\u00a0The Rumours<\/h2>\n\u00a0Raheem Sterling<\/h3>\n
Thankfully there\u2019s absolutely no way that the transfer saga involving the Jamaican born England international Raheem Sterling is going to be dragged out to the point that it becomes mind-numbingly tedious. So we shouldn\u2019t worry that it will drag on all summer and can safely assume it will be settled sooner rather than later. Regardless, the big news this week was that Manchester City improved their offer for the youngster from \u00a330 million plus add-ons to \u00a340 million. It was an offer that Liverpool promptly rejected. City insisted that the offer was a final one and was take-it-or-leave-it. Which is odd, as surely every offer is, by the very definition of the word, one that the receiver of said offer can either take or leave?<\/p>\n
At some point Liverpool will have to make a decision about when City are going to walk away permanently, but for the moment the Reds seem happy enough to call Sheik Mansour\u2019s bluff. FSG want at least \u00a350 million for Sterling, so unless City are willing to stump up the cash it seems unlikely Raheem will be going anywhere any time soon.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Martin Skrtel<\/h3>\n
Srktel made it clear when he was offered a new contract recently that he found the whole thing to be derisory. It wasn\u2019t insulting enough for him to decide to walk away from Merseyside forever, though, and the club must have come to an understanding with the player and his agent over the reported \u2018pay as you play\u2019 deal they were looking to offer him. For the simple fact is that the 30-year-old Slovakian has signed a new contract<\/a> that will keep him at the club until 2018. It follows on from new contracts for younger, more prodigious talent such as Philippe Coutinho, and came on the back of Inter Milan showing keen interest in the central defender.<\/p>\n The Express<\/a>, however, have reported that it\u2019s all a load of nonsense, that Skrtel hasn\u2019t signed a new contract and the story seemed to eminate from a fake Facebook profile. We\u2019re not sure what to believe, but nothing\u2019s been announced on the Liverpool website at the time of writing, so maybe keep your eyes peeled on this one.<\/p>\n We reported last week that the 18-year-old Charlton defender was a target for Liverpool and The Guardian are reporting<\/a> that Gomez is expected at Melwood for a medical today before joining Liverpool in a deal worth \u00a33.5 million. It is expected that he will be loaned out next season, so Reds fans won\u2019t get to see him pull on the jersey any time soon.<\/p>\n Celso Pupo \/ shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n The Metro<\/a>, meanwhile, reckon that Liverpool are also hoping to bring in another defender in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain\u2019s 21-year-old left back Lucas Digne. Reports suggest the youngster would rather stay in Paris, but that his lack of time on the pitch in the French capital have forced him to consider a move away. Roma are also tracking his movements and could yet offer a more continental option than Merseyside, so there may well be another twist in the tale before this one gets resolved.<\/p>\n Sticking with the defence, the Liverpool Echo are saying<\/a> that Nathaniel Clyne is as good as a Liverpool player. That comes on the back of the news that Clyne\u2019s current club, Southampton, have signed a replacement in the form of Cedric Soares from Sporting Lisbon.<\/p>\n Clyne is keen to join Liverpool and the Reds seem to have finally met Southampton\u2019s demands of nearly \u00a315 million for him. Many would ask why Liverpool didn\u2019t go for Soares instead, especially given the fact that the last defender they brought in from Southampton didn\u2019t exactly turn out to be a rip-roaring success. Will the Merseyside club return for Soares next summer? Southampton will be hoping so. Expect an announcement of the Clyne deal imminently.<\/p>\n Perhaps Liverpool are resigned to lose Sterling to City after all, as The Telegraph<\/a> report that the Reds are looking to bring in 20-year-old winger Lucas Ocampos from Monaco for about \u00a314 million. The Argentine joined Monaco for \u00a311 million in 2012 and has made 80 appearances for the French club, scoring 12 goals. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Marseille, making 12 appearances and netting just the once. Marseille want to sign him too, but the prospect of some games in the Premier League could be too much to resist for the winger. The fact that he\u2019s a youngster full of potential means he fits FSGs profile for new players perfectly.<\/p>\n The Express reckons<\/a> there\u2019s a fight brewing between Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool for the signature of Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle. The 25-year-old has impressed in the North-East, catching the eye of some top clubs. He scored 5 goals for the Geordies last term and they would apparently be willing to accept roughly \u00a317 million for him if he were to move on this summer. The player himself seems to prefer the idea of moving to Chelsea as he was quoted earlier this year as saying, \u201cMourinho is one of the best managers in the world\u2026If one day I have the chance to work under his guidance I would be very happy\u201d. Looks like Liverpool may indeed have a fight on their hands if they really want him.<\/p>\n Sky Sports<\/a> have thrown a new name into the Liverpool FC transfer mix, which is always fun. Roma\u2019s midfielder Radja Nainggolan is meant to be a target of both Manchester United and Liverpool, despite Roma\u2019s manager Rudi Garcia being hopeful that the 27-year-old will stay in Italy. It\u2019s likely that FSG won\u2019t be too keen on this transfer considering that Nainggolan is part owned by Cagliari and they aren\u2019t big fans of multi-ownership deals. The player made 30 appearances for Roma last season, scoring 5 times and he is highly sort after. The only thing that might persuade FSG to make an offer is the amount of letters in his name, meaning the club shop could make a killing on the back of shirts.<\/p>\n Back to the defence and rumours persist that Liverpool are keen on Barcelona\u2019s Marc Bartra. The Daily Mail<\/a> say they aren\u2019t guaranteed to get his services, however, as Tottenham and Porto are also keen on the Spanish international. The 24-year-old could be available for as little as \u00a39 million as he has a buy-out clause in his contract based on appearances made. He is apparently negotiating the small print with Barca in the hope that he can move on and get some more games in the season leading up to the European Championships.<\/p>\n Globoesporte<\/a> say the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool won\u2019t be restricted just to the pitch as the two North-West footballing powerhouses are ready to lock horns over the signing of Roberto Firmino from 1899 Hoffenheim. The Brazilian \u2013 who missed an open goal in Brazil\u2019s Copa America match against Columbia this week \u2013 is likely to cost around \u00a318 million. The 23-year-old\u2019s agent, Roger Wittman, has said that the midfielder will move to England when he decides to leave Germany.<\/p>\n\u00a0Joe Gomez<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Lucas Digne<\/h3>\n
![\"Celso](\"https:\/\/www.andcouldheplay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Lucas-DIGNE-of-France_Editorial-Use-Only_Celso-Pupo-shutterstock.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h3>\n
Nathaniel Clyne<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Lucas Ocampos<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Moussa Sissoko<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Radja Nainggolan<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Marc Bartra<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Roberto Firmino<\/h3>\n
\u00a0Yevhen Konoplyanka<\/h3>\n