Liverpool: Outlining an Ideal January Transfer Window for Brendan Rodgers' Reds
The 2014/15 season has been a miserable one for Brendan Rodgers. His Liverpool side has floundered in the Premier League, perhaps due to the added pressure of European competition.
The Reds currently sit eighth in the Premier League table, seven points behind fourth-placed Southampton, and a shake-up in personnel this January would be advised to improve the side's failing form.
How would Liverpool's ideal January transfer window play out?
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Here we discuss the perfect outcome of what could well be a hectic month of business for Rodgers' side.
Rodgers' Transfer Strategy
In recent Rodgers press conferences, two intriguing soundbites have surfaced on Liverpool's upcoming transfer strategy.
The first, that January would be a quiet transfer window for the club, is relayed by the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce:
Whether this news is to be taken with a pinch of salt, however, could be determined by Rodgers' further comments on the value of the January window:
This is a bemusing concession. Liverpool's 2012/13 season was given a formidable boost when Rodgers signed midfielder Philippe Coutinho and striker Daniel Sturridge in January 2013, both of whom are now considered key players at Anfield.
Furthermore, Liverpool's former talisman, Luis Suarez, joined the club at the end of the January window of the 2010/11 season, per BBC Sport, with his immediate and subsequent output immeasurable.
More assuring for baying Reds fans will be Rodgers' indirect plea to owners Fenway Sports Group that "if you want to take steps forward, you need to sign ready-made players," according to Simon Mullock of the Daily Mirror.
This comes after the announcement, per the official Liverpool website, that Steven Gerrard will end his Liverpool career at the end of the season, which could be construed as contradicting Rodgers' earlier comments.
Overall, what do these suggest?
Unfortunately, it seems that the manager is playing his cards close to his chest: Will it truly be a quiet transfer window, or will Liverpool opt for tailor-made solutions to the problems that are currently troubling their 2014/15 season?
It may be that Gerrard's announcement has shocked the Reds into action, and this would be the ideal scenario this January.
Outgoings and Future Plans
Just as the summer heralded an influx of new names, January should see Rodgers wheeling in the transfer guillotine for some of his long-running Merseyside underperformers.
First up, and most likely to be sold in January, is Chelsea striker Fabio Borini.
After rejecting both Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland in the summer, per James Dickenson of the Daily Express, Borini sought to prove his worth at Anfield.
However, with just one start in the Premier League this season, and a further seven substitute appearances, it is clear Borini is surplus to requirements at Liverpool.
Joining Borini on the transfer list should be goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, whose flaws have been cruelly underlined this season.
Dropped for "an indefinite period" earlier this season, per BBC Sport, and replaced by a poor back-up option in Brad Jones, it seems the writing is on the wall for Liverpool's No. 22.
Finally, with Rodgers describing the striker as a "calculated risk" earlier this season, per The Guardian's Andy Hunter, it could be that the manager cuts his losses with flailing forward Mario Balotelli in January and sanctions his exit.
Being realistic, it would be unwise to expect an entire overhaul of playing personnel.
Nevertheless, Liverpool should be targeting a new first-choice goalkeeper, a replacement for the miserly Martin Skrtel as starting right centre-back, a destructive, ball-winning midfielder and a suitable attacking reinforcement.
Goalkeeper
Firstly, with any chance of signing Chelsea's Petr Cech thwarted by Mark Schwarzer's move to Leicester City this month (reported by BBC Sport), Rodgers may have to look further afield for a stopper.
That man should be Lille behemoth Vincent Enyeama.
Named by French publication L'Equipe (h/t SuperSport) as "the best shot stopper in Ligue 1 for 2014," Enyeama has produced a series of outstanding performances in a struggling Lille side this term.
With seven clean sheets from 18 games this season compared to Mignolet's five from 18, and having conceded 17 goals in that time compared to Mignolet's 22, Enyeama is a true upgrade.
The total of 17 goals conceded is the third-best defensive record in Ligue 1 this season.
Centre-Back
Joining Enyeama from Ligue 1 could be Marseille centre-back Nicolas N'Koulou, who has most recently been linked with a move to the Premier League with West Ham United, per Simon Jones of The Daily Mail.
With averages of two tackles and 3.1 interceptions so far this season, the well-rounded N'Koulou would be an ideal partner for Mamadou Sakho at centre-back.
Furthermore, just 24 years old like Sakho, N'Koulou has great scope for development and a potentially long career at Anfield.
Central Midfield
Thirdly, with Borini's departure in mind, Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has been linked with a swap deal for the Liverpool striker by the Daily Express' Anthony Chapman.
While this is perhaps the likeliest scenario, and Onazi possesses the potential to develop into a reliable candidate for a top-four chasing side, the Nigerian is not the ideal outcome for the Reds' midfield this January.
The better choice would be destroyer Lars Bender of Bayer Leverkusen.
A well-rounded, cultured midfield option, Bender can break up play with ease and continue movement with diligent creativity.
Bender has averaged three tackles, 3.1 interceptions and 1.1 key passes per game this season. Comparing this to Gerrard, the Liverpool captain averages 1.9 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 2.2 key passes.
Striker
Finally, the hypothetical sale of Balotelli in January would free up a space in Rodgers' squad for another striker.
While Pearce revealed in the Liverpool Echo that Liverpool were discussing the prospect of shortening forward Divock Origi's loan spell at Lille, and the Daily Mirror's James Nursey suggests a move for West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino, neither would be the ideal solution for the Merseyside club.
Instead, a return for summer target Wilfried Bony would be perfect.
Bony has proven consistency in the Premier League, with 25 goals in 54 games, is a more effective lone striker than Balotelli and, as evidenced by his performances at Swansea, can perform in a fluid attacking system.
Having signed a new contract this season, per BBC Sport, it would take a big-money fee to secure Bony's services, but by gaining from the potential sales of Borini and Balotelli, Liverpool could afford to reinvest.
| Transfers In | Transfers In (cont.) | Transfers Out | ||
| Vincent Enyeama | Wilfried Bony | Simon Mignolet | ||
| Nicolas N'Koulou | Fabio Borini | |||
| Lars Bender | Mario Balotelli |
With a long string of players both joining and leaving the club, the ideal January transfer window for Liverpool would be a busy but ultimately stabilising period for Rodgers.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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