Liverpool Transfers: 5 Players Fans Would Love to See Arrive in January

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A 1-0 win over Southampton on Saturday highlighted the nervousness brought to Anfield due to Liverpool’s profligacy in front of goal.

In the end, Daniel Agger’s goal was enough to make the difference on the day, but there have been too few goals, wins and points on the board for the best part of two seasons.

15 games into the 2012-13 Premier League season, Liverpool sit 11th in the table, with only 19 points from four wins and seven draws, and having scored only 19 goals all season.

Five of those came from the away match at Norwich City’s Carrow Road.

Everyone knows that the Reds are in need of a goal scorer. Or two. Or maybe three.

Here are five players Liverpool fans would love to see arrive at Anfield this January.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

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Let’s start off with the heavy-hitter, Schalke 04’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

He’s been linked with Liverpool for most of the past few months (via ESPN Soccernet), and for good reason.

Huntelaar has been one of Europe’s top marksmen in recent years, and has been in red-hot form this season, having scored 14 goals across all competitions for both club and country so far.

With Liverpool having relied on Luis Suarez for goals this season, a proven goal-getter would ease the burden on his shoulders.

That Huntelaar’s contract finishes this coming summer only adds to his appeal as a great value-for-money transfer.

Dries Mertens

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Or maybe a goal-scoring winger would be the answer to Liverpool’s current woes?

With Fabio Borini currently injured at Liverpool, Suarez has had to move into a main striker position and has responded with 10 league goals, so perhaps it’s the wings that need a bit more firepower.

For all of Raheem Sterling’s precocious brilliance and Jose Enrique’s reinvention as a left forward, they have scored a paltry total of two goals so far.

Cue the rumors linking the Anfield club with a move for PSV Eindhoven winger Dries Mertens (via Goal.com).

From a wing position, Mertens has scored 28 league goals in just 46 Eredivisie appearances and has already notched seven in 12 games this season.

A pacy, tricky, goal-scoring winger like Mertens would command the attention of opposing defenders, which would allow Suarez more space to do even more damage.

Victor Wanyama

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We saw this Saturday that a single player can sometimes be pivotal to a team’s approach and direction, as Lucas’ return freed up Joe Allen to return to his central midfield linkman role and Steven Gerrard to move to a more advanced position.

But given Lucas’ recent injury record, perhaps Brendan Rodgers would do well to look at strengthening his defensive midfield so the team wouldn’t have to suffer if the club’s one and only anchorman gets injured.

Celtic’s goal-scoring defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama would do nicely.

He’s been linked most prominently with Manchester United, but the Telegraph has claimed that Liverpool have sent scouts to Parkhead this season in pursuit of the Kenyan midfield powerhouse.

Having missed out on ex-Wigan midfielder Mohamed Diame, who joined Sam Allardyce’s West Ham on a Bosman free transfer this summer, Liverpool should look to move quickly to secure Wanyama’s signature this January.

Robert Lewandowski

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But let’s go back to the striking department—Robert Lewandowski is yet another player who’s mostly been linked with Manchester United but would absolutely delight the Anfield faithful.

The Guardian has linked Liverpool with a move for the Borussia Dortmund frontman, who, according to recent reports in the Daily Mail, might actually be on his way to Old Trafford at the end of the season.

With nine goals in 14 Bundesliga games so far this season, Lewandowski is a stretch target at best for Liverpool, but one whose record should justify an all-out pursuit from the Reds' hierarchy.

Fernando Llorente

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Let’s end with Fernando Llorente, who was linked with Liverpool all summer with no positive conclusion for all parties concerned.

As soon as 12 days after the close of the summer transfer window, the Guardian linked the Reds with a bid for the Athletic Bilbao striker, who made waves across Europe with his exploits in the Europa League but has found La Liga action hard to come by this season due to his contract wrangle with Bilbao this summer.

On the surface, Llorente would be a surprise choice given Rodgers’ reluctance to use an equally physical targetman in Andy Carroll, but Llorente’s experience in footballing teams (Bilbao and Spain) sets him apart, in addition to his contribution to overall team play.

Following a failed experiment with a new No. 9, how excited would Liverpool fans be if yet another Fernando lit up Anfield as their new frontman?

 

Also check out: 6 Players Liverpool Should Target Next Summer

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