Source: Daily_Mail
Blackburn's bargain hunt turns to Marica as Liverpool get left-back
Simon Jones is Sportsmail's man on the inside of all the major transfer moves this summer. [LNB]His column, published every weekday, offers an insight into the deals which will be done and those that won't - and why. [LNB]A 5/5-rating means The Insider reckons it's a done deal; 0/5 means The Insider has his mortgage on it not happening.[LNB]Don't miss your daily Insider instalment here. [LNB] CIPRIAN MARICAStuttgart to BlackburnTHE INSIDER says: 2/5[LNB]ALVARO PEREIRAPorto to LiverpoolTHE INSIDER says: 2/5[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]Strange times at Blackburn have meant a lot of free agents are coming under scrutiny and Romania international Marica is one of them. [LNB]Blackburn ideally need four or five players depending on who goes out and who, after initial negotiations, definitely signs. [LNB]You have to feel for manager Steve Kean at the moment as he juggles the expectation with the reality following Venky's recent troubles with he bank. They are exploring ways of switching an overdraft facility to a European bank and re-structuring the club's finance but players such as Marica will still be looked at as Kean needs bodies also. [LNB]Marica is vastly experienced with 49 caps under his belt with Romania and he is still only 25. He has played at some decent clubs with Dinamo Bucharest, Shaktar Donetsk and Stuttgart on his CV. He may not have been the most prolific but that is because he has sometimes played wide. [LNB]Yet a lot of the goals he has scored have come against decent sides. With Nikola Kalinic likely to be sold and Raul unlikely to leave Schalke, he may not be a bad bet if he can be convinced to join.[LNB]Liverpool need a left-back but are finding it difficult to get the right one for the right price.[LNB]They have looked at Newcastle's Jose Enrique but went cool on him following his display at Anfield towards the end of last season when his defensive positioning left a lot to be desired. [LNB]Newcastle's valuation of ?12million also meant he didn't represent good value for money.[LNB]They have looked at Aly Cissokho at Lyon but again he is too expensive for the level of player he is and the latest under discussion is Pereira at Porto. [LNB]The Uruguayan is a good player, he is experienced even though only 25 and grabs the occasional goal. [LNB]The problem is Porto want ?17m for a player that cost ?4m two years ago.[LNB]That may lead to Liverpool putting players into a deal or it could be that they shelve it and start with Glen Johnson at left-back and Martin Kelly on the right. A centre-half and striker are equally pressing and that may be where the next spending for Kenny Dalglish goes.[LNB] KYLE NAUGHTONTottenham to Norwich THE INSIDER says: 4/5[LNB]BEN FOSTERBirmingham to West BromTHE INSIDER says: 4/5[LNB] [LNB][LNB]The 22-year-old had a decent season on loan at Leicester last season and is on the wanted list of several more Championship and premier League clubs this summer.[LNB]Sportsmail's Sami Mokbel revealed this month that Aston Villa were keen on Naughton with negotiations over a deal for Alan Hutton hitting a few sticking points. [LNB]Tottenham obviously would rather sell Hutton as he ihas been on the fringes for recent seasons and has never really fitted in with Harry Redknapp's plans. Villa do not have a lot of money to spend though and are now thinking a loan deal would be easier for this season especially if it was as successful as Kyle Walker's loan last year. [LNB]However, Norwich have also come in strongly for Naughton and hope to have the upper hand while Villa still talk about Hutton. Tottenham are willing to loan out Naughton this season and Redknapp may prefer Norwich as they are less of a rival to Spurs' chances.[LNB]Queens Park Rangers and Leicester again are all monitoring developments.[LNB][LNB]Manager Roy Hodgson has been exploring the possibility of a deal for the former England international during the summer but was struggling to work out the finance with Birmingham initially expected to ask fro around ?8million for the 28-year-old. [LNB]However, as Sportsmail's Neil Moxley revealed, Birmingham are ready to loan out the former Manchester United goalkeeper for a ?1million fee with a clause at the end allowing a club to buy him should Birmingham fail to gain promotion at the end of the season. It's a creative plan and will set clubs scampering for Foster as he is definitely one of the best in the country. [LNB]Albion had also been weighing up a move for Robert Green at West Ham but this deal will be cheaper although of course you don't necessarily guarantee the player at the end of it. [LNB]Swansea are awaiting a response from Fulham today over David Stockdale and have bid for Lee Camp but may see Foster as an expensive but necessary risk to help them stay up at the first attempt.[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]Don't miss your daily instalment of The Insider every weekday through the transfer window here at MailOnline.
