Liverpool in talks over defender?

Left back from Marseille? New Gerrard midfield partner and Torres strike partner? Nigerian international striker on the radar. Roma striker is not untouchable... and Russian international for summer transfer?

It has now been confirmed that, as I reported yesterday, the first transfer under Dalglish's helm has been the former Arsenal and Blackburn winger Jason Banton, it has been officially confirmed.

King Kenny has today gone out to cool the talk of transfer targets, claiming he has not discussed potential transfer targets for the current window with the club's owners. 

Despite these claims the transfer rumours keeps coming more than ever...

Liverpool have, according to Sportingo, made contact with Marseille over the availability of Taye Taiwo.

Liverpool are keen to sign a new left back and their attention has switched to the Nigeria international after an assessment of the squad by caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish.

The Scot made the surprising decision to play out-of-form Glen Johnson in that position in the 2-1 defeat to Blackpool highlighting the lack of options in that position. Fabio Aurelio was mysteriously omitted while Paul Konchesky is tipped to follow former manager Roy Hodgson through the exit door after a failing to rise to the level expected at Anfield.

Taiwo has emerged as the Reds number one target after impressing for L’Om over a number of seasons. Quick and powerfully built, the 25-year-old is solid tackler but also provides an added dimension in attack.

His strong running and powerful shot are an asset to the Ligue 1 club for whom he also gets on the scoresheet from direct free-kicks.

Another new name appears on the radar as Liverpool today are linked with Inter's Victor Obinna. According to TalkSport he has caught the eye of Liverpool whilst starring for Premier League strugglers West Ham.

The Nigerian international has been one of the few players to gain credit during West Ham's failure to impress this season and has indicated his desire to stay in London.

The 23-year-old only made a handful of starts at Inter following his move from Chievo and it is understood that the European champions would happily recoup £8 million on the forward.

Obinna may have his head turned by the interest of Liverpool though, especially with the Hammers facing the prospect of relegation.

Liverpool are today being linked with both West Hams Scott Parker and Luis Suarez.

Parker has been in sensational form again for the Hammers this season and has consistently been linked with a move away from Upton Park.

Parker has stated that he has no desire to leave West Ham, but it comes as no surprise that he is wanted by a number of clubs - including Tottenham - and The Guardian now reports Liverpool are interested in his signature.

However, Liverpool are expected to have to spend big to bring the former Chelsea midfielder to Anfield, after Spurs were told that they would have to pay £15 million for his services.

But, according to The Mirror, Kenny Dalglish will ask to be backed in the transfer market during a meeting with owners New England Sports Ventures this week and hopes to bring in a midfielder to partner Anfield hero Steven Gerrard.

The new Liverpool boss is thought to have identified Parker as the man to play alongside Gerrard, but whether the Anfield club will launch a bid remains to be seen.

The acquisition of a new striker to play with Torres is also a priority for Liverpool, and they have been linked with moves for Ajax captain Luis Suarez and Roma hotshot Mirko Vucinic.

And, despite Dalglish said to have drawn up a shortlist of potential candidates, he has stated that he will allow Liverpool director of football strategy Damien Comolli to look after transfer dealings.

When it comes tu Vucinic, according to Goal.com, he is not untouchable, as Roma would sell him to Liverpool if budgetary constraints forced a need for immediate cash flow.

Il Corriere dello Sport reports the Italians have never generated much favour for selling the 27-year-old Montenegrin ace, but firm interest from Liverpool, and a need for cash could change their position.

For now Vucinic is seen as stable in the capital, but with Roma's future unknown and linked to a sale from club creditors Unicredit, player exits may be needed in future.

Two heavily linked players - Aston Villa's Ashley Young and Wigan Athletic's Charles N'Zogbia, are the two names on Kenny Dalglish's shortlist, Sportingo says. 

The list had included Valencia's Juan Mata and Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips but those moves have been scuppered due to the signing of a contract extension and a proposed move to Fulham, respectively, they claim.

Finaly GiveMeFootball reports that Liverpool striker target Pavel Pogrebnyak could make a summer move to the Barclays Premier League.

The Russian international has been linked with a number of clubs in recent months, with former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson thought to be one of the interested parties.

New Reds chief Kenny Dalglish is expected to continue the Anfield outfit's interest in the player, although Liverpool are now unlikely to secure a switch this month.

- He will stay here until the end of the season. In summer we will make a decision, player agent Oleg Artemov told the Daily Mail.

- A number of Premier League sides are interested in him. We've received a lot of offers.

First Dalglish transfer already done?

Today it was revealed that our new owners have targeted Peter Lawwell as the clubs new chief executive.

According to Scotlands Evening Times a new chief executive is top of John W. Henry's priorities and Celtic supremo Lawwell, who was targeted by Arsenal back in 2008, is said to be on a shortlist.

As earlier reported the owners are set to cisit Liverpool this week, as they are ready to step up transfer pursuits.

And allthough, according to The Mirror, it appears that Dalglish haven't asked to buy anyone and don't know how much I've got to spend, the same paper claims his first signing allready is done...

The Mirror says the Liverpool boss has gone back to old club Blackburn to make 18 year-old Jason Banton the first signing of his second spell at Anfield.

Dalglish has snapped up the former England youth international after Rovers let him go because he was growing unsettled.

Banton joined Rovers from Arsenal - where he also became fed up at his lack of progress through the ranks - two years ago, and he had been pushing for a first-team squad slot at Ewood Park. Liverpool have handed the youngster a deal to the end of the season.

The same paper - The Mirror, also claims Dalglish is ready to make Blackpool's Charlie Adam his first shock signing at Liverpool.

The Reds are ready to trump Birmingham and Aston Villa for the Scotland international midfielder, who hit 19 goals last season and has bagged four so far this term.

Ironically, Adam, out of contract next season, is set to line up against Liverpool at Bloomfield Road tonight in what could be his final appearance for the Tangerines.

Aston Villa have already failed with a £2.5m bid, while rivals Birmingham are understood to have offered Blackpool £2m.

According to The Daily Mail Liverpool lead the race to sign Southampton youngster Alex Oxdale-Chamberlain. The Insider say the odds are 4/5 that Liverpool will win the battle ofr the players signature.

Chelsea and Arsenal have made their interest known but Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s presence at Southampton's win over Oldham on Tuesday was evidence that they will not let a talent slip by without a fight.

Southampton value Chamberlain at £10m but the reality is that they are unlikely to achieve that initially with offers in the region of £5m more realistic over the next couple of days.
 

Elsewhere it seems there might be an open door to the transfer of Luis Suarez.

According to Live4Liverpool new Ajax coach Frank De Boer admitted in a conversation with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that he cannot rule out a move away from the Dutch club for their striker.

The Uruguayan international is reportedly unsettled in Holland after the departure of manager Martin Jol, and De Boer’s failure to rule out a departure has increased speculation about the 23 year old’s future.

Such a statement could suggest that Ajax are encouraging both Liverpool and Tottenham to bid for the striker...

And the Metro report that Ricky van Wolfswinkel's proposed move to Liverpool or Spurs appears to have fallen through after it was revealed he needs surgery to repair a damaged collarbone.

Any move has been scuppered after he broke his collarbone in a Europa League game last month - coincidentally at Anfield.

He was initially expected to recover with basic physio treatment, but the fact he needs an operation and will not play again this season has put an end to any prospects.