Ryan Shawcross (Stoke) Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Liverpool’s new American owners are ready to bankroll bids for Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross and Aston Villa’s Ashley Young – whether Roy Hodgson stays or not.

Top talent-spotter Damien Comolli will be in charge of Liverpool signings this month as the Kop chiefs draw up their plans regardless of Hodgson’s future at the club.

Comolli has lined up a bid for Young, fighting Manchester United in the £15million race, while he and Hodgson watched centre-half Shawcross in action last week. But United could also mess up that deal – they have the first option on Shawcross, a former reserve at Old Trafford.

The Anfield regime are looking to invest in the best young British players. Top target is England Under-21 striker Daniel Sturridge, who has told Chelsea he wants to go to Liverpool on loan after making just two league starts in two seasons at Stamford Bridge

Anfield chairman Tom Werner and supremo John Henry believe the best way forward is to land rising stars, a policy that was begun when Kenny Dalglish took a hand to recruit Raheem Sterling from QPR and Charlton’s Jonjo Shelvey.

The review of Liverpool’s spending tactics under Rafa Benitez proved to the Kop chiefs that they had to get back to the ‘old’ Anfield ways of finding domestic talent and bringing them through.

Young’s camp know that Liverpool want him even if Hodgson goes so that deal could go through despite any possible managerial upheaval in the next few weeks.

Brazilian Lucas Leiva is being offered a surprise escape route from Liverpool by Spanish side Villarreal.

The La Liga outfit have lost playmaker Marcos Senna for 10 weeks to a thigh injury and have contacted the Reds about a potential £4m transfer.

Lucas joined from Gremio in July 2007 for £12.7m and struggled to make an impression, although his form has improved and Villarreal have been watching his progress.

They have now decided he is the sort of player they are seeking to help them cope with Senna’s absence.


Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Liverpool-transfer-news-Reds-plot-double-January-swoop-for-Stoke-s-Ryan-Shawcross-and-Aston-Villa-s-Ashley-young-whether-Roy-Hodgson-stays-or-not-article662083.html#ixzz19prvD2OK
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Bit of a weird article this.

Lucas to leave?
Wouldn't mind Young unsure on Shawcross as he is an Ex Manc

Shawcross is better than Huth, still not top drawer though.

Lucas a play maker??

Shawcross i wouldn't mind if he were to play alongside Agger

I would be happy with both of them,over the moon really!A centre half who could dominate in the air alongside Agger and a winger with pace and skill.
Still think we desperately need a right winger but these two would be a step in the right direction.

Don't like either player

Young is good, but he's inconsistent for mine.

Shawcross is a good shout. Good reader of the game, strong in the air, one of few British players being mentioned i'd take.

Slightly off-topic but Lucas was about £6m wasn't he? Sure it wasn't as much as £12.7m, first time I've heard that kind of figure mentioned.

Would welcome both players to the club. Both would improve the squad.

Slightly off-topic but Lucas was about £6m wasn't he? Sure it wasn't as much as £12.7m, first time I've heard that kind of figure mentioned.

Yeah 6m.

I don't see how the article is credible, myself. 4m for Lucas and claiming the owners are looking for youth because of Rafa buying old players. A load of tosh.

I'd be delighted with that, although my top target for January is Eden Hazard.

Seeing a few blogs pop up with incorrect quote regarding Lucas and Babel's price. Maybe they are inflated in the hope we'll trade for a better price. Not bad links though to keep it on topic

That pen has probably just inflated Young's price by 5m

young scored today expect another 20m on top of his orginial price

Not a fan of Shawcross particularly. He is very rough around the edges, in the same way as Skrtel.

Can panic in certain circumstances, and is prone to giving away needless fouls, and picking up bookings and reds.

Ashley Young is a top quality player, and signing him would be great.

I'd be delighted with that, although my top target for January is Eden Hazard.

Hazard won't move January. Maybe summer. I would take Young but I think there are better value for money players are out there.

Topic Locked.

There are already two individual player topics for both of these players in this board.