Liverpool Transfer News: Christian Eriksen Mega Bid Eyed, Karim Benzema Blow

After losing heavily to bitter rivals Manchester United and the emergence of reports in the press linking star player Raheem Sterling with a move away from the club, per Andy Hunter of The Guardian, Liverpool supporters are due a bit of good news to stir positive emotions.

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Thankfully, for those of a red persuasion, there’s positive murmurings regarding some potential signings.

In particular, a £32 million bid for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen is in the pipeline, according to Danish newspaper BT (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express).

The 22-year-old has been a standout player for Spurs this season, adding a flurry of goals to the creative qualities that were on show in abundance during his maiden Premier League campaign. The Denmark international has flourished under Mauricio Pochettino and looks likely to be the man that the Argentine will build his team around at White Hart Lane.

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Eriksen has proven himself to be a shrewd manipulator of the ball. He is a player with an incisive edge in the final third. Having been deployed in various different roles this season, he is an adaptable talent, too.

WhoScored.com provides us with insight into just how crucial a player the former Ajax man has been for Tottenham since he moved to the Premier League:

He’s a blossoming talent, without doubt. However, looking at this Liverpool squad, he’s not the kind of player the Reds are crying out for.

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In Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic and Sterling, they have four players capable of operating in that No. 10 position. To spend £32 million on a midfielder that is stylistically comparable would be a major lapse in judgement.

The Reds are crying out for defensive reinforcements—despite spending heavily in that area this summer—as well as some fortitude in midfield and another player with pace to give them some added dynamism.

It’s something former Arsenal forward Paul Merson touched upon recently, per Anfield HQ:

"

Paul Merson: Unless Liverpool go out and buy someone with sheer pace they will struggle every single game. They are paceless. #lfc

— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ96) December 13, 2014"

Speed and steel are the order of the day for the Reds in the January market, and as classy a player as Eriksen is, he has neither. Subsequently, the Anfield club should pursue other targets that better fit the requisite requirements.

One player who has plenty of speed, steel and a whole lot more is Karim Benzema. The Reds have been linked with the Real Madrid forward in the past, per Anthony Chapman of the Express. However, given his form—scoring 13 goals in 18 appearances, per WhoScored.com—this season, it would be a peculiar decision for the European champions to cash in.

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A transfer is looking even more unlikely after the player himself spoke of his ambition to be a long-term success at the Santiago Bernabeu and eventually play under the tutelage of compatriot and current reserve team manager Zinedine Zidane in an interview with France Football (h/t Marca):

"

I'd like to play under Zidane one day at Real Madrid. I had a taste of it last season when he was assistant first-team coach. 

We spent a lot of time together. I learnt a lot from him, both on a professional and personal level. 'Zizou' is a great guy. He's like a brother to me.

"

With Benzema’s future unclear in the summer, and with Liverpool coming into the campaign on the back of a storming 2013/14 season, you could have potentially seen a transfer happening between the two clubs.

In the same interview, Benzema adds that he is feeling very settled in the Spanish capital at the moment:

"

I'm scoring more and helping others score too. I'm playing a big part in the team's game and I'm in peak physical condition. I'm injury-free and playing a lot. The more I play, the better I feel, brimming with confidence.

That general improvement in my game is greatly due to the support I receive from my teammates, the coach, the president and the fans. Things are going great.

"

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With the Reds currently languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, Anfield would be pretty low down in terms of the player’s ideal destinations even if Real did decide to sell their No. 9.

That in itself is enough to rule out the prospect of any potential deal. However, with Los Blancos in the midst of a wonderful winning run, Benzema seems to finally be getting the recognition his goalscoring, work-rate, all-round game and astute link-up with Cristiano Ronaldo should rightfully command.

He'll be going nowhere any time soon.