Liverpool: Top centre-back targets
A list of four centre-backs that could strengthen Liverpool's defence
Papadopoulos would be a shrewd signing (©GettyImages)
Football News 24/7
With Martin Skrtel possibly bound for Napoli and Jamie Carragher leaving a major gap with his retirement, Brendan Rodgers is ready to bolster his defensive options for the upcoming campaign as he and his Liverpool side aim for Champions League football.
I am going to look through five top targets that could fit the bill for Rodgers' Liverpool side.
1. Kyriakos Papadopoulos
The young Greek centre-half has shown fantastic maturity since him move from Olympiakos to Schalke.
Papadopoulos has been a fantastic anchor for Schalke throughout his stint at the German giants and has really established himself as one of Europe hottest young properties.
Papadopoulos has been a household name in the Bundesliga since his arrival at Schalke 04, and has been subject of interest from some of Europe's top clubs - Liverpool, Milan and Dortmund have all been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old.
Liverpool this week were given a major boost in their pursuit of Papadopoulos as Schalke' sporting director Horst Heldt announced that his club would listen to offers for their starlet.
Heldt believes a fee of around £13m is adequate for his prized asset and would reluctantly accept any offer that meets his valuation. Rodgers is said to be an admirer of the young Greece international and seems ready to launch a concrete bid for his services, but will he be a Liverpool player by the end of the summer window?
2. Toby Alderweireld
The Ajax star has been heavily linked with a move away from the Amsterdam ArenA throughout the summer, with Liverpool said to be possible suitors for the Belgian.
Alderweireld is said to favour a move to the Premier League after announcing his desire to leave the Eredivise champions.
Alderweireld, 24, could be a perfect match for Rodgers as he looks to put together a squad worthy of Champions League football; he has Champions League experience and is an established leader at Ajax.
Alderweireld was at the heart of the Ajax defence who beat Man City in last terms Champions League group stages, and has really excelled as a centre-half over the last year.
As well as being a quality centre-back, Alberweireld has proven himself a capable full-back and could be the answer to Rodgers' search for cover for Jose Enrique as well as solving the team's problems at the back.
Despite being a monstrous figure, Alderweireld is a fantastic ball player and can keep possession just as well as making a challenge, a quality that Rodgers is said to be very keen on.
Alderweireld would cost around the £7m mark, a fee which has already been accepted by parent club Ajax, only for the player to reject the opportunity, many sources stating the Belgian talisman was holding out for a move to a 'top' English club, which is a title Liverpool are worthy of.
3. Mamadou Sakho
The French leader has this summer conceded that a move away from Ligue 1 champions PSG may be best for his career, which seems to have resurrected early interest from Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, in their pursuit of an established centre-half to fill the void left by the retirement of club legend Carragher.
The early summer recruitment of former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Kolo Toure doesn't seem to have brought enough cover for Rodgers' liking and the Irishman looks set to splash out on a European talent to strengthen his back-line.
Sakho looks ready to flee PSG after being overlooked throughout the season with Brazilian pair Alex and Thiago Silva dominating the defensive line for the better part of the 2012/13 campaign.
A lack of domestic appearances saw Sakho lose out on his international spot to ex-Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, and with the 2014 World Cup just around the corner, Sakho looks set to resurrect his hopes of being selected ahead of his main rivals in the France national squad.
Liverpool are said to be suitors of the French monster, with the player seeming just as keen on a move to England as his main suitors.
Despite the interest, Sakho wouldn't come cheap with Laurent Blanc explaining that he see's his defender as a major part of his plans and insists it would take a 'big' offer to prize Sakho away from Park des Princes.
This may see Rodgers opt for one of his other centre-half targets as he intends on improving other areas of his Liverpool squad.
4. Tiago Ilori
The Sporting starlet looks set for a move away from the Portuguese giants with amid interest from some of Europe' top clubs.
Ilori, 20, enjoyed a fantastic U20 World Cup campaign with Portugal helping his national side to the semi-finals of the major competition.
Rodgers seems ready to re-enter the market for the youngster after seeing a bid of around £3m turned down in the opening stages of the summer.
Ilori' agent seems to think that his client would fancy a move to England and Rodgers has expressed his admiration for the young Portuguese star, seeing fantastic potential in Ilori.
As Rodgers looks to build a young, potential filled squad to challenge with Europe' elite Ilori seems to fit the bill, at only 20 there are doubts over whether he would be an instant hit in the Premier League but Rodgers looks set to take the risk of his man.
I am going to look through five top targets that could fit the bill for Rodgers' Liverpool side.
The young Greek centre-half has shown fantastic maturity since him move from Olympiakos to Schalke.
Papadopoulos has been a fantastic anchor for Schalke throughout his stint at the German giants and has really established himself as one of Europe hottest young properties.
Papadopoulos has been a household name in the Bundesliga since his arrival at Schalke 04, and has been subject of interest from some of Europe's top clubs - Liverpool, Milan and Dortmund have all been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old.
Liverpool this week were given a major boost in their pursuit of Papadopoulos as Schalke' sporting director Horst Heldt announced that his club would listen to offers for their starlet.
Heldt believes a fee of around £13m is adequate for his prized asset and would reluctantly accept any offer that meets his valuation. Rodgers is said to be an admirer of the young Greece international and seems ready to launch a concrete bid for his services, but will he be a Liverpool player by the end of the summer window?
2. Toby Alderweireld
The Ajax star has been heavily linked with a move away from the Amsterdam ArenA throughout the summer, with Liverpool said to be possible suitors for the Belgian.
Alderweireld is said to favour a move to the Premier League after announcing his desire to leave the Eredivise champions.
Alderweireld, 24, could be a perfect match for Rodgers as he looks to put together a squad worthy of Champions League football; he has Champions League experience and is an established leader at Ajax.
Alderweireld was at the heart of the Ajax defence who beat Man City in last terms Champions League group stages, and has really excelled as a centre-half over the last year.
As well as being a quality centre-back, Alberweireld has proven himself a capable full-back and could be the answer to Rodgers' search for cover for Jose Enrique as well as solving the team's problems at the back.
Despite being a monstrous figure, Alderweireld is a fantastic ball player and can keep possession just as well as making a challenge, a quality that Rodgers is said to be very keen on.
Alderweireld would cost around the £7m mark, a fee which has already been accepted by parent club Ajax, only for the player to reject the opportunity, many sources stating the Belgian talisman was holding out for a move to a 'top' English club, which is a title Liverpool are worthy of.
3. Mamadou Sakho
The French leader has this summer conceded that a move away from Ligue 1 champions PSG may be best for his career, which seems to have resurrected early interest from Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, in their pursuit of an established centre-half to fill the void left by the retirement of club legend Carragher.
The early summer recruitment of former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Kolo Toure doesn't seem to have brought enough cover for Rodgers' liking and the Irishman looks set to splash out on a European talent to strengthen his back-line.
Sakho looks ready to flee PSG after being overlooked throughout the season with Brazilian pair Alex and Thiago Silva dominating the defensive line for the better part of the 2012/13 campaign.
A lack of domestic appearances saw Sakho lose out on his international spot to ex-Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, and with the 2014 World Cup just around the corner, Sakho looks set to resurrect his hopes of being selected ahead of his main rivals in the France national squad.
Liverpool are said to be suitors of the French monster, with the player seeming just as keen on a move to England as his main suitors.
Despite the interest, Sakho wouldn't come cheap with Laurent Blanc explaining that he see's his defender as a major part of his plans and insists it would take a 'big' offer to prize Sakho away from Park des Princes.
This may see Rodgers opt for one of his other centre-half targets as he intends on improving other areas of his Liverpool squad.
4. Tiago Ilori
The Sporting starlet looks set for a move away from the Portuguese giants with amid interest from some of Europe' top clubs.
Ilori, 20, enjoyed a fantastic U20 World Cup campaign with Portugal helping his national side to the semi-finals of the major competition.
Rodgers seems ready to re-enter the market for the youngster after seeing a bid of around £3m turned down in the opening stages of the summer.
Ilori' agent seems to think that his client would fancy a move to England and Rodgers has expressed his admiration for the young Portuguese star, seeing fantastic potential in Ilori.
As Rodgers looks to build a young, potential filled squad to challenge with Europe' elite Ilori seems to fit the bill, at only 20 there are doubts over whether he would be an instant hit in the Premier League but Rodgers looks set to take the risk of his man.
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