The Liverpool Offside - Full Coverage: Liverpool's January 2015 Deadline DayZeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2015-02-03T02:00:02+00:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/77261422015-02-03T02:00:02+00:002015-02-03T02:00:02+00:00Liverpool Deadline Day in Review
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<p>Liverpool fans started the day with little expectation of anything happening, and aside from a flurry of rumours late in the day, largely finished the day the way they started it.</p> <p>When Liverpool managed a net spend of only £33,550,000 during <a href="http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2014/9/2/6095159/liverpools-summer-2014-transfer-window-in-review" target="new">last summer's</a> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a>, many hoped that the remainder of the rumoured £60,000,000 transfer kitty might be spent in January should the club need reinforcements. A poor start to the season, an inability to score goals, and lack of quality depth between the posts certainly qualified as needs to be addressed in fans' eyes, but the war chest remained closed and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool's</a> window closed without much fanfare. </p>
<h4>Who's In (£0)</h4>
<p>Jordon Ibe. Yep, that's literally it. Ibe was recalled from his <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/derby-county">Derby County</a> loan spell to help shore up Liverpool's tepid attack. Ibe is cup-tied for domestic cup competitions, putting him out of contention early on in the League Cup and keeping him out of this week's FA Cup replay versus Bolton, but he could prove to be a helpful option from the bench in Liverpool's upcoming Europa League ties against Besiktas. </p>
<p>Of course, Daniel Sturridge's return from injury fills the "like a new signing!" joke quotient, and it would be funnier if it wasn't absolutely true. Sturridge scored upon being substituted on the weekend against West Ham, and the difference between a Liverpool side including him and one that does not cannot be underestimated. </p>
<h4>Who's Out (£5,700,000)</h4>
<p>Suso's departure for more money and playing time at AC Milan left many feeling very cold, not least of all due to the small transfer fee the club received (£1M) in lieu of letting him go on a free this summer. </p>
<p>From the "Who?" files, poor <span>Oussama Assaidi</span> finally found a way out of the club after never finding a way into <span>Brendan Rodgers</span>' good graces and spending two seasons on loan in the deepest depths of Mordor. Al Ahli Club in Dubai were happy to spend more on the marginalized player than Liverpool paid for him in the first place in 2012, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> saw their second loan for the player cut short to accommodate the sale. </p>
<p>Liverpool's youngsters saw more movement than the senior team. Lloyd Jones extended his loan spell at Cheltenham Town, Ryan McLaughlin is set to help <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/rotherham">Rotherham United</a> fight their relegation battle in the Championship, and Sheyi Ojo will spend the rest of the season at Wigan under the tutelage of Malkay Mackay. </p>
<h4>So, What's the Verdict? (Net Spend: -£5,700,000)</h4>
<p>Liverpool were connected with rumours up until the eleventh hour, and all but one turned out to be fairly unsubstantiated. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa's</a> last minute £5m bid for <span>Rickie Lambert</span> was the surprise link of the day, as they were one of the few relegation threatened clubs that hadn't yet been connected with the Liverpool man. It's still unclear as to how or why the deal fell apart, but Lambert will remain with his current club until the end of the season. </p>
<p>Liverpool's other near miss was for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley's</a> Danny Ings, who only recently emerged as a transfer target when Liverpool but in a bid that was eventually rejected by the player's club. There is still potential for both clubs to confirm the player's transfer to Liverpool once the next window opens, potentially making him Liverpool's first summer signing should the deal go through. </p>
<p>It's hard to call the window a disappointment given that the expectations for doing business were so incredibly low to begin with. Securing an additional senior striker or a keeper with enough quality to genuinely challenge <span>Simon Mignolet</span> seemed top of mind for many, but once more Brendan Rodgers seemed to believe in the power of galvinis(z)ing his existing squad into action for the second half of the season. Hey, it worked last year. </p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2015/2/3/7967811/liverpool-deadline-day-in-review-much-ado-about-nothing-january-transfer-window-2015-eplStitch Invader2015-02-02T23:22:09+00:002015-02-02T23:22:09+00:00Official: Lambert Stays at Liverpool
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<p>The closure of the January transfer window has brought official confirmation of Rickie Lambert staying at Liverpool.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors" class="sbn-auto-link">transfer window</a> has officially closed, and what drama there was with <span>Rickie Lambert's</span> miniature transfer saga that lasted for less than a day. Aston Villa were desperate to add goals to a misfiring attack, and Lambert offers Premier League proven goalscoring ability over the past couple of seasons.</p>
<p><a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Aston Villa's</a> £5 million offer was tempting as it would have given Liverpool a profit on a 32-year-old who was only signed in the summer, but after returning to his boyhood club after spending many years away, Rickie Lambert decided to spend at least a season at Liverpool. It was a good offer for a player who has scored three goals in 24 appearances in all competitions, a record that makes him <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool's</a> top-scoring striker at the club.</p>
<p><span>Paul Lambert</span> will need to look within for answers to a desperately anaemic attack without a win in eight games ahead of a clash against Premier League leaders <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a>. An improvement on eleven league goals so far in a depressing campaign must come from somewhere. However, Rickie Lambert will not be part of the solution for one of the Premier League's longest serving managers.</p>
<p>Liverpool's striking options for the remaining few months of the season are <span>Daniel Sturridge</span>, <span>Mario Balotelli</span>, <span>Fabio Borini</span>, and Rickie Lambert. The former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> striker can focus down to getting ready for a possible start against <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bolton Wanderers</a> in the FA Cup on Wednesday as <span>Brendan Rodgers</span> will look to shuffle his players around with a Merseyside derby waiting on the weekend.</p>
<p>Lambert was brought in to provide backup and a different option to other strikers at the club, and hopefully he'll make some vital contributions from the start or the bench as the season progresses. Liverpool need more from the current set of strikers with much to aim for in three competitions between now and May.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/2/2/7967347/rickie-lambert-stays-at-liverpool-no-aston-villa-deal-window-closedCStars2015-02-02T22:00:03+00:002015-02-02T22:00:03+00:00Liverpool Could Get Ings—After Window Closes
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<p>It appears Liverpool will not sign Danny Ings today, but agreeing a U8 deal with Burnley in the coming weeks would allow them to secure his services next season before he becomes a free agent.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Though any chances <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> would sign <span>Danny Ings</span> on deadline day likely died the moment it became clear Premier League rules prevented them loaning the player straight back to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> for the remainder of the season, with the striker having made clear Liverpool is his preferred destination there remains a chance of a deal getting done following the close of the window.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That’s because while league rules prevent Ings being loaned straight back to Burnley, the <i>Mirror</i> has reported that the two clubs could sign a U8 agreement. Such an agreement would allow his contract rights to be transferred at a later date, and such an agreement can be signed outside of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a>. It’s a potentially complex, convoluted approach to getting a deal done, but it may be Liverpool’s best option.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">They want to tie down Ings before his contract runs out this summer, but clubs within the same federation aren’t allowed to sign players to pre-contract agreements as would have been the case were Liverpool dealing with a player in Spain or Italy or Germany with six months left on his contract. Burnley, meanwhile, would rather lose Ings on a free this summer than lose him—and their chances at Premier League survival—for a fee today.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Given his contract is running down, any U8 deal would have to go hand in hand with Ings agreeing a new contract with Burnley such that they would have something to transfer to Liverpool in the next window. Liverpool would be expected to pay a fee slightly in excess of what the two clubs agree a tribunal would award Burnley as compensation for developing the 22-year-old striker if he left on a free.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, with Liverpool having failed in their attempts to orchestrate a move for Ings during the window, if they feel confident the striker will choose them when his current deal expires they may simply wait until the summer and pay Burnley developmental compensation.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/2/2/7966361/liverpool-danny-ings-after-january-window-closed-u8-deal-burnleyNoel Chomyn2015-02-02T21:11:10+00:002015-02-02T21:11:10+00:00Lambert to Villa Deal Unlikely
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<p>Though the deal isn't completely dead, all signs point to Rickie Lambert's chances of completing a move to Aston Villa today being incredibly unlikely at this point.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Despite a willingness by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa</a> to pay a fee in the region of £5M to sign veteran striker <span>Rickie Lambert</span> and a willingness on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s part to entertain the idea of selling him at such a price, multiple reports now suggest any deal is unlikely. As a result, Rickie Lambert seems set to end the day as a Liverpool player.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The BBC, Liverpool Echo, and Sky Sports are all reporting that a deal is no longer likely at this stage, though it isn’t entirely clear yet why the move may have fallen through. Liverpool, though, did enter the day without any plans to sell Lambert, and even if the striker had departed, it is unlikely a replacement would have been brought it this window.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">However, while the deal now does appear highly unlikely, it may not be entirely dead. There are suggestions Aston Villa’s £5M offer remains on the table, and that the West Midlands club remains hopeful that the situation may change over the final two hours of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a>. Lambert is likely to end the day still a Red, but that isn’t yet certain.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With that in mind, it seems likely the decision was left to Lambert as to whether he wanted to stay at Anfield as a squad player or move to Villa for the chance at regular minutes as a starter. He appears to have chosen to stay, and with that, one of the slowest transfer deadline days in Liverpool history appears set to end with a whimper of inactivity.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So far, the club’s only activity today has been to loan Sheyi Ojo to Wigan, while a loan for Ryan McLaughlin to Rotherham United remains on the cards. Liverpool’s only incoming player this window has been <span>Jordon Ibe</span>, who they recalled from Derby earlier in the month.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/2/2/7966119/reports-rickie-lambert-aston-villa-5m-transfer-unlikelyNoel Chomyn2015-02-02T20:06:59+00:002015-02-02T20:06:59+00:00Vote: Should Liverpool Sell Rickie Lambert?
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<p>Aston Villa are reportedly trying to negotiate a £5M deal for Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert. At that price, would you sell him?</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Widespread reports have Aston Villa launching a late, £5M bid to acquire Rickie Lambert before the transfer windows shuts in a few hours. There’s little doubt that the interest is real and that the two clubs are talking, though it’s still far from certain any deal will get done.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Liverpool entered the day having no intentions to sell the 32-year-old striker, who returned to his boyhood club in a £3.5M deal last summer, but Villa’s late bid was high enough to pique their interest. The downside is that, having had no plan to sell, Liverpool would now seem to have no plan in place to replace Lambert.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For some, with Daniel Sturridge back from injury, that won’t matter. For others, if the club cannot bring in a replacement, then a bit of profit on the player after six months won’t be worth the risk. Right now, though, whether Lambert ends the day a Liverpool player looks at best a 50:50 proposition.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With that in mind, we want to know what you would do if you were in charge of the Liverpool transfer committee. Would you sell Lambert at £5M, would you only sell if a replacement could be brought in, or are you the sentimental sort who would hold on to him regardless?</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/2/2/7965537/vote-should-liverpool-sell-rickie-lambert-aston-villa-5mNoel Chomyn2015-02-02T19:07:36+00:002015-02-02T19:07:36+00:00Liverpool Willing to Consider Lambert Sale
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<p>Aston Villa have launched a surprise late effort to sign Rickie Lambert on a permanent deal, and reports have Liverpool at least willing to consider it—for the right price.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Reports from journalists with ties to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa</a> have suggested that, having failed in their attempts to bring <span>Rickie Lambert</span> in on loan, the struggling West Midlands club had escalated their efforts and were trying to land him on a permanent deal. Initial reports suggested the Villans were willing to pay up to £5M to convince <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> to sell.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Now, from the Liverpool end, comes word that while they were unwilling to consider a loan, <span>Brendan Rodgers</span> side would at least entertain a permanent departure for Lambert for the right price. According to the Times’ Tony Barret, that right price just so happens to be right around £5M, putting it square in line with the offer Aston Villa were rumoured to be preparing to make.</p>
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<p>Liverpool would be looking for a bid of around £5m from Aston Villa in order to consider selling Rickie Lambert.</p>
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyBarretTimes/status/562321323310215171">February 2, 2015</a>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Payment schedules, base fees and escalators, and any number of other issues could put a lot of space between the £5M Liverpool want and the £5M Villa are reportedly willing to offer, but as things stand it would not be surprising were Lambert to end the day an Aston Villa player. Whether Liverpool would look to—or be able to—bring in a replacement for him is not yet known.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For the player, such a departure would mark the end of what would have to go down as a short and less than satisfying return to his boyhood club, but with the return of <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> and Lambert’s struggles to impress in his absence, his minutes are likely to be limited the rest of the way this season.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/2/2/7964899/liverpool-consider-5m-rickie-lambert-sale-aston-villaNoel Chomyn2015-02-02T18:03:13+00:002015-02-02T18:03:13+00:00Aston Villa Launch Surprise £5M Lambert Bid
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<p>After having their loan offer turned down, Aston Villa have reportedly launched a surprise £5M bid for Rickie Lambert.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">With <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool</a> having already turned down a trio of loan offers for striker <span>Rickie Lambert</span>, preferring to keep him around as depth than to let <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/crystal-palace" class="sbn-auto-link">Crystal Palace</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/hull-city" class="sbn-auto-link">Hull City</a>, or <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Aston Villa</a> pay his wages for the rest of the season, the Telegraph has reported that at least one of those interested clubs has escalated their interest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The London broadsheet is reporting a late, £5M bid for the striker by Villa, with manager <span>Paul Lambert</span> having set his sights on the 32-year-old ex-<a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Southampton</a> player as key to their Premier League survival. If true, it could be hard for Liverpool to pass up the chance to turn a profit on the player they signed over the summer for £3.5M from the Saints.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Lambert has made 24 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions since rejoining his boyhood club six months ago, scoring three goals for a side that has struggled to find the back of the net with <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> out injured. With Sturridge returning, though, Lambert is unlikely to see nearly as much action in the second half of the season and could be surplus to requirements.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Aston Villa have struggled even more than Liverpool to score goals this season, managing just 11 over 23 games in a difficult campaign that currently sees them just three points clear of relegation.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2015/2/2/7964371/reports-aston-villa-launch-shock-5m-bid-striker-rickie-lambertNoel Chomyn2015-02-02T16:50:58+00:002015-02-02T16:50:58+00:00McLaughlin Set for Rotherham Loan
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<p>Liverpool have had a quiet deadline day so far, but are nearing the completion of a deal to send right back Ryan McLaughlin out on loan to Rotherham United for the remainder of the season.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Once considered one of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool's</a> brightest young prospects, despite being only 20 years of age, Ryan McLaughlin has rather fallen off the radar for many in recent seasons. The Northern Ireland right back spent part of last season at Barnsley on loan, making nine appearances before he was recalled following an injury, but outside of that has found himself limited to youth action.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If the young fullback is to have any chance of progressing at Liverpool and living up to the talent he showed after arriving at the club in the summer of 2011 from Irish Premiership side Glenavon, he needs minutes. It now appears those minutes could be coming soon, with news the player is nearing a much needed loan move to Championship side Rotherham United for the remainder of the current season.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Rotherham are currently 20th, a mere three points clear of the relegations places in the Championship, and a regular role in their coming battle to stay in England’s second division could be invaluable for McLaughlin if he’s to prove he still has a future at Liverpool—or, failing that, to impress and secure himself a new long-term home.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-news/2015/2/2/7963553/ryan-mclaughlin-liverpool-fullback-rotherham-united-loan-move-seasonNoel Chomyn