Report: Liverpool set for £30m+ Portuguese Liga raid?

Liverpool are considering big money moves for Benfica striker Rodrigo and Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Roja, according to reports this week.

Rodrigo in action against Manchester United during the UEFA Champions League Group C match at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Rodrigo has been in good form for Benfica this season and with Liverpool looking to bolster their squad ready for potential Champions League football, could make a good addition to the Reds’ attack.

Playing amongst Europe’s elite will allow Liverpool to improve the calibre of players they attract with the rumour mill already full of Liverpool transfer rumours for the summer.

James Nursey of the Mirror writes:

Reds’ boss Brendan Rodgers is monitoring Rodrigo closely this season and is ready to step up his interest in the summer to get his man.

However, a move for Rodrigo would have complications after Benfica sold him to a third-party, Meriton Capital Limited, in Janaury. As the Premier League don’t allow third-party ownership, an offer upwards of £25 million would be needed to buy Rodrigo.

Rodrigo is a Brazilian-born, Spanish national who has played for Spain Under-23s, but not won his first cap for the senior side yet. He spent a brief loan spell at Bolton earlier in the career, and was also on the books at Real Madrid.

The Mirror report that Zenit St Petersburg are amongst the clubs also interested in signing the highly rated forward.

Meanwhile, Sporting Witness reveal that reports in the media in Portugal suggest that Liverpool recently sent scouts to watch Sporting Lisbon’s Roja. They write:

A Bola reckon Liverpool were very impressed with the player and that a summer move could be on. Liverpool’s ‘spy’ apparently paid special attention to Rojo during the scouting trip.

Brendan Rodgers may well be on the look out for a new central defender this summer — searching for a long-term partner for Mamadou Sakho.

Current central defensive partnership Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel both turn 30 this year.

• Catch up with all the latest Liverpool transfer rumours and reports here

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