Liverpool to Conclude Transfer Window Business Imminently

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher expects the club's summer transfer window business to be concluded in the coming weeks.

The Reds appear close to clinching deals for Sevilla's Luis Alberto, Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas and Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan having already secured the signing of Kolo Toure on a free from Manchester City.

The 35 year old Carragher, who retired at the end of last season after close to two decades at Anfield, says Brendan Rodgers will have gleamed plenty from his first season at Liverpool and will want a settled squad, an ambition made all the more difficult due to the uncertainty surrounding Luis Suarez's future, before the start of pre-season training in early July.

"I'm sure Brendan Rodgers has learnt a lot over the last 12 months and I think he's raring to go this season," the 35-year-old told Sky Sports.

"I spoke to him at the end of the season and he wants to get his business done early. At the moment it looks like Liverpool are trying to get players in as quickly as possible so they are ready for the start of the season."

Liverpool will begin their assault on closing the gap to the Premier League top four against Stoke City on the first day of the season, before a trip to Aston Villa comes prior to the visit of Manchester United.

Trips to Rodgers' former side Swansea City and then Sunderland sandwich a home game at Anfield against Southampton, fixtures which represent a favourable start for Liverpool, with only one of last season's top six to play before November.

And Carragher insists it remains crucial that Liverpool get off to the a good start in order to boost their European qualification ambitions.

"They'll look at that Stoke game - Mark Hughes' first game as well, so they'll be desperate to get off to a good start - it's a good game for Liverpool," Carragher said. "I'm sure they will be looking to get three points and hopefully use that as a platform to push on.

"The first five or six fixtures look a lot easier, on paper, than they were last season. Arsenal and Manchester City were the first two home games last year; obviously there's a big game in there with Manchester United, the third game.

"In the first couple of games, hopefully they can get three, four, maybe six points and get off to a good start.

"That's certainly what they need because Liverpool need to be doing a lot better in terms of challenging for the top four and getting back into the top four. They really need to make a good start."