Liverpool Transfer News: Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi Deals Urged

Former Liverpool skipper Phil Thompson has urged the club to be ambitious in the January window, claiming the Anfield outfit should target Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain to spruce up their attacking options.

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The Reds have been sorely lacking in incisiveness at the sharp end of the pitch this season, and myriad reports have suggested Brendan Rodgers is looking to spend big money to bring West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino to the club, per Laurie Whitwell of the Mail Online.

But Thompson thinks his former club should only target the highest calibre of player to complement Daniel Sturridge, per Sky Sports, via Nick Howson of the International Business Times:

"

Rodgers likes his forwards to have pace. You see Raheem Sterling currently playing as an out-and-our centre forward, and he has done very well, but maybe he does not possess that finishing quality of Berahino.

I think that Liverpool need someone who is a bit more established and who has played at a higher level like Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi, somebody of that ilk to come in following the news about Steven Gerrard's departure.

So for me, I would not go for Berahino, although I can see the advantages of having him, but I tell you what, he has to change his attitude.

"

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Here’s a look at how Berahino, Lavezzi and Higuain have fared so far in league matches this season:

	Berahino	Lavezzi	Higuain
Apps (Sub)	16 (4)	8 (5)	13 (3)
Goals	8	2	7
Assists	0	1	3
Shots per Game	2.3	0.9	2.9
Key Passes per Game	0.8	0.8	1.3
Dribbles per Game	0.7	0.5	0.7

Of the two Argentine players mentioned by Thompson, Lavezzi looks the most likely target for the Reds. He looks increasingly likely to leave PSG after reporting back late for training following the festive hiatus, and reports have linked him to a host of illustrious clubs across Europe, including Liverpool, per Charles Perrin of the Express.

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Bleacher Report’s French football expert Jonathan Johnson thinks Lavezzi is one of a few players who could potentially leave Paris Saint-Germain in January:

Lavezzi is certainly a better short-term option when compared to Berahino. The 29-year-old is more rounded and refined, has a superior work rate, and can play in a host of different positions across the front line. At this juncture, he’s likely to be a lot cheaper than the West Brom man too.

If the Reds are looking for a player to come in and breathe some life into their spluttering season, then there are few forwards on the market better equipped to do so than Lavezzi. And with Rodgers insisting that Liverpool will be targeting players in their primes as well as prodigious youngsters, per Simon Mullock of the Mirror, it’s a move he should be looking at.

Reports in Italy suggest a move is looking unlikely to materialise though, per Sport Witness:

Tor-Kristian Karlsen of The Guardian is intrigued to see the direction Lavezzi takes next but doesn’t anticipate a move to England:

Talk of a move for Higuain was quite prominent prior to this season getting underway, but there haven't been many murmurings about a potential switch for the Argentina international of late. If the Reds were to prise him away from former boss Rafael Benitez at Napoli, you suspect he would cost a sizable amount.

Here’s a look at why:

Higuain is a player who plays through the middle a lot more than Lavezzi and is of the orthodox-striker mode. He may not be as skilful or dynamic as the PSG man, but if it’s goals Rodgers is after, then there are few more natural finishers on the continent than the former Real Madrid forward.

Earlier in the season, WhoScored.com provided us with the facts that show how clinical Higuain is in front of goal:

Any January transfer looks unlikely for him, though. The Partenopei are vying for a Champions League spot this season, and at the time of writing, they're in third place in Serie A. But with just six points separating them and Internazionale in 11th spot, Benitez’s side look set to face a real fight to secure that coveted berth.

Selling Higuain midseason would be disastrous to their cause, but if Napoli do fail to qualify for European football’s elite competition next season, there will be plenty sniffing round the San Paolo looking to take the forward off the club’s hands.