From Etihad Stadium to Anfield.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is apparently eyeing up a possible bid for a number of Man City players he feels could add quality to his Anfield first team. The newly installed Anfield manager will hope that the possibility of regular first team football will tempt one or more of a trio of players he has earmarked bids for.
Rodgers is keen on adding more steel to a midfield that currently overly relies on Lucas Leiva for a defensive edge. The Brazilian missed much of the last campaign with a knee injury and youngster Jay Spearing failed to impress when filling in and this has led to reported interest in Dutch international Nigel de Jong.

The Man City ‘enforcer’ was a pivotal player for Mancini in 2010/11 but when the Italian opted for a more attacking tactical approach he decided he could make do with a central pairing of Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure and as a result the 27 year old only managed ten first team starts last term.


Similarly Adam Johnson has also found himself surplus to requirements at the Premier League title holders and has in fact never had a firm footing in Mancini’s starting eleven plans. Rodgers is looking to bring in alternative options for the Liverpool flanks and will look to make an offer for the England international and his interest in the Sunderland born winger will depend a great deal on how much Man City would seek for his services.

The 24 year old also made just ten Premier League starts last term and that lack of first team action in all likelihood cost the winger his place in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad. The former Middlesbrough man may well have to decide if his attempts to persuade Mancini he is worthy of a regular spot in his plans are likely to amount to anything and with that in mind may well be open to offers.
Rodgers will be more than aware that neither Stewart Downing or Jordan Henderson impressed in wide roles last term and therefore interest in Johnson is understandable.



James Milner is Rodgers’ third, and possibly most ambitious, Man City target with the Liverpool manager no doubt being attracted by the England international’s ability to effectively perform in a number of positions. Still just 26 the former Leeds, Newcastle United and Aston Villa man has already racked up over 400 top tier appearances but found himself out of Roberto Mancin’s first team picture for large portions of last term.
Man City paid £26m for the midfielder in the summer of 2010 but last season he started less than half of the club’s Premier League matches and as such could perhaps feel he is no longer a crucial part of Mancini’s plans.
Rodgers will be looking to improve his squad in a number of areas and he may feel that looking to bring in players from Man City could be made easier if Roberto Mancini looks to add to his playing staff this summer.