Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists any January signings will be made with the long-term in mind. He is confident of landing Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge and re-signing former Reds winger Tom Ince from Blackpool, in a near- £20million double deal.

But Rodgers said: "I see lots of names being bandied about, but with all due respect they are pie in the sky because there won't be too many top players moving in January.

"It will come down to two things - the availability and affordability of players - and in the January window you don't get either.

"But we will look to solve some of our problems in January and then revisit it in the summer.

"It is all about progress but you can't solve all your problems in one leap."