While the rest of the footballing world are distracted with the sideshow that is Luis Suarez’s latest indiscretion, Liverpool have sprung to life in the transfer market with deals for Southampton captain Adam Lallana and Belgian striker Divock Origi nearing completion and a move for highly rated Benfica winger Lazar Markovic on deck.
The Reds have been chasing Lallana since the end of the season, and with two big money bids already rejected for the talented 26-year old, it looks like Brendan Rodgers is going to finally get his man with the attacking midfielder completing a medical on Merseyside earlier today ahead of a £25mil move that’s expected to be announced within the next 48-hours.
With Lallana in the bag, there’s also whispers that a deal for Lille striker Origi is close to completion with the Anfield outfit set to pip Tottenham and Arsenal to the talented 19-year old. With a bid of £6mil on the table and the offer to loan him back to the French side for next season an enticing one, Liverpool could well wrap up the capture of a player who is keen to test his mettle in the Premier League. “As a little boy I always dreamed of playing in the Premier League” he said, “but I’m still young and now I’m in an important tournament so I’m try to focus on the team.”
Although the Belgian youngster would be considered one for the near future, reports that the Reds will also move for highly rated Serbian winger Markovic do come as a bit of a surprise. The 20-year old, who is very much ready for prime time, was supposedly being mooted as an alternative to Lallana should Southampton hang on to their man, but respected English journalist — and noted Liverpool supporter — Tony Barrett confirmed on Twitter that Rodgers was still interested in bringing him to Anfield.
With Suarez very much expected to depart this summer following his latest round of shenanigans, the Premier League runners-up will need a serious injection of attacking talent to make up for the loss of the Uruguayan — something it looks like they’re not wasting any time addressing.
