A look at some useful transfer targets that got away from Liverpool this summer.
Liverpool followed up a good January with an even more impressive summer in the transfer market, with manager Brendan Rodgers bringing in some high-class additions such as Simon Mignolet, Mamadou Sakho and Victor Moses to strengthen his side. The Reds have been rewarded for their work with a good start in the Premier League, and already look a more formidable side than in previous seasons.
Still, over the whole season will they regret missing out on some of these targets? The club could arguably done done with a bit more in midfield and upfront, and there are some quality players who ended up moving elsewhere or simply stayed put. Here is a list of five more players that Liverpool could have done with this season.
5. Victor Wanyama (Southampton)
Highly-rated young midfielder Victor Wanyama attracted a lot of attention after some fine form in the SPL with Celtic, and perhaps surprised a few people by eventually deciding on Southampton as his next move. Liverpool were one of many teams to show an interest in the Kenyan, along with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, and it is clear he would have given their midfield engine room something a little different.
Although Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard are an excellent pairing on their day, Wanyama would give a physical presence that Lucas perhaps lacks, and he arguably has the potential to be an even better player. Lucas, of course, has been unlucky with injuries as well in recent years, and Rodgers is perhaps unwise to rely on him for a whole season. Wanyama will no doubt move on to a bigger club again in the future if he continues to impress at Southampton, and perhaps Liverpool will be in for him again when that happens, though for now they have missed out on a top young talent.
4. Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid)
A move that would have been hugely popular with the Anfield crowd, Xabi Alonso was linked with a return to Liverpool from Real Madrid this summer. The Spaniard was a fine performer for the Reds in his first spell at the club and they have arguably failed to replace him ever since. Alonso’s composure on the ball and tremendous vision make him a great deep-lying playmaker, and he would certainly be an upgrade on the failed signing of Joe Allen.
However, the 31-year-old ended up committing his future to Real, and is now out for around three months with a broken metatarsal. Depending on how he recovers this season, he could be available again in a year’s time if the Spanish giants choose not to renew his contract at the Bernabeu.
3. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund)
Liverpool were strongly linked with Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan while he was at Shakhtar Donetsk. The skillful attacker plays best just behind the striker and is very capable of getting goals himself, finding the back of the net an incredible 29 times from midfield for the Ukrainians last season.
The 24-year-old would undoubtedly have added some spark to Liverpool’s attack, and could have formed an excellent partnership with Brazilian starlet Coutinho for Rodgers’ side. However, he ended up joining Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund as a replacement for Mario Goetze. An excellent signing for the Champions League runners-up, but a missed opportunity for Liverpool.
2. Jackson Martinez (Porto)
With the future of Luis Suarez under intense doubt for so long, Liverpool were linked with a number of strikers this summer, one of them being prolific Porto star Jackson Martinez. The Colombian enjoyed a great first season in Portugal, scoring 34 times in 43 games for the club last year, and attracting a great deal of interest from several top clubs around Europe.
However, with Suarez eventually being persuaded to stay at Liverpool, perhaps Rodgers cooled his interest in an addition upfront. Still, the Uruguayan talisman is unlikely to remain at Anfield beyond this season surely, and a replacement like Martinez could have had its uses now, even if Daniel Sturridge is also in tremendous form in front of goal at the moment.
One thing’s for sure, if Martinez has another excellent season for Porto this year, it will be harder for Liverpool to fight off the competition to sign him again.
1. Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)
Another good option upfront for Liverpool could have been Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke. The Belgian was a surprise hit in his first season in the Premier League last year, scoring 19 goals to almost single-handedly keep Paul Lambert’s side from relegation to the Championship. Still only 22, Benteke looks like continuing his fine form this season with four goals in his opening four games.
Needless to say, his physical presence upfront, as well as his obvious knack for scoring goals, would have given Liverpool something a little different in the final third, providing an aerial threat that the likes of Suarez and Sturridge can’t, though without taking away from Rodgers’ preferred style of play in the manner of Andy Carroll during his time at Anfield.
Many other clubs showed a strong interest in Benteke this summer before he signed a new bumper contract with Villa, but should Liverpool have made an extra effort to get him in now before his value soars even higher this season?