Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager and self-appointed leader of a campaign to stop the discussion of other teams’ players, has erred again by accidentally letting slip that he is keen on Clint Dempsey and Joe Allen.

Of course, Allen belongs to Rodgers’ former employers Swansea, who possess a piece of paper preventing Liverpool from poaching any of their players for a year obtained as part of the deal taking the Northern Irish tactician to Anfield.

However, the latest media murmur is that there is a loophole freeing them to confirm their interest in anyone who is the subject of an accepted bid from elsewhere. The reason is presumably that, in such a scenario, it wouldn’t be Rodgers’ pulling power responsible for the situation.

Admittedly, that clause doesn’t help Liverpool’s cause hugely as they are the only club seen as major suitors of the Welsh midfielder at present and Swansea are said to value him at around £15 million. It is a glimmer of hope though, which is more than they appeared to have before.

Yet the Swans aren’t wasting their summer worrying about the prospect of losing their current stars, instead focussing on improving to avoid becoming the latest victims of second-season syndrome, which is judged a 2/1 prospect.

Their work so far in this transfer window has been encouraging and, unsurprisingly given the arrival of former Getafe and Mallorca coach Michael Laudrup, carries a distinct La Liga flavour.

Genoa defender Jose Manuel Flores and Villarreal attacking midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, who both played for Laudrup at Mallorca, have joined to fill holes left by the loss of loan heroes Steven Caulker and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Two more additions are on the cards, with Rayo Vallecano midfielder Michu close to signing for £2 million, a reduced sum due to the Spanish side’s financial strife, and talks underway over Getafe striker Miku. Both reached double figures for league goals last season.

Tags: Brendan Rodgers, Joe Allen, Liverpool, Swansea City