EPL: 10 Realistic Summer Transfer Targets for Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC have been breathing new life thanks to Kenny Dalglish in recent times. However they still need to do a lot of work in this summer's transfer window if they are to reclaim their status as a top four team in the Premiership.
As always Liverpool fans will be looking for that marquee signing such as Andy Carroll and Fernando Torres before him.
Realistically though, Liverpool do not need one marquee signing. Liverpool need to improve their overall depth and all around quality as a team in order to once again compete for the Premiership title.
Here are ten realistic targets that would take the team towards their target.
Roger Johnson
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While Liverpool have been linked with his teammate Scott Dann in the past, Roger Johnson would be an excellent addition to the team should Birmingham be relegated.
Johnson brings all the aggression of Martin Skrtel without the reckless nature and liability in space. Johnson is dominant in the air and has the passion that would make him an acceptable heir to Jamie Carragher for Liverpool fans.
At 28 years of age Johnson still has many good years left in him and would give more time to the talented young defenders that the club appears to be littered with.
Matt Jarvis
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Matt Jarvis has been one of Wolves' brightest players this season. He is a tricky winger that knows how to get the ball in the box. He has scored four goals and notched five assists for the struggling Premiership side.
At 24 years of age Jarvis got his first England call up this season. He certainly fits the Liverpool policy off trying to find young talent to develop that can help them now.
Jarvis will be a hot commodity but Liverpool are likely to be the biggest club trying to capture his signature. This will be made easier if Wolves are relegated.
In footballing terms Jarvis would solve the team's right wing problem. Dirk Kuyt has been a big player for the club over the past few seasons but remains to be a striker playing on the wing. He does not have the same ability as Jarvis in the wide areas.
Jarvis can beat defenders consistently with his agility and pace while also being a quality crosser of the ball. He would be a great complement for blockbuster signings Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez. His crossing would obviously aid Carroll while his ability on the ball would allow him to feed and link up with Suarez.
Michel Bastos
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Michel Bastos will be a difficult player to acquire but it is not unrealistic to think that Liverpool could swoop for the left sided attacker.
Bastos has played left back for Brazil and his current club Lyon but in the Premier League he would be a left winger.
At 27 years of age Bastos is hitting his prime. He is pace and ability on the ball would give the team a creative spark from a wide position that has been lacking in recent years. Bastos would be a better fit for the team to link up with Carroll ahead of Ashley Young as the team is unlikely to be able to compete with either of the Manchester based clubs in the battle for the Villa star.
Whether Bastos would come to a club without Champions League football is questionable however which casts some doubt over this potential signing.
Jose Enrique
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A one season wonder at Newcastle? Liverpool surely wouldn't splash out on another one of those now would they?
Maybe.
Jose Enrique was a solid player for Newcastle during his first few seasons with the team but he has really excelled for the team this season which hasn't gone unnoticed. Enrique would come in and provide a clear left back for the team that has been lacking throughout this past year.
The fact that Fabio Aurelio will never be fully fit for a whole season and Emiliano Insua's future remains unclear means that there is an opening that Enrique could more than adequately fill.
James McCarthy
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McCarthy is a very young and raw talent that can play multiple positions in midfield. He has been a standout player for Wigan this season showing great maturity in midfield for the struggling side.
McCarthy is only 20 years of age but made his competitive International debut for Ireland this past season.
He is comfortable on the ball and versatile as an attacker with the ability to play wide, in the middle of the field or behind the striker. McCarthy fits the bill as a player for the club that can contribute right away as a member of the squad while being developed to play a key role later in his career.
He would not immediately start but it wouldn't take long for him to make an impact on Liverpool fans with his energetic displays.
Charlie Adam
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As much as Liverpudlians would love to see Jay Spearing, a local lad to the last, play in Liverpool's midfield more in the future; he simply isn't good enough.
Liverpool need to give themselves more options in the middle of the park. Premiership champions elect Manchester United have been able to bring on players like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs at pivotal points in this season. It is this type of depth that is needed for a squad that wants to win titles.
Adam has been a star in Blackpool this year to the point that Ian Holloway made sure that he didn't leave in January after Liverpool bid a reported £14 million.
He is a footballing talent with an understanding of the game that the team has been lacking since Xabi Alonso left two years ago.
Connor Wickham
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Connor Wickham is a name that many football manager fans will point out as a star of the future but don't hold that against him.
Liverpool's first choice strike partnership is obviously set after last season but Wickham would give the team another youngster that could contribute from the bench.
Wickham doesn't look like a youngster when you watch him play. Even though he is only 18 years of age, he has looked like a man amongst boys in the Championship because of his physical prowess. Standing at 6'3" he is built like a back row rugby forward with the pace of a 100 meter sprinter.
Wickham also has outstanding technique on the ball which has allowed him to play on the wing in Ipswich's first team. Just by his physicality though you can see that his best position will be through the middle.
Wickham will be a highly sought player during this summer's transfer window but Liverpool have already shown a willingness to spend money on young English talent.
Niko Kranjcar
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Liverpool fans may not be too happy to see the team being linked with a player that cannot get into the Tottenham team. However Kranjcar isn't exactly out of his depth starting for a top four team.
Harry Redknapp has repeatedly referenced his frustration at not being able to incorporate the talented Croatian in his lineup. The emergence of Gareth Bale and the addition of Rafael Van der Vaart have limited Kranjcar to two starts in the Premier League this season.
This hasn't hurt Kranjcar's form for his country however as he has scored four goals in five games for Croatia in Euro 2012 qualifying. Kranjcar was a key player for Spurs last season but will be available now for a reduced price because of his unhappiness.
The 26 year old attacking midfielder would bring to the team what they had hoped Joe Cole would after arriving last season.
Charles N'Zogbia
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N'Zogbia is exactly the type of player that Liverpool need to have on the wing.
The former Newcastle star is still only 24 years of age despite playing almost 200 games in English football.
N'Zogbia is an old fashioned winger when deployed on the left hand side which suits the old fashioned center forward, Andy Carroll, that will lead Liverpool's frontline. N'Zogbia has a wicked left foot and looks to get the ball in the box from the right positions on the left flank. He has good crossing ability as well as the talent to repeatedly beat defenders.
N'Zogbia is versatile also in that he can play on the right hand side of midfield effectively. His ability to cut inside and link up with other defenders before riffling in shots at goal with his powerful left foot would have fans in Anfield drooling.
Mamadou Sakho
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Mamadou Sakho has shown a lot for a 21 year old. The physically gifted center half has already played 98 league games in his career for PSG as well as being capped twice for France.
Sakho would be suited to the physical style of the Premier League as he stands at 6'2" with an athletic physique.
Sakho is good on the ball and also fast enough to play as a left back. He wouldn't solve the team's current left back dilemma but would be another brilliant young defender to add to Martin Kelly and Danny Wilson.
