Whilst Brendan Rodgers has been busy telling anyone that will listen that he expects it to be a quiet January transfer window for Liverpool, that hasn’t stopped a host of players being linked with a move to Anfield.
One of which has been Napoli’s Argentine international striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Reports suggest the Reds are preparing a £30 million move for the former Real Madrid striker with Napoli having already spent £11 million on Manolo Gabbiadini from Sampdoria this month.
The Serie A giants are under pressure to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations so selling Higuain for big money would be seen as good business for them.
But when do Liverpool ever really land the big name targets? Certainly not in recent times.
With that in mind, we have identified five Higuain alternatives that appear slightly more realistic for Brendan Rodgers to consider.
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Click on Gonzalo Higuain to reveal 5 realistic alternatives for Liverpool to consider.
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Saido Berahino
The West Bromwich Albion striker has been one of the stars of the Premier League season and has a total of 13 goals to his name in all competitions for the struggling Baggies.
He is yet to sign a new contract at The Hawthorns with some reports suggesting he is attempting to force through a £2o million move to Liverpool before the close of the transfer window. These reports came after Berahino failed to celebrate a quadruple of goals he registered against FA Cup minnows Gateshead recently.
Berhaino is a player capable of offering that pace in behind, something Liverpool have been lacking in the absence of Daniel Sturridge and only recently rediscovered with Raheem Sterling being moved to the position of makeshift centre forward.
Danny Ings
The 22-year-old was linked with Liverpool a year ago when he was scoring goals for fun in the Championship and the rumours have started up again now he has found his feet in the Premier League.
Ings has an impressive record of six goals and three assists in 18 league appearances this term, whilst the quality of his goals have also caught the eye.
His superb glancing header at Newcastle United and his fine finish in last weekend’s crucial win over QPR are further proof of what a great young talent Ings is, and Rodgers is a manager who is eager to work with young players and improve them further.
Burnley have stated he is not for sale but we have seen time and again in the past how hard it is to hang onto players when the big clubs come calling.
Christian Benteke
Liverpool will come up against a reported transfer target in Christian Benteke when they travel to Villa Park on Saturday. The Belgian is the main man in a struggling side at present and Villa is close to being considered the Premier League’s ‘crisis club’.
A protest is planned before tomorrow’s game by Villains supporters frustrated at the lack of money spent and the lack of results.
Benteke has tried to engineer a move before and if Liverpool were to come calling with a £15 million bid as reported, Villa may find it very difficult to keep a hold of the Belgian given their current situation on and off the pitch.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
Liverpool fans may well be skeptical about another maverick striker moving to the club with reports suggesting the Reds are looking to tie up a deal for Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Now 29-years-of-age, Liverpool fans will be hoping he has matured given his history of falling out with managers. But at a cut price £8 million, this may well be a deal worth pursuing.
The Argentine is capable of playing on either side or down the middle and would offer that touch of quality and goal threat Liverpool have been missing for much of the season.
Alexandre Lacazette
For £15 million, Liverpool can land a player ‘better than Gareth Bale’ – according to Lyon’s president.
Lacazette is similar to Lavezzi in the way he can play on either side as well as down the middle which may well come in useful given Brendan Rodgers’ love of ‘multi-functional players’.
At 23, the Frenchman is six years Lavezzi’s junior whilst his statistics for Lyon this season are frightening.
Lacazette boasts 19 goals and five assists in just 20 appearances, making the asking price of £15 million look a real bargain.
