Transfer Activity January 2011

Visit this page to keep up to date with all of the transfer dealings at Liverpool this January.

IN: Liverpool have agreed to sign promising young striker Luis Suarez from Ajax for a fee that could rise to 26.5 million euros. The Uruguayan has a reputation for prolific goalscoring but also appears to have a discipline problem that occasionally sees him pick up unnecessary cards. However, he is one of a select few to score over a century of goals for Dutch giants Ajax, where he shares the prestigious company of Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten. Also, his impressive form at the World club clearly demonstrates his potential and he could develop into a fantastic striker at Liverpool, in a similar fashion to want-away striker Fernando Torres. (27th January)

Liverpool have signed England under-17 star Conor Thomas from Coventry City on loan for the remainder of the campaign. The central midfielder will feature in the reserves side while he continues his development at the Academy. (31st January)

Liverpool have agreed a club record £35 million fee with Newcastle United for 22-year old English striker Andy Carroll. Carroll has recorded 11 goals in 20 games this season, including a stunner against us at St James' Park earlier this season, and has a promising future ahead of him that will now be fulfilled at Anfield. Although the £35 million fee is excessive and reveals the desperate need for a striker eligible to play in Europe, new owners FSG (Fenway Sports Group) have confirmed their refreshing desire to invest and build up the squad with this move.

The exciting capture of Luis Suarez has been completed, with the former Ajax striker penning a five and a half-year contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2016. The Uruguyan has passed a medical and will wear the legendary number seven shirt previously worn by temporary manager Kenny Dalglish. (31st January)

Andy Carroll has signed for the Reds for a whopping £35 million. His contract runs until 2016 and he will wear Fernando Torres' vacant number nine shirt. (31st January)

OUT: Young promising attacker Nathan Eccleston has moved to League One side Charlton Athletic on loan today. With results crucial at this turbulent time for the Reds an inexperienced player like Eccleston was never likely to be afforded many first team opportunities, so this is a wise move that should provide him with some invaluable first team football. (13th January)

Liverpool have agreed to sell Dutch international Ryan Babel to German side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim for a fee rumoured to be around £5.8 million. This is after the 24-year old fell out of favour at Anfield due to his inconsistent form and failure to find and secure a permanent role in the starting line-up.

Confusion regarding his best position and his perceived poor attitude also contributed towards an ultimately disappointingly spell on Merseyside, however, although he hasn't fulfilled his full potential, I believe that he will thrive at another club where expectation levels are lower and he can quietly develop his game. As a result Liverpool perhaps should have held out for a higher fee, but overall it is probably the right time to move Babel on. (18th January)

22-year old right back Stephen Darby has re-joined Notts County on loan for the rest of the campaign after he had returned to the Reds following a successful spell at the League One side earlier this season. Darby was marginalized under Hodgson and appears to have failed to impress new manager Kenny Dalglish as well, and surely must be reaching the end of his time at Anfield now. (21st January)

Liverpool's speedy young winger David Amoo has joined MK Dons on a month long loan. The 19-year old former Millwall player has made one first team appearance, featuring and impressing in our Europa League qualifier versus FK Rabotnicki. Amoo, who has displayed promise in the reserves and was recently rewarded with a new two-year deal, will return to Anfield on 23rd February. (25th January)

Ryan Babel has completed his move to German club Hoffenheim, penning a two and a half year deal with the Bundesliga team. After three years on Merseyside Babel will be remembered for promising much but delivering little. We wish him all the best and hope that the transfer fee received, reported to be just under £6 million, goes towards promptly completing the signing of Luis Suarez. (25th January)

Fernando Torres' transfer request has been turned down after the club also rejected an offer reported to be around £40 million for the Spanish striker from Chelsea. This is an unusual and unexpected move from Torres, particularly following his flourishing form under new boss Kenny Dalglish, which has seen him become the Reds' top-scorer with nine goals. I don't want to see him leave, however no player is bigger than the club and if he wants to move on, which this transfer request clearly indicates, then Liverpool should take the money and rebuild without him. (27th January)

Reserve midfielder Victor Palsson has completed his transfer to Scottish side Hibernian. The youngster had failed to impress sufficiently in the reserves to earn a chance in the first team, and hence has been promptly moved on, most likely for a nominal or no transfer fee.(27th January)

The much-maligned Liverpool left back Paul Konchesky has joined Championship club Nottingham Forest on an emergency loan until 3rd May. Konchesky, who cost Liverpool £5 million plus two highly rated youngsters only six months ago, has failed to impress either the fans nor new manager Kenny Dalglish despite the almost unending patience displayed for former boss Roy Hodgson. The former Fulham man is thankfully unlikely to wear a Red shirt ever again. (31st January)

Young centre back Daniel Ayala has joined Derby County on loan for the rest of the season. Hopefully this will provide an invaluable opportunity for the Spaniard to gain crucial first team experience and reveal his talent to King Kenny. (31st January)

Ayala's loan move to Derby has fallen through. Daniel will now continue his rehabilition from a hamstring injury at Melwood, with the possibility of him signing for the Rams on an emergency loan when the transfer window reopens. (31st January)

Liverpool have confirmed a deal has been arranged with Chelsea for the sale of want-away forward Fernando Torres, believed to value the player at around £50 million. Torres will now discuss personal terms and complete a medical with the Londoners before possibly making his debut against the Reds this Sunday. (31st January)

Fernando Torres has joined Chelsea for a gargantuan £50 million, signing a five and a half year contract worth £180,000 a week. This is despite previous claims that he would never leave Liverpool for another Premier League club and that he intended to see out his career on Merseyside. (31st January)