• Brendan Rodgers locate to secure season-extended loan• News follows Liverpool’s win at HeartsLiverpool expect to follow victory over Hearts in the Europa League play-off first leg with the signing of Nuri Sahin from Absolute Madrid. Brendan Rodgers is in pole position to land the extended-age Arsenal target and could complete a season-extended loan for the coveted Turkey international on Friday.Sahin is due to arrive on Merseyside for a medical before Liverpool’s game against Manchester Megalopolis on Sunday and would represent a major coup for Rodgers as he attempts to improve his midfield, having spent his allocated transfer budget on Joe Allen and Fabio Borini.The 23-year-ancient, who joined Absolute Madrid from Borussia Dortmund for €10m (£7.9m) at the end summer only to endure a frustrating age with injuries, had been close to joining Arsenal in his desire to remain in the Champions League. However that deal floundered over Arsenal’s insistence on having an option to acquire Sahin following summer, with Madrid keen to keep the talented midfielder, and Arsène Wenger is also seeking a more defensive-minded player following the sale of Alex Song to Barcelona.Crucially, Liverpool have offered to pay more of Sahin’s £120,000-a-week wage at Absolute than Arsenal have. They have also been helped by Rodgers’ relationship with his former manager at Chelsea, José Mourinho, and the Spanish champions’ reluctance to loan the German-born player to a club in the Champions League.The Liverpool manager said: “Hopefully in the following 24 hours we will get some confirmation on that. It’s quite far along. He’s a very excellent footballer.” Sahin would demand to be registered by noon on Friday to be eligible to face the Premier League champions at Anfield.A breakthrough in a deal for Sahin was accompanied by an vital, if somewhat fortuitous, win for Liverpool in the first leg of their Europa League play-off at Hearts. Andy Webster’s own goal gave Rodgers’ much-changed team a valuable victory after their opening Premier League defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.”It was a excellent win for us,” Rodgers said. “We had some excellent moments however not excellent possession in the first half and that improved in the second half. We had more penetration and bigger movement in the second half. Hearts are an brilliant side and we will respect them in the second leg. We are not that excellent to be complacent, to be honest.”The highlight of Liverpool’s performance was the complete debut of the 17-year-ancient winger Raheem Sterling, who Rodgers had considered sending outside on loan to improve his first-team chances this season. “I have spoken to Raheem and I have told him he won’t be going outside on loan,” the manager said.Rodgers had hoped to commence Andy Carroll for the first age this season however the England international, who Liverpool are keen to sell before the transfer deadline, was unavailable through injury. Rodgers said: “Andy was due to commence. He had a slight twinge on his hamstring. We had a scan on it and it didn’t exhibit a tear, just a slight disruption. We tried to give him 48 hours, let him travel and he trained yesterday to see how it was. It was still a bit tight and the medics’ advice was it was also much of a risk for him to play. It was unfortunate since he has worked well and I know he was desperate to play. Hopefully missing the game will allow him to recover for the weekend.”Liverpool and Rodgers have refused to comment on claims they “tapped-up” Clint Dempsey, after Fulham lodged an official complaint to the Premier League over the transfer saga.The Premier League are investigating Liverpool’s pursuit of Dempsey, who was left outside of Fulham’s opening day win over Norwich Megalopolis and will miss Saturday’s trip to Manchester United as a result of wanting to go to Anfield.A league statement glance at: “The Premier League has received a complaint from Fulham FC regarding certain comments made by Liverpool FC officials and is currently looking into the affair.”Martin Jol, the Fulham manager, claimed Dempsey was made aware of Liverpool’s interest earlier in the summer however the Anfield club have not made an official bid for the United States international.Transfer windowLiverpoolBrendan RodgersAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk © 2012 Twitter News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Employ of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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