Klopp will be looking to improve his team’s performance in the new year.
Liverpool has had a good start to the new season.
Liverpool have only two losses in all competitions, but they are still in the race for the Premier League title (although it is still working to do), while also well on their way towards the last 16 Champions League places. They will be looking forward to a League Cup semi-final thanks to an impressive comeback against Leicester City in the New Year.
But January is always a pivotal month. Klopp’s side will face a test like never before, with Mane and Salah leaving for the African Nations Cup.
The team’s season will be determined by how they perform in the next four to five weeks.
Liverpool has shown willingness to participate in January transfers in the past. It’s hard to forget Van Dijk’s arrival in 2018 (and Philippe Coutinho’s departure) or the 2011 deals for Carroll, Torres, and Suarez.
Even last year, there were transfer deadline day dramas, with Ben Davies and Kabak helping to ease the team’s defensive crisis.
What will happen at Anfield during this window? Enough Football looks at what could and might not happen ……
Potential reinforcements
Liverpool is full of transfer rumors and has been on overdrive in recent weeks with many players rumored being linked to the Reds.
It is easy to imagine that a new striker would be the top choice for most fans, particularly given the African Cup of Nations. However, it would surprise us if the Reds made a move in January instead of trusting players like Takumi Nanno, Takumi Firmino, and Wakata.
Although it’s disappointing news for Reds fans excited about Harland’s joining, the Norwegian star is definitely on Liverpool’s reinforcements radar. To be fair, he’s on many clubs’ radars. Bellingham, Harland’s Dortmund teammate, is also not in the mix.
Other gossip targets include West Ham’s winger Bowen and Porto’s Luis Diaz. Power Football can confirm that both were on Liverpool’s radar along with Leeds United’s star Rafinha from Brazil and Lille’s Canadian striker Jonathan David.
Potential departures
It is strange, to put it mildly, to hear Klopp openly discuss the future of Liverpool’s fringe players.
Let’s take this comment about Origi: “I wish he finds a manager that likes him more than me.”
Or, this comment on Nat Phillips: “I would sign him for any club.”
Phillips is the most likely of the two to leave in January. Phillips, a 24-year-old center-back who was fifth in his selection, expressed his desire to be part of the first team regularly.
Although he was close to leaving, Liverpool’s demand for a transfer fee of more than PS10 million prevented the deal from going through. Clubs from the Premier League may make offers during this window, possibly from Newcastle.
Origi could remain until the summer, and it wouldn’t surprise if Neco Williams were sold. Although it is known that Williams isn’t getting the games he requires at this stage in his career, the versatility of Williams makes him an invaluable role player.
On loan
Reece Williams (Swansea), Leighton Clarkson(Blackburn), or Paul Glatzel (“Tranmere”) will all be considered for a loan.
Vaclav Jaros will likely be loaned out after impressing on loan to St Patrick’s Athletic, Ireland, this year. A move for the Czech youth international in the pipeline is also in the works.
There could also be interest in Liverpool teenage defensors Owen Baker and Conor Bradley. Elijah DicksonBonner and Morgan Boyce are likely to have advanced beyond U23 football.
To resolve contractual issues
Are there any contractual issues at Liverpool? Let’s take a look at it…
As Salah enters the last 18 months of his contract, the story of the Egyptian star continues.
Although it is crucial to find a solution, Klopp‘s comments recently suggest that negotiations are moving well. One would expect Salah to sign a new contract.
The club will likely have to make some difficult decisions with Firmino and Mane set to enter the final 18 months of their respective contracts. Chamberlain and Nabykeita are also expected to join.
Milner’s contract will expire next summer. It remains to be seen if Liverpool will extend Milner’s contract for another year. Although Milner is still an important player for the team, how long will his contract last? He turns 36 in January.
The club has extended the contracts of all the key players and they have signed long-term contracts.
