Liverpool Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of December 8

Liverpool's patchy form only sets the transfer rumour mill into a more furious motion as we approach January's window.

With two clean sheets in three games, and having spent £38 million on two new centre-backs over the last two summers, it was perhaps surprising to see two central defenders linked with moves to Anfield this weekend.

Creativity in the final third of the pitch remains a key issue for Liverpool—Saturday's 0-0 draw against Sunderland means the Reds have scored just eight goals in their opening eight Premier League home games.

Brendan Rodgers' removal of Fabio Borini from matchday squads surely signals the end to the Italian's time at the club, but with injuries to Daniel Sturridge abound and a disappointing start to Mario Balotelli's Anfield career, surely Rodgers needs to bolster his options in attack?

Here we round up the latest rumours to be flying around the Red half of Merseyside as we dive into the festive period of matches.

Saido Berahino

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

West Brom forward Saido Berahino has been a name on the lips of many recently—exploding into the Premier League at just 21 years old over the last year.

The England under-21 international would surely be a big gamble for Liverpool, but the Daily Mail's Rob Shepherd insists Berahino is on the Reds' radar. 

Jan Vertonghen

Petros Giannakouris/Associated Press

Belgium international defender Jan Vertonghen is another player the Daily Mail's Rob Shepherd links with a January move to Liverpool.

The Reds may feel a little underwhelmed by Dejan Lovren's start to his Anfield career, while Mamadou Sakho remains quite the enigma at Anfield.

No matter how bad the start to their season, would Tottenham really let Vertonghen go to a club they surely consider a rival for a Champions League place? 

Winston Reid

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Tom Hopkinson and Dean jones of the Daily Mirror say Liverpool are pursuing West Ham defender Winston Reid.

Reid has been in fine form for Sam Allardyce's men this season, but with his deal at Upton Park expiring at the end of the season, it may be a chance for Liverpool to nip in and secure his services on a cut-price deal.

Allardyce recently spoke on his hopes of keeping Reid in east London, per the Mirror:

His contract situation is an on-going factor between the owner and his agent. I would imagine one or both are going to come to the conclusion this has gone as far as it’s going to go and can’t go any farther.