A Dream Summer Transfer Window Shopping List for Liverpool
Summer is typically a busy period for Liverpool in terms of transfers, and manager Brendan Rodgers may well be looking to make considerable progress once more ahead of the 2015/16 season.
Nine players are likely to leave Liverpool in the summer, as The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe recently told AnfieldHQ (h/t This is Anfield).
As such, Rodgers will need to target several names once more.
Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini, Jose Enrique and Lucas Leiva could all be sold, while Glen Johnson, Kolo Toure, Brad Jones and Steven Gerrard are set to leave on the expiry of their contracts.
So how do Liverpool replace these departing names?
Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi tops our list, but who else makes our dream summer transfer window shopping list for Liverpool?
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
1 of 7
Simon Mignolet has improved significantly in goal for Liverpool after his spell on the sidelines, keeping five clean sheets in eight Premier League games since his reintroduction in Boxing Day's win away to Burnley.
Nevertheless, with Jones leaving the club in the summer, Rodgers will need to sign another goalkeeper.
Chelsea custodian Petr Cech would represent the ideal solution to this problem, with the 32-year-old marginalised at Stamford Bridge this season due to the rise of now-No. 1 Thibaut Courtois.
James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo relayed quotes from Cech's agent Viktor Kolar back in December, with Kolar suggesting he would be available to sign in the summer.
"Liverpool need to strengthen their position in goal and they know Petr will be available in the summer," Kolar claimed.
Despite Mignolet's upturn in form, signing Cech would provide Rodgers with genuine competition for the No. 1 shirt, as well as the strength in depth required for what will likely be another busy fixture list in 2015/16.
Nicolas N'Koulou (Olympique Marseille)
2 of 7
While Emre Can is performing exceptionally on the right-hand side of Liverpool's defensive back three this season, the Reds would be wise to look for a new centre-back this summer, as Can's qualities are best served in midfield.
After Can was used in midfield in Liverpool's 3-2 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, assistant manager Colin Pascoe outlined his ideal role, via This is Anfield.
"You could see the other night when he stepped into midfield he does want to play there, it is his position, and he is a great asset," Pascoe claimed.
If Liverpool do sign another right-sided centre-back in the summer, Marseille defender Nicolas N'Koulou would be a perfect option.
N'Koulou has made an average of two tackles per game, equal to or more than any other regular Liverpool centre-back this season, while his 3.1 interceptions per game would make him the best reader of the game in the Reds' squad by far.
Comfortable on the ball and strong in his defensive duties, N'Koulou would be an ideal signing for Liverpool.
Alex Song (Barcelona, on Loan at West Ham United)
3 of 7
If Lucas leaves Liverpool in the summer, Rodgers' need for a specialist defensive midfielder will increase significantly—the side's upturn in form with the introduction of Lucas to the starting lineup signals the benefits of such a player.
An upgrade on Lucas and a long-term solution to this role on Merseyside could be Barcelona midfielder Alex Song.
Currently on loan at West Ham United, Song has impressed throughout 2014/15 so far, with his ability to break up play as well as create from deep fuelling the Hammers' charge for the Premier League's top four.
The midfielder is seemingly looking to leave Barcelona on a permanent deal in the summer, with the Observer's Jacob Steinberg (h/t the Guardian) relaying his words: "My future will be in England."
Although Song continues to say "somewhere in my mind says: ‘I have to stay in London,'" his concession that "I don’t know what I will choose at the end of the season," suggests he could look to move elsewhere.
Liverpool could likely offer him European football, as well as a guaranteed spot in their starting lineup.
Song's all-round quality would be ideal at the base of the Liverpool midfield.
James Milner (Manchester City)
4 of 7
One of the major contract debates in the Premier League this season revolves around unassuming Manchester City midfielder James Milner.
Liverpool should look to capitalise on the England international's precarious situation at the Etihad Stadium this season to secure his signature.
Richard Tanner of the Express supported these links, recently claiming: "Liverpool, it is understood, are tempting [Milner] with the prospect of becoming [Gerrard's] replacement in their engine room."
With Lucas also likely to leave the club in the summer, Liverpool could offer Milner the game time Tanner suggests is paramount to deciding on his next move.
Moreover, Bascombe also claimed: "If he’s available I’m sure Liverpool will be in for him."
A move would suit both parties, with Milner's experience, tenacity and versatility suiting Rodgers' high-intensity and currently youth-centric system, and the midfielder would likely play week in, week out.
Miralem Pjanic (AS Roma)
5 of 7
With Rodgers making an early Valentine's Day trip to Rome this month, speculation surrounding several Serie A players mounted.
One such player is Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic, with the Mirror's Adrian Kajumba reporting "Rodgers is understood to have held talks with Roma director of football Walter Sabatini during his trip to the Italian capital."
Kajumba continued to quote a £37 million transfer fee, along with wages of £160,000 per week, to sign Pjanic.
While this is a considerable outlay for the Merseyside club, Pjanic is a world-class midfield talent who, at just 24 years old, has the upside to become one of the very best—Liverpool arguably need to sign such a figure with the departure of Gerrard announced for the summer.
Pjanic has scored three goals and made five assists in 21 Serie A games so far this season.
Importantly, his average of two key passes per game would make him the second most prolific creative player in the Liverpool squad behind Raheem Sterling, who makes 2.3 per game.
Danny Ings (Burnley)
6 of 7
With Daniel Sturridge's repeated injury troubles and the relative failures of Balotelli, Borini and Lambert in front of goal this season, Liverpool would do well to dip into the market for a goalscorer in the summer.
One player repeatedly linked with a move to Merseyside is Burnley striker Danny Ings.
Fuelling these links, Bascombe claimed: "Ings, I would be surprised if he’s not a Liverpool player [next season]...certainly Liverpool would like Ings."
Furthermore, Burnley manager Sean Dyche recently suggested, via Kristian Walsh for the Mirror: "I think we all know his development needs to continue in the Premier League...he’s top end of the Premier League."
With Liverpool still challenging for a top-four finish this season, Rodgers' side definitely remain a "top end" side, and Ings would add a comfortable flourish to their ranks.
Ings has scored nine goals and made four assists in 22 Premier League games this season.
Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)
7 of 7
Rounding off with Icardi, the Inter striker recently expressed his joy on hearing of Liverpool's reported interest in his services in the summer, as reported by Italian publication Calcio Mercato (h/t Liverpool Echo).
"If the rumours about Liverpool are real, I would be honoured, because they are a big club," Icardi declared, although he then continued: "But I’m already in a great team where I can win something important."
With Inter currently lying 10th in the Serie A table, however, Liverpool may be able to convince him to move.
Icardi has scored 13 goals and made one assist in 22 league games so far this season, and he represents one of the most swiftly developing finishers in Europe.
Adding Icardi to a Liverpool strike force of Ings, Sturridge and Divock Origi could prove a masterstroke by Rodgers, particularly with Bascombe suggesting former Inter striker Balotelli could be set to leave.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
