Barring Manchester City’s £28million acquisition of Wilfried Bony, the Premier League has remained fairly quiet this month, with the majority of clubs seemingly preferring not to do their transfer business mid-season.
There’s still five days before the end of the January window however (deadline day coming on February 2nd) and resultantly, plenty of time remaining to land a few last-minute deals, strengthening squads for the campaign’s final run in.
With that in mind, here’s a list of FOUR targets known to be on Liverpool’s radar that the club should and could wrap up transfers for within the next week.
So without further ado…
NOBERTO NETO
//www.youtube.com/embed/aQkaWIIQY0E
Age: 25
Height: 6 foot 3
Position: Goalkeeper
Teams: Atletico Paranaense, Fiorentina, Brazil U23s
Honours: Olympic Silver Medal 2012
Interested clubs: Arsenal and Liverpool, according to The Metro
Likely transfer fee: £2million, according to Mirror Football
The Lowdown
Despite some improved performances in recent weeks – particularly against Chelsea yesterday evening – Brendan Rodgers’ dwindling faith in Simon Mignolet has clearly reached breaking point, with the Anfield gaffer previously dropping the Belgium international for ‘an indefinite period’.
Understudied by hap-hazard Aussie Brad Jones, currently sidelined through injury, even if Mignolet is to remain Liverpool’s no.1, the Reds desperately require strengthening between the sticks.
That’s resultantly seen them linked with Fiorentina star Neto, who boasts the third-most clean sheets in Serie A this season; a respectable return of seven in 16. Last term he also ranked seventh in the division’s saves charts, with 75 from 35 outings.
And whilst the likes of Asmir Begovic, Marc Andre ter Stegen and Mattia Perin might be just beyond Liverpool’s financial reach this month, Neto could be available for as little as £2million. The Brazilian recently announced that he won’t extend his Fiorentina contract past the current season and Viola will undoubtedly be keen to sell, rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.
DANNY INGS
//www.youtube.com/embed/bldGyHxlW_0
Age: 22
Height: 5 foot 10
Position: Striker/No.10
Teams: Bournemouth, Burnley, England U21s
Honours: Championship Runner Up 2013/14, Championship Player of the Year 2013/14
Interested clubs: Tottenham, Newcastle and Liverpool, according to The Express
Likely transfer fee: £5million according to Mirror Football, £10million according to Goal.com
The Lowdown
With a strikeforce of Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli finding just three Premier League goals between them this term in the absence of Daniel Sturridge, it’s obvious where Liverpool are currently falling short in comparison to last season.
And if Brendan Rodgers is to address the issue of Liverpool’s limited firepower this month, the tabloids believe it will come in the form of Burnley prodigy Danny Ings, who boasts seven goals and three assists in his last 14 Premier League appearances.
In addition to his composure and skill in front of goal, it’s the 22 year-old’s intelligence as a footballer that truly stands out. Diminutive mobility allows the England U21 to change the angle of play in an instant, whilst the effectiveness of Ings’ link-up play allows him to drop into midfield.
Furthermore, in comparison to the £24million-rated Saido Berahino, Ings could be available for a pittance this month, with his Turf Moor contract set to expire in the summer.
Spurs have already been mooted with a £5million bid, but it’s believed Sean Dyche’s valuation is closer to the £10million mark.
EZEQUIEL LAVEZZI
//www.youtube.com/embed/Uz2G4u0RiEo
Age: 29
Height: 5 foot 8
Position: Winger/forward
Teams: Estudiantes, Genoa, San Lorenzo, Napoli, PSG, Argentina
Honours: Coppa Italia 2012, Ligue 1 title 2013 and 2014, Coupe de la Ligue 2014, Olympic Gold Medalist 2008, World Cup 2014 runner-up
Interested clubs: Liverpool, according to Mirror Football
Likely transfer fee: £14million, per Mirror Football once again
The Lowdown
Offering a new sense of tenacity and versatility to Liverpool’s attack, in a somewhat parody of Luis Suarez, is PSG winger-forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, who was heavily linked with an Anfield switch during the summer.
The Argentina international is famed for his relentless work-rate and dynamic pace, but also blends it with positive output, amassing 25 goals and 21 assists in 109 appearances for PSG and 48 goals and 49 assists in 188 outings for former club Napoli.
He’s found himself increasingly marginalised at Parc de Princes this season however, starting just eight times in Ligue 1 and recently picking up a three-match internal ban for missing the French Champions’ winter training camp.
That makes a departure this month all the more likely, and with viable suitors relatively limited (Juventus are considered long-term admirers but haven’t been linked recently), Liverpool appear to be virtually unopposed in the race to sign the £14million-rated winger.
MARTIN MONTOYA
//www.youtube.com/embed/UyThTfaibVY
Age: 23
Height: 5 foot 9
Position: Right-back
Teams: Barcelona, Spain U21s, Spain U23s
Honours: La Liga, 2011 and 2013, Copa del Rey 2012, European U21 Championship 2011 and 2013
Interested clubs: Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus, according to The Express
Likely transfer fee: £16million release clause
The Lowdown
Liverpool have been worryingly short of quality in the right-back department this season – perhaps factoring into Brendan Rodgers’ newfound love for back threes – so we could see them launch a bid for long-term target Martin Montoya this month, following recent news that he’s ‘100% committed’ to leaving Barcelona.
The 23 year-old emerged as a regular in Barcelona’s first team squad during the 2012/13 campaign, bursting onto the La Liga scene with a stunning long-range strike against Malaga – a huge testament to his quality on the ball.
Prior and since, he’s amassed 59 appearances for the Catalans across all competitions, but Montoya remains stuck behind right back veteran Dani Alves in the pecking order and now appears to have lost his patience with the La Liga giants.
Capable of playing on either defensive flank, tough-tackling, speedy and blessed with all the technical and creative talent you’d expect from a La Masia product, the Spain U23 is a real prospect with plenty of interest in his services, particularly from Arsenal and Juventus.
The Daily Star claims Barcelona are currently attempting to offer the Spaniard a new deal to keep him at the Nou Camp, but with his release clause set at £16million, the Reds still stand a chance of luring Montoya away.