Liverpool Transfer Rumour: Rodgers Close on Twin Signings

Liverpool are close to completing the signing of Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge and Blackpool winger Thomas Ince for a combined £18m. The players are expected to arrive at Anfield when the January window opens.

The Reds, who lack options up front, will be expected to pay £12m for England international Sturridge, with Ince to return to his boyhood club for £6m, according to the Daily Mail.

"We will spend money in January to try and bring fresh faces and give us that support at the top end... All our problems were never going to be solved in this window because the January window is one of the least productive and the least movement goes on there," Rodgers explained, adding, "But we will look to solve some of our problems then and then we will look to revisit it in the summer knowing that in the summer we will be in a much better placed then we were the previous summer."

The Guardian, meanwhile, claims Chelsea are ready to offload Sturridge to Brendan Rodgers' side in January, as interim Stamford Bridge coach Rafael Benitez looks to reshape his squad. ESPN reports negotiations have intensified over the past couple of weeks.

"He [Sturridge] was training with us, he is fine," Benitez said, "It is just a question of the club and some conversations with different options. I can't say too much as I don't have much information."

The former Manchester City man, who was a regular under former boss Andre Villas-Boas, has started only one league match this season. The 23 year old was linked with the Reds in the summer as well.

Ince, on the other hand, left Merseyside for Blackpool in the summer of 2011, after failing to break into the Liverpool first team. However, the 20 year old has been on fire in the Championship this season, notching 13 goals and nine assists from just 20 appearances.

The England U21 international, who can operate either in the centre or on the left side of midfield, has been attracting attention from a host of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Tottenham Hotpsur and Newcastle United. However, it now appears the Reds have won the race.

Liverpool are also linked with Valencia winger Sofiane Feghouli and are understood to be keen to get some of the big-earners, such as Joe Cole and Stewart Downing, off their payroll.