da dobrowin： Liverpool have failed in their quest to build on last season’s success, and are set for a place in the Europa League, after missing out on the top four for the fifth season out of six.
da dobrowin： With their iconic captain Steven Gerrard off to America, and one of their brightest talents Raheem Sterling looking likely to follow him out the Anfield exit, Brendan Rodgers has the difficult task of rebuilding a squad that can compete for the top four places next season.
It won’t be cheap, but they will certainly hope to do a better job of recruiting the level of player required to do so, following last summer’s disaster.
And while the loss of Champions League football may hinder their chances, reports suggest that they could still be in with a chance of signing some top quality players in a bid to break into the top four next season.
With this in mind, here are five stars linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, and who could make them contenders once again…
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James Milner
Manchester City midfielder James Milner has yet to decide on his future despite the clubs best attempts to pen him down to a new long-term contract.
The English star is out of contract this summer and looks set to leave on a free transfer with both Arsenal and Liverpool poised to sign him.
Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring the 29-year-old to Anfield, particularly with Gerrard leaving, and would be a welcome addition to the midfield.
Losing Milner would be a huge blow for City, and given his quality and work rate is someone who could surely improve Liverpool as they look to get back into the Champions League next season.
Theo Walcott
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott has been tipped as one of the candidates to replace Raheem Sterling this summer, and with his future at the Gunners in doubt, could be on his way to Anfield sooner rather than later.
The winger is entering the final year of his contract and is considering his future after limited opportunities under Arsene Wenger this season.
The England star will be looking to increase his playing time over the next couple of seasons, but with an array of stars at Arsenal, may have to move in order to further his career.
His pace and coolness in front of goal make him an ideal candidate for Liverpool, and is a club that could offer Walcott regular playing time should he make the switch.
Arturo Vidal
One man who could go a long way to filling the void left by Steven Gerrard is Juventus star Arturo Vidal, who is on the brink of a famous treble with the Italian side.
A long-term target for rivals Manchester United, Liverpool are thought to have already made a bid for the Chilean international, and although Juventus are open to selling him, the current bid has fallen a long way short of their £25m valuation.
Whether he would be open to a move to Anfield after this season’s success remains to be seen, but if Liverpool could somehow pull it off, they would be getting one of the world’s best midfielders who could certainly make a difference next season.
Pedro
Another player on the brink of a treble is Barcelona’s Pedro, who has also been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks.
With just a year remaining on his current deal, the forward is widely expected to leave the Spanish giants after finding first-team opportunities limited with Neymar, Suarez and Lionel Messi performing so well.
He could be available for as little as £7m, which would prove quite a bargain given the number of trophies he has won and his experience playing at the top level of world football.
Should Sterling leave Anfield, the 27-year-old would come as a cheap replacement for the England youngster, and would arguably be seen as an upgrade given his quality.
Karim Benzema
It seems strange that Real Madrid would be open to selling one of Europe’s top strikers, but reports suggest that they are ready to cash in on Karim Benzema this summer alerting Liverpool who could make a move.
Madrid are believed to be after re-signing Juventus star Alvaro Morata who famously knocked them out the Champions League, with Benzema tipped to leave the Spanish capital having only broke the 20-goal mark once during his time at the club.
The Reds face tough competition for his signature, including Arsenal and Manchester United, but the 27-year-old could be the marquee signing they require, and with Brendan Rodgers chasing a world class striker, Benzema certainly fits the bill.