Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Are Reds Still in the Hunt for a New Left Back?

Liverpool were one of the most active clubs in the Premiership during the first month-and-a-half of the transfer window. Manager Kenny Dalglish was wheeling and dealing and landed a troika of top targets, in midfielders Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, but the Reds weren't done yet. 

Dalglish had cited a need for new help at the left back position as the next target on the list. Everyone from Jose Enrique at Newcastle to Emilio Izaguirre at Celtic were on the market, and the Reds had been kicking the tires on a number of potential targets. 

But over the last week or two, the rumblings about a potential deal for a left-back have gone largely silent. Izaguirre has gone off the market, Enrique's been rampaging about Newcastle's transfer philosophy, according to Mirror Football and other potential targets haven't materialized. 

Are Liverpool out of the race to land more talent at the back, or is something else at play here? 

Part of the silence comes from Dalglish himself. The manager has said previously that Anfield won't be spending until they bring cash in from selling off talent, and thanks to Alberto Aquilani costing too much money, that hasn't really happened yet. 

So until Dalglish and the Reds can wheel and deal and convince other clubs to take on some of their castoffs, be they Aquilani, David Ngog or Christian Poulsen, they're not going to be bidding £10 million for Enrique, and they're definitely not bidding £18.5 on Porto standout Alvaro Pereira.

But the cash isn't the only thing keeping Anfield from actively chasing a left back at the moment. For those of you who may have missed it above, Jose Enrique recently went on a tirade about Newcastle's transfer policy courtesy of Twitter. 

Per his comments: 

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"The club is allowing all the major players of the team to go. Seriously, do you think it is the fault of the players? Andy (Carroll), nobby (Kevin Nolan) etc etc.

"This club will never again fight to be among the top 6 again with this policy."

Switching to English in response to another poster, he then wrote: "The [sic] give the money I have already. They lie all the time. But is no for money is because they don't want spend in the club and bring quality players that's why everybody go."

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Naturally, Enrique's comments have not endeared him to the powers that be at Newcastle, and many figure this could be the straw that breaks the Magpies' back and convinces the club to sell the talented Spaniard.

Unfortunately for them, Enrique's outburst has convinced Dalglish that by biding his time a bit on a bid for the left back, he can get St. James Park to sell him at a discounted rate, according to Mirror Football.

In other words, don't expect to see much movement in the coming days on the left-back front. It's clear that Dalglish values Enrique, but is trying to get a good deal on him. If he can't do it, he may have to pay the £10 million price tag Newcastle have long stuck on him, or pursue a more expensive option like Pereira. 

Liverpool may not be actively hunting a left back at the moment, but that doesn't mean they've lost sight of their goal of landing one. Dalglish is playing a waiting game and hoping a bit more cash comes into the club, or that Newcastle get a bit desperate to sell Enrique.

In other words, it's time for a bit of patience from the Kop faithful; Dalglish knows that good things (and good deals) come to those who wait a bit.