Liverpool: A Dream Final Week of the January Transfer Window for the Reds
How would Liverpool's dream January transfer window resolve in its final week?
This is a relatively trivial question to pose, unfortunately for the club's supporters, with manager Brendan Rodgers persistently stressing that he is unlikely to undergo any major business this January.
James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo reiterated this point as part of Rodgers' Monday press conference, taking to Twitter to relay the manager's words:
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
It is unlikely that something dramatic will happen, and Liverpool are set to compete on four fronts after January with a squad very similar to the one that opened the season against Southampton.
However, there are three areas that may change in the final week of the January transfer window.
An Experienced Goalkeeper?
One area that must be made a priority in moving forward for Rodgers is in Liverpool's goalkeeping ranks, after a miserable confusion earlier in the season between the manager and senior custodians Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones.
After a spell on the sidelines due to poor form, Mignolet is back as Liverpool's No. 1 and is improving of late, but he can still be upgraded.
This is unlikely to come in January, but as Pearce writes for the Liverpool Echo: "Liverpool may bring in an experienced goalkeeper on a short-term basis to compete with [Mignolet]."
Despite Rodgers' prediction of a quiet January, Pearce reiterated this desire in an interview with LFCFansCorner last week.
"It is a possibility that Liverpool may bring in an experienced keeper as a short term measure," Pearce revealed. "Certainly in terms of spending a decent amount of money on a keeper, that will wait till the summer."
This would be a low-profile signing, and there are few viable options seemingly on the market, but Liverpool could target one of the following:
- Brad Friedel, 43, Tottenham Hotspur
- Nicolas Douchez, 34, Paris Saint-Germain
- Timo Hildebrand, 35, Eintracht Frankfurt
- Wayne Hennessey, 28, Crystal Palace
- Marco Storari, 38, Juventus
(Note: Each of these goalkeepers have made three or less league appearances so far this season.)
Naturally, none of these options represent an upgrade on Mignolet or a viable long-term option for Liverpool.
However, particularly with Jones currently injured, Liverpool would do well to sign an experienced stopper in January as short-term competition for Mignolet and as a contingency plan in the event of any serious injury to the Belgian.
Mario Balotelli on Loan?
With Rodgers still priming his side for contention in four competitions—the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League—the manager would be unwise to significantly deplete his squad with sales this January.
However, one figure continually linked with a move away from Anfield is striker Mario Balotelli.
A controversial £16 million signing from AC Milan in the summer, Balotelli has made 12 Premier League appearances so far this season and has yet to score a league goal for the Reds.
Rodgers criticised the striker's style of play after Liverpool's 0-0 League Cup draw at home to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, as reported by Tony Barrett of The Times:
However, ever the diplomat, Rodgers stressed afterwards that it was "not the case at all" that Balotelli would leave as a result of this, according to BBC Sport.
Furthermore, suggestions from Mino Raiola, Balotelli's agent, via Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo, that "Nobody is happy to be left out, but he reacted in a professional way. Mario will win this struggle and become better...Mario needs to adapt," may point to a Liverpool future for the striker.
However, Raiola continued to say that "Liverpool need to adapt," suggesting a tense future between player and club.
Rodgers has seen his side flourish without Balotelli in recent weeks, and he could well do with letting the former Manchester City man go this January.
Balotelli has been linked with a loan move back to Serie A already this month, and this could be an option if Liverpool do decide to sanction his departure before the end of the January transfer window.
Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express claims that: "Lazio want Balotelli to return to the Serie A for the final six months of the season, and are even ready to pay as much as £2 million for his signature."
Chapman also suggests that: "Greek outfit Olympiakos are believed to have been rejected by Balotelli well over a week ago after offering a temporary sanctuary."
Meanwhile, This is Anfield relayed claims from Sky Sport Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, who suggested: "[Parma] are looking to bolster their attack for the remainder of the season, with Balotelli seen as the perfect acquisition."
The interest is seemingly there, so a move is not out of the question for Balotelli this week.
Liverpool's Youth
Liverpool could also consider temporary spells away for some of their bright young talents, with a view to challenging for a first-team role in the future.
One player likely to leave on loan this January is versatile midfielder Sheyi Ojo, as Andy Kelly of the Liverpool Echo reports.
Kelly spoke to Liverpool U21s manager Michael Beale, who claimed: "There’s a lot of interest around him in terms of loan."
Shrewsbury Town are mentioned as a likely destination for the 17-year-old, while Beale stressed: "There’s a couple of clubs bigger than that interested in him.
"We’ve got a very good player on our hands there," Beale continued. "He’s not the only one, we’ve got four or five others that we’re very keen on as well. It’s all about the decisions we make now for him and with him to help him get to the next level."
Ojo could be joined by the likes of Jordan Williams, Ryan McLaughlin, Brad Smith and Jerome Sinclair, who could all benefit from a loan move this January.
Jordon Ibe, recalled from a loan spell with Derby County earlier this month, set a precedent for these young academy players, as Kelly suggests: "The Anfield hierarchy was impressed by the development of Jordon Ibe."
Ibe is now set to contend for a first-team role with Liverpool this season, highlighting the benefits of a short-term spell away from the club for Ojo.
It is likely to remain a quiet January transfer window for Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool enter the final week of business.
But signing an experienced goalkeeper, sanctioning a move for the stylistically disruptive Mario Balotelli and sending some promising youth players on loan would represent a positive end to the month for the Reds manager.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
