In a transfer rumour that has raised eyebrows on Merseyside, Liverpool have been linked to Manchester City defender, Kolo Toure.
Reports suggest that Toure will join the Reds as a free agent after City’s post-season tour to America.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers lamented the lack of leadership in his team’s backline earlier this season, and recalled stalwart Jamie Carragher to the starting line-up.
Liverpool’s defence immediately improved, and they ended the season with 16 clean sheets. The only problem being that Carragher has now retired, leaving a gaping hole in Anfield’s rear guard.
Younger defenders like Schalke beast Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Ajax's Toby Alderweireld have been linked to the Reds, and both would be excellent forward-looking signings.
But the fact of 32-year-old Ivorian international Toure’s lengthy Premier League experience, and his availability on a free transfer, has apparently appealed to Rodgers’ sense of pragmatism.
Toure has slipped down the pecking order at City and has not been offered a new deal by the club.
He is understood to desire a stay in the English top-flight, and with his family settled in the North West, he would jump at the chance to sign for Liverpool.
Reds fans are torn on the notion of Toure however. Most feel that if he is signed alongside a player like Papadopolous, Toure will be a useful squad addition.
But whether or not the Ivorian is better than current Liverpool defenders like Martin Skrtel, Martin Kelly, or any of the academy’s up-and-coming youngsters is up for debate in the pubs and parks of Merseyside.
Meanwhile, one signing Liverpool fans are unanimous in their support of is young Brazilian, Philippe Coutinho.
The 20-year-old has taken to life at Liverpool like a duck to water, scoring three goals and assisting more goals than any other player in the Premier League since his January move from Inter Milan.
And Rodgers has praised the unexpectedly hasty and excellent impact Coutinho has made on Liverpool’s play.
"When you bring somebody in during January you hope they can make an impact," he said.
"You are also looking at it as a six-month adaptation period before you get the best out of them from pre-season onwards. We are all pleasantly pleased and surprised by how well he has done. His numbers tell you the story in terms of goals and assists.
"At the minute, you can't ask any more. The key thing is that he works his socks off as well. He is a real team player."
