Liverpool Transfer News: Buzz Surrounding Brendan Rodgers' January Plans

Liverpool haven't had the greatest start to the 2014-15 Premier League season, and as a result, the transfer rumour mill is already hard at work with an eye on the January window.

Some struggles were expected for the Reds this season after a lot of turnover and the arrival of young talent in the summer, but despite two consecutive league losses, optimism at Anfield remains high.

Pundits are not expecting much movement in January, but that won't stop speculation running rampant. Here's the latest buzz surrounding the Reds' January plans.

Gonzalo Higuain

Salvatore Laporta/Associated Press

Napoli's start to the 2014-15 season has been subpar, to say the least, and according to Jamie Anderson of The Daily Express, Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain could be on his way out of Italy.

The Partenopei have lost two of their first three Serie A fixtures and lost out on Champions League qualification, as pressure is mounting on manager Rafa Benitez. Even worse, financial concerns could force the club into selling their star striker, per Anderson.

The 26-year-old had a fantastic start to life in Italy but has cooled off significantly, and he has just one goal in five total appearances this season, per WhoScored.com. An excellent poacher, the Argentine international has always struggled with inconsistency in his play.

His style of play is tailor-made for Serie A, where he can use his instincts to time his runs into the box. He lacks the pure athleticism to be a hit in Rodgers' system, and following the arrival of Mario Balotelli, Liverpool no longer have a clear need for a classic striker.

The link between the Reds and Higuain made sense in the summer, but as of right now, it seems very unlikely Rodgers will make a move for another high-priced striker who might not fit his system.

Marco Reus

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Germany international Marco Reus is refusing to sign a new deal with Borussia Dortmund, according to Sportbild (h/t to the Daily Express' Anthony Chapman), putting Liverpool on high alert.

Reus has a buyout clause of £20 million set to be activated next summer in his contract, and Die Schwarzgelben are understandably keen on signing him to a new deal that would remove any such clause.

The prolific forward has some question marks regarding the club's transfer policy, however, and according to Sportbild, he would rather wait and see how the season plays out before committing to a new deal.

If the situation doesn't change, Dortmund could be tempted to move their star asset in January to cancel out the clause, demanding a higher fee and removing any chance of Reus ending up with Bayern Munich in the process.

The Reds have no need for another forward, but the 25-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world and would arguably make any team's starting XI.

Paired with Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Balotelli, Liverpool would arguably field the best attacking lineup in the Premier League.

The list of suitors for his services will be a very long one, however, and the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have the financial abilities to dwarf any offer the Reds can make. Liverpool have a chance of landing Reus, but they most certainly won't be favourites.

Raheem Sterling

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Speaking of Sterling, Rodgers is convinced the 19-year-old star won't be leaving the club amid reported interest from Real Madrid. As reported by ESPN FC's Mike Whalley, he isn't surprised to hear his great performances have sparked an interest, but he's confident Sterling will remain a Red for the foreseeable future:

"

I've nothing really to add to it. There's lots of speculation every day about players coming and going here at Liverpool.

I sit easy with it. He's a wonderful boy who is developing very well here. He and his representatives -- and people close to Raheem -- know how comfortable he is here.

I'm sure at some point in the future that whatever contract we're looking to work to with Raheem will be sorted. But he's still got three years left, and there's no rush from my perspective at the moment.

"

Real's reported interest isn't a surprise, given Sterling's rapid development and obvious potential, but Los Blancos already field a number of talented players at the forward positions.

The England international is in the perfect situation at Anfield, where he's quickly becoming the team's most pivotal player, and his new contract will no doubt reflect that status.

While nothing can be ruled out when Real are involved, the chances of Sterling leaving the Reds any time soon are minor at best.

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