Liverpool FC Transfers: Players Kenny Dalglish Should Look to Sign
Being one of England's most prestigious clubs and finishing outside of the top four and subsequently being left out of the Champions League, Liverpool FC will undoubtedly be looking to bring in some new players that can make an immediate impact on the pitch.
Here are some names that have been linked to the club before and some others that have not but could easily slot in to the first team and make a huge impact.
Juan Mata, Winger, Valencia CF
1 of 7
Valencia CF is a club that just can't seem to get out of debt. Despite selling their two best players in David VIlla and David Silva for very large sums and putting very little of that money back into the squad, the club just can't seem to avoid financial problems.
As life often turns out, one man's misfortune is another man's treasure, and Juan Mata could prove to be Kenny Dalglish's treasure. An incredibly pacy winger with fantastic dribbling skills and a sight for goal, Mata will be available for much less than a player of his quality is actually worth.
He is also young at just 24 years of age and has a tremendous career of football ahead of him. Mata can play behind the strikers as well as out-wide making him invaluable in situations that Dalglish may want to give Gerrard a more central role.
He has been quoted around £20 million, and I don't know if anyone has seen the dribbling move that he did to Raul Albiol during World Cup training, but that move alone is worth £20 million. If Dalglish wants to add a winger that would start for any national team not named La Furia Roja, he need look no further than Juan Mata.
Santi Cazorla, Winger, Villarreal CF
2 of 7
Another Spanish winger, Santi Cazorla has been a consistent performer for both club (23 goals in 127 matches) and country when he has been called up (four goals and 33 caps). A little bit less of a goal threat than Juan Mata, Cazorla has a knack for picking out the incisive pass that releases Villarreal's forwards into goalscoring opportunities.
He had a fantastic showing against the USA in a recent friendly where he netted two goals, including a fantastic strike into the upper 90 of Tim Howard's goal using his weaker left foot. With performances such as the one he put on against the USA, he certainly showed his quality and will most definitely earn more call-ups despite Spain's multitude of supremely gifted wingers.
Valued at around £15 million, Dalglish could stand to save some cash as compared to players like Eden Hazard, who have more potential than Cazorla, but could cost as much as double his price. He has flown slightly under the radar of late with the superb performances of fellow Spaniard Borja Valero and Italian dynamo Giuseppe Rossi, and the time would be now to table a bid for the talented winger.
Javi Martinez, Midfielder, Athletic Bilbao
3 of 7
After the departure of Javier Mascherano to Barcelona, Liverpool's midfield has lacked the player content in making the tackle and holding possession to allow Steven Gerrard to make his marauding runs into the final third of the pitch. Javi Martinez seems to fit the bill of this role perfectly.
While Liverpool have just seemingly signed Jordan Henderson and may feel that an extra midfielder would be surplus to requirements, especially with the emergence of Maxi Rodriguez and Raul Meireles, none of those players have the tackling ability that Mascherano possessed. Martinez does.
An imposing figure on the pitch, measuring in at 1.90 m (6'3"), he tackles extremely well, especially for a player of just 22 years of age. He has vast amounts of club experience with 170 appearances for Athletic Bilbao and has been capped four times for Spain in a midfield that boasts the names of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso.
He is valued at around £18 million, but if Liverpool do make a move to sign the player, there will be a multitude of other big European clubs ready to inquire as to the availability of the talented youngster. Depending on what formation Dalglish looks to implement, Martinez could slot in seamlessly.
If he plays a 4-3-3 with Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez out wide, Andy Carroll as the lone striker and Gerrard and Meireles in midfield, he could place Martinez right in front of the defense. Athletic Bilbao have a good amount of young talent, but with Fernando Llorente constantly being brought up in transfer rumors, they might feel it's time to cash in on another one of their stars.
Yann M'Vila, Midfielder, FC Stade Rennes
4 of 7
An alternative to Javi Martinez that could also provide the steel to the midfield that Mascherano left vacant is 20-year-old French midfielder Yann M'Vila. His name has been linked with Liverpool previously as well as a host of other English clubs meaning that his price could only rise.
Currently valued at around £17 million, this young Frenchman has proved that his would be worth every cent with his phenomenal performances for Rennes this past season. Measuring at 1.82 m (6'0"), he is more in the mold of a defensive midfielder than Martinez, but what he lacks in the Spaniard's versatility, he makes up for in astute defending.
He possesses superfluous amounts of physical strength and would be able to deal with the bigger attackers of the Premier League, forgoing that step that many players take to get acclimated to the hard-nosed game of English football. He has already been capped nine times for the French National Team and looks to be the long term replacement for standout Patrick Vieira.
While France has garnered criticism with their play of late, M'Vila has been a bright spot and a move away from his home country looks like it will happen in just a matter of time.
Mats Hummels, Centre Back, Borussia Dortmund
5 of 7
Mats Hummels has received immense praise for his performances with Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund this past season. A big central defender at 1.91 m (6'3"), he could easily deal with the physicality of the Premier League.
Hummels could not do anything wrong this past season, and his fantastic performance even earned him sixth overall spot on the Castrol EDGE rankings, making him currently the highest ranked defender. Yes, ahead of Nemanja Vidic.
While one may not put much emphasis into Castrol's rankings, one can not doubt a player of his quality. Looking set to start for the German National Team for many years to come, this 22-year-old could eventually become one of the best, if not the best, defenders in Europe.
He has a very high goal scoring rate, netting 10 goals in 62 appearances for Dortmund as his height and aerial ability provides problems for the opposition on set pieces. Bayern Munich must be kicking themselves as Hummels was a youth player for FCB, and they let him slip away.
His value is subject to some inflation because his club just won the Bundesliga, but he should be available for at most £20 million. When players such as Phil Jones are being mentioned in that price range (Jones is also set to take a medical for Manchester United), it makes Hummels look like a bargain. With Jamie Carragher not getting any younger and Daniel Agger's persistent bouts with injury, forget about Gary Cahill, bid for Mats Hummels.
Neven Subotic, Centre Back, Borussia Dortmund
6 of 7
The other half of Borussia Dortmund's central defense pairing, Neven Subotic has also been outstanding in Dortmund's Bundesliga-winning campaign. The Serbian defender is only 22 years of age and has been tipped for greatness alongside Mats Hummels.
A massive central defender the 1.93 m (6'4"), Subotic aptly defends set pieces and crosses as well as possessing an eye for goal, scoring 10 times in 98 appearances for his club. He has been capped 22 times for Serbia and alongside Nemanja Vidic, making up one of the most domineering back-lines in world football.
Chelsea looked to acquire his talents in January but had a £17.5 million bid turned down. With Chelsea hovering over who could be the next Vidic, Liverpool needs to make their move now.
Again, forget spending £20 million on Gary Cahill. While he does have quality, Subotic has an incredibly high ceiling and the Serbian would be the perfect addition to the central defense. And if Liverpool decide to be adventurous, why not sign both Hummels and Subotic and give Martin Skrtel and £30-£35 million back to Dortmund?
Conclusion
7 of 7
Kenny Dalglish has been a revelation since he began to manage Liverpool FC mid-way through the season after the Roy Hodgson debacle. Under Dalglish, Liverpool played some very attractive football, and one could see that with some added summer quality, they could truly contest for the title.
Most of these suggested players were alternatives to pricier options (Eden Hazard) or players of less quality (Gary Cahill), and there is no reason why at least two of these faces shouldn't be wearing the famous red strip come next season.
Dalglish was one of Liverpool's all-time great players, and with financial backing and his knack for getting 110 percent out of his players (i.e. Maxi Rodriguez finally realized how to play football), Dalglish could add to his managing repertoire at Liverpool.
The future looks bright for the Reds, as Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll look to be one of the most potent front lines in the EPL, their talismanic captain Steven Gerrard is still putting in world-class performances, the addition of Jordan Henderson, a player who will become a fixture in the England midfield alongside Jack Wilshere and the funds to acquire some new talent in areas that need improvement, Liverpool could make last season's poor-by-their-standards finish a distant memory.
