Liverpool fans are bracing themselves for another window here in the Transfer Tavern. Hopefully for them, the New Year sales will go a lot better than the summer months, which saw the club fail to properly strengthen, in the eyes of many.
On the back of the close call of selling Philippe Coutinho in the last window, it looks like Barcelona are going to come knocking once again come January it might be a little harder to keep the advances at an arm’s length this time around, such is the persistent nature of the Blaugrana.
Our glass collector thinks Jurgen Klopp’s main priority should be to sort his defence out in the January window, though life without their brilliant Brazilian will pose another problem for the German man.
Our landlord says it’s up to the Liverpool boss now to start drafting up a potential shortlist, while their defence has been abysmal at times this year, the front line is thriving and losing the Brazilian would have a huge effect on the teams morale and dynamics.
Still, perhaps these FIVE players could help replace Coutinho in a similar standard and give the Reds a different edge and outlook in the team.
Riyad Mahrez
The Leicester man is wanting a change of club and was close to moving to Roma in the summer, he has Premier League experience and the former Player of the Year shows similar qualities to the Brazilian.
Mahrez can change a game a within an instant and his slick dribbling skills would be useful to carve open the space for his fellow teammates, opening up gaps for the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to run into with ease.
Manuel Lanzini
The Argentine playmaker isn’t an obvious choice but the West Ham man has the skill set to be a great player, He doesn’t have Champions League experience, though that could work in their favour, as he will relish the opportunity if the Reds progress.
Lanzini could be bought on the cheap while the rest of the Coutinho money could be pumped into sorting the defence out, this could be a shrewd signing and one that would pay off.
Rafinha
As part of a sweetener on the deal, Rafinha could be used as a make weight; Not only would Liverpool get an exciting, young, skilful midfielder, they’d also get a player that is versatile across the line.
As Liverpool have a top three that can interlink, a Rafinha could be used all over the pitch to give the opposition a real headache in the attacking third.
Mesut Ozil
Somewhat of an outside shot, though the German will be leaving on a free come summer or sold on the cheap in January, either way Klopp could pull a real rabbit out of the hat with this one.
With the World cup coming up, Ozil will want to be getting regular first team minutes in a this Liverpool team he would thrive and be the focal point of the make up.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The former Arsenal man, now amongst the Liverpool squad, could be a perfect in house replacement for the departed Brazilian, he has all the attributes and ambition to play in the attacking centre midfield role he craves.
If Klopp is brave enough to give him a good run in the team, the Ox could be a genius move for the German boss so he can concentrate on that very unsteady defence.
