Liverpool Transfer Rumors: 5 Strikers Who Could Solve the Reds' Scoring Woes

At this time last January, supporters of Liverpool FC were complaining that a strike partner was needed to complement Fernando Torres if the club wanted to finish in the top four of the Premier League.

Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll were supposed to end any sort of goal-scoring problems for Liverpool.

Here we are one year later, and the problem, while under different circumstances, is still present.

While Suarez has undoubtedly been one of Liverpool's best players since arriving, Carroll has been a £35 million white elephant.

It seems the longer the club relies on Carroll, the more it damages any chance it has of qualifying for the Champions League.

But even with Suarez on the pitch, Liverpool have been anemic in front of goal all season.

Each time you think Liverpool has reached a low point in the season, they outdo themselves, whether it's draws with Norwich City, Swansea and Wigan or losses to Bolton, Fulham and Stoke City.

I don't think it would be insane to argue that the club is in worse shape right now than when Roy Hodgson was sacked last January.

Reinforcements are desperately needed to stem what appears to be a downward spiral toward the middle of the table, and maybe even lower.

Here are five targets for the Reds during what is left of the January transfer window.

Darren Bent

Darren Bent has been one of the most reliable strikers in the Premier League over the last couple of years.

He's scored 61 league goals since the 2008/09 season.

When you add in the fact that he is English, it's clear why he is a serious target for Liverpool, who have a transfer policy that values British players.

The club is clearly in need of a goal scorer and there might not be a striker in England with a better goal-scoring pedigree.

Still, when he arrived at Aston Villa for £24 million, it was seen as a panic buy for the Villans. Instead, it turned out to be a brilliant buy when compared to the £35 million Liverpool spent on Andy Carroll.

Much of the talk surrounding the transfer has seemed to cool a bit. The rumored price tag of £24 million might be the biggest wrench in any potential move.

Jermain Defoe

With the emergence of Emmanuel Adebayor at Tottenham, Jermain Defoe has been left on the outside looking in.

The English international has made only eight league starts this season, and his prospects don't look good of cracking into the starting XI anytime soon.

He is angling for a move away from White Hart Lane so he can get first-team football and it would appear he could get that at Liverpool.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has said that Defoe is not for sale but that is probably just posturing and I'm sure, for the right price, Spurs would be willing to part with him.

Liverpool have been reportedly willing to pay up to £10 million for Defoe.

While he is a good goal scorer, he is also one of the more streaky players in the Premier League.

When on form, there are few strikers in the Premier League better than him. But sooner or later, the goals dry up and he will go months without finding the net.

That kind of inconsistency is not exactly what Liverpool need right now.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Only 22, the Dutch striker has been on Liverpool's radar for the last couple of seasons.

A move in January may be unlikely, though, since it was just this past summer that Sporting bought him from FC Utrecht.

However, interest in van Wolfswinkel from Lazio may speed the process along. Manchester United are also set to fight for the Dutchman's signature should he move away from Lisbon.

£22 million might be too much for Liverpool, though, as that is what Sporting is asking for.

Inconsistency was among van Wolfswinkel's biggest perceived issues coming into this season. While he scored 15 goals in the Eredivisie last year, clubs were wondering if he would be able to carry that form into the future.

He has done just that, scoring seven league goals in 13 appearances.

With his age, his best football is still ahead of him and a smart purchase now could mean a nice sell-on fee in the next couple of years should he be moved on again.

Nikica Jelavic

Liverpool supporters who are pining for a sensational, world-class striker may have to temper their expectations a bit.

If his father is to be believed, Nikica Jelavic has become a serious target for Liverpool.

It would be a significant step up from the other clubs rumored to be in for the Croatian striker. Fulham and QPR have been in the running for him, while Championship club West Ham made a £6 million bid that was turned down by Rangers.

While he certainly wouldn't arrive with the same kind of pomp that Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll did last January, it's hard to argue with Jelavic's stats.

Last year, he scored a combined 18 goals in 27 matches for SK Rapid Wien and Rangers. This season has seen him continue his goal-scoring form, finding the net 14 times in 22 matches.

With West Ham's bid being turned down, it may take a bid in the range of £8-10 million to get Jelavic.

It's a bit of a low-risk purchase for Liverpool, which may be just what the club needs after the big-money moves for Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, all of which have been heavily criticized by supporters and pundits alike.

Roberto Soldado

This one is easily the least likely of the five listed. I have yet to read too many rumors of Roberto Soldado donning the red shirt.

It's highly doubtful that, for one, Soldado would want to come to Liverpool with Valencia sitting third in the La Liga table.

Also, with King Kenny's emphasis on buying British players, it's doubtful he was ever even a target for the club.

Still, he may be the best option for Liverpool if they were to push the issue.

Soldado has been one of the most in-form strikers in La Liga this season. He's scored 20 goals in 26 matches so far, with 12 coming in the league.

His form looks to have helped him overtake Fernando Torres in the Spain starting XI, which even when considering how Torres has floundered at Chelsea, would still have been unheard of just six months ago.

Valencia is a club that has been in dire financial straits in recent years. While the Champions League has certainly helped ease the burden, it hasn't stopped the club from selling David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata over the last two years.

Liverpool would probably have to pay a transfer fee in the £25-30 million range to even get close to the Spaniard.