball winner, who is then able to use the ball sensibly.  His rapid rise has also been helped by a real maturity in his game.

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It's believed a fee of £15m could be enough to secure the 20-year-old's services, The Daily Mail reports.

Valter Birsa.

In addition to M'Vila Hodgson is believed to have watched two more players in action on sunday.

Auxerre's Delvin Ndinga is another believed to have caught the eye, with a number of clubs from across Europe monitoring his situation.

Another player to have been linked with Liverpool in the past is Slovenian striker Valter Birsa and Hodgson may have taken the opportunity to run the rule over him.

The Auxerre striker impressed at the 2010 World Cup and it is expected to be only a matter of time before he is on his way to pastures new, Sky Sports reports.

Lucas Barrios.

Another reported transfer target for Hodgson is Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios.

He represents the type of big-name signing that many LFC fans long to see.

The well built 26 year old has been a remarkable success in the Bundesliga since his move from Colo Colo in the summer of 2009.

Barrios has netted 31 goals in 50 matches for Dortmund and has attracted a great deal of interest as his form of late has helped take his side clear at the top of the table.

Barrios, 26, is valued at about £12m.

Hodgson wants Dutch striker?

Roy Hodgson has tried to clairify his critical comments of Glen Johnson, saying they were not intended to insult or single-out the England international.

But according to The Daily Mail Glen Johnson is on the brink of leaving Liverpool after a total breakdown in his relationship with manager Roy Hodgson.

 

- Things have moved rapidly downhill for Glen since Roy arrived. He finds the style of football boring and the way he was criticised by the manager in public was uncalled for. He was made to train too soon with a groin injury and it's kept him out for longer than it should have done, said a source.

 

And Christian Poulsen could be set to end his Anfield "nightmare" by leaving Liverpool for former club Sevilla, according to reports.

 

The Dane is unsettled at Merseyside and craves a move away from the Reds, with los Nervionenses emerging as front-runners to secure his signature, Goal.com reports.

 

It has been a fairly quiet day when it comes to other transfer rumours, but one name has poped up on the Liverpool transfer radar -  Twente forward Luuk de Jong.

The 20-year–old has has had a flying start to the season, scoring seven goals and contributing four assists so far.

De Jong is a neat forward, who possesses good movement and an eye for goal.  He is also getting a good taste of Champions League football this season too.

The People reports that Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson likes the look of de Jong and views him as an eventual successor to Dirk Kuyt.

Liverpool are apparently considering a £2.5million bid for him in June, but will face competition from Spanish side Real Zaragoza.

Liverpool monitoring Newcastle striker

There has been reports saying that defender Glen Johnson is unsettled at Liverpool. The Guardian says it is believed Johnson has struggled to settle on Merseyside since his £18m transfer from Portsmouth.

This of course has fired speculations about his future, and according to Insidefutbol Italian giants Juventus is allerted.

Another unsettled player is Newcastles striker Andy Carroll. 

Today Goal.com reports that Tottenham are leading the race for the striker, with Manchester United and Liverpool monitoring his situation.

Carroll has been the subject of controversy in his personal life and figures close to the player now believe he may have to move away from Newcastle to settle down.

He is expected to be rewarded for his fine form on Saturday with a call up to Fabio Capello's England squad to face France on Wednesday.

Liverpool are in the market for a striker and would reportedly consider a move for the 6ft 4in forward, who has scored seven Premier League goals already this season and has terrorised defenders with his heading ability.  

Liverpool have reportedly set their sights on Juventus FC Torino striker Amauri.

Another striker on the monitor is Brazilian striker Amauri.

According to Italian reports, Liverpool have made enquiries about bringing the Brazilian to Anfield.

Amauri is a strong striker with a great eye for goal. He has good heading ability, and what he lacks in speed his makes up for in excellent technique.

He has scored three goals in 11 appearances for Juventus this term, all three coming in the UEFA Europa League. He found the net a total of 21 times in the previous two seasons for the Serie A side.

The 30-year-old is contracted to Juventus until the end of next season, and is valued at €7.5M-10M, ImScouting reports.

One younger player being linked is the Preston starlet Adam Barton.

Liverpool boss Hodgson is eyeing up a move for the 19 year old. He is is keen to buy British and the Blackburn-born Barton is rated as one of the most exciting prospects outside the Premier League, The Mirror reports.

Even though Pepe Reina has pledged his future to Liverpool, there keeps coming rumours about replacements.

According to ImScouting Liverpool is to line up Wolfsburg's Diego Benaglio as possible replacement for Reina.

Bayern Munchen are also said to be interested in the 27-year-old Swiss stopper, who is contracted to Wolfsburg until the end of the 2012/2013 season and is valued €10M-15M.

The Switzerland No. 1 is also great in one-on-one situations.

French winger linked

There's been a lot of talk about Pepe Reina and his future at Anfield. But today it was confirmed that Jose is fully committed to his long-term contract at the club and has not told manager Roy Hodgson he wishes to leave.

Elsewhere there is exciting speculations of players that may leave, and that may come in...

Spanish sports journalist Guillem Balague in his Blog with The Times writes that Sevilla wants Christian Poulsen, while Damien Comolli wants to bring Antoine Griezmann to Liverpool.

The new Seville manager, Gregorio Manzano, has now had a little over a month to assess his squad. - He's going to prioritize the purchase of at least two central midfielders. An experienced player that he can put straight into the team, and a young player that he can develop, Balague writes.

- As a result, Liverpool's Christian Poulsen has been placed high on the list of transfer wish list. The Dane had a very successful stay at the Spanish club before he was sold to Juventus in 2008.

- The 19-year-old French midfielder Antoine Griezmann seems to be a potential target for Liverpool, after Damien Comolli, the club's new Director of Football Strategy, hinted purchasing Griezmann in a meeting with senior players at Anfield, according to Balague.

Griezmann plays for Real Sociedad and has established himself in the club's first team after he made his debut for the Spanish club last year. The rapid 19-year-old can play both left wing and the role of withdrawn striker. He is described as being technically very good, while he has a nose for goals.

Today - again Liverpool is linked with the former Chelsea star Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The 29-year-old speedster is being tipped to make a January exit from current club Manchester City, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is thought to be one of the parties interested in a move for the player, GiveMeFootball reports.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright, was quoted as saying he wants the former Chelsea player to get first-team football.

- I'd love him to get out of there on loan at least. We're talking about someone who is still in the England squad, so Fabio Capello obviously rates him, said Wright. Hodgson is also thought to hold the player in high regard, and could see the player as an additional attacking presence alongside Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt.

The Reds boss is thought to have been given a transfer budget in the region of £35 million, the GiveMeFootball writes.

Liverpool will face competition when it comes to another reported transfer target. Niko Kranjcar is reportedly on the radar of German giants Bayern Munich.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal looks set to rival Liverpool for his signature, and is expected to make a bid for the 26-year-old Croatian in the January transfer window, GiveMeFootball reports.

Van Gaal is reportedly prepared to offer £11 million for the Tottenham man and will be encouraged by his recent comments about wanting to play regular football, they report.

Five players linked

Roy Hodgson has today again stressed he will be looking to improve his defence and attack during the January transfer window.  

- Where we are badly off is if something goes badly wrong at the back, where we don't have a lot of players to cover. Up front if Fernando or David Ngog are not able to play we don't have options in terms of out-and-out centre-forwards, he says to Sky Sports.

And maybe Damien Comolli can help Hodgson fulfill his needs...?

Todays round in the transfer rumour mill starts with earlier linked winger Dimitri Payet.

Comolli is impressed and suggest he is better than Modric. He had plenty of time to observe Payet in his former role as director of sport at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, and is also familiar with Spurs midfielder Modric, having spent three years as director of football at White Hart Lane.

- On a natural class level, Dimitri is stronger than a player like Modric, (who) I saw very closely at Tottenham," Comolli told France Football, Sky Sports reports.

The in-demand England defender has been tracked by Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham over the last 12 months and Bolton chairman Phil Gartside admits he can no longer resist an offer.

The Daily Mail today links Liverpool with Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

Wanderers are ready to cash in on their star defender after revealing their debts had risen to £93million. 

Bolton also admited they may also have to sell in-form Swedish striker Johan Elmander when the transfer window reopens in January.

The Sweden striker, who was signed for £8.2m from Toulouse in 2008, is out of contract in the summer and at risk of walking out for nothing. Both Spartak Moscow and Fenerbahce are interested in the 29-year-old.

- If a Champions League team knocks on our door in January that’s the best time to sell an asset because Champions League teams will pay the money, a spokesman at the club said to Bloomberg, rating Cahill at about £15m.

  - He’s out of contract at the end of this season and again if someone knocks on the door in January then that’s obviously a consideration we have to make.

Another striker is on the radar as well. Liverpool has made an offer for Zenit St Petersburg striker Alexandr Kerzhakov The Daily Mail claims.

The Russia international, however, is unsure about moving to Anfield.

- The talk about Liverpool is not baseless. The British club came to my agent with a proposal. I answered… I didn't answer at all, the player told the Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

- I have other things to think about and in all respects I am happy in Russia. My team is in first place in the national championship and I have always said that I wanted to play for Zenit.

- In the case of Liverpool I will not take the initiative, but I can count the fingers on one hand for the amount of clubs I could theoretically go to. This is because Zenit is playing beautiful, modern football and the club is growing rapidly. And I am here, at home.

Another striker being linked, is the Brazilian born striker Givanildo Vieira de Souza, otherwise known as “Hulk”.

He has become highly desired by many clubs all over Europe. He has made a stunning start to the season, hitting ten goals in nine league starts including two in the 5-0 demolition of title rivals Benfica on Sunday.

Manchester City scouts have been watching the 24 year-old and rumours suggest they will be making a bid when the transfer window opens in January. His strength, pace and powerful shots will definitely suit the physical style of the premier league and according to FootballTransferTavern clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham are also keeping tabs on him.