Liverpool Transfer News: Major Deals Eyed by Brendan Rodgers to Rescue Season

Having netted three goals against Liverpool this season, Brendan Rodgers will be all too familiar with the quality of Karim Benzema. So it’ll come as exciting news to the Anfield faithful that reports suggest the Reds’ boss is looking to bring the Real Madrid striker to Merseyside in January, as the club look to inject some vital impetus into their stuttering campaign.

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That’s according to Izzy Horsefield of the Sunday Express, who has claimed that the French international forward is considering his future in the Spanish capital as he remains unconvinced he’s part of Los Blancos’ long-term plans. The piece also states that Benzema is unhappy that the European Champions pursued Luis Suarez before he eventually moved to Barcelona.

Here’s a glimpse at what Benzema could potentially bring to Anfield should a deal be struck:

The 26-year-old forward would do plenty to bulk up Liverpool’s toiling front line, and when you compare his goalscoring exploits this season to that of the Reds’ attacking arsenal, it’s easy to see why:

	Appearances (Sub)	Goals	Assists	Shots per Game
Karim Benzema	9	6	5	2.2
Mario Balotelli	8 (1)	0	0	3.9
Fabio Borini	1 (3)	0	0	1.3
Rickie Lambert	1 (8)	0	0	0.4

Admittedly, the former Lyon man does keep much better company than the aforementioned Liverpool strikers. The sensational exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo help create room for Benzema, while the supply from the likes of James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Isco is the stuff of dreams for a centre-forward.

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But Benzema is a player who’s individual qualities have long been understated, and subsequently he’s very much underrated. He’s a fine link player, a diligent worker and ruthlessly clinical in front of goal. The Frenchman is an excellent creator of chances, too, as we can see here, courtesy of Squawka:

So much so, that’d be peculiar for Madrid to even consider selling their prolific No. 9, for under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti he has flourished. Benzema was once a target for the boo-boys at the Santiago Bernabeu, but his stellar application under the Italian’s watch has transformed his status. If Ancelotti has any say in the matter, you suspect the Frenchman won’t be going anywhere.

With that in mind, Liverpool may have to explore other avenues as they look to add some incisiveness to their forward play. One player that’s been mentioned as an exciting alternative to Benzema is Benfica star Anderson Talisca. The Brazilian has taken the Portuguese top flight by storm this season, scoring eight goals in his first 10 appearances in the division, per WhoScored.com. 

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His form has been so impressive that Brazil boss Dunga called him up to the national squad for the nation’s recent matches, as we can see here courtesy of BrazilStats:

"

Casemiro and Anderson Talisca in training. pic.twitter.com/zY9e8wH0li

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) November 16, 2014"

Naturally, those kinds of displays will have stoked interest from some of European football’s most illustrious outfits, and according to John Richardson of the Express, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are keen on bringing the forward to the Premier League.

Here’s a glimpse at what the 20-year-old could potentially add to English football’s top flight:

Talisca rocked up at the Estadio da Luz as something of an unknown quantity having been plucked from Bahia by the Portuguese champions. But while he may not be a household name, Jose Mourinho revealed to TVI24 (h/t Sky Sports) earlier in the campaign that the Benfica man would be a Premier League player if it wasn’t for work permit issues:

"

They say Talisca is unknown, but he is only so unknown because he's only not playing in England because he doesn't have a work permit. If he had one, he would be here.

There were many English teams, great teams and important, that wanted him. 

"

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If Liverpool were in indeed are one of those teams, they look likely to have a fight on their hands to get Talisca to Merseyside. But at this juncture, the young Brazilian has shown enough quality to suggest he’s worth the battle. Of course he’s an erratic and often frustrating talent—most young players are—but under the tutelage of Rodgers, those raw edges could be refined and channelled.

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He’d be another fine addition to the effervescent young squad that the Liverpool boss is building, but there are other areas that need addressing in this group, perhaps most notably in the defensive berths.

According to Simon Jones of the Mail Online, Glen Johnson could be on his way out of Anfield, with Roma interested in bringing him to Serie A. But Liverpool could have a ready-made replacement on hand, with Portuguese newspaper A Bola (h/t the Liverpool Echo) suggesting the Reds will move for Benfica right-back Maxi Pereira.

The Uruguayan international could be available for a reduced premium in January with his contract due to expire at the end of the season. His experience and industry would see him well suited to the Premier League too, as we can see here:

Pereira would be a real upgrade on the England international, who seems to have lost his hunger for the game in the early weeks of this season. The Uruguayan is defensively diligent, poses an attacking threat and is a player well acquainted with the requisite demands of Champions League football, something that can’t be said for most of this young Liverpool squad.

His age may be a concern, but with his contract up at the season’s end, Rodgers shouldn’t have to part with too big a portion of his January transfer kitty to get Pereira on board. If a deal is finalised, it’d be an especially astute move by the Anfield outfit.