Depatures unlikely without signings

There are unlikely to be any players heading out of Anfield until replacements have been lined up.

A number of Liverpool players are being linked with possible transfer window moves but manager Roy Hodgson is also keen to see what he has at his disposal before sanctioning any departures.

Fiorentina are reported to be ready to offer Liverpool in excess of £3.5million for left-back Emiliano Insua while newly promoted West Bromwich Albion are thought to be eyeing a loan deal for striker David Ngog.

Including Milan Jovanovic, Liverpool had 13 players on World Cup duty in South Africa - more than any other Premier League club.

With the majority of those players not expected to return to the club until after the pre-season training camp in Switzerland, Hodgson has a threadbare squad to work with and can ill afford to release anyone until he has brought new players in to the club.

First, though, the former Fulham boss has pledged to give everyone a chance to prove their worth at the club regardless of their status under the previous managerial regime.

His first opportunity to do that will be against Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal in Liverpool's opening pre-season game a week on Saturday at the Cashpoint-Arena in Altach, Austria - home of Austrian second division outfit SCR Altach.

One player he may be able to call on soon is Jovanovic who is edging closer to securing his switch to Anfield from Belgian side Standard Liege.

The Serbian international revealed last week that he is hopeful of linking up with his new teammates in Switzerland, and the club are quietly confident that will be the case.

Jovanovic will join Liverpool on a free transfer. He can play as an out-and-out striker or in a wider attacking role and could fill the void left by Yossi Benayoun's weekend departure to Chelsea.

Liverpool head to Switzerland next Wednesday, July 14.

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