Rodgers wants two more as Liverpool eye Sahin and Tello

08:58 04/12/2013
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  • Brendan Rodgers is hopeful of adding two more new faces to his Liverpool squad before the end of the month, as Real Madrid misfit Nuri Sahin and Barcelona’s Cristian Tello continue to be linked with the club.

    Rodgers is busy planning for his first season in charge at Anfield after taking up the hotseat from Kop legend Kenny Dalglish earlier this summer.

    The Northern Irishman has wasted little time in stamping his own mark on the squad, spending over £25million on the captures of Joe Allen and Fabio Borini from Swansea and AS Roma respectively.

    But as he prepares for Liverpool’s Premier League opener against West Brom on Saturday, he admits he is still looking to add to his squad in the next fortnight.

    “We hope that within the next number of weeks those will bear fruit,” Rodgers told the club’s official website.

    “The work has been continual right the way through to try and get in players that fit the profile of Liverpool and the team. Like I say, I would hope there would be a couple more signings before the end of August.

    He added: “There is still a lot of work to do within the group and there will probably be more changes between now and the end of August in terms of ins and outs.

    “Come the end of August when everyone is here, we can be real focused and be together, and start on the journey to hopefully having a real good campaign.”

    Having admitted earlier this month he would consider plundering the loan market, Madrid midfielder Sahin continues to be heavily linked with a move to Anfield.

    With Luka Modric expected to fly to the Spanish capital on Thursday to seal a £30m move to Madrid, Sahin’s exit from the club on season-long loan deal is expected to be accelerated.

    The Turkish international, 23, has been told he is free to leave the club by boss Jose Mourinho and, having spoken to ex-Reds star Xabi Alonso, is believed to favour a move to Anfield over other suitors Arsenal and Tottenham. 

    Meanwhile, Liverpool are also said to be closing in on a deal for young Spanish winger Tello with reports claiming managing director Ian Ayre has flown to Catalonia for talks with Barca over a deal.

    Tello, also linked in recent days with Atletico Madrid, has been informed by new Barca boss Tito Vilanova that first-team opportunities will be limited this season, reflected in him being officially listed as a ‘B’ team player for the upcoming campaign.

    Tello’s ability to play on either wing is appealing to Rodgers as he looks to implement the same attacking, 4-3-3 formation that won him many plaudits during his time in charge of Swansea.

    Tello has just 12 months remaining on his contract at the Camp Nou, and should Liverpool succeed in agreeing a deal with Barca it is likely it will include a buy-back option similar to the one they insisted upon in the sale of Oriol Romeu to Chelsea last summer.

    Despite his desire to bolster his squad, Rodgers admits he has been suitably impressed with the players at his disposal so far. “The players are developing very well and I’ve been extremely pleased with the attitude and the application of the group since I came in,” he said.

    “It’s been difficult because a lot of the players returned at different times, but we’ve played two competitive games already and I’ve been encouraged and enthused by what I’ve seen.”

     

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