Liverpool Transfer News: World-Class Stars Rumoured for Reds Move in January

It has been a testing start to the season for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers, with the Anfield club finding life after Luis Suarez quite challenging.

Suarez's exit has seen Liverpool's prolific touch in front of goal evaporate, as Daniel Sturrdge nurses yet another injury—keeping him sidelined continuously.

Rodgers invested the money received from the Uruguayan hitman's sale back into his squad, but so far his new players have flattered to deceive, with Mario Balotelli looking like one of the flops of the season.

So what can Rodgers do now? Here we take a look at the latest players on Liverpool's radar:

Saido Berahino

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The term "world class" is entirely subjective in football, but Liverpool have their eyes on a talent who could one day break into that bracket if his development continues at pace.

Saido Berahino is in the form of his life—forcing his way into Roy Hodgson's England squad and having all of the Premier League big guns after his signature.

Marc Williams of the Daily Star says Rodgers will push to sign the 21-year-old prodigious talent in an attempt to solve his goalscoring problems.

The striker has taken the league by storm this season, scoring seven times in his 11 Premier League appearances, per Squawka.

And Liverpool are desperate to find a player who can supplement the goals lost—with the injury curse of Sturridge striking again recently.

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Rodgers acknowledged his striker's bad luck, per Timothy Abraham of the Express:

"

Daniel’s just been extremely unfortunate. He’s a player who doesn’t want to be out for this length of time. He wants to play football. Now the time for him to go away and see what more we can do to get him on the pitch consistently because he’s a world class talent.

He wants that more than anyone. I spoke to him today at length and he’s down as I’ve ever seen him. He’ll go away now and hopefully find the answers to help him perform at Liverpool.

"

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Rodgers will feel that he helped Sturridge realise his own world-class potential, and he will believe he can do the same for Berahino.

The West Brom player has had a tidal wave of backing to play for England, with many surprised Hodgson did not take the chance to play him recently.

Footballer Joey Barton and The Daily Telegraph's Matt Law both voiced their disappointment when the striker did not get his opportunity:

Berahino has performed well in the past few months, building on his strong form of last year, but it is questionable if he is ready for the problems that Liverpool face.

The expectations at Anfield would be huge for the boy—much more than when Sturridge joined the club two years ago in the January window.

As talented as Berahino may be, is he the man to replace Luis Suarez? If Liverpool wish to challenge for the title, then the answer is no. 

The striker is going to be a huge player in the years to come, but the complications that face Rodgers at present are not something Berahino needs right now.

Jackson Martinez

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Another striker Liverpool are monitoring is Colombian attacker Jackson Martinez.

Aaron Flanagan of the Mirror says Rodgers is planning a huge £30 million raid for the player who has been prolific in the Portuguese league.

The Porto attacker also has four goals from his four Champions League games this season, per WhoScored.com, proving his now-indomitable pedigree.

The 28-year-old is a consistent goalscorer and has performed to a high standard for Porto since his signing from Chiapas in 2012—hitting 53 goals in just 70 games—as reported by Eurosport.

But is Liverpool's problem finding the net or providing chances for their strikers? The Reds have a strong creative collective in midfield, but if Jackson were to join, he would need service.

Jackson and Berahino are both exceptional players, but Liverpool need to improve the kind of assists they give to their forwards.

With his lack of work rate, Balotelli is certainly not the answer, his style too languid and lazy.

Jackson would score goals, but Liverpool need to find their next Suarez—and not their next Michael Owen.

Jackson and Berahino would cost in the region of £50 million, and that would not constitute good business. If Rodgers does not improve results soon, he might not have a job next summer.