Liverpool supporters have been making a lot of noise in the Transfer Tavern this week in anticipation of their side’s meeting with Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday, with the Reds seeking to become the first team to beat the Citizens in the league this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s men themselves are on a fine run of 17 matches unbeaten heading into this weekend’s encounter, a run which has seen them usurp both Arsenal and Tottenham to move up to fourth in the table, as well as reach the last 16 of the Champions League. And the Reds also got their FA Cup campaign off to a promising start as goals from James Milner and Virgil van Dijk secured them a 2-1 win over Everton last weekend, thus setting them up perfectly for the visit of Pep Guardiola’s unbeaten City on Sunday.
Thus, there have been many delighted Liverpudlians in the Tavern this week, several of whom are optimistic about what lies ahead for their club in 2018, both domestically and on the European stage.
In the meantime though, there has been plenty for our resident Reds fans to get their teeth into, not least recent reports suggesting that target Dani Ceballos wants to leave Real Madrid this month in a bid for more regular first team football.
The 21-year-old only moved to the Bernabeu in the summer but has managed just 186 minutes of La Liga action this term, and his struggles have reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool, who are reportedly seeking to end his difficulties in the Spanish capital this month.
And were Ceballos to indeed make the move to Anfield by January 31, here are TWO other stars who could follow him to Merseyside…
Leon Goretzka
The future of Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka remains unclear 11 days into the window, what with his contract up in the summer and it an increasing likelihood that an extension won’t be agreed.
The 23-year-old has been in fine form for the German side in recent times and as such has attracted much interest heading into the New Year, with Liverpool one team reportedly keen on sealing a deal for the Germany international.
And with Philippe Coutinho gone and Emre Can likely to join him out of the exit door, either this month or in the summer, Klopp looks set to be short in the midfield department, and as such should target a deal for Goretzka this month.
Thomas Lemar
Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar in recent times, and Philippe Coutinho’s departure to Barcelona has only intensified that speculation.
The France international scored 14 goals and laid on 17 assists to help Leonardo Jardim’s men win the Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League semi-finals last term, although things haven’t been as good for the forward, or indeed the club, this time round.
Nonetheless, he remains an outstanding player and someone who could seriously bolster Liverpool’s attacking ranks – thus it’s a deal Klopp must look to strike before the January 31 deadline.
