Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has dismissed rumours that defender Daniel Agger could be sold in the summer after falling out of favour. Agger has been a regular first-team player for Liverpool in the last five years. He has been at the club since the 2005-06 season, thus making him as one of the club’s longest serving players amongst the current crop. The signing of Sakho and Kolo Toure last summer brought about disastrous consequences for the Danish international. He made only 20 appearances in the league after having previously started in almost every match in previous seasons.

The 29-year-old was the captain of the team in the club’s first pre-season friendly match against Danish outfit Brondby. Liverpool lost the match 2-1 and it was ironically against Agger’s former club. The 29-year-old was linked with a move to Barcelona last summer, but he is now expected to return to Brondby should he leave Liverpool. Since Liverpool have been interested in signing Southampton defender Lovren for around £ 20 million, it is expected that Agger may be sold. Rodgers has dismissed those fears by suggesting that the player still remains a key part of Liverpool.

Martin Skrtel also was subjected to several such transfer rumours last summer but he ended up becoming a key player for the club, as they finished second in the table.

“Daniel is one of a number of excellent players that we have playing at the back. He has been unfortunate in the time that I've been at the club because the big issue for Dan has been his availability. He has been out injured for a number of games. But he's an excellent player, an international captain, and he's had a very good career at Liverpool. He's at a good age, 29, and his experience can be good for us this season,” said Rodgers.