Memphis Depay holds secret Liverpool talks after Reds given permission to speak to PSV striker The Dutch superstar made the trip on Thursday when he jetted to Manchester airport with his advisors Kees Ploegsma and Kees Vos from top agency SEG International Memphis Depay flew in by private jet for secret talks with Liverpool this week. The Dutch superstar made the trip on Thursday when he jetted to Manchester airport with his advisors Kees Ploegsma and Kees Vos from top agency SEG International. Depay’s arrival airport sparked speculation he was ready to open talks with Manchester United. The Mirror can reveal that it was Anfield officials – including MD Ian Ayre - he met in a hotel close to the airport, after the Reds were given permission by PSV Eindhoven to talk to the Holland international. Sources in Eindhoven have revealed the 21 year old was hugely impressed not only by Liverpool’s determination in pursuing him for more than a year, but also in the vision they presented. In pictures - Memphis Depay Brendan Rodgers warned this week he needs some established stars to go straight into his first team, after a season of struggle. Depay fits the bill. Even though he is still a young talent, he is regarded as one of the most promising players in Europe after becoming one of the emerging stars at the World Cup alongside the likes of Paul Pogba and James Rodriguez. And he also has the goalscoring threat Rodgers is desperate to bring into his squad. Depay has scored 21 goals this season, and is on course to lift the Dutch golden boot award that was previously won by Luis Suarez and Ruud van Nistelrooy. United have been strongly linked with the winger, but even though Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal managed the forward at the World Cup, the Manchester club have not been given permission to speak to the player, after merely asking to be kept informed of the situation. Van Gaal insisted on Friday he can’t sign every talented player he has coached, which suggests the Old Trafford club are considering other targets in different areas in the summer, with the Dutch manager already well staffed in the wide positions where Depay usually plays. Wealthy Paris Saint Germain have also been given permission to speak to the Holland star, but we understand he has been urged by his former international team mate Dirk Kuyt to join Liverpool. READ MORE Memphis Depay scouting report Jamie McDonald please log in to view this image Flying Dutchman: Depay impressed at last summer's World Cup Former Red Bolo Zenden has also spoken with Depay, and the famous Holland pair have told him about the special atmosphere at Anfield and how he would never regret joining the club. Depay has yet to make a decision on his future, and it is believed he will wait to see exactly where Manchester United stand before choosing his next move, but he admits to being massively impressed by Liverpool and their approach. Rodgers is keen to bring in attacking players with a goals threat, and he also wants to add a consistent centre forward and top class central midfielder in the summer to take his young squad from nearly men to genuine challengers for honours, and he sees the capture of one of Europe’s most exciting talents as a massive statement in the summer transfer market. He is also hoping the move will help persuade Raheem Sterling that Liverpool can take the next step, and offer an incentive to sign the new contract that has been on the table for much of the season. Liverpool fans! Would Memphis Depay be a good signing? Brendan Rodgers casts doubt on Daniel Sturridge’s future at Liverpool • Club must sign consistent goalscorer this summer, says manager • Sturridge fitness record has compounded Liverpool’s problems please log in to view this image Daniel Sturridge watches a game from the stands: he has appeared in only 18 of Liverpool's 52 matches this season. Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images Andy Hunter Friday 24 April 2015 22.30 BST Last modified on Saturday 25 April 2005 00.01 BST please log in to view this image Brendan Rodgers has cast doubt on Daniel Sturridge’s status as Liverpool’s first-choice striker by admitting the club must sign a consistent goalscorer this summer who can perform “at a top level every week”. Sturridge has appeared in only 18 of Liverpool’s 52 matches this season because of a variety of injuries and misses Saturday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion with the hip problem that forced him out of the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Aston Villa. Rodgers is unsure when the England international will be next available. The 25-year-old’s fitness record has compounded Liverpool’s problems in attack having sold Luis Suárez to Barcelona and failed to sign a replacement suited to Rodgers’ preferred style of play. Finally remedying that glaring weakness is a priority for the Liverpool manager in the summer and he admits Sturridge’s reliability has to be factored into planning for next season.
look this is the kind of stuff which you have to wonder about. first off why would a player come to the club not the other way round... why would it not be agents at a high level talking to see if its even worth while first etc etc etc I don't see this being remembered in 3 months time at all... as most made up stuff isn't. the player has all summer (its not even may) to make up his mind
EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool will sign James Milner and eye Man City teammate Stevan Jovetic LIVERPOOL are convinced they have won the race to sign James Milner and are already planning more signings this summer. By Steve Morgan and Steve Millar / Published 25th April 2015 Arsenal and Roma are also in the race to sign the Manchester City star, who is out of contract at the end of the season. But an Anfield source described it as a "done deal" that Milner will choose the Reds instead. The 29-year-old has been promised that he will get the chance to play in his preferred midfield role at Liverpool and that appears to have swayed him. City boss Manuel Pellegrini has repeatedly stated he expects Milner to sign a new contract at the Etihad. But Liverpool officials are confident he has decided to turn his back on City and look for a new start on Merseyside. Liverpool first tried to sign Milner from Aston Villa in 2010 but he snubbed them to join City in a £26m transfer. Milner has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup at City but is unhappy with his role in the team. please log in to view this image KOP DEAL: Milner looks certain to join Liverpool [GETTY] “We need to bring in a few players to improve the starting eleven but it certainly won't be as many as last summer. It will be more settled” Brendan Rodgers He has often been overlooked in big games and has rarely been used in his favoured position of central midfield. Liverpool could offer him the chance to partner Jordan Henderson, who has just signed a new deal, in exactly that position following Steven Gerrard's decision to quit the club. Brendan Rodgers has also earmarked Stevan Jovetic as his No.1 striker target but insists he won't spend, spend, spend in a bid to capture Champions League football next season. There will be no repeat of last summer when the Liverpool boss went cash crazy, splashing £116 million on nine new signings. Rodgers has identified just three positions he needs to address - goalkeeper, a central midfielder and a striker with Manchester City hit-man Jovetic a £16 million target. The Kop chief tried to sign Jovetic before he joined City almost two years ago and was hugely impressed how the Montenegro international handled himself when preliminary moves were made. Rodgers has never lost interest and with Jovetic failing to establish himself under Etihad boss Manuel Pellegrini the time would now be right to bring the proven striker to Anfield. It's been reported that PSV Eindhoven goal-getter Memphis Depay flew to Liverpool last week for secret talks but either Manchester United or City will be his next destination. Rodgers insists that Liverpool demand quality and not quantity for next season with captain marvel Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Brad Jones leading the list of players heading for the exit. Iago Aspas, Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert, Sebastian Coates and Luis Alberto are expected to follow. But Rodgers is keeping a tight grip on the purse strings to find his limited replacements. Rodgers said: "The likes of Stevie are moving on and that's something we have to deal with. But I think the nucleus of the squad will hopefully be the same next season. "We need to bring in a few players to improve the starting eleven but it certainly won't be as many as last summer. It will be more settled. "We have to look to improve the team and that's going to be critical for us." Liverpool need a new striker, says boss Brendan Rodgers after West Brom draw Last Updated: 25/04/15 11:35pm please log in to view this image <img src="http://cf.c.ooyala.com/BkdDhxdDonsD-F5xtKq4bjhDfQV2Lk71/AZ2ZgMjz0LFGHCPn4xMDoxOjBzMTt2bJ" class="auto-size__target widge-figure__image" alt="Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he was very proud of his players following their 0-0 draw with West Brom and thinks they controlled most of the game"> Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he was very proud of his players following their 0-0 draw with West Brom and thinks they controlled most of the game Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool must sign a new striker in the summer after their goalless draw against West Brom. His side were held to a goalless draw by Tony Pulis’ Baggies on Saturday and Manchester City’s subsequent 3-2 success at home to Aston Villa has left Liverpool seven points adrift of the top four in fifth. With Daniel Sturridge injured, Mario Balotelli started up front for the first time since November but failed to hit the target in 75 minutes before being substituted for Fabio Borini. Hull v Liverpool Liverpool 10/11 Draw 5/2 Hull 3/1 Following 31-goal Luis Suarez’s departure to Barcelona last summer, none of Liverpool’s strikers have got into double figures this term. “We will look at it in the summer and it's somewhere we will have to do some work on,” said Rodgers. “I give credit to the players because they came out after a difficult result and performance last week [a 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa] and showed great confidence. "They defended well and attacked with all the invention and creativity as we possibly could. "We just don't score as many goals, it's as simple as that. The players have given the same effort and attitude but we had two players last year [Luis Suarez and Sturridge] who played in the front three who got 50 plus goals and we don't have it now." Rodgers also believes his team must win their last five games to reach the Champions League. Fourth-placed Manchester United and third-placed Arsenal have the opportunity to extend their advantage over Liverpool on Sunday and Rodgers says the Reds can’t afford to drop any more points. “It'll be very difficult. I felt of the six games we certainly needed to win five at least so now we have five to go and we'll have to look to win them to give ourselves a chance,” he said. “You never know what happens above you, that's the thing with football, but what you have to do is make sure you keep the pressure on. "This is a difficult place to come, Tony's teams are strong, we have got a point and now we look to our game in hand in the week (against Hull) and look to get three points there."
please log in to view this image Netherlands' Memphis Depay, left, looks to the ball after scoring his side's second goal during the group B World Cup soccer match between the Netherlands and Chile at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Monday, June 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) [iframe name="google_ads_iframe_/5293/liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport_7" width="8" height="8" id="google_ads_iframe_/5293/liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport_7" src="javascript:"[/iframe] Liverpool transfer target Memphis Depay has denied reports he has held talks with Manchester United over a summer switch.
Tony Barrett mentioned last night that only LIverpool and PSG had talked to the player. Hopefully we can go all out and bring this lad here - incredibly talented. Only worry is that if he starts off slowly, people will write him off ala Markovic/Moreno. Also, getting slightly concerned with our interest in players like Ings and Milner.
Good Lord - how far have we fallen if we're targeting the likes of Benteke and Ings. Benteke is decent but nothing special. Ings will offer absolutely nothing. Time to be more ambitious in the market - Depay certainly is.
We can't offer big wages, we can't offer annual silverware, and we cant offer CL - which decent player would want to join us? the "project" is now 3 years down the line and is still looking miles from being finished, we're a risky move
I like benteke. He's young and has a very good goal scoring record in a villa team that don't create an awful lot. My my only problem is he tends to be injured a bit and takes his time coming back from I jury to start scoring again. Having him and Sturridge would be a risk
