Liverpool to make pre-contract offer for La Liga ace?

Punters in the Football Transfer Tavern are slightly taken aback by the latest transfer rumour from the Daily Star.

The publication report that Liverpool are confident of beating off competition from Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen to the signing of Barcelona ace Martin Montoya as they line up a pre-contract offer.

The defender’s current contract at the Camp Nou finishes at the end of the season and it appears that he is set for a fresh start with first team oppportunites currently extremely limited under newly appointed boss Gerardo Martino.

According to German reports, Munich and Leverkusen are keeping tabs on Montoya as they look to bring him to the Bundesliga and they are likely to offer stiff competition to Liverpool for his signature.

Although the 22-year-old’s representative, Jose Maria Orobitg, admitted that his client does not want to leave the La Liga champions in January, but he would consider other options if first team football appeared far away.

“For the moment he is under contract with FC Barcelona until the end of the season,” Orobitg said.

“We have talked but there is no certainty that Martin Montoya would hold down a first-team spot, because right now Daniel Alves closes the door.”

It is understood that Reds coach Brendan Rodgers is keen to complete an early deal for Montoya and will offer a pre-contract offer to lure him to Merseyside next summer.

Liverpool strengthened in the summer as Mamadou Sakho, Tiago Ilori and Kolo Toure all arrived at Anfield but Montoya would offer more depth as the Reds try to mount a realistic top four challenge.

How Liverpool Will Line Up Against Newcastle United

Mignolet; Toure, Skrtel, Sakho; Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas, Enrique; Moses; Suarez, Sturridge.

Brendan Rodgers will have the rare luxury of a full-strength squad to choose from for the trip to Newcastle this weekend. It's not good news for Newcastle, who were on the receiving end of a 6-0 drubbing in this fixture in April. Rodgers is buoyed by the return to fitness of Glen Johnson, Joe Allen, Aly Cissokho and Philippe Coutinho. It creates a selection headache for the manager, who must also choose whether to stick with three at the back or revert back to the 4-2-3-1 shape. Here's how the Reds might line up, assuming Rodgers continues with 3-4-1-2.

At the Back

Simon Mignolet's place in the starting 11 is assured, but who will start in front of him? The primary question here is whether Rodgers will bring back vice-captain Daniel Agger or stick with the trio of Martin Skrtel, Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho. Agger played both of Dernmark's World Cup qualifiers—against Italy and Moldova—scoring two penalties in the latter fixture.I'd expect Rodgers to stick with Toure, Skrtel and Sakho, though.

Centre Midfield
The big question here involves the return of Lucas Leiva from suspension after the midfielder missed the Crystal Palace match. Jordan Henderson performed admirably and drew praise for his energy alongside Steven Gerrard in Lucas' absence. Lucas made his first appearances for Brazil in two years during the international break, but who would make way out of Gerrard and Henderson? That could depend on the fitness of Glen Johnson.

Wing-Backs
Glen Johnson returned to full training this week and could start for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain in the win over Manchester United. Should Johnson not be classed fully fit, Jordan Henderson could return to the right wing-back role, making it easier for Rodgers to bring Lucas back in alongside Gerrard in midfield. Meanwhile, Rodgers also has Aly Cissokho available to provide competition for Jose Enrique. Cissokho was injured on his full debut against Notts County but returned for the Under-21s in their 5-0 hammering of Tottenham last week.
   
The No. 10
Philippe Coutinho has returned to training slightly ahead of schedule. The question is, will he be deemed fit enough to start at St. James' Park?When Coutinho limped off early in the second half at Swansea, Liverpool struggled to link their midfield and attack.Iago Aspas failed miserably in the role against Southampton and was subbed at half-time. Victor Moses has been the man playing this role since the change to 3-4-1-2.Moses has performed admirably, but it doesn't appear to be his most natural position.I expect Moses will continue here in order to avoid risking Coutinho's return from injury too soon.

The Front Two

This is the one area that doesn't really have a question mark over it, and likely never will, as long as both Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez remain fit and available for selection.The duo have five goals in their two Premier League games together since Suarez's return from suspension.

Brendan’s FIVE transfer priorities for Liverpool

Find back-up for Lucas Leiva

Cover for S.A.S.

Send out youngsters on loan(Martin Kelly, Andre Wisdom, Jon Flanagan, Jordon Ibe, Samed Yesil, and Adam Morgan and Jerome Sinclair.)

Sell a centre-back( Sebastian Coates or Martin Skrtel)

Snap up Keisuke Honda

3 Players Who Are Being Wasted At Liverpool This Season

1. Joe Allen

The Welshman followed Brendan Rodgers arrival to Liverpool club from Swansea in the summer of 2012 and had a mixed 2012/2013 season.

Allen has recently recovered from a hamstring injury, which has kept him out of action since August.  As Liverpool are flying at the moment it is unlikely that Allen will be thrown into the fold.

Allen has to battle it out with Lucas and Jordan Henderson for a place and if he cannot dislodge either one of these two, he may have to reconsider his options.

2.Andre Wisdom

The young defender isn't getting a look in this season despite his strong displays last term. The arrivals of Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho and Aly Cissokho have seen the 20-year-old linked with a loan move away from the club.

3. Luis Alberto

Signing from Sevilla in the summer, the Spaniard has hardly featured up to now, although this could be a case of Rodgers introducing him slowly.

The 21-year-old has played little over half an hour of Premier League football despite impressive in the reserves and would benefit from a string of competitive games - whether that be at Anfield or on a loan deal.

How Newcastle United Will Line Up Against Liverpool

Goalkeeper: Tim Krul

Full-Backs: Mathieu Debuchy and Davide Santon

Centre-Backs: Steven Taylor and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa

Central Midfielders: Moussa Sissoko and Cheick Tiote

Attacking Midfielder: Yohan Cabaye

Wide Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa and Loic Remy

Ligue 1 starlet to snub Liverpool and Man City

Man City and Liverpool will receive competiton from the top guns on the continent for the services of Saint Etienne youngster Kurt Zouma, according to talkSPORT.
Zouma, a known target for Seria A club Inter Milan, could leave France when the January window opens and in an effort to freshen up an ageing defense, Inter could dig deep to secure his services.
The Italians are currently leading the race, but other senior European clubs are picking up on the center-half’s talents.
Sources suggest that as much as eight top sides are monitoring the U-20 World Cup champion , who has already established himself as a solid Ligue 1 asset.
Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, and big spenders Monaco are potential bidders, and Saint Etienne’s resolve to hold on to Zouma looks like it will be seriously tested in the new year.
Despite his young age, the Loirians have already fielded the youngster 48 times at top level.