Liverpool’s transfer targets go a long way towards showing where they need to strengthen in this month’s transfer window.
While Jurgen Klopp’s side are top of the Premier League as it stands, they have not been without fault. Losses to Toulouse and Union SG in the Europa League highlight a lack of true quality when the first eleven aren’t playing.
With mounting injury worries, particularly in defence, things could quickly get dicey for Liverpool. Already missing some big names, Mohamed Salah is now away for AFCON 2023 until at least 27 January.
It’s certainly not a crisis for the league leaders, but they are only a couple more injuries away from one.
With that in mind, we’ve looked at some areas Liverpool would do well to strengthen in this month’s window, as well as some potential transfer targets for Jurgen Klopp.
Who Will Liverpool Sign In January?
Where Liverpool need to strengthen seems more about their current injury and unavailability than necessarily players’ form.
Andrew Robertson has left a hole at left-back that Klopp has struggled to fill. Konstantinos Tsimikas has filled in, but he himself is now out with a shoulder injury, meaning Joe Gomez has needed to shift across to the left.
In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai is recovering from a hamstring strain. The Hungarian midfielder will be a big loss as his side travel to Arsenal in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
And while fit and firing, Mo Salah’s absence on international duty will be felt just as much as it would be if he were injured.
But while there are availability problems for Liverpool, it seems unlikely Klopp will bring anyone in this month simply to fill a short-term hole. That’s not his style, with signings usually made in order to build them into a winning team over time.
As a result, most Liverpool transfer rumours are around longer-term solutions.
Liverpool Transfer Rumours
And no rumour is bigger at the moment than Kylian Mbappe to Liverpool. The Frenchman has been linked repeatedly over the last couple of years, but rumours have began to gather pace again this week.
In the past, Jurgen Klopp has claimed Liverpool lack the financial clout to get the deal done, but things may be changing.
In the summer, Klopp told Sky Germany: “We laugh about it. I can say that I think he’s a really good player, but the financial conditions don’t suit us at all.
“I wouldn’t like to ruin the story now, but as far as I know, there’s nothing to it.”
But with Mbappe’s future at PSG once more in question, claims are emerging that Liverpool have been in contact with the 25-year-old.
The Mirror have reported that Mbappe has forgone a £69 million loyalty bonus from PSG in order to secure a move away from Paris in the summer, with Liverpool and Real Madrid the two clubs in contention.
🚨🇫🇷 BREAKING — Kylian Mbappé: “I didn’t make my decision but we have an agreement with the president Al Khelaifi so it means that all parties are protected”.
“Focus is on the team, not on my situation”. pic.twitter.com/JcTqeKoG3C
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 3, 2024
Other Liverpool Transfer News
Aside from Mbappe, Fabrizio Romano also addressed another Liverpool transfer rumour. The injury to Tsimikas has prompted renewed links between Liverpool and Goncalo Inacio.
The Sporting Lisbon defender has often been touted as a potential signing for Jurgen Klopp. However, with no concrete links, Romano has played down the potential for a move.
He said: “Goncalo Inacio to Liverpool? We’ve had this story on Inacio and Liverpool for three or four years. We hear that Liverpool are close to signing Inacio, but it’s usually the same person linking Inacio to Liverpool.
“At the moment I’m not aware of a change. He’s a player they have scouted for a long time, but it’s not something concrete.”
Reports in the Daily Mail claim Liverpool are battling Manchester United for the signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich. The 28-year-old German has been with the Bavarian side since joining from Bundesliga rivals VfB Stuttgart in 2015.
And finally, Michael Olise to Liverpool is another rumour doing the rounds at the moment. The Crystal Palace winger would be a perfect option while Salah is away on international duty, and at 22, is a potential long-term replacement as Salah winds down his career.
However, with reports linking Olise to Chelsea, United and Manchester City, it’s anyone’s guess where he might end up by the end of the window – if he moves at all.
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