Liverpool Transfer News: Sturridge, Ince, Nolito And Bony All Linked To Anfield Moves

With recruiting forward reinforcements his main concern, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has made the signing of Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge his priority in the January transfer window, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The England international featured little under previous Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo and was close to a move to Anfield in the summer. Rodgers is understandably keen that the change in the dugout at Stamford Bridge, with Di Matteo being replaced by Rafael Benitez, will not impact his attempts to sign Sturridge.

“You never know when new managers go into clubs, but we will see what happens over the course of the market for us,” Rodgers said, according to the Telegraph.

“Hopefully we can get a few in. Obviously [Liverpool managing director]Ian Ayre has been dealing with transfer stuff in the background and doing a great job along with the recruitment team.”

Liverpool are also closing in on a deal to resign Blackpool winger Tom Ince, according to the Daily Mirror. The England Under-21 international was sold by the Reds for just £250,000 less than 18 months ago, but now is believed to be set to return to Anfield for £6 million.

The Reds had a clause inserted into Ince’s deal that meant they would receive 35 percent of his next transfer fee, meaning that the amount they pay will come down to around £4 million.

With Rodgers clearly displaying his lack of faith in Stewart Downing, Liverpool have been short in wide areas this season and have even played full-back Jose Enrique in an advanced role of late.

But Rodgers is also likely to sign a central striker and he is keen on Vitesse Arnhem’s Wilfried Bony, according to TalkSport. The Ivory Coast international has scored 15 Eredivisie goals in just 14 appearances this season and is also believed to be interesting Chelsea.

However, Vitesse general manager Erwin Kasakowski has said that the 23-year-old will not be leaving in January.

“We have concrete plans to keep Bony on board at this team," Kasakowski said, according to TalkSport.

"We have already started discussions with his agent behind the scenes. We will do an incredible amount to the team to make it as strong as possible for the second half of the league season - and that includes keeping Bony.

"Bony's important for this team. The important thing is that he feels at home in this team. We absolutely want to keep him."

If that proves to be the case then Liverpool may turn their attentions to Benfica striker Nolito. The Spaniard, who signed from Barcelona in 2011, is currently out of favor with manager Jorge Jesus and Benfica could be willing to sell the 26-year-old in January, according to TalkSport.

The report claims that Rodgers may well be keen on Nolito, who scored 11 goals in the Portuguese Liga last season.