Rodgers Gives Transfer Update On Promising Duo's Future

Brendan Rodgers says he will likely keep Jordan Ibe this month but allow Tiago Ilori to leave on loan as Liverpool consider how to best utilise their younger players.

Ibe has featured for the Reds just once this season and after the 18 year old made the move to Merseyside from Wycombe in 2012 he is believed to be keen to start being handed chances to build up his game time.

In the case of Ilori, the Portugal Under 21 international hasn't played any minutes for Liverpool's senior side since his summer move to the club and Granada and Valencia are said to be circling the youngster in the hopes of a temporary move.

And in his pre-match press conference as his side prepare to face Aston Villa this weekend Rodgers says that he believes that Ibe will have his chances with Liverpool this season and is content to stay at the club and keep learning from the youth academy.

"Young Jordon Ibe is a boy that's in and around the squad at the moment," he told reporters. "We're just balancing him. He has been outstanding in training.

"He was out for a few weeks with an injury but he's a young player that's learning all the time – he's in no rush to go out.

"At some point we will have to get him regular game time in order for him to push on. At this moment in time, he's on the bench and has got possibilities to play.

"He has shown every day in training that he's at a really good level. But there will come a point where, if he's not playing here regularly, he'll need to get some game time because I think he can be a great player for us for the future."

On Ilori however, Rodgers is more willing to consider the option of the centre back going on loan with his lack of experience making it difficult to select him at this stage in his career.

"It's something that we'll look to do, certainly with young Tiago," Rodgers explained.

"He has come in and he now knows what Liverpool is about and the standards. It has been difficult for him in terms of game time because he hasn't played. But he has come in and shown the profile of player we thought he would be.

"It's the case that we'll probably look to get him a loan period now, where he can get some games. As a defender, he needs to be playing. He'd certainly be someone that we'd look to get on loan."