Out of all of the sides in the Premier League, it is Liverpool who have moved the fastest to secure the signatures of two of the more household names in English football having wrapped up deals to sign both James Milner and Danny Ings so far this summer.
After the dust has settled on both players joining the Reds, following a somewhat underwhelmed response in some quarters, the consensus is that both players are sensible signings on Brendan Rodgers’ part.
Reds fans will know what to expect from Milner in particular after being part of a Premier League title winning squad in Manchester City over the course of the past few seasons.
As for Ings, Liverpool have secured the future of one of England’s finest young prospects and despite joining from what was an ultimately relegated side in Burnley last term, the former AFC Bournemouth man was by far and away a player who looked capable of playing for a superior outfit.
Sensible signings are required at Anfield after Brendan Rodgers got it wrong with the likes of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert last summer and while these players may of course still come good, there will be an onus on Rodgers’ new arrivals to hit the ground running.
The aim will be for Liverpool to breach the Premier League’s top four again while seeing how far they can get in the respective cup competitions.
In order to enjoy success however, some more rebuilding work needs to be done and this is why we are today concentrating on just who else Liverpool can’t afford to lose out on signing this summer transfer window.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 transfer targets Liverpool can’t afford to lose out on this summer.
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Nathaniel Clyne
Despite being strangely unfavoured by England boss Roy Hodgson in recent internationals at right back against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia where Phil Jones was the preferred selection, Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne remains a hugely sought-after player this summer.
It seems that it’ll be a straight fight between both Liverpool and Manchester United for his signature with the Reds having already seen a £10 million bid for Clyne rejected by the Saints.
It is thought that a bid closer to the £15 million mark will tempt Ronald Koeman into a sale and although Liverpool have got it wrong with big money purchases in recent times, you feel this is a price worth paying for somebody who could be England’s first choice right back for the next eight years or so.
When you consider Manchester United paid £27 million for the services of Luke Shaw last summer, Clyne is a worthwhile addition at £15 million and would fill a position which has been something of a problem area for the Reds with Jon Flanagan injured, Javi Manquillo unimpressive, Emre Can essentially a midfielder and Glen Johnson now released.
Carlos Bacca
Sevilla’s standout Europa League winning striker is remaining very coy over his future in Spain but what an addition he would be for the Reds.
Liverpool struggled massively to replace the goals of the departed Luis Suarez last term and with Reds fans knowing that they can’t rely on Daniel Sturridge given his injury record, the consensus is that at least one more striker needs to be brought into Anfield to supplement Balotelli, Ings and the returning Divock Origi.
The bad news for the Reds is that The Express are reporting that Bacca’s agent is sure his client is intent on moving to Roma this summer and that would come as something as a blow to the Reds.
Bacca seems to fit the category of a striker who doesn’t necessarily crave Champions League football next season and with these kind of players few and far between, the Colombian international is most certainly the best of the rest compared to your Jackson Martinez’s or Gonzalo Higuain’s who top four qualified clubs are going for.
Christian Benteke
If Liverpool do miss out on landing Bacca this summer, a standout alternative has to be Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke.
Although completely different to your Luis Suarez’s of this world, Benteke is a consistent goalscorer when in the mood but the only question mark that remains is whether he can do it at a much bigger club such as Liverpool.
Benteke hasn’t really tasted life at an elite club having performed for Genk and Standard Liege in the past but his experiences in the Premier League would ensure Reds fans know what they’re getting from the Belgian international.
Tottenham have also never been too far away from the Benteke rumours so far this summer and you’d imagine that the Europa League qualified pair will be submitting formal bids for the forward before the transfer window slams shut.
Mateo Kovacic
The latest intense transfer speculation swirling around Liverpool is their reported interest in prising Inter Milan’s Croatian international midfielder Mateo Kovacic away from the San Siro.
With Milner now in the bag, Rodgers is reportedly keen to go after another dynamic midfielder who can be deployed a little further forward with more creativity in their locker.
Kovacic is undoubtedly a talented player and it is these exciting brand of midfielder that Liverpool fans crave at Anfield this summer.
While the likes of Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno were raved about prior to their respective switches to Anfield, Kovacic has similarly been talked about in glowing terms but this time, the likes of Inter legend Sandro Mazzola are claiming Inter simply cannot part with this player who is seen as a vital cog in their future.
With Inter fans and chiefs now fearing an exit to Liverpool, this story will have a few twists and turns yet but the general feeling is that if Kovacic signs, Liverpool will be signing a quality player.
Joe Gomez
A player for the future but a player who is also interesting the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City at the moment.
Gomez, 18, has already performed an impressive 21 times for Charlton Athletic in the Championship in his debut season last term and performing in such a competitive division at a young age has made England’s big boys sit up and take note.
Gomez fits Brendan Rodgers’ bill of landing young English talent ahead of their rivals and who knows, the player could be a future England stalwart.
He is certainly highly-rated and standing at 6 ft 2 in is a domineering presence in the defence, whether he is deployed at centre back or alternatively at full back.
If Gomez is to go on to fulfil his potential as a future England regular, you feel the reported £3.5 million it would take to prise him away from The Valley is relatively small change in football terms.
