Five targets the Anfield side should aim to bring in this January.
Arda Turan (Atletico Madrid)
With Liverpool still somewhat short of options in the wide areas, Brendan Rodgers could reignite his interest in highly-rated Atletico Madrid winger Arda Turan this January. The talented Turkish international has been a key player for Diego Simeone’s side for the last couple of years, and has attracted a great deal of interest from the Premier League, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United also all said to be tracking him in recent times.
Having sold Stewart Downing and loaned out Oussama Assaidi during the summer, Liverpool only managed to bring in Victor Moses in a loan deal from Chelsea, and could do with an extra addition to their side for the flanks, which makes Turan an ideal option for the Reds at this time. The 26-year-old already has 3 goals and 5 assists in 12 appearances so far this season and has always been a top creative player for his whole career.
However, Turan recently signed a new contract with Atletico which could see his minimum release clause fee rise to somewhere in the region of £34m, which would certainly make him a big purchase for Liverpool if they do decide to pursue him.
Jeremy Menez (PSG)
Another winger who could be on the market this January and who has been identified as a realistic target for Liverpool is out-of-favour PSG star Jeremy Menez. The French international has been a key player for the Ligue 1 champions over the last couple of years since joining from Roma, providing an impressive 8 goals and 11 assists to their title-winning campaign last season. However, he is no longer first choice under new manager Laurent Blanc and seems to be angling for a move away from the club after rejecting offers of a new contract.
Menez’s old club Monaco are also said to be interested in securing his services when the transfer window re-opens, as are Serie A champions Juventus. This could make it difficult for Liverpool to tempt him to Anfield, though there’s no doubt he is worth pursuing as he can provide everything Brendan Rodgers’ side need on the wings at the moment, and his fine service from wide areas can ensure strike pair Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge continue to find the back of the net on a regular basis for the rest of the season.
Javier Pastore (PSG)
Another Liverpool raid on PSG could come as they are also said to be lining up a move for Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore this January. The 24-year-old was one of the first big names to move to the big-spending French giants under their Qatari ownership, but has fallen behind in the pecking order with so many of the fellow big signings that have followed him into the Parc Des Princes.
Still a fine player, Pastore could certainly do a job for Liverpool this season, as he seems a decent alternative to the likes of Christian Eriksen, Willian and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, all of whom the Reds targeted strongly during the summer transfer window but failed to sign. Pastore’s signing could help Brazilian starlet Coutinho to link the play from midfield to attack and keep things ticking in Brendan Rodgers’ technical possession-based game.
Arsenal and Chelsea have also been alerted to Pastore’s potential availability, and it is not surprising that the former Palermo man could be high in-demand when January comes, as there are unlikely to be many more players of his quality available due to not being needed by their clubs. Having already signed Mamadou Sakho from PSG in the summer, Liverpool could do great business to launch another raid for two of their players this January.
Will Hughes (Derby County)
One of the most highly-rated youngsters in England at the moment, Derby County midfielder Will Hughes has emerged as a top target for Liverpool in recent months, with the Reds strongly linked with a big-money move for the 18-year-old towards the end of the summer transfer window. A move never materialised, however, and Liverpool will now be made to wait until January to try again for this exciting prospect, though it is understood that he is still on Brendan Rodgers’ shopping list.
With great vision and technique, Hughes has been compared with Barcelona pair Xavi and Andres Iniesta in his influential midfield displays, and it sounds like he would fit in perfectly into Rodgers’ plans for technical and attack-minded football at Anfield. Already high in demand, Hughes could cost as much as £15m despite his youth and inexperience at the top level, but he certainly looks a player who would be worth the risk.
Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle are all keen on Hughes as well, though Liverpool’s recent attempts to step up their interest in him should make them favourites to win the race for him this January, and he looks a target well worth pursuing.
Burak Yilmaz (Galatasaray)
With Real Madrid target Luis Suarez still possibly set for an exit from Liverpool this January, it seems likely that the Reds will look to bolster their options upfront this January. In preparation for his departure in the summer, Liverpool were linked with a whole host of big-name strikers, though in the end they went for a relatively cheap option in Iago Aspas, who has not particularly impressed since joining the club from Celta Vigo.
One of their targets, and one player who has been on the radar of several top clubs, is Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz. The 28-year-old managed a highly impressive 32 goals in 39 games last season, and was the joint-top scorer in the Champions League alongside Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. This alerted the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea to his possible availability as well, though in the end it was Serie A side Lazio that came the closest to signing him, before a move fell through late on on transfer deadline day.
This is likely to mean several clubs come back in for him this January, and Liverpool could definitely do well to throw their hat into the ring. Yilmaz looks like a highly prolific finisher who could really flourish in the Reds’ attacking setup and ensure Suarez is not missed if he does leave the club.