The January transfer window opens on Thursday and the speculation surrounding arrivals and departures at Premier League clubs is already in full flow. We got the views of the TIA forum admins and moderators on what they think Liverpool should look for in the window and their opinions on some players recently linked with a move to Anfield…
United and Chelsea have both claimed they won’t be signing anybody, should we? If so, where do we need strengthening?
Great Dane: I wouldn’t mind seeing a right winger/midfielder, although Kuyt and El Zhar are doing ok.
briankettle: Right side. A player like Kuba who can double at right-back and right-wing would be ideal. If we could afford it, then a world-class No.10 to play in the middle of the three in a 4-2-3-1 or as support to the striker in a 4-4-2.
Johnny T: Cover for right back, right wing, player ‘in the hole’.
DragonShadow: To be honest, no, I don’t think we should. We don’t need anybody. We have a team now that has a world class first 11, but the second 11 can also do a fairly decent job.
Matt: Only if the right players are available at the right price. We’re looking great at the moment and only getting better so let’s not disturb the squad too much, stability – something we didn’t have a year ago – can be key to success this season.
We’ve been heavily linked with Emile Heskey, would you welcome his return to Anfield?
GD: No, not needed in my opinion.
bk: Only in that I respect the manager’s judgment more than my own. But in my judgment his wasn’t good enough then and he isn’t good enough now.
JT: Not an ideal signing in my humble opinion.
DS: Not really. We’ve got Torres, Kuyt, Babel, Keane and Ngog who can all play up front. We’ve also still got Voronin on the books who could come back if we cut his loan short.
M: Not particularly but if he arrives he will add a new dimension to our attack which could prove useful.
What about another former Red, Michael Owen?
GD: As above, good player but not needed.
bk: Only if he is prepared to be back-up to Torres, and if his salary is linked to his fitness to play. If he’ll join on those terms, then he is a better option than anyone else in the squad, and anyone else in the league, at the transfer price we’d pay.
JT: In a heartbeat.
Jermaine Pennant is, incredibly, being linked with a move to Real Madrid. Your thoughts?
GD: Ramos clearly needs a cheap right winger who isn’t CL cup tied. Pennant may do fairly well in the less aggressive and slower Spanish League. Let him go I say, but with a clause saying he cant be used against us. (It would be just our luck for the boy to hurt us when we meet.)
bk: It appears he has the requisite ego, just not the talent. He should jump at it and we should push him.
DS: Madrid are obviously desperate for a right winger. In one way, it’s a shame because I like Pennant and thought he could do a decent job for us once, but let Madrid have him. They need a RW, the cash wont do us any harm, and we’ll get another hanger on off the books.
M: I don’t care where he goes as long as he does. Not a ‘Liverpool player’ and possibly the only one in the current squad who falls into that category.
Is there anybody else apart from Pennant who should be moved on at this stage?
GD: Let Voronin go if cash is offered.
bk: I would let any combination of Keane, Babel, Benayoun or Kuyt go for world-class players on the right and in the hole.
JT: Voronin, and if there are takers, Dossena.
DS: Degen maybe. Plessis possibly. Voronin. Get him off the books too.
M: No. There’s no point getting rid of anybody and weakening the squad at this time. Wait till the summer to get rid if Dossena and Degen don’t come good. Hopefully Insua continues to develop and we can get back a good percentage of Dossen’s rather large fee.
The likes of Agger, Alonso and Babel have been linked with moves away. Do you think any of the three are dispensable in order to raise funds for other areas?
GD: Alonso is vital to us at present, as is Agger with Skrtel out. Babel has a huge role to play at our club if he shows patience. Agger and Skrtel are our defensive future and I hope Agger and Babel are looking at the big picture in their careers.
bk: Only Babel. He could be a great player one day; the others are already.
DS: No, no and yes if his attitude doesn’t buck up. To be fair, Agger and Alonso are pretty much indispensable. But Babel is a square peg in a round hole. A right footed forward, playing on the left wing. Last season Babel looked fairly decent, but since Rafa turned down his request for a move back to Ajax, he just hasn’t looked as if he’s even bothered about playing for us any more. Get rid of Babel, and bring in a proper left footed left sided midfielder/left winger as cover for Riera.
M: Selling any of the above would weaken the squad. Definitely not the right time to be selling players who can play a large part in the title run-in. Alonso is indispensable without a doubt.
Arbeloa has performed admirably this season but we are being linked with Glen Johnson, would you welcome his arrival?
bk: Again, only because I trust the manager’s judgment and regret the lack of funds made available by our owners. We could use a world-class right-back and he’ll never be one, plus his regrettable off-the-field behavior “Glen Johnson arrested for toilet seat theft” ill-befits a Liverpool player.
DS: Does this mean Degens days are numbered already?!
M: I’d definitely welcome his arrival as he would offer a new approach from full-back. I pointed him out as a good signing in the summer and he only seems to have got better since. Arbeloa has been great but it wouldn’t hurt to have even stronger options at full back and if they’re struggling to pay for Crouch and we get Johnson in return it’s not a bad move.
What’s your thoughts on the upcoming transfer window? Let us know here.
