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

Liverpool's ongoing interest in Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho has hit problems.

The Anfield giants are attempting to land Brendan Rodgers the defender he so badly wants, but have baulked at Sporting Lisbon’s asking price of £17million for Ilori - way above the £6m Liverpool are prepared to offer for the 20-year-old centre-half.

The Reds feel their offer is realistic, because Ilori is set to be out of contract next summer and is refusing to sign a new one.

Rodgers’ move for Sakho has also run into difficulties.

French champions Paris Saint-Germain want £13m for the France international even though, like Ilori, he is scheduled to be a free agent a year from now.

Rodgers is desperate to make a breakthrough in negotiations as he has lost defenders Kolo Toure and Sebastian Coates to injury, while Martin Skrtel is only just back from a knock of his own.