da stake casino： According to a report from The Daily Mail yesterday evening, Liverpool could be saying goodbye to as many as ten of their first team stars this summer.
da 888casino： Glen Johnson, Kolo Toure and Steven Gerrard are all set to leave upon the expiration of their contracts, loan signing Javier Manquillo will be sent back to Atletico Madrid a year early, Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini and Brad Jones have all been deemed surplus to requirements, Martin Skrtel has emerged as a target for Wolfsburg and Raheem Sterling appears hell-bent on forcing his way out of Anfield.
That’s a heck of a lot of talent to replace in a single transfer window. But fear not Liverpool fans, for Football FanCast is here to help.
We’ve listed ten like-for-like replacements Liverpool could realistically sign at the not-so-ridiculous total cost of £110million, considering the Reds could land nearly half that sum from selling £50million-rated England international Raheem Sterling alone.
Would the Liverpool end up better off if they made this ten-man trade in the coming transfer window? Let us know by commenting below!
ILKAY GUNDOGAN FOR STEVEN GERRARD
Liverpool need a long-term successor to Steven Gerrard and Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan fits the bill perfectly.
The 24 year-old is a high-energy holding player with cultured feet who loves to make mazy runs on the break, suggesting he’d be a natural suitor to Liverpool’s fast-paced counter-attacking style.
The German international looks set to leave Westfalen this summer as he enters the final year of his contract. The Daily Mail claim he could be available for just £15million, but Man United are considered favourites for his signature.
Alternatives: Roma’s Miralem Pjanic (£37m), Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira (free transfer)
NATHANIEL CLYNE FOR GLEN JOHNSON
A simple enough suggestion; swapping England’s right-back of the last eight years for England’s right-back of the next eight years.
Indeed, the superlative form of Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne this season, bagging two goals in 30 Premier League appearances whilst averaging the fifth-most tackles per-match, 3.5, of any player in the division, has seen him emerge as Roy Hodgson’s priority choice of No.2.
The 24 year-old looks set to leave St. Mary’s this summer after delaying on negotiations to extend his contract past 2016. He’s rated at £17million, but The Express claim the former Crystal Palace youngster has already agreed a move to Manchester United.
Alternatives: Barcelona’s Dani Alves (free transfer), Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson (£8m) Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa (£3.5m)
JAMES MILNER FOR JAVIER MANQUILLO
By no means a like-for-like trade but certainly a player who could offer a lot to Liverpool’s squad.
James Milner is home-grown, two-footed, highly versatile, creative yet industrious and hugely experienced, with 415 Premier League appearances, two league titles and 53 England caps under his belt, so it’s no surprise half of the Premier League is targeting him this summer.
The 29 year-old is expected to leave Manchester City this summer upon the expiration of his contract – but as previously stated, suitors certainly aren’t in short supply.
Noberto Neto for Brad Jones
Liverpool need a goalkeeper who can contest Simon Mignolet for the No.1 jersey, and in terms of price-tag, quality and availability, Fiorentina star Noberto Neto hits an ideal equilibrium.
The Brazilian has kept an impressive nine clean sheets in 23 Serie A appearances this term whilst making 42 saves, but has already confirmed he’ll be leaving the Florence outfit on a free transfer this summer.
He’s already been mooted as a Liverpool target by The Liverpool Echo, but the Reds face competition from Juventus.
Alternatives: Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic (£10m), Espanyol’s Kiko Casilla (£7m), Chelsea’s Petr Cech (loan)
DANNY INGS FOR RICKIE LAMBERT
Having claimed nine goals and four assists in his debut Premier League season, a host of top clubs are courting prodigious front-man Danny Ings this summer.
The 22 year-old’s intelligence, movement and fleet of foot suggest he’s capable of playing at a significantly higher level than Burnley’s, and he’s certain to leave Turf Moor this summer upon the expiration of his contract.
That means Liverpool could snap him up for a nominal compensation fee, believed to be around £5million. As previously stated, however, potential suitors are in copious supply, ranging from Manchester City to Real Sociedad.
Alternatives: Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez (£10m), Chelsea’s Patrick Bamford (£10m)
FABIAN SCHAR FOR KOLO TOURE
Statistically speaking, FC Basel’s Fabian Schar was the best centre-back in the Champions League last season, averaging an imperious 3.3 tackles, 4 interceptions, 6.7 clearances and 1.8 successful aerial duels per match.
The Swiss side recently activated a one-year extension clause in the 23 year-old’s contract, but set to expire in 2016, he’s still expected to move on this summer after claiming three consecutive Swiss Super League titles.
He’s the ball-playing centre-back Liverpool currently lack and will likely be available for around the £10million mark – but Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham have all been linked to the Switzerland international by talkSPORT.
Alternatives: Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar or West Ham’s Winston Reid (both free transfers), Espanyol’s Hector Moreno (£5m)
ANDRE AYEW FOR FABIO BORINI
Winger-forward Andre Ayew boasts 57 goals in 187 appearances for Marseille, including eight in all competitions this season, but looks set to leave Stade Velodrome this summer when his contract expires.
The 25 year-old has a lot to offer Liverpool; he’s versatile, physical and an experienced international, with eleven goals and 62 caps under his belt for Ghana.
He seems a good fit for the Premier League and speculation suggests that’s where he’ll most likely end up this summer.
Everton, Newcastle and Swansea have already made contract offers, however, whilst Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund are also interested – according to The Daily Mail – so Liverpool will have to act quickly to sign the L’OM star.
Alternatives: PSV’s Memphis Depay (£25m), Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie (£20m), PSG’s Ezequiel Lavezzi (£15m)
MIRANDA FOR MARTIN SKRTEL
A short-term solution at the age of 30, but in terms of his leadership qualities, aerial dominance and thuggish centre-back style, Atletico Madrid’s Miranda shares many important traits with the potentially departing Martin Skrtel.
The Mattress Makers rejected advances from Chelsea and Manchester United last summer but now appear ready to let the Brazil international leave; he’s verging upon the final year of his contract and the La Liga champions already have a long-term successor in prodigious youngster Jose Giminez.
He’s valued at £18million, but a move to Juventus is currently the likeliest scenario – according to The Daily Star.
Alternatives: Schalke’s Benedikt Howedes (£15m), Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen (£20m), Juventus’ Angelo Ogbonna (£15m)
Paulo Dybala for Mario Balotelli
The striker everybody wants but Liverpool desperately need, Paulo Dybala’s 13 goals and ten assists in 30 Serie A appearances this term have seen him emerge as one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe ahead of the summer transfer window.
Many have compared the Palermo prodigy to compatriot Sergio Aguero but I see more similarities with Luis Suarez – tenacious, dynamic and virtually a one-man attack when he’s hitting on the break.
Club president Maurizio Zamparini has already proclaimed the 21 year-old will be sold by the end of the month, however, and also listed virtually every major club in Europe as potential suitors – as reported by The Daily Star.
But Dybala’s £29million price-tag should be within Liverpool’s financial reach.
Alternatives: Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain (£29m), Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke (£25m), Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette (£20m)
PEDRO FOR RAHEEM STERLING
Liverpool need a heavyweight replacement for Raheem Sterling and the Merseysiders could do a lot worse than Barcelona’s Pedro.
The winger-forward has won four La Liga titles and two Champions League titles with Barcelona, in addition to lifting the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship with the Spanish national team, amassing a career return of 113 goals in 359 appearances.
But his game-time has been slashed since the arrival of Luis Suarez and the 27 year-old is resultantly expected to leave the Nou Camp this summer.
In a similar vein to Alexis Sanchez, he’s blessed with the pace, stamina and netting prowess to be a real hit in the Premier League. And with just a year remaining on Pedro’s current deal, Barcelona could be forced to sell on the cheap – £15million would be Football Fancast’s estimate.
Unable to sign a replacement until 2016, however, the Catalan outfit’s transfer embargo could stand in the way.
Alternatives: Hoffenheim’s Roberto Firmino (£20m), Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang (£20m), Birmingham’s Demarai Gray (£10m)