Who do Liverpool need to sign to retain the title? Keep up with all the Reds news with our free daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Undaunted by the pursuit of one of their brightest stars by Manchester City, Liverpool have turned their sights to squad strengthening for next season.

The Reds have dismissed the latest Etihad offer for Raheem Sterling, and instead are intent on ensuring boss Brendan Rodgers replaces the minimum of eight players they expect to leave Anfield this summer.

Rodgers has already persuaded free transfer signings James Milner, Danny Ings and Adam Bogdan to join, and he will add a fourth signing before the end of the week as hugely promising England U19 defender Joe Gomez travels to Merseyside for a medical tomorrow.

The Charlton defender, who can play right back or centre half, has chosen the Reds ahead of Arsenal, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, after Liverpool invoked a clause in his contract which allows him to leave for a figure of around £3.5m, which could rise to beyond £5m.

In pictures - Liverpool transfer targets

Rodgers is also confident of landing Southampton right back Nathaniel Clyne, after the Saints paved the way for a second Anfield bid for the England defender, by agreeing to sign a replacement in Portugal international right back Cedric Soares; from Sporting Lisbon for £3.5m.

Liverpool have already had an offer of around £7m rejected, but they will submit another bid in excess of £11m in the next few days, and could complete a deal next week.

The Merseyside club will also strengthen their squad significantly by ensuring another of their stars is tied up on a long term deal... even if it isn't Sterling.

There were fears key defender Martin Skrtel would leave this summer after rejecting a new contract offer and dismissing it as “unacceptable”.

(Image: Getty)

But his agent confirmed today he is close to putting pen to paper on a new agreement that will keep him at the club for the next three years, when he said the Slovakia international had rejected Inter Milan to stay at Anfield.

“I confess that there were not mere rumours, the interest from Inter was real,” the agent, Karol Csonto said.“The deal did not go ahead, but there was contact made.

“The player had been thinking about his future and eventually opted to remain at Liverpool." Skrtel is expected to confirm the new contract before next week.

Liverpool meanwhile, have put the ball firmly back in Manchester City's court over Sterling, by telling them the apparently “final” offer of £40m is no where near their valuation.