Liverpool's main summer targets?

When the transfer window was closed Monday night, it is my impression most Liverpool supporters were quite happy, despite the fact that Torres went to Chelsea. 

The overall impression is that John W. Henry and NESV / FSG has clear intentions with their purchase of Liverpool, and want to invest in the team's future. And accoring to Sportsvibe Kenny Dalglish has revealed that he fully believes the club’s new owners will continue to invest heavily in the reconstruction of the team.

He is even saying that the owners were a 'bit disappointed' not to get more players in during the January transfer window:

Even former Liverpool player and club legend John Aldridge say 'other signings will come in future, I’m sure of that. Kenny can build the team as time goes on because the new board have shown they are willing to spend', TalkSport reports.

It seems clear enough we can look forward to a very exciting summer!

But who is going to be the club's main targets?

It seems quite likely, even though Ian Halloway according to some sources may not think the same, one of the summers main targets will be Blackpool playmaker Charlie Adam.

And according to Caughtoffside The Merseyside club believe they are the front runners to bring in the Scottish international who they believe wants to complete a move to Anfield.

Ian Holloway’s sung the praises of manager Kenny Dalglish in relation to the way he conducted himself in the chase for the in form 25 year old, in marked contrast to the way the Tangerines boss pilloried Aston Villa’s Gerard Houllier, and that too could well work in Liverpool’s favour come the summer.

Tottenham reportedly failed to secure a move for Adam in the dying minutes of the transfer window but it is believed that the former Rangers man has set his heart on a move to Liverpool and it was the interest from the Dalglish and co. that led to him putting in a transfer request in the first place.

Even Blackpool manager Ian Holloway says it would be 'impossible' to stop Adam from joining Liverpool in the summer.

Sportsvibe.co.uk claims Liverpool have identified young German midfielder Marko Marin as the next player to join the Anfield revolution.

The 21-year-old has already drawn interest from a number of Premier League clubs after a string of superb performances in the Champions league, including two impressive displays against Tottenham.

Spurs, Manchester United and Arsenal have all shown an interest in the talented playmaker, but according to reports in the German media, Liverpool are now the favourites to bring Marin to England.

Caughtoffside claims Liverpool are keen on making a summer move for Bolton centre back Gary Cahill as Anfield Director of Football Damien Comolli draws up plans to freshen up the club’s back four.

Dalglish and Comolli are apparently big admirers of the Bolton defender but will not be prepared to meet the inflated asking price of £25m, a fee that also scared off Arsene Wenger but Liverpool may feel that they can persuade Wanderers to accept less given their financial problems.

Liverpool are also reportedly planning a summer move for versatile Benfica wideman, Fábio Coentrão, GiveMeFootball claims.

The Portuguese is thought to have been on the radar of the Reds for a number of months after Goal.com initially reported that they had shown interest in the 22-year-old.

Coentrão has since been quoted in the French press expressing his 'love' for Liverpool and, now, caughtoffside.com suggest the Anfield club have 'earmarked' the Portugal international for a summer transfer.

Liverpool are currently short on recognised left-backs after the failure of Paul Konchesky to make a lasting impression at Anfield saw him loaned out to Nottingham Forest.

Defenders and forwards on the radar

Following Jamie Carraghers dislocated shoulder a few defenders are being linked with Liverpool for the January transfer window.

Liverpool are being backed to make a move for Bolton defender Gary Cahill in January, according to The Guardian.

The 24-year-old England international - who has been consistently linked with a move away from the Reebok in recent weeks - with a view to making a bid in the New Year.

Arsenal had originally been expected to do battle with Manchester United for the services of Cahill, who is thought to have caught the eye of both Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and United supremo Sir Alex Ferguson with a string of imperious displays for the Trotters.

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But Liverpool are now apparently the frontrunners for his signature as Roy Hodgson looks to bolster his defence following the long-term layoff of Anfield hero Jamie Carragher.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Arsenal will launch a £10 million bid for the Liverpool and Manchester United target, but Bolton manager Owen Coyle has slapped a £25 million price-tag on his prized asset.

An earlier linked defender is Lille's Adil Rami.

He is seen as the ideal candidate to replace the aforementioned club legend, according to Goal.com.

Valued at £12 million, the report claims Hodgson is ready to match the Ligue 1 side’s valuation of  a player the Liverpool manager has been tracking even prior to Carragher’s injury.

Rami impressed during France’s recent friendly against England at Wembley and has in the past attracted interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.

The 24-year-old of Moroccan descent has thrived in the new France setup engineered by the impressive Laurent Blanc, and having made his debut in August of this year, the former Frejus youngster is something of a mainstay in the former Manchester United defender’s squads this season.

A forward that has been heavily linked with Liverpool the last few weeks is out of favour Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano.

Now Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has ruled his side out of the race to sign Sampdoria outcast Antonio Cassano calling it ‘fantasy football’, GiveMeFootball reports.

Cassano has recently had a falling out with Sampdoria and, despite apologising to their president several times, looks set to be released.

The Genovese side are currently trying to annul Cassano’s contract, after the striker refused to attend an awards ceremony with his team mates and then verbally abused president Riccardo Garrone, and are set to find out the outcome on December 3.

That means the 28-year-old could be available on a free transfer, with Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City and Fiorentina all mooted as potential suitors.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is currently compiling a shortlist of January transfer targets and, if Cassano’s contract is terminated, he would be a fantastic coup for the Anfield club.

Another striker that has come back on the transfer radar is the towering Norwegian John Carew.

The Norway international has had a poor relationship with Villa Park boss Gerard Houllier since his days at Lyon, and a recent spat between the two in back and forth media interviews has not aided their relationship.

Carew’s future at Villa Park now looks bleak, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, the player will be free to talk to clubs from January.

According to Caughtoffside The 6’5″ Norwegian’s agent Per Arne Flod said:

- Every day I receive calls from clubs all over Europe interested in Carew but there are no concrete offers on the table.

In January there is not likely to be a shortage of offers, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is believed to want Carew as a plan B for the club should Fernando Torres be injured, and as an impact player from the bench.

Yesterday Liverpool again was linked with West Ham forward Carlton Cole. But now it seems the Hammers har re-thinking theire options.

Cole impressed as the Hammers won for the second game in succession - a 4-0 demolition of Manchester United in the Carling Cup - and netted twice.

And now the club's bosses are thinking twice about whether to cash in on the England international, who was expected to bring in up to £8million in revenue for the cash-strapped east Londoners, Metro reports.

Their quest to get off the bottom of the table - and then to avoid relegation by the end of the season - is likely to hinge on their firepower.

Cole has been a target for former Fulham manager Roy Hodgson for a few years, and he is now keen to take him to new club Liverpool as an able deputy for star man Fernando Torres.