Reds to claw Caulker and Vorm from South Wales

Brendan Rodgers could well turn to the tried and tested in his bid to strengthen this summer. Having transformed Liverpool into an attacking machine, there have been calls from certain corners of the media for him to bolster his backline.

As a result he could raid South Wales. Former players Steven Caulker (Cardiff) and Michel Vorm (Swansea) are reportedly on the Reds’ radar, and could cost in the region of £15m, with the former almost certainly set to leave.

Rodgers worked with both players at the Liberty Stadium in their first season in the Premier League, and the pair flourished in a team that adhered to the Northern Irishman’s footballing blueprint. His team are odds-on at 4/7 not to win a trophy next term, and 20/1 to win either the Champions League or the Europa League.

With Champions League football set to return to Anfield next term, the boss realises the need to expand the squad, and give it more depth. Goalkeeper Vorm, who has been one of the consistent performers for Swansea, will provide adequate competition to current number one Simon Mignolet, who has shown he can be error prone at times.

Although Liverpool scored 101 goals last campaign (second only to Manchester City), they conceded more than any other team in the top five – half a century. Many of which were due to sloppy errors caused by a lack of communication in defence, and between the centre half pairing and Mignolet.

It was always going to be a hard task to replace Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, who retired at the end of the 2012/13 season, though Rodgers certainly tried. Mamadou Sakho was signed for the best part of £25m, though hasn’t pulled up any roots on the Anfield turf. It seems Daniel Agger isn’t fancied either, and is rumoured to be leaving Merseyside in the summer.

What is clear is that the Reds need quality at the back for next season. European teams have punished English opponents, with better defences in the past; City being a prime example. If Caulker is indeed the man to step into Carragher’s shoes, Rodgers had better be right.