Liverpool Transfer Rumors: 5 Players Liverpool Should Sign to Win the EPL
First off, congratulations to Manchester United for winning their 19th league title and finally overtaking Liverpool. Their team has shown how important both quality in depth and playing the right players at the right time is to long-term success.
Secondly, unfortunately Liverpool will not be playing in Europe next season. European football is synonymous with Liverpool F.C., but without it, the goal for next season is to equal United at 19 titles. The current Liverpool squad lacks depth at many positions, and needs a little extra goal-scoring spark to take the burden off a few key players.
Kenny Dalglish has inspired many of Liverpool's young players to play well when some of the first team players got injured, but the youngsters have not been able to cover up all of the gaps this season. Liverpool's starting squad would undoubtedly challenge for a place in the top four if they were to stay fit throughout the season, but this is impossible so I believe the addition of these five players will have Liverpool winning their 19th league title next season.
Scott Dann: A Quality Center Back
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Liverpool currently have three great center backs in Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel. However, Agger has been injured for long stretches of his career for Liverpool. Similar to Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King, when Agger is on the field his team rarely concedes goals; the only problem with these three is their injury record.
Liverpool cannot handle playing with only two quality center backs because if one gets injured on top of Agger's injury then Liverpool will quickly give up goals. Liverpool's center back problem was masked by Martin Skrtel's consistently. He and Everton's Leighton Baines were the only two players to play every minute of the Premier League this season. If Skrtel were to get injured at any point this season, then Liverpool's defense would have crumbled.
The perfect player to fill the void is Birmingham's Scott Dann. The first thought on everyone's mind is didn't Birmingham get relegated? And if so, why would Liverpool want one of their defenders? Yes, Birmingham did get relegated, but that was due in large part to their form in the second half of the season. Dann tore his hamstring in mid-January, and since then Birmingham's defense has really struggled. Dann had formed a great partnership with Roger Johnson, but Dann's extended absence had a dramatic effect on Birmingham's play this season.
In addition, Dann is an avid Liverpool supporter! He was born in Liverpool and grew up a season ticket-holder. Finally, Dann is only 24 years old, so he has experience yet he is still young enough to play for many seasons. If Dann can overcome his hamstring issue, then he would be the ideal long-term replacement for Jamie Carragher.
Jose Enrique: Filling the Left Back Void
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Any Liverpool supporter could tell you that the team has lacked a consistent and quality left back since the departure of John Arne Riise. Fabio Aurelio is a quality left back, who is good defensively and has an incredible left foot. However, he has had nearly constant injury problems. This has forced Glen Johnson to play out of position for a large part of this season, and that is unacceptable for a team wanting to win the Premier League. Liverpool have quality young defenders, but players like Jack Robinson and Danny Wilson still need time to develop before becoming first team regulars.
Jose Enrique is a solid left back, who will not need any time to adapt to the Premier League. For this reason, I believe Enrique is the man for the job at the moment. The only other player who could provide as much quality with no time to adapt would be Leighton Baines, but because he is an Everton player with a long-term contract it is very unlikely that Liverpool will pay for Baines.
Baines could fancy a move to Liverpool because, like Dann, he is a Liverpool supporter, but this is probably only enough to tip the scales in Liverpool's favor if he decides to leave Goodison Park. Regardless of what Baines chooses to do this summer, Enrique would be a smart move because of his transfer fee. Enrique is likely to cost half of Baines' fee, but would still provide enough defensive quality to make this a good transfer.
If Liverpool decide not to move for either Baines or Enrique, then their best bet would be to pursue Aly Cissokho of Lyon or Juan Vargas of Fiorentina. Both players are excellent quality, but neither have Premier League experience. However, Cissokho is only 23 so he has time to develop, while Vargas is 27 and would be more of a temporary solution.
Charlie Adam: Depth at Central Midfield
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I must admit that I was not too keen on the Charlie Adam transfer rumors when they were rampant during the January transfer window, but I have come around to believing he would be a great choice if Liverpool decide to move for him. First, he has worked tirelessly for Blackpool this season, and he has been the creator of many of their goals. Secondly, the long absence of Steven Gerrard has shown that Liverpool need a quality attacking midfielder on the pitch. Finally, Charlie Adam's vision and passing ability makes him a good replacement for Xabi Alonso.
Yes, Alonso was incredible, but unfortunately he will not be returning to Liverpool (I secretly hope I am 100 percent wrong about this though). Adam does not have the passing ability or vision of Alonso, but there are very few players, if any, in the world who can equal Xabi's ability. However, Adam is still a great player. Roy Hodgson's amazing purchase of Raul Meireles has certainly helped to fill the void in the central midfield, but I believe his natural position is as an attacking midfielder like Steven Gerrard.
Meireles has been at his best when being supported by Jay Spearing and Lucas, rather than playing an Alonso-type role when Gerrard has been healthy. For this reason, Liverpool need someone to allow Gerrard and Meireles to play in their natural position of attacking mid, and that person is Charlie Adam. In addition, Adam has given his his all to try to keep Blackpool in the Premier League, and this passion is something Liverpool need. Unfortunately, Blackpool did not stay in the Premier League, but this allows Liverpool to sign Adam at a great price.
Ashley Young: Left Wing
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Even though Ashley Young had a quiet game against Liverpool on Sunday, he is still a quality player and could be one of the big-name signings Liverpool need to prove their desire to be back at the top of the Premier League. Admittedly, after watching that game I thought Stewart Downing would be a better signing than Young; even though I still think Downing would be a good signing, I believe Ashley Young is ready to leave Aston Villa and wants to play at either Liverpool or Manchester United.
United have Nani, Antonio Valencia and Park Ji-Sung already playing on the wing so it is unlikely that Young would have a consistent place at United. Young's hesitations about moving to Liverpool stem from his doubts over Liverpool's ability to challenge for top honors.
Since Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clarke took over in January, Liverpool have been one of the best teams in England. With some of their top players returning from injury and the injection of new talent through summer signings, Liverpool will be competing for the Premier League title next season.
Young is well aware of this, and with Dalglish and Clarke both signing three-year contracts, Young will be happy to move to Liverpool. Young's status as an England International will be a sign of Liverpool's return to greatness, and he would provide crosses that Liverpool have almost entirely lacked this season.
Juan Mata: Left Wing/Right Wing/Second Striker
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Liverpool need another winger on top of Ashley Young. Maxi Rodriguez has been the only true winger for Liverpool this season. Maxi has played really well in the last few months of the season, and his performance has done enough to keep him on as a squad player. However, Liverpool still need at least two quality signings for the wings.
Their best bet is to sign players who can play anywhere up front, which both Young and Juan Mata can do. Mata's versatility is what makes him a great purchase, as he can play on either wing or as a second striker. This means he can fill in for an injured Luis Suarez, or he can play on the wing in support of Suarez and Andy Carroll.
Juan Mata is an upcoming star for Spain, who currently plays for Valencia. At only 23, Mata would be a great purchase for next season and for future seasons. Valencia are likely to sell Mata this summer because of their large amount of debt and his potential for a substantial transfer sum.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, many other teams are interested have noticed both Mata's potential and Valencia's willingness to sell. In England alone, financial powerhouses like Manchester City and Chelsea have both shown an interest in Mata, which may quickly price Liverpool out of a potential move. However, if Liverpool move swiftly there is a chance of signing Mata. If Liverpool do sign him, he will provide Liverpool with an unstoppable attacking trio of Suarez, Mata and Carroll.
Potential Signings for the Future
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These five players are essential for Liverpool to succeed next season, but there are still some younger players who Liverpool should buy to prepare for the departure of some of their aging players. It looks like new owner John Henry is in for the long-term, and for Liverpool to have success over the next decade young and talented players must be brought into Liverpool.
There are 10 players I believe would be great purchases for the future, but would not have the needed impact on the Liverpool squad next season. For this reason, I doubt Liverpool will buy more than two or three of them over this summer. It would be a smarter move to see where the squad needs depth and how these prospects develop over the next few seasons.
Ten Top Prospects
1. Phil Jones, Blackburn
2. Diego Perotti, Sevilla
3. Georginio Wijnaldum, Feyenoord
4. James McCarthy, Wigan Athletic
5. Shane Long, Reading
6. Connor Wickham, Ipswich Town
7. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Southampton
8. Iker Muniain, Athletic Bilbao
9. Christian Eriksen, Ajax
10. Marko Marin, Werder Bremen
