Liverpool prepare summer swoop for Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo

Liverpool are preparing a summer bid for Andrea Pirlo as replacement for Steven Gerrard, who is leaving the club in the summer.

The Daily Mail reports that the Reds have earmarked the 35-year-old as the man to add balance to the squad and pull the strings in the midfield before they can get their hands on a proper replacement. Pirlo was at his majestic best against Real Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final at Turin and displayed that he still had it in him to perform at football's greatest stage.

The midfielder has revealed that he won't be staying at Juventus beyond the end of the season and is pondering over making a move to the MLS in the summer. However, if Brendan Rodgers can convince him to move to the Premier League for a couple of seasons, it will be a massive boost for the players across the club, a role model to look up to following the departure of their legend.

Jordan Henderson, who has been tipped to take over from Gerrard, following his departure, can take valuable lessons from the maestro on the possession based football that his team are trying to employ under Rodgers. The midfielder is expected to be available for a very small fee or a free transfer should Liverpool be interested in his services.

Meanwhile, Rodgers believes that Adam Lallana can become a real leader at the club by the way he carries himself on the pitch and in the dressing room.

"He's fantastic in the changing room. He is responsible on the pitch, too. He has good leadership qualities. That was one of the things I was surprised about when I heard but having worked with him I can see he is very conscientious and he is very strong willed," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.