Liverpool Transfer Rumours: 5 Most Surprising Names Linked to the Reds

Liverpool are a club who can always be counted on to be linked with a whole host of names in the winter and summer transfer windows, and this January appears to be no different.

It is clear that the Reds need to reinforce their striking options, but it seems too easy for some media outlets to simply pluck a name out of the sky and assume or deduce the Reds are interested because he plays an attacking role.

Similarly, Liverpool are well-stocked in other areas of the pitch yet are still linked with buying players who are maybe not quite at the level required.

And, to give the media their due, sometimes a player can be linked with the club whom you might not expect them to go for—and yet the rumour is spot on, and a surprising deal is struck.

Here are the five most surprising names being linked with Liverpool this winter.

Didier Drogba

Of all the players who have been troublesome for Liverpool over the past decade or so, former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has to be right up near the top of the list.

The Reds have had some great defenders in their prime in that period—Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, now Daniel Agger—but Drogba has, on his day, been able to beat the lot of them.

Strange then, that Liverpool should suddenly be linked with a short-term move for him.

The Shanghai Shenua forward is on a reported £250,000 per week according to the Mirror and it is debatable whether Liverpool would stump up such a large amount for a short-term gain.

Alex Pearce

Despite possessing a first-choice duo of World Cup veterans Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel at the heart of their defence, Mirror Football has linked Reading defender Alex Pearce to Liverpool in recent days.

Pearce is 24 and has been featured only four times this season so far for the Premier League's fifth-leakiest defence, with Kaspars Gorkss a regular ahead of him.

Fitting neither the profile of a particularly young player—especially compared to current Reds Seb Coates and Martin Kelly, both 22—nor a top star who could improve the current squad, Pearce is certainly an "out there" suggestion.

The tenuous link of manager Brendan Rodgers having coached the player as a youngster isn't quite enough to warrant the signing of him.

Ali Al-Habsi

Liverpool have had a few issues with their goalkeepers over the past season or two.

Last term they had Pepe Reina and Alexander Doni suspended and needed Brad Jones to step in for an FA Cup semifinal appearance.

This season Reina has struggled with form and fitness, and Doni was away on compassionate leave for several months, leading Jones to be handed another chance.

As a result some outlets have taken the leap that Brendan Rodgers is scouting for a new No. 1.

While that may turn out to be the case, Wigan Athletic stopper Ali Al-Habsi is not necessarily the first name that might have sprung to mind with the likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen or Igor Akinfeev potentially available for transfer.

Daily Mail have the Wigan keeper wanting to stay at the club he presently keeps goal for, but being wanted by Liverpool this January.

Jeffren Suarez

Jeffren Suarez is the former Barcelona winger who is currently struggling to find a place on the Sporting Lisbon squad.

Sporting currently sit mid-table in the Liga Sagres and Jeffren has been unable to maintain form or fitness for some time now, making him an unlikely addition to the Reds squad as they seek someone who would make more of an immediate contribution on the field.

Jeffren has talent, undeniably so. But he has also failed to make the most of that talent up until now, playing 90 minutes just twice this term.

The Guardian has Brendan Rodgers targeting Jeffren on loan this winter.

Giuseppe Rossi

This is not a surprising link in the way that neither the quality nor the age suits Liverpool's policy. Rather, it is surprising because this player is currently out with a long-term injury, but Giuseppe Rossi of Villarreal has been linked to the Reds by Metro as an option for Brendan Rodgers.

With Villarreal having been relegated last season and Rossi out with a second cruciate ligament injury in two years, his asking price has seemingly dropped enormously from the time when Barcelona were considering him as a partner for Leo Messi.

Rossi would be a great signing for Liverpool if he came back fit, strong and as talented as he was before his injuries. However, the length of time he has missed, as well as the fact he will not be ready to play again before March, make it a risky and perhaps unlikely transfer at this stage.

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