Last season’s title runners up Liverpool have been linked with several attacking players over the last couple of months. Departure of star striker Luis Suarez and injury to Daniel Sturridge has left the Reds toothless in front of goal. The Reds were a formidable attacking force last season and scored at will.
Mesmerizing attacking football papered over Liverpool’s defensive cracks throughout 2014. However, their weaknesses have been exposed brutally since the goals have dried up this season. New arrivals, Mario Balotelli, Lazar Markovic, and Rickie Lambert have so far failed miserably to make any sort of positive impact on the side.
Manager Brendan Rodgers stated earlier that the Reds will continue to try and improve the squad during the January transfer window should the right player become available. Italian Journalist, Gianluca Di Marzio reported yesterday that the Reds have begun talks with Bayern Munich for the Swiss attacking midfielder, Xherdan Shaqiri. The report states that the Reds have been in contact with the player’s agent since summer and have now submitted a formal 14 million euro offer for the explosive midfielder.
While it’s never a bad idea to stockpile the team with talented players, attacking midfield is a position Liverpool are well stocked with. Xherdan Shaqiri brings with him a lot of potential and experience, for someone who is still very young, but here are a couple of reasons why the Reds could do without him.
Priorities
The winter transfer window is a golden opportunity to address a team’s weaknesses during a season and cater to its immediate needs. While it is evident that Liverpool have not been at their best attacking wise, the Reds have done considerably well as a creative unit. Brendan Rodgers’ side is in desperate need of a prolific forward and not another creative force.
Lazar Markovic and Jordon Ibe
Liverpool are blessed with some of the finest young attacking talents around. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Lazar Markovic, Philippe Coutinho and Jordon Ibe are extremely young and prodigiously talented. Bringing in another young attacking midfielder could hinder the progress of the players already at the club. Markovic is regarded as one of the best talents in Europe and has shown glimpses of it a few times this season. The Serbian attacker has yet to settle in properly, but has been impressive of late.
Jordon Ibe is another explosive young winger within the Liverpool ranks. The teenager has been sensational during his loan spell at Derby this season and looks set to break into the first team picture next season. It would make little sense to hurt Ibe’s first team chances by splashing the cash on Shaqiri.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
