Liverpool Transfer News: Marcos Reus, Alex Song To Anfield? Joe Allen Out In Latest Rumors?

Liverpool have produced two rather uneven performances to start of the Premier League term, but even after nine summer signings well in excess of £100 million, manager Brendan Rodgers is still meticulously monitoring the transfer market in its final days. If not for striker Daniel Sturridge’s late winner against Southampton, the Reds would be looking at a panicky 0-2 start following the 3-1 letdown to defending champions Manchester City.

Though the much-speculated acquisitions of forwards Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao appear to be pipe dreams, Rodgers can find some attacking firepower to help Sturridge and Mario Balotelli. Most notably Daily Express reports Liverpool are among a handful of the Europe’s top clubs angling for Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Marco Reus.

Dortmund has insisted throughout the summer that Reus is to remain in Germany, but Express reports he spoke with Arsenal earlier this summer and may have turned down an offer from Manchester United. If either of the Premier League rivals are out of the running, Liverpool must still contend with deep-pocketed Real Madrid, who evidently held a secret meeting with Dortmund hoping to acquire Reus next summer when his buyout clause drops from £25 million to £20 million.

Should a switch to Anfield materialize, Reus would likely replace Countinho in the starting lineup and provides some insurance for Adam Lallana, whose Reds debut has been held up due to a knee injury suffered during the preseason.

Rodgers does have another midfield option in Barcelona’s Alex Song. Two weeks removed from initial reports linking the two sides, talks have apparently been renewed and Song could join Merseyside on-loan Metro reports. Though he’s evidently out of favor at Camp Nou, Barcelona aren’t willing to permanently part with Song until next summer at the earliest, despite an apparent £10-million bid from the Reds.

Versatile enough to play a central midfield role or sliding to the backline, Song could very well act as the future replacement for 33-year-old Kolo Toure, or the slow-aging pair of 29-year-olds Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger.

Adding either Reus or Song would be steps in the right direction, but a surprising report surfaced Wednesday that central midfielder Joe Allen was linked to a £20 million transfer to Manchester United, according to Daily Star. The story insinuates that Allen might be keen to the idea since he was substituted or left on the Rodgers’s bench many times last season. United’s early struggles have been well documented, especially their lack of success during the summer session, but the Star pointed out that no player has transferred from Anfield to Old Trafford in 76 years. It's a trend that is more than likely to continue.