Rodgers targets Udinese midfielder to beef up depleted Liverpool
Published:
Successive Premier League defeats have halted Liverpool’s bid for the top four, but manager Brendan Rodgers is ready to boost his ailing squad with a move for Udinese star Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.
Injuries to captain Steven Gerrard, England international Daniel Sturridge and full-back Jose Enrique have depleted the Northern Irishman’s options and the defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday only highlighted the fact reinforcements are required at Anfield.
The defeat proved even more costly to a depleted Reds side after they lost defender Mamadou Sakho to a hamstring problem, while Joe Allen also left the field through injury and Jordan Henderson sustained a knock in the 2-1 defeat.
But after admitting his Liverpool squad is looking “very thin”, Rodgers will now step up their efforts to bring in a handful of new recruits in the January transfer window and Ghanaian Agyemang-Badu is one of the names linked with a move to Merseyside.
The 23-year-old defensive midfielder has come to the attention of Liverpool’s scouting system after a number of impressive performances for the Bianconeri in Serie A.
Rodgers is reportedly now ready to open the bidding at around £7m for a player who has been scouted by both Arsenal and Tottenham in the past.
The powerful Ghana international, who has revealed his desire to play in the Premier League, is adept at playing in both midfield and defence, which would provide plenty of steel to a Liverpool squad, who are 10/1 to win the league and chasing Champions League qualification.
Liverpool, who were top of the league at Christmas but are now six points behind leaders Arsenal, now find themselves outside the top four after defeats to both Manchester City and Chelsea.
Everton’s impressive form has seen Roberto Martinez’s side leapfrog their neighbours into the Champions League qualification places, but the Reds are still heavily fancied at 8/11 with Ladbrokes to participate in European football’s premier competition for the first time since 2009 next season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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