Liverpool have received a huge boost in their quest to land goalkeeper Victor Valdes, after the Spanish international revealed he would not be signing a new contract with Barcelona.
The Reds are thought to be closely monitoring the situation, with a bid in the summer expected to be tabled.
The future of Pepe Reina is still in the air, with Arsenal and a host of other Spanish clubs retaining their interest in the Liverpool goalkeeper.
Keeping that in mind, Rodgers had zoned in on Valdes as the perfect replacement, and the likelihood of that has increased considerably with Valdes' representatives making a statement that the 30-year-old would not be extending his stay with Barca.
"The agents of Victor Valdes have communicated to Barcelona in a meeting held this (Thursday) afternoon the irrevocable decision of the player to not renew his contract," the player's principal agent Gines Carvajal told news agency EFE.
Valdes, whose contract expires in 2014, is now expected to raise interest from several clubs around the world, with a move to Bayern Munich a possibility due to Pep Guardiola's presence from next season, although the German giants do have a very capable custodian in Manuel Neuer.
Meanwhile, Rodgers has hit out strongly at forward Luis Suarez for admitting he tried to con the referee by diving inside the penalty box in the English Premier League game against Stoke last year.
"I think it is wrong," Rodgers said. "It is unacceptable. I have spoken to Luis and it will be dealt with internally.
"(Diving) is not something we advocate. Our ethics are correct.
"It's been difficult for us this season with regards to penalties. We've only had one. The team always goes into every game looking to win in the best possible way with a sporting manner and we don't want that to change.
"But this situation might affect people's thinking. I'm not saying it will do, but it could do. It might make people think twice about things and that's certainly something we don't want.
"The team puts maximum effort into the game and I wouldn't want second thoughts going into anybody's mind.
"I've spoken to Luis on it. I'm not sure it makes a big difference if we are saying he is fined one week's, two weeks' or four weeks' wages.
"This is a big club, bigger than anyone and whatever people say goes around the world. It certainly doesn't help him but, more importantly, it doesn't help the team."
