Maxi tells Liverpool he wants out - and Meireles could go too!
Maxi Rodriguez will lead the summer exodus from Anfield, after admitting he wants a return to his Pampas homeland.
The Argentina star is one of 13 players Liverpool are looking to offload in the transfer window as they try desperately to cut dead wood , and with it some massively inefficient salary spending.
But it could be a player from outside the hit-list identified by boss Kenny Dalglish who is next to follow Rodriguez out of the door, with Raul Meireles a shock potential departure.
Liverpool currently pay more than £500,000 a week in wages to players who were out on loan last season, or barely featured in the first team, and are keen to cut that wasteful spending.
Rodriguez is certainly on that list, with a salary of nearly £90,000 a week, and the club will definitely not stand in his way, as he revealed yesterday he wants to rejoin Newell’s Old Boys, the club where he first made his name.
The Argie international admitted Old Boys have made an approach, and it is clear he is hoping for a pay-off to return home immediately.
“When I left Argentina, I knew I was coming back. President Guillermo Lorente called me and I said yes,? he revealed. “Now it depends on the contract I have in Liverpool - maybe that can be loosened a little.”
Liverpool most certainly won't stand in his way. He will be at best a squad player next season, with the Reds lining up Stewart Downing to operate in Maxi's left wing position.
And to spend almost £5million a year in wages on a fringe player is unthinkable, given the club is not in the Champions League.
The stumbling block will be those wages, with Old Boys in no position to meet them.
It will mean Liverpool paying Rodriguez to go, but the Anfield board are likely to look to the long-term and rid themselves of a massive expense.
And the planned raid for Charlie Adam to operate alongside recent signing Jordan Henderson could also persuade them to allow Meireles to leave, even though that would shock many Liverpool fans.
Meireles was the only real success from last summer’s buys, after a £12m switch from Porto, but Inter Milan are interested.
The chance to play in the centre of Inter's midfield, instead of wider on the flanks - where Adam will also operate - would appeal to the Portugal international.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are determined to take advantage of the chaos at Birmingham City by rushing through a deal for Scott Dann.
Arsenal also want the promising centre-back, but he was born on Merseyside and is a boyhood Red so is likely to be swayed by that loyalty - despite the offer of Champions League football from the Gunners.
Managerless Birmingham's owners may be persuaded to cash in on the defender if they receive an £8m offer, which Dalglish could table within the next few days.
Meanwhile, the Anfield board may find another of their proposed moves less popular with the Reds support though, as news broke yesterday their new third kit could be BLUE!
A design leaked yesterday suggests the change strip will be blue and white, with three blue stripes - which could incense Everton-phobic fans.
Read more:
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