There’s no substitute for hard work. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you the very same. Through all your endeavours, it is through hard work you are most likely to succeed.
That is, unless the one of the best clubs in the world comes knocking and your big money transfer target realises he’d rather not spend his afternoons slogging it out on a rainy Merseyside pitch.
Marco Reus has his eyes set on a much bigger prize. European football.
Real Madrid have simply batted an eyelid at Reus and they look destined to get their man, adding to an already stellar squad.
But credit to Brendan Rodgers, who is sticking to his guns and is reported to be preparing a £46m bid to lure the German international to the Premier League.
Is Reus the catalyst that Liverpool need to take that next step and break into the top four? Will he be their X factor?
You can believe these are the sort of arguments Rogers is offering in a bid to pull off what would be one of the window’s biggest coups.
After completing the signing of Benteke yesterday, Liverpool will have added confidence going into negotiations.
Another Belgian might also be making his way back to England, with Manchester City rumoured to want to take Kevin de Bruyne to the Etihad.
Pellegrini has obviously been impressed with the 24-year-old since his move from Chelsea and his eye-catching spell last season at Wolfsburg.
13 goals in 50 appearances in the Bundesliga is nothing to be sniffed at and Pellegrini is set to reach between the couch cushions and table a £60m bid for the international.
A youthful attacking midfielder may just be what the Chilean coach needs as he prepares for life without Stevan Jovetic.
Internazionale are close to bringing the 25-year-old to Italy on a season-long loan deal, with a view to a permanent move, costing the Italian side £10.5m.
The Montenegrin has only made 30 league appearances in two seasons in England and will hope to rediscover some form in the Serie A.
Jovetic may consider himself lucky he won’t have to come up against tenacious midfielder Arturo Vidal, who has agreed to join Bayern Munich subject to medial.
The fee in this move is reported to be in the region of £26m.
Vidal had been heavily courted by Arsenal so far this window, but Pep Guardiola made sure to procure a suitable replacement for the departed Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The German World Cup winner looks to be the only Munich player to make the move to Manchester United, after club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge informed Louis van Gaal that Thomas Muller is staying put.
The statement comes amid reports that United had launched a £70.5m for the German, but it looks as though that deal will fizzle out.
The only other live prospect for United is Barcelona forward, Pedro.
Sergio Busquets today fuelled rumours that the Spaniard will leave the club for England when he claimed the 27-year-old may leave in search of more first team minutes.
Paper talk suggests the Spaniard could leave if the his £22m release clause is met.
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