Rumour Mill: Real Madrid’s Denis Cheryshev could join Liverpool on deadline day

With Denis Cheryshev likely to leave Real Madrid before the end of the January transfer window, the Russian winger has been linked with Liverpool.

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UPDATE: The Mirror’s Ed Malyon claims that Liverpool are looking to seal a deadline-day loan move for Cheryshev.

Cheryshev has long been rumoured to be a target for Liverpool, with reports from Spain linking the Real youth product with a switch to Merseyside in April of 2015.

With transfer deadline day looming, Cheryshev is said to be the subject of revived interest from the Reds.

According to Paco Gonzalez of Spanish radio station Cope, corroborated by AS, Cheryshev is set to leave the La Liga giants before the end of the January transfer window.

Gonzalez claims that Liverpool is the 25-year-old’s likely destination, with Jurgen Klopp searching for reinforcements for his attacking line.

Cheryshev spent the 2014/15 campaign on loan with Villarreal, and the Castellon side had registered their interest in making the deal permanent this month.

But speaking this week, Villarreal president Fernando Roig described the deal as “impossible.”

Cheryshev has played just 117 minutes of first-team football so far this season, over six games, and has not been in the Real squad for their last seven La Liga outings.

The Russia international’s fortunes have not changed following the dismissal of Rafa Benitez, continuing his exile under new manager Zinedine Zidane.

But scoring seven goals and assisting a further 10 in 40 games for Villarreal last season, Cheryshev proved his quality.

Most comfortable on the left wing, Cheryshev is able to operate in any position along the forward line, but his delivery from the flanks is his most useful asset.

With a move for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Alex Teixeira looking unlikely this January, Cheryshev represents an alternative for Klopp.

Whether he has the requisite quality to star in the Liverpool first team, however, is dubious.

Most notably, Cheryshev’s questionable work rate would see the winger jar with Klopp’s high-intensity attacking ideal, while he is arguably not an upgrade on James Milner or the blossoming Jordon Ibe.

With Sheyi Ojo looking capable of making the step up the first-team squad following impressive displays in the FA Cup, signing Cheryshev would be a strange move for the Reds.

But if Real are willing to part with Cheryshev on a short-term loan deal, it may prove to be a strong piece of business.

The Russian would add quality to Klopp’s squad and, perhaps more importantly, provide him with another stop-gap option, with a view to returning for Teixeira in the summer.