Possible Liverpool Transfer Targets!

Liverpool have hit the ground running in the transfer window, adding Monaco’s Fabinho to the already confirmed arrival of Guinea midfielder Naby Keita.

The Champions League final exposed the lack of depth in Jurgen Klopp’s squad, having to call on an unfit Adam Lallana to replace Mo Salah while Zinedine Zidane could introduce Gareth Bale to change the match. Despite the two new additions, there are still some positions that need reinforcing at Anfield for the side to mount a proper title challenge. We look at the options.

Goalkeeper
Klopp has stubbornly refused to upgrade this position in the past but, surely, Lorus Karius’ nightmare performance on Saturday must change his mind.

The Veteran:

Gianluigi Buffon recently ended his 17-year spell at Juventus and has said he won’t join another Italian club. Paris Saint-Germain are front-runners for his signature, but he could prove a wily stopgap while Karius regains his confidence or to allow a search for a long-term number one.

The Wonderkid:

Buffon’s heir apparent with the Azzurri, 19-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma could conceivably be his next club’s keeper for the next twenty years. The good news is his agent is Mino Raiola, so a move away from AC Milan is always possible. The bad news is his agent is Mino Raiola, so it would take an incredible financial outlay to sign him.

The Main Target:

Roma’s Alisson has been the most mooted target, even before Karius’ calamity in Kiev. In hindsight, the Serie A club feel they undervalued Salah last summer and will be loath to do similar again with Alisson – particularly to the same suitors. A large chunk of Klopp’s transfer budget would be need to extract the Brazilian from Roma, with a figure of £79m the reported asking price.

The Premier League Option:

Burnley only conceded one less league goal last season than Liverpool and, arguably, have two better keepers on their books. A move for either Nick Pope or Tom Heaton may not be seen as a glamorous one, but then neither was Andy Robertson’s switch from relegated Hull City twelve months ago.

Jack Butland is expected to depart Championship-bound Stoke City, although there are some doubts as to whether he’d be the upgrade required to push to the next level. If Klopp is looking for someone with title-winning potential, he could do worse than sound out Leicester City’s willingness to discuss a deal for Kasper Schmeichel – having lost out on his father Peter during Graeme Souness’ reign at the club.

The Central Defence
Dejan Lovren has certainly improved since Virgil van Dijk’s January arrival, and impressed in Kiev, but there are still nagging doubts about him.

The Wonderkid:

While long-term target Stefan de Vrij has agreed to join Inter Milan, another Dutch defender could be an even better alternative to form a long-term partnership with compatriot van Dijk in The Reds’ central defence. Another Mino Raiola client, Matthijs de Ligt, has reportedly told the Eredivisie giants that he wishes to leave but Liverpool would face competition from the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich for his signature.

The Bundesliga Link:

Jonathan Tah has been linked with Pool in the past but penned a new five-year deal at Bayer Leverkusen earlier this year. The 22-year-old had made Germany’s World Cup squad and has also been linked with Tottenham, speculation that will only increase should they decide to cash in on Toby Alderweireld this summer.

The Premier League Option:

If Spurs do allow the Belgian to leave in this window, it will take a van Djik-like figure to procure him. Manchester United have been the apparent front-runners for his signature but an Alderweireld-van Dijk partnership would certainly get mouths watering on Merseyside.

The Striker
Dominic Solanke was Liverpool’s only striking option off the bench against Real Madrid and, while he may have potential, Liverpool need a top-class alternative to Roberto Firmino up-front. A fully fit Daniel Sturridge would be ideal but that’s not likely to happen. Danny Ings could depart, while Divock Origi also looks likely to leave following a loan spell in Germany.

The Wonderkid:

Well, he is 21 now, but Liverpool have scouted Celtic’s Moussa Dembele in the past and he is still seen as a striker yet to fulfil his vast potential. Brendan Rodgers has admitted the Frenchman might leave in the summer and there’ll be no shortage of clubs in contention for his signature.

The Premier League Option:

Spurs had a similar dilemma last summer, finding a decent back-up striker happy to play second fiddle to Harry Kane. Fernando Llorente was signed from Swansea City and, while he hasn’t had too many chances, Liverpool could do worse than find someone similar. Chicarito is persona non grata at West Ham and wouldn’t break the bank. The Mexican would be the perfect option off the bench and would surely offer a better option than the inexperienced Solanke.

The Dream:

Klopp scouted Robert Lewandowski over 30 times before signing Robert Lewandowski for Borussia Dortmund. The Poland striker has hailed his former manager as a ‘father figure’ but whether that would be enough to bring about a reunion is unclear. Lewandowski will leave Bayern Munich this summer in search of a new challenge and, while Real Madrid are a more realistic destination, his capture would be a a real signal of intent by the Champions League runners-up.