Who should Liverpool buy?

Under Roy Hodgson, Liverpool are beginning a new era but the regime of Hicks and Gillet still hover as a dark cloud over Liverpool's future. But, there is no one better than Hodgson when it comes to finding bargains. But with the impending sale of Javier Mascherano, plus the sales of Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun and Emiliano Insua (still agreeing terms), Liverpool do have some cash to spend.

But who should they spend it on?

In this slideshow, I will go through just some of the potential targets that have been linked with Liverpool and identify whether they are good for the club or not at the moment.

Carlos Salcido

At a cut price of just £2-3m, Carlos Salcido is an ideal choice to fill one of the two empty full back slots at Liverpool at the moment following the departures of Fabio Aurelio and Emiliano Insua.

Yes he is 30 years old, but he brings a wealth of experience in European football and he had a fantastic World Cup with Mexico, in my opinion in the top 3 left backs of the tournament. But unlike Salif Diao or Diouf, who Liverpool bought following one good World Cup back in 2002, Salcido has had many excellent years for PSV in the league and in Europe, even being captain for them for many games as permanent vice captain.

Despite his age, he is still adventurous going forward and has a lethal left foot, as he demostrated at the World Cup and for PSV on several occasions. He is solid at the back as well though.

The reason he is available for such a low price is due to a falling out with his manager and he is now available. Many clubs, including Valencia and Wigan have expressed an interest but I am confident that Liverpool would get him if they got involved. A decent, solid left back who at £2-3m could be our second choice left back, if not first.

Rafael Van der Vaart

Rafael Van der Vaart is a fantastic player on his day, and for £8m from Real Madrid might be worth it. However, attacking midfield is actually a position we have well covered already in Steven Gerrard, Alberto Aquilani, Joe Cole, Jonjo Shelvey and Milan Jovanovic. Van der Vaart might actually not get regular first team football, which is why he might move from Madrid in the first place. He is a luxury that for now we don't need.

Christian Poulsen

Christian Poulsen is a cheap alternative for Javier Mascherano. He patrols the midfield for Juventus and Denmark and can break up attacks well, like Mascherano. He is available for a reported £6m, but there are better alternatives out there who can do more than just tackle, like starting attacks.

Poulsen has a lot of experience and could free up more money elsewhere for other targets, but he is not the best choice or the preferred one. But nonetheless, a choice.

Fábio Coentrão

Fábio Coentrão is another option at left back. At 22 years old, he is young but already plays regularly for Benfica and plays for Portugal. He is exceptionally good going forward but could improve at the back, however he is young and has great potential, already showing it.

Although £13m is a large amount of money for Liverpool in our current financial situation, he could become one of the best left backs in the world and Liverpools first choice left back, behind Carlos Salcido, who could guide Coentrão with his experience.

Klass Jan Huntelaar

Huntelaar would be a fantastic aquisition to the squad as serious back up is needed for Fernando Torres. The back up needs to be a proper goal scorer who can replace Torres if he is injured. Milan Jovanovic might do the job, but could turn out to be the next Andriy Voronin, so Hodgson should look for one more striker. And Huntelaar should be that man.

He has been linked with Liverpool consistently, and has apparently missed training sessions with A.C Milan. He has lost his place, and could leave for more first team football. His £14m price tag is hefty though, so a loan move makes more sense, and if he is decent, then a permanent move next season, when we hopefully will have new owners. But for now, Huntelaar on loan would give us the back up that we need for the talismanic El Nino.

Wayne Bridge

Wayne Bridge could be the preferred choice for Hodgson ahead of Salcido as they are both around the same age and both have a lot of experience, but Bridge is English and would suit the homegrown rule, plus he has Premier League experience. He is also solid at the back, much like Alvaro Arbeloa.

The problem is that he is considerably more expensive than his Mexican rival, with City only considering £8m or more, according to reports. Plus, if he is not good enough for left back for City or Chelsea, then he shouldn't be for Liverpool. He could be second choice, but then he probably won't move seeing as he wants first team football.

If Hodgson can persuade Bridge to come as a close second choice left back at Anfield, then great. If not, then look elsewhere.

Steven Defour

Steven Defour is a far better replacment for Mascherano than Poulsen, despite the £15m fee wanted from Standard Liege for their skipper, who is only 22. He already has a lot of experience in Europe and in being a leader as well as winning trophies with Standard.

He has the ability to start attacks as well as destroy them, and he could allow the likes of Cole, Gerrard and Aquilani more space going forward. He is consistent, with only injuries being a concern. He can tackle extremely well but can score as well.

He has attracted many suitors with his fantastic form in Belgium, particularly Manchester United, who have been linked with a £13m bid. But if we could snatch him first, even for £2m more, we would have one hell of a player on our hands.

Ever Banega

Ever Banega is like Steven Defour in that he is also a crossover of Mascherano and Xabi Alonso. The two could forge the new Liverpool partnership. From Alonso and Mascherano to Banega and Defour.

Banega is also an excellent tackler and can spread the ball well, often starting the attacks for Valencia. He has many potential suitors, but Liverpool are one of the favourites to land him for around £9m, with another midfielder (Defour?) yet to be recruited with the Mascherano money that will soon come with his forthcoming sale.

Rafa Benitez, now of Inter Milan, was chasing Banega while at Liverpool and appartently Roy Hodgson has picked up the chase. He would fit into our midfield well and the 22 year old, who has already played for Argentina, is a world class star in the making

Luke Young

A cheap full back who complies with the English homegrown rules and is a direct replacement for Philip Degen, Luke Young is a versatile defender who can play left or right back and still feel at home.

Although he has had injury problems with Villa recently, his form before for Middlesbrough and Charlton had prompted Fabio Capello to pick him in the England squad a few times, but his time at Villa has been a time to forget. Now available, for just £2.5m, he can be back up for Glen Johnson at right back, and fill in at left back if needed (although even if Young is signed, two proper left backs are still needed, e.g Bridge, Figueroa, Salcido, Coentrão).

Liverpool's new Degen, basically the new back up for Glen Johnson and the new left backs.

Final Verdict

Being linked with these players as well as others means that things are looking better for Liverpool even in the doom and gloom of last season and the owners. Here is my opinion on who should come in for Liverpool this season and who should come out, including the transfers that have already happened.

In:
Joe Cole - free (Chelsea).
Milan Jovanovic - free (Standard Liege).
Danny Wilson - £2m (Rangers).
Jonjo Shelvey - £1.7m (Charlton).
Steven Defour - £15m (Standard Liege).
Ever Banega - £9m (Valencia).
Klass Jan Huntelaar - loan (A.C Milan).
Fábio Coentrão - £13m (Benfica).
Carlos Salcido - £2.5m (PSV).
Luke Young - £2.5m (Aston Villa).
TOTAL: £45.7m.

Out:
Yossi Benayoun - £6m (Chelsea).
Fabio Aurelio - free (-).
Emiliano Insua - £5m (Fiorentina) (Pending).
Albert Riera - £3.5m (Panathinikos).
Javier Mascherano - £30m (Inter Milan).
Daniel Pacheco - loan (-).
TOTAL: £44.5m.

TOTAL SPENDING= £45.7m - £44.5m= £1.2m.

Liverpool Team:

Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Coentrão

Defour Banega

Kuyt Gerrard (c) J.Cole

Torres

Subs:
Calavieri
Skrtel
Salcido
Aquilani
Babel
Maxi
Huntelaar

Rest of Squad:
Martin (GK)
Kyrgiakos
Ayala
Wilson
Kelly
Darby
Young
Spearing
Lucas
Shelvey
El Zahr
Jovanovic
N'Gog

31 players

Thanks for reading my slideshow.