Brendan Rodgers: Ibe will feature heavily for Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has promised that young winger Jordon Ibe will "feature heavily" this season after the exit of Raheem Sterling.

The 19-year-old product of Wycombe's youth system broke through at Liverpool last season before joining Championship side Derby on loan.

Rodgers has made it clear that he intends to use Ibe more extensively this season, telling the club's official website: "It's year-on-year improvement.

"We mustn't forget he's still only 19. He broke into the team young and had some appearances. We felt he needed a loan, has gone out and did really well.

"Then when he came back last season he was exceptional in his performances. I think he really excites the supporters.

"He's definitely a player that we want to really create into a top-class performer, but we've got to give him that time and we're creating the environment for him to do that.

"You see how exciting he is, but he still has a lot of potential and work to do. He's one that certainly will feature heavily this year."

Ibe scored a stunning goal in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with a Malaysia XI on Friday.

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Digne agent denies Liverpool talks

Lucas Digne: Paris Saint-Germain left-back linked with Liverpool

Lucas Digne's agent has denied reports he has held talks with Liverpool regarding a move to Anfield for the Paris Saint-Germain left-back.

PSG boss Laurent Blanc revealed last week that Digne had made it clear he wanted to leave the club, with Liverpool widely reported to be keen on making him their eighth signing of the summer.

It had been reported in France that PSG that given Digne's agent, former Middlesbrough striker Mikkel Beck, permission to talk to Liverpool officials over a possible move, but that speculation has been dismissed.

"That's not right," Beck told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. "They have not given me permission to talk to Liverpool.

"I can not comment on the clubs' names, but there is interest from several large systems. We have to see if something will come eventually, but that is what is being worked on. Lucas is not 100 percent satisfied with the situation in Paris."

It was reported in Spain on Wednesday, meanwhile, that Liverpool's current first-choice left-back, Alberto Moreno, was on a long list of potential Barcelona targets should Adriano leave the Nou Camp.

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Mourinho scuppered Reds' Costa move

Diego Costa: Chelsea striker could have joined Liverpool

A new biography has revealed how Jose Mourinho scuppered Liverpool's bid to sign Diego Costa - a year before he arrived in west London.

The Reds had identified Costa, 26, as a target and lodged a £21.8million with Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2013,  which triggered his release clause.

But Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers were ultimately given the cold shoulder by Costa, who, after speaking to Mourinho, decided to stay with Atletico, according to Spanish journalist Fran Gillen’s biography of the Spain international entitled, Diego Costa: The Art of War.

Costa in fact penned a new deal with Atletico that summer before making the move to Chelsea 12 months later in a deal worth £32million, which eclipsed the offer by Liverpool a year earlier.

Gillen's biography reads: "Jose Mourinho, recently returned to Chelsea, had also identified Costa as a primary target, a Didier Drogba-style centre-forward around whom he could forge a new winning machine.

"However, Mourinho had yet to persuade the owner of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich, to accelerate his rebuilding plans. In both acquiring new players and moving others on, the process would be gradual.

"If Costa could not be signed [for Chelsea] now, a strategy was needed to ensure he was delayed, and not diverted.

"Chelsea and Mourinho made their case to Costa and Atletico: turn down Liverpool now and we will sign you – for more money – in 12 months."

Costa, who was originally a teenage truck driver working for his uncle in Brazil, fired 20 goals in his debut season last term en route to the Premier League title with Chelsea.

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Pulis: Lambert like a 'new car'

Rickie Lambert: Liverpool striker wanted by West Brom

Tony Pulis believes the arrival of Rickie Lambert would be like "bringing a new car out of the garage" after confirming his interest in the Liverpool striker.

West Brom on Wednesday completed their second signing of the summer, buying James Chester from Hull City, and they now hope to make Lambert their third as soon as possible.

Should they complete a deal, Pulis believes the 33-year-old's season of relative inactivity at Anfield could work in the Baggies' favour.

"Rickie is available," the Albion boss told the Birmingham Mail. "Liverpool have made that known. We'd be interested.

"It's very important that we get players who will score goals,

"Rickie's got a great goalscoring record.

"From what I can gather from people at Liverpool his fitness levels are very very good, and he is desperate to play football.

"He didn't play last year so it's like bringing a brand new car out of the garage if we did sign him.

"Just putting a bit of petrol in it and letting it run."

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Pulis: Lambert would be like a new car

Rickie Lambert: Liverpool striker wanted by West Brom

Tony Pulis believes it will be like "bringing a brand new car out of the garage" if West Brom manage to sign Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert.

West Brom on Wednesday completed their second signing of the summer, buying James Chester from Hull City, and they now hope to make Lambert their third as soon as possible.

Should they complete a deal, Pulis believes the 33-year-old's season of relative inactivity at Anfield could work in the Baggies' favour.

"Rickie is available," the Albion boss told the Birmingham Mail. "Liverpool have made that known. We'd be interested.

"It's very important that we get players who will score goals,

"Rickie's got a great goalscoring record.

"From what I can gather from people at Liverpool his fitness levels are very very good, and he is desperate to play football.

"He didn't play last year so it's like bringing a brand new car out of the garage if we did sign him.

"Just putting a bit of petrol in it and letting it run."

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Andre Wisdom joins Norwich on loan from Liverpool

Wisdom: England's young rising star impressed for West Brom last season

Norwich City have secured the services of Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom in a season-long loan deal.

The 22-year-old had already signed a new five-year contract with the Reds in May and will continue his development in the Premier League at Carrow Road. 

The newly-promoted Canaries are expected to pay a loan fee of £1.25m for the England U-21 defender, who can operate as a full-back or in the centre of defence.

Wisdom spent last season on loan at West Brom where he played in 24 Premier League games. He impressed in the Sky Bet Championship for Derby in a temporary spell in the previous campaign.

Norwich boss Alex Neil said: "I'm delighted as Andre fits our profile in terms of getting hungry players in who want to make their way in the game.

"He has Premier League experience & will add competition. The squad is certainly getting stronger, which I'm happy about."

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Liverpool suffer blow to hopes of signing Illarramendi

Asier Illarramendi: Real Madrid midfielder linked with Liverpool switch

Midfielder Asier Illarramendi has reportedly turned down the chance to join Liverpool after being given assurances about his Real Madrid future.

Spanish newspaper Marca had indicated that Liverpool had made Illarramendi an offer for him to earn regular first-team football in the Premier League, with the 25-year-old struggling to break into Real's first XI.

The former Real Socieded star has only started 25 La Liga games since moving to the Bernabeu in 2013 and has outstanding pair Luka Modric and Toni Kroos ahead of him in the central midfield pecking order at the Spanish giants.

Illarramendi, however, has reportedly held talks with Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez about how much playing time he will get in the new season ahead and is happy to stay put for now.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has already added seven players to his squad this summer and will continue to look to strengthen, although it would seem that Illarramendi will not become new boy number eight.

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