Liverpool are approaching the January transfer window from a position of strength. Arne Slot has proven his credentials in the managerial hot-seat by taking the team to the summit of the Premier League table and the Reds are now the real favourites to win the league ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal. A frugal last summer means the club have a considerable amount of money to spend if they want to in the middle of the season.
The fans are clamouring for new faces in the winter window but there is a sense of calm around Anfield at the moment. Liverpool feel comfortable about the depth of their squad and Arne Slot doesn’t believe he needs signings in January to sustain a title challenge in the latter half of the season.
Players such as Alisson, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa are expected to return to action in the coming weeks, which would give Slot more options to work with during an extremely busy period of the season.
Unlike Liverpool supporters, the club do not believe they are in desperate need of strengthening in the winter window. However, the Reds also want to be flexible and proactive if a long-term target becomes available for a move in January. Liverpool have the budget to do something if they want to.
Richard Hughes and his recruitment team must have their own shortlist but here are three players who Liverpool could sign in January to make a genuine impact on the rest of the season and for years to come.
Martin Zubimendi
The Martin Zubimendi saga of last summer brings back painful memories for Liverpool fans. The Merseyside giants were convinced that the Spain midfielder, fresh from his success in the European Championship, would rock up at Anfield in the last transfer window. Liverpool believed that the player wanted the move and they were prepared to pay the €60m release clause in his Real Sociedad contract. However, in a twist of fate, Zubimendi decided against leaving Anoeta after deliberating for days. Liverpool were caught off guard and they didn’t sign a midfielder in the summer.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
Liverpool’s decision to not chase another defensive midfielder was roundly criticised but the club felt that they didn’t have another alternative who was as good as Zubimendi. That’s how high they rated the Spain international. There is no surprise that murmurs of another Zubimendi pursuit are doing the rounds ahead of the winter transfer window. Given he was the top target last summer, it would be no surprise if Liverpool chase him again in January and at least Jamie Carragher thinks they should do it. His release clause is still active and he remains one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
Arsenal and Manchester City will also jump into the chase for Zubimendi if he becomes available in January but Liverpool have a prior relationship with his camp and that would mean something in a close race.
Omar Marmoush
The Merseyside giants are in the market for forwards and they have been linked with several top attackers across Europe over the last few weeks. However, the most persistent link has been with Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
The 25-year-old is one of the hottest forwards in European football at the moment with 14 goals and ten assists in 16 appearances across all competitions. Nottingham Forest wanted to sign him last summer but Eintracht Frankfurt resisted selling him for a fee that could have been around the €30m mark. The German club must be thanking their lucky stars as they are likely to get double that figure when the forward leaves in the near future.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with an interest in the striker and they have already been in talks with his agents. There is now an expectation that the forward will join the Reds in the summer as he dreams of succeeding Mohamed Salah at Anfield. However, there is a chance that the signing could be brought forward in January.
Eintracht Frankfurt are reluctant to lose him in the middle of the season but there are suggestions that Liverpool are prepared to overpay if needed. The financial reality of football means that the German club will sell Marmoush in January if the Reds offer a certain amount of money.
Loic Bade
Liverpool are in the market for centre-backs regardless of the contract negotiations with Virgil van Dijk. The Reds captain is expected to sign a new deal and extend his stay at Anfield. However, Liverpool still want to add a centre-back and the club are tracking several defenders across Europe.
The Reds have been linked with several defenders such as Nottingham Forest’s Murillo and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi but neither of them is expected to leave their respective clubs in the January transfer window. However, the situation of Loic Bade is different as Sevilla’s financial situation makes him an attainable target.
The Merseyside giants have scouted Bade and reports in Spain suggest that a deal is close to getting agreed upon between the two clubs for his move to Anfield. His arrival in January would make sense as he represents a market opportunity to Liverpool for a reasonable fee of around €25m.
