Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers primed for summer clear-out at Anfield

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/14/liverpool-brendan-rodgers-clear-out-champions-league

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Liverpool's rise to runners-up in the Premier League will not deter Brendan Rodgers from instigating a clear-out of the senior ranks this summer, with the manager prepared to offload Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto 12 months after their Anfield arrivals.

Rodgers has outlined his intention to sign quality over quantity with the Champions League in mind but, despite reservations over the depth of the Liverpool squad, would consider offers for several players who have struggled to make an impression. The futures of up to a dozen are in doubt, although not all are likely to leave.

Liverpool's largely disappointing transfer window last summer is reflected in the availability of Aspas, Alberto and potentially Kolo Touré after just one season on Merseyside. A fourth signing from that window, the central defender Tiago Ilori, will be allowed to go on loan for another season having played for Granada on a temporary basis since January.

Aspas cost €9m from Celta Vigo but made only five Premier League starts – and scored only once, in the FA Cup – with his path blocked by the sensational form of his fellow strikers Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge. At 26 he does not have time to spend another campaign on the bench and would be open to a return to Spain.

Alberto signed from Sevilla for £6.8m after a protracted pursuit by Liverpool but did not start a Premier League game last season, making nine substitute appearances and two starts in cup competitions. The 21-year-old may also be considered for a loan deal while the veteran defender Touré, who started the campaign well after a free transfer from Manchester City only to struggle on his return from injury, has admitted he needs to discuss his future with Rodgers. The 33-year-old is under contract at Liverpool until 2015.

Liverpool are also open to offers for José Reina, Fabio Borini, Oussama Assaidi and Suso, who have been on loan at Napoli, Sunderland, Stoke City and Almería respectively, plus the Uruguay defender Sebastián Coates. Daniel Agger's position is uncertain after a campaign in which he was frequently overlooked by the Liverpool manager, so too Martin Kelly's, while Victor Moses and Aly Cissokho will not be retained after their respective loan spells from Chelsea and Valencia.