Liverpool transfer rumours and news: Ex-Reds boss Brendan Rodgers admits Dele Alli interest; Shane Long bid fails

All the latest transfer news and gossip to come from Anfield following the 1-0 Premier League loss to arch rivals Manchester United

(2015 Getty Images)

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers used his appearance on Sky Sports on Sunday to reveal a number of secrets about the club’s transfer dealings during his three-year stay at Anfield. Teenage sensation Dele Alli allegedly agreed terms with the Reds before completing a £5m switch from Milton Keynes Dons to Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur. The Northern Irishman said: “I thought we had him, unfortunately the deal didn't get done and he ended up at Tottenham.

“The transfer model at the club is slightly different to that of other clubs. There's a recruitment team in place whose job it is to bring in the players.” Alli has been a hit in north London this season, earning an England call-up and scoring for Roy Hodgson’s men in the international friendly against France last year.


 Alexis Sanchez in action for Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez was another target for Rodgers at the beginning of the 2014/15 campaign but Arsenal beat Liverpool to the Chilean’s signature. Former captain Steven Gerrard has openly discussed his role in the pursuit of Sanchez, admitting he texted the former Barcelona ace to try and persuade him into signing. Rodgers says missing out on their primary transfer target that summer was a ‘huge blow’ following to departure of Luis Suarez weeks earlier.

He said: “The huge blow for us that season was that we thought we were getting Alexis Sanchez. We were going to then bring in Rickie Lambert alongside him, but it ended up that we didn’t get Sanchez, we just got Rickie. All of a sudden our only striker is Rickie Lambert.”

The Reds have reportedly had an offer in the region of £8m rejected for Southampton striker Shane Long. The Saints have recently completed a cut-price deal to sign Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin which led some supporters to wonder if they were preparing for the Irishman’s exit. Kop manager Jurgen Klopp is known to have grown frustrated with the injuries suffered by Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings.

The Daily Mirror state the German approached Southampton with an initial £8m this week but was rejected out of hand. The former West Bromwich Albion and Hull City man scored eight goals last season but it is suspected that his current employers would rather offload Graziano Pelle. The Italian is said to have attracted the interest of Juventus in recent months.

Mario Balotelli in action for Milan against Udinese (GETTY IMAGES)

Back to Rodgers now and the now-unemployed boss admits the signing of Mario Balotelli that same summer did not sit well with him as Liverpool prepared for their Champions League return. “”We had to bring in someone,” the former Reading boss said.

“After the AC Milan game, I was asked the question and I felt Mario wasn't someone who suited the profile of what we were after. Mario has big talent. I wasn't thinking I'd be any different in terms of managers who've had issues with him but, at that moment, we didn't really have another option. Come the end of the summer we were struggling to get in the type of player we wanted and the ownership thought this was a player I could develop. It didn't quite work for us and it cost us.”

Swansea City are interested in re-signing midfielder Joe Allen, according to The Sun. The struggling Premier League side are desperate to save their season after sacking Garry Monk, despite him leading the Swans to their highest-ever top flight points tally last term. Allen has featured more prominently for Klopp’s side this month but started on the bench for the 1-0 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday despite scoring a late equaliser against Arsenal in midweek.

The report adds that Swansea will have money in their bank shortly as Bafetimbi Gomis prepares to leave for Qatari side Lekhwiya – who have stolen a march on Dubai’s Al-Ahli in the chase to sign him. Swans chairman Huw Jenkins is likely to have a large role in the pursuit of Allen as the pair reportedly enjoy a positive relationship.