Alex Pearce (Reading)

Brendan Rodgers wants to sign Reading defender Alex Pearce as a long-term replacement for Jamie Carragher.
Liverpool have had a bid for the 23-year-old rejected but are monitoring his contract situation.

Pearce – Reading’s Player of the Season last year – is out of contract in the summer. If no new deal is signed, Pearce would be available for a knockdown fee in January or for free next summer.

Sportsmail understands Pearce is unhappy with the terms Reading are offering and believes he has been benched for the last seven games as punishment for not agreeing to the deal on the table.

Pearce had not missed a minute of league football for Reading for more than a year before being dropped and his impressive start to life in the Premier League saw him make his Republic of Ireland debut in September.

He last played for Reading in the 1-0 defeat to West Brom in September and without him Brian McDermott’s side have shipped 18 goals.

His continued absence has raised speculation about his future and has put Liverpool on red-alert as Rodgers looks to bolster his squad in January.

Rodgers is an admirer of Pearce’s professionalism and promoted him to the role of Reading captain when he was in charge of the club in 2009.

It is also understood that Rodgers has doubts over the quality of the young centre-backs at Liverpool and believes Pearce is a better bet to replace Carragher, who at 34 is nearing the end of his Anfield career.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2229234/Liverpool-want-Alex-Pearce-replace-Jamie-Carragher.html

Do we need him?

Hi guys, here the Reading side of things:

Sportsmole
Brian McDermott wants Alex Pearce stay
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/reading/transfer-talk/news/mcdermott-wants-pearce-stay_53584.html

Reading boss Brian McDermott has revealed that he is keen to keep Alex Pearce at the club. The 23-year-old was voted Reading's player of the year last season, but he has struggled to command a regular place in the Premier League campaign. However, McDermott has challenged the defender to vie for a spot in the team with youngster Sean Morrison.
"We shall see what happens this week. There is a possibility that there will be talks between Alex, his representative and Nick Hammond," McDermott told Sky Sports News. "Alex has a choice to make and so does his agent. Sean Morrison is now in the team, proved a point and proved he can play at this level. He is very much in contention to play because we know he can do it. He's committed and has a three-year deal."

He's a FIRM favourite of the Royals fans, would be sad to lose him ...

Wouldn't we be better off spending for a talented left-back, Glen Johnson is in great form at right-back (or left), and Enrique might have been involved in one of the best goals of the season (long lob), but he's way to inconsistent and his defense is horrid. He needs to go, and we need a strong, balanced LB... we need nothing at CB, Kelly will probably be rotating to half-back when he returns anyways.

I wouldn't sign him either.

We need a new left back though, that's for sure!

What a difference a season makes. Most of last season enrique was one of our best players. Now we Are talking about needing a new left back. I wouldn't worry about that position tbh. Enrique, Robinson, Johnson can cover or even downing.

i don't think 20 mil in the summer transfer window is a good idea unless it is spent one good forward. There is rarely value for money in January and the whole world knows we are desperate for a striker or two so prices would get hiked. Downing could be used as make weight in a swap deal for  a forward but which one is the conundrum. I'd  like to see Crouchy back as a short term option and I think he would jump at the chance. I think he would offer more than Bent and probably come in cheaper.

Crouch has got a lot more to his game than Carroll or Bent but I agree that Brendan probably wouldn't fancy him. As I said, he is someone I'd like to see in a red shirt again. I'd also like to see a 19 year old Robbie Fowler as well but both are just pipe dreams.

Welcome to the Kopworld Briefus...I wasn't for one minute suggesting that we blow the transfer budget in January on all strikers..Just the one will do!