Liverpool eye Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand and Southampton’s Dejan Lovren – Reports

Liverpool could be set to bolster their defensive options with summer transfer moves for Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand and Southampton’s Dejan Lovren, according to reports on Saturday.

Stewart Downing in action against Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand during the final home Premiership match of the season at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The Reds have also been linked with an approach for Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, as well as Lovren’s Saints teammate Adam Lallana.

Liverpool have been linked with 24-year-old Bertrand before, with Brendan Rodgers thought to have been interested in taking the left-back on-loan in January.

However, Chelsea had other ideas and he finished the season at Aston Villa.

Out of favour with Blues boss Jose Mourinho, Rodgers will be hopeful this summer he will capture the two-cap winning England international, as Andy Huter of The Guardian explains:

He [Rodgers] is also keen to sign a new left-back this summer despite Jon Flanagan’s encouraging development in the role last season and Bertrand is top of his preferred wish-list. Chelsea may be reluctant to sell the 24-year-old to Liverpool, however, in which case Rodgers may turn his attentions to Sevilla’s £15m-rated full-back Alberto Moreno.

Meanwhile with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel both turning 30 this year, Rodgers may be looking towards bringing in a new central defender.

Everton’s James McCarthy is brought down by Southampton’s Dejan Lovren during the Premiership match at St Mary’s Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Croatian international Lovren has had a very solid season at St Mary’s and the 24-year-old could be seen as Mamadou Sakho‘s long-term central defensive partner.

The Mirror reports on the Lovren speculation:

Croatia international Lovren only arrived last summer from Lyon for a fee of around £8m. But has proven beyond doubt he can cope with the physical demands of English football, and is the defensive leader Liverpool have been desperately searching for.

Paul Joyce of the Daily Express explains there has been movement in the Liverpool camp regarding this summer’s transfer targets:

Rodgers held a meeting with his scouts this week to discuss targets and has made no secret that he wants a new centre-back to help eradicate the defensive shortcomings that saw Liverpool concede 50 goals last season, only three fewer than 16th-placed Hull.

• There’s plenty more Liverpool transfer news in our Rumour Mill section. Let us know who you want (and don’t want!) to see the Reds sign this summer in the comments box below.

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