The 2014-15 season will be one Liverpool fans will be eager to forget in a hurry.
It started with the sale of a world class talent in Luis Suarez, and has ended with failure in an FA Cup semi final, failure to qualify for the Champions League, the departure of a club icon in Steven Gerrard, and now the likely departure of one of their prized assets in Raheem Sterling.
Brendan Rodgers faces a huge summer transfer window as he hopes to revive the Reds fortunes, with Liverpool currently looking as far away from the title as they ever have, since they last won it 25 years ago.
Next term the target will be the top four and some silverware. Here we have identified five signings that would go a long way to helping the Reds achive that goal – and perhaps keeping Rodgers in a job.
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Click on Brendan Rodgers to reveal 5 players to turn Liverpool into top four contenders
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Theo Walcott
With Raheem Sterling looking as though he has his heart set on a move to London, Arsenal’s Theo Walcott seems to be the closes thing the Reds could find to a like-for-like replacement.
With Arsenal having been linked with Sterling, Liverpool may look to negotiate a deal that would see England international Walcott move in the opposite direction.
The Reds have been linked with him in the past, and Walcott is looking for a club capable of offering regular first team football having lost his starting spot at the Emirates after 12 months out injured.
Nathaniel Clyne
The Southampton full back has enjoyed a hugely impressive season, one in which he has established himself as England’s first choice right back under Roy Hodgson.
A new right back looks to be a priority for Brendan Rodgers this summer, with Jon Flanagan having been ruled out for another nine months having missed the whole season, and Glen Johnson walking away on a free at the end of his contract.
Clyne is the standout candidate at the moment, and Liverpool have plenty of experience when it comes to shopping at Southampton – although not entirely successfully…
William Carvalho
Liverpool know they face an impossible task in replacing Steven Gerrard this summer, but they must at least try to lure a top class midfielder to Anfield.
Sporting Lisbon’s midfield powerhouse William Carvalho looks perfectly suited to the Premier League, and has previously caught the attention of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
With those clubs having turned their attentions to other targets, Liverpool may find this summer the time to act and try and lure one of the most sought after young talents in Europe to Anfield – although he will not come cheap.
Alexandre Lacazette
Lyon’s president descrived the France forward as ‘better than Gareth Bale’ earlier in the season, although he will not cost anywhere near as much as the world record £86million Real Madrid paid Tottenham for the Welshman in 2013.
Lacazette has enjoyed a fantastic season in Ligue 1, having scored 31 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions.
Liverpool are desperate for someone to solve their goalscoring crisis not just for now but for the forseeable future, and at 23 years of age, Lacazatte fits the bill.
It is whether the Reds can beat off competition from Champions League club’s the likes of Arsenal to secure his signature.
Gonzalo Higuain
The Argentine forward has been consistently linked with a move to the Premier League over the past two years, and Liverpool are in more desperate need of a goalscorer than anyone.
With Napoli set to miss out on the Champions League and lose manager Rafael Benitez this summer, the Reds may never get a better chance to lure the former Real Madrid man to Anfield.
Some reports suggest talks with the Serie A giants are already underway over a possible transfer.
