Five players Liverpool could sell in January

Liverpool have failed to build from their season’s exploits when they finished runners up in the Premier League to Manchester City. Luis Suarez’s absence has been clearly felt but manager Brendan Rodgers must share the blame.

Rodgers went on a £120m spending spree in the summer but sadly recruited quantity over quality in the transfer market. Liverpool however have failed to hit the ground running and are currently 11th in the Premier League standings. While the summer signings are yet to gel as a team, Rodgers will have another chance in the upcoming January transfer window to get things right and save Liverpool’s stuttering campaign.

Here are Five players Liverpool could sell in January

Lucas Leiva:  It is probably safe to say that the Brazilian’s career is over at Merseyside. The 27 year old has fallen down the pecking order in midfield behind Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Joe Allen. Lucas was linked with a move to Italian side Napoli in the summer. We had recently reported that he can finally reunite with Rafa Benitez at the Naples based club in January. Sadly persisting injuries has meant that Lucas never quite lived to the expectations in a Liverpool jersey.

Fabio Borini: Another player who looks set to depart in the upcoming transfer window in striker Fabio Borini. The Italain striker’s career has never quite kick-started at Liverpool ever since his arrival from Roma in 2012. He has made only 25 appearances but failed to muster a starting eleven spot for himself. Borini however impressed during his loan spell to Sunderland last season, the Black Cats who had offered £14m for his services in the summer.

The player however turned down the down to fight for his place in the squad but with each passing day, it looks as if he is destines to ply his trade elsewhere. It looks like Inter Milan could be his next destination, the Nerazzurri who are looking for a loan deal with an option to buy at the end of the season.

Iago Aspas: Liverpool fans ridicule the Spaniard for his inexplicable corner against Chelsea last season. But in all fairness he was never Liverpool quality and it must be said that Rodgers made a huge mistake to sign him for £7.6m from Celta Vigo in the summer of 2013. The 27 year old Aspas was loaned out to Spanish side Sevilla in the summer and has displayed his ability on the pitch. Liverpool must look to sell him in January on a permanent deal to raise some transfer budget and it’s well known that Aspas wouldn’t get enough game time at Anfield any sooner. Thus a transfer move looks best for either parties.

Glen Johnson: The 30 year old is well past his sell by date. When you play for Liverpool, you are bound to be criticized for mistakes and you would have no place to hide. Johnson has been way below his best over the past couple of seasons.

The English International gets caught behind play when he barges forward to join the attacks and his defending remains a lot to be desired. Moreover, he is not a player who exactly commands the back line and seems like a liability for the Reds. Johnson’s contract with the Reds expires in the summer and the Anfield side must look to sell him in January to get a good deal rather than lose him for free in June. Will there be any takers though?

Luis Alberto Well, I am not the only one who wonders how he even managed to sign for Liverpool. Even James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo considers the Spaniard to be a flop, and let me put it straight, he is true. Alberto is currently on loan at Malaga and like Aspas Liverpool must look to sell him on a permanent deal in January.

Do you agree with my thoughts and the list above? Let us know in comments below.