Liverpool Transfer News: Alan Dzagoev Option Opens, Saido Berahino Battle Tipped

Liverpool's seemingly never-ending bid to retool a Luis Suarez-less attack sees the club linked with two young attacking talents. CSKA Moscow midfielder Alan Dzagoev and West Bromwich Albion forward Saido Berahino are reportedly on the radar of Reds manager Brendan Rodgers.

Dzagoev's release clause is apparently tempting a Liverpool move, according to Spanish website Fichajes (h/t Daily Mirror reporter Aaron Flanagan):

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CSKA Moscow midfielder Alan Dzagoev can leave his club if his buyout clause of €20million is met - and Brendan Rodgers was interested in the player earlier this year, according to Spanish source Fichajes.

Russian newspaper Izvestia reported that the Russian international, who featured in CSKA's win at Manchester City on Wednesday, has just signed a contract extension at the club until 2019.

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Dzagoev is an intriguing target for Liverpool. The 24-year-old is a creative and supremely confident attacking midfielder. He is particularly good at timing runs behind a defence to net important goals.

Getting some scoring support from midfield would certainly help the Reds as they look for more ways to mitigate the loss of Suarez. However, news of Dzagoev's new deal, along with the struggles Russian players have traditionally experienced in England, make a move to Anfield unlikely.

Both Andrey Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko failed to settle in north London for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur respectively. It's easy to see Dzagoev treading a similar path.

With Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic already on staff, Rodgers is hardly lacking for creative, forward-thinking midfield playmakers. Instead, he may be better served targeting a more robust and active defensive midfielder.

Aston Villa's Fabian Delph could fit the bill. A murky contract situation could spark Liverpool's interest, according to John Percy of The Telegraph:

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Fabian Delph has told Aston Villa he has no plans to sign a new contract and is set to leave the club in the summer, in another shattering blow for the manager, Paul Lambert.
Delph appears poised for the Villa exit on a free transfer at the end of the season, in a move which is likely to spark interest from Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton, plus Tottenham Hotspur.

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Delph is certainly tenacious and would provide some much-needed energy and defensive instincts alongside ageing pass master Steven Gerrard. With fellow England internationals such as Sturridge, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling in place, Rodgers could convince Delph a move to Anfield is a wise next step in his career.

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Rodgers' best means of boosting his floundering attack would be to attract Delph's fellow young England prospect Berahino to Merseyside. However, that won't be easy considering the interest the prolific 21-year-old is drawing from fellow Premier League teams.

He is apparently set to spark a tussle between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, among others, per Sun reporters Shaun Custis and Charlie Wyett (subscription required) (h/t Mirror writer Aaron Flanagan):

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The Baggies are looking to secure the signature of the starlet by getting him to sign a new deal, but his £20,000-a-week wage is likely to be needed to be doubled to secure his future.

Berahino will cost about £25million if he is to be allowed to leave West Brom, with Tottenham already rumoured to have been preparing a bid.

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West Brom's determination to keep Berahino is understandable. It's something Rodgers has reportedly already experienced.

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The Reds have recently made their own inquiries, according to Mail Online reporter Rob Shepherd:

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Liverpool will consider a January move for West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino.

The England Under 21 international starlet has been targeted by Tottenham Hotspur and there has been a £15million offer mooted by the north London club.

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A £25 million fee is certainly a steep outlay even for a player with Berahino's undoubted potential. The bad news for prospective suitors is that the Baggies' negotiating position has only been strengthened by Berahino's first call-up to the senior England squad, per BBC Sport.

The West Brom hierarchy can now reasonably demand a marquee fee, one commensurate with the status of an international player and budding young star.

That's a blow for Rodgers as he attempts to boost his striking options around the brittle Daniel Sturridge and typically temperamental and struggling Mario Balotelli.

It doesn't help that 19-year-old loanee Divock Origi recently failed to impress a Premier League audience when Lille took on Everton in the UEFA Europa League. Rather than offer a tantalising precursor of what he might do when playing in England full time, Origi floundered, according to Mail Online reporter Chris Waugh:

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This was Divock Origi’s big audition to the Liverpool public. Could the young Belgian survive out there on a cold, dank and rainy November night on Merseyside?

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Thursday night was a key night in his development and he will come through it a better player. He ran tirelessly for a cause in which his team-mates gave him precious little to work with. It was painful at times watching him run down another terrible long ball, launched into No Man’s Land with no godly hope of Origi being able to get a hold of it and launch a meaningful attack.

Pushed off the ball too easily by Phil Jagielka on occasion, he came back in the second half and had already by that stage started to put his body on the line and show his own strength.

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Of course, Origi is supposed to be one for the future, and Waugh's report certainly doesn't condemn his talent or potential. However, it also doesn't endorse the youthful Belgian as a player ready to make a quick impact once he lands on English shores on a permanent basis.

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Rodgers won't even be able to get immediate help from another prospective target, Swansea City ace Wilfried Bony. The towering and mobile Ivory Coast ace is set to sign a new contract with the Welsh outfit, per Daily Star reporter Alex Harris. It's a development Harris rates as a blow for Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs.

Rodgers' attempts to add yet more bodies to a muddled attacking picture will likely require casting a wider net. Many of his mooted targets seem destined to stay put, so it will be up to the Anfield boss to unearth a hidden talent or two.