Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours and Speculation as January Window Looms

Former Liverpool left-back Aly Cissokho has talked up the prospect of the Reds swooping for red-hot forward Alexandre Lacazette. 

Cissokho was at French side Lyon when the 23-year-old forward was coming through the club’s revered academy and the Aston Villa man thinks Lacazette has the class to make an instant impact in English football’s top flight, per footmercato.net (h/t James Whaling of The Mirror):

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He's a player who, when I was there, came from the reserve team to train with us, but you could see he had a future.

He's a young player, and clubs like Liverpool have a lot of competition for places up front, and as a foreigner it's also different because you have to leave your home town and those close to you.

It's a challenge, it's up to him to see if he's ready to take it on. We'll see what happens in the summer, but he easily has the quality to play in teams of that stature.

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They’re bold words from the Frenchman, but a quick look at some of Lacazette’s best moments from the current campaign and it’s tough to disagree:

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has already ruled out the prospect of selling their star forward in January, per Alex Richards of The Mirror, but you can guarantee clubs like Liverpool—who have been linked with the forward in the past, per Richards' piece—will be keeping a close eye on the strides made by this intriguing young talent.

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Lacazette is currently the top scorer in Ligue 1 with 17 goals in 19 games, per WhoScored.com, and it’s his colourful forward play that has helped fire an effervescent young Lyon side to second place in the table.

There is clearly a fine crop of talent coming through at the club and as noted by Bleacher Report’s French football expert Andrew Gibney, you suspect teams will be keeping a close eye on their development:

But Lacazette is undoubtedly the crown jewel of this team and the kind of player Liverpool should be targeting in an attempt to spruce up their forward line. But with vultures likely to be circling Lyon come the summer, it’s vital that the Reds secure Champions League football in order to present one of the most attractive propositions for the player.

In order to do that, some additions need to be made in the January window, and with goalkeeper Brad Jones injured, Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the club will pursue a loan deal for a stopper.

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“We will look at that [a loan deal],” said the Liverpool boss, per James Whaling of The Mirror. “If he [Jones] is missing out, we have young Danny Ward and he will come on to the bench.”

Simon Mignolet was dropped indefinitely by Rodgers after a string of poor performances, but the Belgian could find his place temporarily restored should Jones be set for a sustained spell on the sidelines. But it’s abundantly clear that this Reds squad is in desperate need of a new man between the sticks and it’s surely a case of sooner the better.

One area of the team that can probably wait until the summer for a bit of fine-tuning is midfield, and the Reds are reportedly set to play the long game in their pursuit of James Milner, as they look to land the Manchester City man on a free transfer.

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The England international is out of contract with the champions at the end of the season, and as noted by Richard Tanner of the Express, both the Reds and Arsenal are keen on signing him. But as quoted in Tanner’s piece, City boss Manuel Pellegrini is hopeful that the versatile midfielder will commit his future to the club soon:

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I think they are continuing to have conversations and we hope he'll arrive at it soon.

I always say he's a very important player for us. He always make a contribution whether he starts or comes on.

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Indeed, Milner is understatedly vital to City’s cause. He’s not just a grafter and a void-plugger as often perceived, but a player who is clever in possession, brash in the tackle and tricky with the ball at his feet too.

It’s easy to see why Pellegrini would be keen to keep hold of the 28-year-old, but if Milner fancies a little bit more first-team football, then he could run his contract down. At Liverpool, Milner would surely get requisite reassurances about his playing time and would add plenty of qualities to the Reds' midfield that is currently in short supply.

On a free transfer it’d be a no brainer, but it’s imperative that Liverpool get other pertinent concerns—in goal, at the back and up front—addressed in addition to bolstering their midfield.