Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern have endured a rollercoaster season but are optimistic about their future under Jurgen Klopp, despite an agonising defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United on the weekend.
The Reds punters are confident that Klopp will overhaul their lacklustre squad and are hoping they won’t have to wait until the summer to do so. As it stands, Liverpool have secured deals for two players in January but neither has got the Liverpool fans in the bar overly excited.
Steven Caulker’s loan deal from QPR shouldn’t shake up the side too much, whilst the acquisition of Marko Grujic is fairly irrelevant seeming he has been loaned back to Red Star Belgrade for the remainder of the season.
Now reports have stated they’ve seen a bid rejected for Shane Long but if the interest is genuine, Liverpool may return with a fresh offer. Our punters aren’t too pleased with that, instead selecting five players who would be better additions- though we believe, if anything, these signings would come after Long arrives at Anfield.
Hit Long below to see FIVE players who could follow him to Liverpool this month!
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Mario Gotze
The dream acquisition for many Liverpool fans would be seeing them save World Cup hero Mario Gotze from his Bayern Munich nightmare, where the German has struggled to cement regular first-team football since moving from Borussia Dortmund.
A reunion with Jurgen Klopp at Anfield could be on the cards, with Liverpool receiving a boost as the German giants are delaying contract talks. However, with Carlo Ancelotti incoming at the end of the season Gotze’s situation may change.
Therefore, Liverpool’s best chance of landing the player would be this month if they were to offer a lucrative price for the highly-rated midfielder.
Andre Ayew
Liverpool have struggled going forward this season and need to strengthen in those areas. However, the January transfer window always presents a risk so the best option would be to move for experienced Premier League players. Step forward Andre Ayew.
Since being linked with a surprise move to Sunderland last week, Swansea’s Ayew has been surrounded in transfer speculation. A £14m offer from Liverpool is now being touted, which would be difficult for the Welsh side to reject as they landed the player for nothing in the summer.
There would be mutiny in South Wales though if that deal were to go ahead, as the Swans are currently locked in an extremely tight relegation battle and need all the help they can to avoid the drop.
Granit Xhaka
Another midfield option touted by the papers for Liverpool is Borussia Monchengladbach’s Granit Xhaka, a 23-year-old Swiss international that’s risen to prominence in recent years. Whilst his signature would be costly, Gladbach have hinted they’d be open to a sale.
The biggest problem for Liverpool would be the rival interest of Premier League leaders Arsenal, who can offer Xhaka Champions League assurances and the chance to play with one the the most exciting up and coming sides in European football.
Whereas Arsenal are putting the finishing touches to their long-term project, Liverpool’s has just begun. Xhaka would be an integral part of those plans but it’s unlikely he’d trade Bundesliga football, and a Champions League challenge, for a side that’s struggled to put their foot down in recent years.
Joel Matip
Another Bundesliga based addition on the cards for Liverpool is Cameroonian defender Joel Matip, with reports stating he’s in talks for a pre-contractual agreement with the Reds that would see him join in the summer when his current deal expires.
However, with Liverpool rocked by an injury crisis that surrounds their defensive ranks, Jurgen Klopp may look to accelerate a move and offer Schalke some cash this month. It would be difficult for the German side to say no to, as he’ll leave for nothing in the summer, and he shouldn’t prove to be an expensive addition.
Leroy Sane
Long
If Liverpool want star quality and a player who can be a superstar at Anfield for the coming years, then Leroy Sane is their man. The German youngster is attracting the attention of some of Europe’s biggest sides this month, though Schalke are reluctant to sell.
An exit for Sane in the summer is more likely but Liverpool would face a tough task luring him to Anfield then. This month wouldn’t be too much easier but his addition would bolster the Liverpool squad in their push for Champions League football.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, with the likes of Barcelona circling Leroy Sane it’s unlikely he’d pick Merseyside as his next destination.
