Coutinho upset by Liverpool failure

Philippe Coutinho: Good season individually for Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho admits winning Liverpool's Player of the Year award meant little in a season which saw the Reds miss out on the top four.

Coutinho's form in the second half of the season saw him named in the PFA Team of the Year, but the Brazil playmaker was unable to take too much satisfaction from the individual accolades.

"I think it is clear that Liverpool did not meet the objectives we wanted to this season," Coutinho said. "At the least we wanted to make sure that we were playing Champions League football again, but that didn't happen.

"We didn't start well and that affected our confidence, but we will be working hard over the summer to make sure we are where we should be. We all know where this club should be, and that is playing and competing at the highest level.

"It was fantastic to be recognized for my personal performances this season, but I don't want to think on that too much because like I say, we did not reach our objectives.

"I hope next season to play well again and perform at the same level, but what is most important is that the team plays well and we reach our goals."

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Prem target Fekir expects to stay at Lyon

Nabil Fekir: Has been linked with move to Premier League

Lyon forward Nabil Fekir does not expect to leave the club this summer despite being linked with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.

Fekir is said to have attracted the attention of a number of clubs across Europe having scored 15 goals in Lyon for France this season, but the 21-year-old says he is more than happy at Stade de Gerland.

"There is so much talk of my departure but I honestly do not think that I will leave Lyon," Fekir said.

"While in football it is said that you never know what the future holds, I will stay at Lyon regardless."

Fekir's father revealed in April that the France international had split with his agent due to them holding talks with Manchester City, claiming he would only leave Lyon for Arsenal.

"They pushed for him to sign for City," Fekir Snr told Le Perisien. "But I told them if he goes to City and finds himself on the bench, it doesn't interest me, and the kid is not interested either.

"He loves to play, he does not like to be replaced. And they pushed to sign him for City, that's why he preferred to stop with them.

"Nabil would like to play Champions League football with Lyon. If he leaves, it'll be for Arsenal. It's the only club that can enable him to progress, with Arsene Wenger. He will not go to Manchester City to sit on the bench."

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Sakho: No chance I'll leave Liverpool

Mamadou Sakho: No plans to leave Liverpool

Mamadou Sakho says he is enjoying himself at Liverpool and certain to still be at Anfield come the end of the summer.

Injuries restricted Sakho to only 16 Premier League appearances last season as Liverpool surrendered their Champions League place after a solitary year, finishing sixth.

Sakho, however, is happy at the club and confident a brighter future lies ahead.

"I really like it at Liverpool. Of course I'll still be a Red next season," Sakho said. "I have a lot to prove still in a young and talented team and I hope we'll achieve great things."

On his own performances, the 25-year-old added: "I still have a lot of things to show there. I have had some niggles, and I'm going to have to put in a lot of effort on many things during pre-season, but that doesn't worry me at all. I returned near the end of the season and I played a lot then."

Liverpool are reportedly close to making Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan their third signing of the summer to replace Brad Jones.

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Bolton keeper Adam Bognan heading to Liverpool

Adam Bogdan: Joins Liverpool on July 1

Liverpool have made their third signing of the summer with Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan agreeing personal terms.

The 27-year-old Hungary international's contract with Wanderers, for whom he made more than 100 Premier League appearances, expires at the end of the month and he will officially join the Reds on July 1.

Bogdan's arrival follows that of Manchester City midfielder James Milner and Burnley striker Danny Ings, also both out of contract.

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Gossip: Liverpool hijack Falcao move

Radamel Falcao: Wanted at Liverpool?

Liverpool are attempting to hijack Chelsea's move for Radamel Falcao, Newcastle want Charlie Austin and Saido Berahino and West Ham talk to Loic Remy.

LIVERPOOL MAKE FALCAO MOVE

Liverpool are trying to hijack Chelsea's move for Radamel Falcao, according to the Daily Star.

A day after Jose Mourinho confirmed his interest in the Monaco frontman, the Reds are now purported to be interested in the man who scored four goals in 29 appearances for United.

It was no surprise that United passed on forking out the £40m-plus to make Falcao's deal a permanent one at the end of the season and it's hard to believe the powers that be at Anfield would be prepared to bankroll a move for the Premier League flop.

His wages are believed to be around the £275,000 a week mark and that will be enough to scare off the Merseysiders.

MCCLAREN CHASING STRIKE DUO

The Daily Mirror says new Newcastle boss Steve McClaren wants to add two new strikers to the current squad with QPR frontman Charlie Austin likely to be his first signing.

The England man looks set to leave the relegated club and Newcastle are hoping to lure him north for a fee of around £10million, while Rangers want £15million.

It's a deal that looks more than likely to happen when Austin returns from international duty and Newcastle want to pair him up front with West Brom's Saido Berahino.

The England Under-21 striker is likely to cost the Toon close to £20million, but he could well be joining Austin after becoming unsettled at The Hawthorns.

The current takeover deal at West Brom and the fact that Berahino will be away with the U-21s could well slow the deal down, but McClaren is desperate to bolster his slim attacking options.

WEST HAM CLOSE IN ON REMY

The Hammers are in pole position to land Chelsea striker Loic Remy, according to The Sun.

Earlier in the week the papers suggested Southampton, Swansea and Crystal Palace were leading the hunt for the former Newcastle striker, but West Ham now looks a more likely destination.

Chelsea are believed to have given the Hammers permission to speak to the 28-year-old, who looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

It's a deal that could well go through as long as West Ham stump up around £8million for his services.

New Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is also keen on luring Leicester veteran Esteban Cambiasso to Upton Park.

AND THE REST

Liverpool are holding out for £50m for Raheem Sterling after rejecting an initial £25m-plus offer from Manchester City (various).

Reds defender Mamadou Sakho, meanwhile, says he will not be leaving Anfield this summer (Star).

David De Gea is ready to force through a move to Real Madrid by handing in a transfer request at Manchester United (Sun).

Liverpool will offer Burnley £6m for striker Danny Ings (Sun).

Wes Brown is set to sign a one-year deal with Sunderland (Sun)

Steve McClaren is eyeing Bournemouth defender Steve Cook (Sun).

James McClean is close to leaving Wigan (Sun).

Swansea are keen on pinching Watford striker Odion Ighalo for £8million (Sun).

Micah Richards has agreed to join Aston Villa (Mirror).

Fabio Borini is ready to quit Liverpool this summer (Mirror).

Ravel Morrison is ready to quit Lazio before he has even kicked a ball because he is homesick (Mirror).

Liverpool will sign goalkeeper Adam Bogdan on a free transfer when his Bolton contract expires later this month. The Hungarian will take released keeper Brad Jones' place in the squad (Guardian).

Tottenham want £5m for Younes Kaboul despite the centre-half's contract having just one more year to run (Guardian).

Manchester United will test Tottenham's resolve to keep Harry Kane with a £50m offer for the England striker (Express).

Micah Richards' arrival at Aston Villa will mean the departure of Ron Vlaar, a target for Arsenal and Manchester United (Express).

Chelsea's attempts to lure Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos to the Premier League look doomed (Express).

AC Milan have made an £18m move for Porto striker and Arsenal target Jackson Martinez (Mirror),

Southampton are keen to sign Poland international Grzegorz Krychowiak from Sevilla (Mirror).

Tottenham are demanding a whopping £10m for Watford target Younes Kaboul (Mirror).

Newcastle are targeting several strikers, with Malaga's Juanmi and Bas Dost of Wolfsburg joining Austin on the wanted list (Mail).

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Liverpool have reportedly rejected a bid from Manchester City for Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling: Man City see opening bid rejected

Liverpool have reportedly rejected an opening bid of £25m, plus £5m in add-ons, from Manchester City for forward Raheem Sterling.

The England international has been locked in new contract talks with Liverpool and turned down a new deal worth a reported £100,000 a week earlier this year.

And with the player seemingly in no hurry to reopen negotiations, his future at the club looks increasingly uncertain.

Man City have made no secret of their wish to strengthen their squad with quality additions this summer and see Sterling as a key way to add more pace to their frontline.

But their initial bid of £30million falls some way short of Liverpool's reported £50million valuation of the 20-year-old, who has also been linked with Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Man United this summer.

Sterling's current deal worth £35,000-a-week runs to 2017 and Liverpool have insisted they will hold him to those final two years, potentially costing him in excess of £7million in lost wages, if they don't get the fee they feel Sterling is worth.

Either way, it seems a parting of ways between Liverpool and Sterling is inevitable, despite City seeing their opening bid for the player flatly rejected by the Anfield hierarchy.

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Michael Owen tells Danny Ings what to expect at Liverpool

Danny Ings: Will need to raise his game, claims Michael Owen

Danny Ings will need to raise his game to a whole new level if he's to be a success at Liverpool, former Anfield favourite Michael Owen has warned.

The 22-year-old has agreed to join the Reds after coming towards the end of his contract at relegated Burnley, with the fee likely to be set by a tribunal.

His main task at Anfield will be to score the goals needed to help fire the club back into the Champions League places, and although Ings took to Premier League life with ease, netting 11 goals in 35 games for the Clarets, Owen has highlighted the potential pitfalls of joining such a prestigious club.

He said: "It's a whole new ball game when you go to a club like Liverpool

"Then the scrutiny is on. Any weaknesses that you have in your game will be exposed at a top club.

"I know a lot of people think that if you are at a club like Liverpool or Man United then you should score 20 goals a season because you are getting all the chances.

"It's true if you are good enough, but if you are not good enough then you get exposed really quickly and it's not pleasant.

"Talking of Danny Ings, he's a goal scorer, he's put in some really good performances.

"He will have to make that step up into a team where things are expected of you, not just nicking a goal every so often and you make the headlines.

"This is, if you play poorly once, you get plenty of criticism, so it's a different challenge he has taken on."

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