Liverpool boss Rodgers 'keen' on double Monaco swoop

Published Jun. 19, 2015 6:50 a.m. ET

foxsports

Liverpool have reportedly contacted Monaco to ask them about the availability of winger Lucas Ocampos and defender Aymen Abdennour.

The Reds have been tracking Argentinian Ocampos since 2011 and are now considering a summer move, with reports in Italy suggesting he would command a fee of around £14million.

The club are planning for life after Raheem Sterling, despite rejecting an improved £40million bid from Manchester City for the player earlier this week, and Ocampos fits their profile of buying young, quality players with the ability to improve.

Ocampos began his career with River Plate in Argentina before moving to Monaco in 2012 for around £11million. He's made 80 appearances for the Ligue 1 club, scoring 12 goals, but was shipped out on loan to Marseille last season, wher he scored just once in 12 games.

Nonetheless, Marseille remain keen to do a permanent deal for the player and are ready to battle Liverpool for his signature.

Another option could be the Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger Yehven Konoplyanka, a Liverpool target last season.

Konoplyanka saw his potential £15million move to Anfield collapse after Dnipro stalled over a fee but he is ready to push again for a transfer to the Premier League rather than Spain.

In May he went public with his desire to leave Dnipro and issued a formal transfer request, and he has now reiterated where he wants to play next season.

"My priority is to play in England," he told Futbol 1. "There is where I want to continue my career and I am going to do it. The clubs may meet with Dnipro, but I can only say what I am doing."

However, Ocampos looks to be top of Liverpool's wish list and he could be joined at Anfield by his Monaco team-mate Abdennour, who is also claimed to be wanted by Brendan Rodgers.

The Tunisia defender only signed a permanent deal at Monaco a year ago after initially impressing on loan but has told L'Equipe that he is ready for a new challenge.

"I do not think everyone will leave. I am ready for anything.

"I trust my president and my director. They know me, I will not put pressure on them.

"We respect each other, we work as a family.

"I am ready for anything. I'd love to play for big clubs. Why not leave so I can make more progress?"

Abdennour has been capped 33 times for his country and has also been linked with Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle.