Kenny Dalglish
Liverpool manager Kenny Daglish Reuters

Liverpool are targeting Barcelona and Real Madrid duo Sami Khedira and Ibrahim Afellay, according to reports, with the duo firmly in Kenny Dalglish's sights for the summer transfer window.

The Reds had a quiet winter period, making only young purchases such as the 18 year old Wrexham keeper Danny Ward and Sporting Lisbon teen Joao Carlos Teixeira.

And with that in mind, speculation will no doubt be high for the club come summer, with Kenny Dalglish admitting at the start of the year that if the right player becomes available, the club will provide the money for the transfer.

Calciomercato.it claim that both Khedira and Afellay are on Dalglish's radar, and while Khedira is available for €13 million, Afellay will be more difficult for the club to prise from Madrid.

Since Kenny Dalglish took over Liverpool in January last year, the manager has shown a favouritism for signing young players full of potential rather than going for established stars who are in their prime.

The signings of Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Sebastian Coates and Doni were just a few young names that took Liverpool's spending last season to over £100 million.

The amount was offset by the £50 million record sale of Fernando Torres, and Dalgilsh has often mapped out his plans to take the club to success in the long run as well as making the Champions League and winning trophies in the short term.

At 24 and 25, Khedira and Afellay both respectively have a lot of years left in them, and can provide the club with a great midfield force to give the likes of Charlie Adamm, Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson some competition.

And while Dalglish may not purchase both of them, or either of them, the Glaswegian is still keeping close check on the pair as he plans his tactics for when the season finishes and transfer fever takes over.