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Rodgers Eyes Lovern and Bertrand as Liverpool Get Defensive

July 2, 2014July 2, 2014 News Desk Adam Lallana, Aston Villa, Brendan Rodgers, Chelsea, Dejan Lovren, Dejan Lovren Liverpool, Dejan Lovren rumour, Dejan Lovren transfer, Jose Mourinho, liverpool fc, Liverpool transfer gossip, Liverpool transfer rumour, Liverpool transfer speculation, Mauricio Pochettino, Ronald Koeman, Ryan Bertrand, Ryan Bertrand Liverpool, Ryan Bertrand rumour, Ryan Bertrand transfer, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur

With the capture of former Southampton captain Adam Lallana all tied up, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is expected to go on the defensive as the Reds boss looks to plug up their leaky defence with a pair of much needed recruits.

Saints center-half Dejan Lovren has been mooted as one possible option for the Anfield outfit with the Croatian said to be desperate to play in the Champions League as early as next season. The Northern Irishman is thought to be a keen admirer of the 24-year old’s talents after he impressed during his first season on the South Coast. New Southampton manager Ronald Koeman could be reluctant to allow him to move with his own back-line a major concern following the departure of Luke Shaw to Manchester United, but with the Saint’s hierarchy confirming that he will have money to spend, he could very well initiate a bidding war with his predecessor at St. Mary’s also keen on securing his services.

Former boss Mauricio Pochettino is also thought to be interested in bringing Lovren to his new side Tottenham Hotspur, and much like Rodgers, he could test the Saints’ resolve in the coming days. Both sides conceded more goals than they would have liked during last season and the Croatian, who is valued around £15mil, could be a real step towards rectifying that problem.

Along with Lovren, Liverpool are also eyeing another Premier League defender in Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand as the Reds look to shore up their flanks. With first choice fullback Jose Enrique injured for much of last season and Valencia man Aly Cissokho failing to inspire, Rodgers is looking for left-sided recruitments and could look to the 24-year old — a player he worked with during his time at Chelsea — to fill that void.

The Anfield outfit were in deep negotiations and on the verge of completing a move for highly rated Sevilla fullback Alberto Moreno, but that move appears to have broken down with the La Liga side refusing to budge on what’s been reported as an extremely high fee for a still unproven player. Bertrand, on the other hand, appears to be available for somewhere in the region of £7mil after impressing on loan at Aston Villa during the second half of the season, though Blues boss Jose Mourinho will likely be loathe to flog him off to a direct rival after seeing Daniel Sturridge flourish on Merseyside.