Football: Who are the Liverpool Transfer Targets?

Liverpool will be playing in the Champions League next season for just the third time in a decade but this time around there seems to be more stability at the club with a top-class manager in Jurgen Klopp and a board that is keen to spend. We’ll take a look at who should be coming in and who should be heading out this summer if the Reds want to challenge for the title next season.

Who could be leaving?

It has been well documented that Philippe Coutinho is at the top of Barcelona’s transfer target list with Andres Iniesta set to retire at the end of this season. The signing of Coutinho makes a lot of sense for the Catalans due to the similar playing styles of the two players.

The real question is the price that Liverpool will demand for the Brazilian number 10, with most suggesting it will be over £65 million. I don’t think Klopp will be prepared to lose his talisman in his first Champions League campaign at the club.

Aside from Coutinho, Lucas Leiva is expected to leave for around £5 million and will be joined by Alberto Moreno who is due to exit for £7-10 million. The final high-profile departure from Anfield will be Daniel Sturridge, who is likely to fetch at least £15 million. The England forward has been closely linked to a move to Arsenal, and the injury-prone goal-machine might suit life as a Gunner by joining their long list of regularly injured players.

Who could Liverpool sign?

It is no surprise that the Merseyside club has been linked to almost every centre-back on the market having conceded 42 goals so far this season, 10 more than champions Chelsea. The London club will be competing with Liverpool for its top target in defence, Virgil Van Dijk, although Southampton have hinted at a £50 million price tag which is more than likely outside Klopp’s budget.

Michael Keane would be the stand-out backup option for the German at half that price although the England defender is in high demand with Manchester United also chasing his signature.

Defensive problems aside, with Sturridge set to leave Liverpool fans will be demanding the arrival of a new striker who can lead the team to a title. Merseyside fans have been treated to the likes of Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez in recent title chases so there is no surprise that they are calling for a world-class striker.

Unfortunately there is a serious lack of top quality strikers available at a reasonable or affordable price for a club that has spent so many years outside the top four.

Alexander Lacazette is one who may be an option. He is rumoured to be worth £40-50 million but if Liverpool really wants to battle for the Premier League title next season then it will have to make a big-money signing. Lacazette’s playing style would slot into the formation Liverpool is using at the moment, his hunger to press the ball and his intelligence for being in the right place to score goals could be exactly what Liverpool needs.

The Verdict

Exits: Lucas, Sturridge, Moreno and Ragner Klavan.

Signings: Keane, handful of random Germans, Naby Keita and Andrew Robertson.

 

by Nubaid Haroon  YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA  Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi

 

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