Henry Jackson takes a look at the potential ins and outs at Liverpool, as the January transfer window edges ever closer.
We are now less than two months away from the start of the January transfer window, and there are numerous stories (some reliable, some the total opposite) regarding players moving to and from Liverpool.
There can be no doubting that the Reds have not enjoyed a good start to the 2014/15 campaign, and it would appear Brendan Rodgers is looking to strengthen in certain areas of the pitch, in order to secure another top-four finish.
Here are the transfer stories that have emerged in recent days; which of these rumours do you like the sound of?
DIVOCK ORIGI and MARIO BALOTELLI
According to the Express, there is a chance that Origi, who is on loan at Lille from the Reds, could return to Anfield in January, with the much-maligned Balotelli heading the other way.
Realistically, there is as little chance of this happening as Dejan Lovren starting in the number 10 role against Chelsea on Saturday.
The French club are unlikely to let the Belgium star return before next summer, as originally agreed, while Balotelli will surely be given at least one season to prove himself.
Whether the 24-year-old’s long-term future lies at Liverpool is open to debate, however. If Robbie Savage had anything to do with it he’d never play football again.
FABIAN DELPH and RON VLAAR
The Daily Star, far from the most reliable source when it comes to football news, reports that the Reds could be in for Aston Villa duo Delph and Vlaar, with both of them stalling on contract talks at the Midlands club.
Delph’s profile has increased greatly this season, having received a deserved England call-up, and he would add defensive quality and bite to the centre of Liverpool’s midfield.
Vlaar, meanwhile, excelled for Holland at this summer’s World Cup, and could bring much-needed leadership to Rodgers’ back-line. You could certainly imagine the Reds’ boss making a bid for Delph, given his preference to blood young English players since arriving at the club in 2012.
GUILLERMO OCHOA
Despite an impressive performance against Real Madrid, it’s fair to say we all still have as much faith in Simon Mignolet as we did in David James during the mid 1990s.
According to the Mirror, Rodgers is keen on bringing in Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa to the club, in order to rival the Belgian for the number one jersey.
Currently at Malaga, he could be available in January, and could be an astute piece of business. Although, it does leave you wondering why we didn’t just sign him when he was available for free in the summer.
FABIO BORINI
The Echo claims that former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is interested in taking Borini to Napoli in January.
The 23-year-old was on the verge of joining both Sunderland and QPR this summer, but his desperation to prove himself at Anfield meant that both moves collapsed. It’s fair to say it aggravated many of his detractors.
Whether Benitez would be willing to pay the reported £14m asking price remains to be seen. Borini is not a key part of Rodgers’ plans in truth, and getting that amount of money for him would be good business. He’s a likeable, hard-working player, but Liverpool can do better.
SUSO
Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport report that Suso could be on his way to AC Milan in January.
The 20-year-old’s chances have been very limited this season, and the fact that his current deal expires next summer has alerted the Serie A club.
It’s hard to see how the young Spaniard will be able to force his way into the side under Rodgers, and a move elsewhere would surely suit both parties. Suso has made a total of 21 appearances for Liverpool, scoring once.
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