Liverpool Open Talks With €37m Man Utd Target As Rodgers Begins Summer Overhaul

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Liverpool have opened talks with Memphis Depay….

Liverpool have opened initial talks with Manchester United target Memphis Depay about a potential switch to Anfield as Brendan Rodgers prepares for a summer overhaul, according to reports.

The Northern Irishman’s future has come under threat following Liverpool’s defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday but the Mirror claim that owners John Henry and Tom Werner have already assured the Reds boss his position is safe and he’s been given the all-clear to kick-start his summer transfer plans.

With Liverpool now set to end the season trophy-less and facing an uphill fight to qualify for the Champions League, Rodgers is looking to bring in several key signings this summer and it appears Depay is now a top target.

The newspaper suggests that Liverpool have already held initial talks with the Dutch international about a potential switch to Anfield this summer after being given permission by his current club PSV Eindhoven.

The attacker has also had talks with PSG but in a huge boost to Liverpool, the Mirror believe that contrary to some reports, Depay has not been in direct contact with Manchester United as Louis van Gaal has only asked PSV to be kept informed of the players situation.

Up until now, reports have suggested that United are the clear favourites to land the 21-year-old hot-shot this summer but it appears that may not be the case, so Liverpool could still have a realistic chance of luring him to Merseyside.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will be able to agree a deal with PSV, but they’ll have to dig deep as it’s understood the Dutch giants will demand up to €37m (£25m) for his signature.

The Mirror claim that Rodgers only has a transfer budget of around £30m and with the Reds boss also looking to bring in a goalkeeper, two full-backs, a central midfielder and at least one striker, he’s going to have to sell in order to raise further funds.

This means that as many as seven fringe players could be set for the chop with Brad Jones, Kolo Toure and Glen Johnson set to join Steven Gerrard in leaving when their contracts expire in June, while Rodgers is expected to listen to offers for the likes of Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert.

READ MORE –> Liverpool transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

If he can shift the ‘dead wood’ then Rodgers may have enough funds to buy Depay, as well as make moves for other reported targets such as goalkeeper Neto, William Carvalho, James Milner and Danny Ings.

It’s certainly gearing up to be a pivotal summer for Liverpool and Rodgers knows he’s got a lot of work to do in order to rebuild a squad that’s capable of challenging for the Premier League title again next season.

Replacing Gerrard is going to be key, but they also need more threat in attack and Depay would be an excellent addition if they could beat the likes of Man Utd and PSG to his signature.