The transfer targets are starting to queue up for the Reds. Another day, another two new players linked with a switch to Anfield – Juventus striker Fernando Llorente and Atletico Madrid forward Arda Turan.
SEE MORE:
Five striker deals better for us than signing Benteke, with Carlos Bacca and Premier League star
Five left-backs that Liverpool should consider with any leftover cash this summer
Ranking every Liverpool manager since Bill Shankly, as Rodgers prepares for make or break season
Both players are reportedly eyeing up moves to England after falling out of favour at their respective clubs and reports in the Daily Mirror and the Daily Express are suggesting we could be among those interested.
According to the Mirror, Llorente would be ‘happy to move to Liverpool’ this summer, although the general feeling appears to be that it’s not an interest which is entirely mutual. The Reds have much stronger links to the likes of Christian Benteke and Carlos Bacca – as discussed here by the Echo – so while the Spaniard might be on a list of possible targets, it seems unlikely that he’s particularly near the top of it.
The 30-year-old joined Juventus from Athletic Bilbao in 2013 and has scored 27 goals in all competitions. However, he slipped down the Turin club’s pecking order last season, following the arrival of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, and only managed to find the net on nine occasions.
Meanwhile, the Express tells us that Liverpool are one of three major clubs interested in Turan, along with Chelsea and Manchester United. They confirm that earlier this week his agent, Ahmet Bulut, revealed negotiations were taking place over a move.
He said: “He intends to leave Spain this summer. It is his will to go out to play in the Premier League, that is where he would like to continue his career at this time.
“His departure from Atletico is not easy because he has a clause of €41 million (£29m). There are ongoing talks with three teams at the moment. I cannot say their names, but they are the best of England and European football.”
Such a statement, sadly, is likely to mean that we’re not the frontrunners for the player, who will instead opt to join a club that are playing Champions League football.
The 28-year-old Turk has been with Atletico since 2011, scoring 22 goals and providing 32 assists in 178 games.