5 players Liverpool could sign in January including Klopp's 'favourite' star
Liverpool have enjoyed a brilliant first half of the season.
The Reds are two points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, leaving surprise package Aston Villa and champions Manchester City struggling behind. They've also reached the last 16 of the Europa League and could win the first trophy of the season, having reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. Jurgen Klopp will be expecting silverware, but will the Liverpool boss get it? To be successful, Klopp may have to open his club's chequebook to bring in reinforcements in the January transfer window.
Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports in November: "Liverpool are not ready to win the league." Carragher advised Klopp to sign a "holding midfielder and a top-class defender" to challenge for the Premier League title again. As such, Mirror Football has looked at five players who Liverpool could sign in the upcoming window. Here are the results...
Andre
One player who was at the top of Liverpool's transfer shortlist in the summer was Andre, a 22-year-old midfielder who plays for Fluminense. The Reds tried to sign the £30million-rated star, but he refused to leave the Brazilian side in the middle of their season.
Fluminense went on to win their first ever Copa Libertadores title and reach the Club World Cup final, where they were beaten 4-0 by Manchester City. With Fluminense's campaign now over, Andre is interested in making a seemingly inevitable switch to Europe.
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Andre could finally leave Fluminense in January (Getty Images)Who do you think Liverpool should sign in January? Let us know in the comments below!
"I watch the Premier League and it’s a big dream to play there one day," he said this month. "I’m focused on finishing the season at Fluminense and realising my dream of winning the Club World Cup. But my dream is clear, to be a Premier League player."
Signing Andre won't be easy for Liverpool, with Fulham also thought to be keen. Yet it'll be hard for him to say no to Klopp again. Liverpool also need a holding midfielder, with Wataru Endo heading off to play for Japan in the Asian Cup next month.
Goncalo Inacio
Goncalo Inacio became a senior Portugal international in 2023 (Getty Images)The first of our two centre-back options. Liverpool are believed to be interested in signing Inacio, 22, from Sporting Lisbon. He's been an ever-present figure in Sporting's defence since his breakthrough during the 2020-21 season, playing nearly 150 games so far.
Inacio has won four trophies at Sporting - including the league title in his debut season - and won five senior caps for Portugal this year. The left-footed star is very much a modern defender, as he can also play at right-back and step into midfield.
Liverpool need a defender too, with Joel Matip out for the season with a serious knee injury. Matip is also out of contract in June. Inacio might be the perfect replacement and wouldn't too expensive either, with reports suggesting his release clause is £52m. Yet Arsenal and Manchester United are also keen on him. Watch this space!
Piero Hincapie
Piero Hincapie is struggling for minutes at Bayer Leverkusen (Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)Liverpool's other centre-back option is Hincapie, a 21-year-old Ecuadorian who's impressed for Bayer Leverkusen in recent years. Leverkusen are pushing for the Bundesliga title under Reds legend Xavi Alonso and are four points clear of Bayern Munich.
Hincapie has only made three starts under Alonso this season due to their impressive form and there's a feeling he could be allowed to leave if the price is right. Yet reports in Germany suggest Leverkusen are determined to keep hold of the £30m-rated star. It'll be interesting to see whether they resist Liverpool's charm, if Klopp makes a move.
Antonee Robinson
Antonee Robinson is a regular for Fulham at left-back (Getty Images)Left-back is Liverpool's problem position at the moment, with Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas both injured. Robertson underwent surgery on a shoulder injury in October, while Tsimikas recently broke his collarbone and is set to be out "for a long time".
Although Robertson is expected to return to fitness within a month, Klopp may still act in January. According to 90min, the Reds are interested in Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson. The United States international, 26, is an experienced defender, having made 81 Premier League appearances - including 18 this season - during his career.
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Any move for a new left-back will depend on the future of Joe Gomez. The versatile defender, 26, has done a good deputising for Robertson and Tsimikas but may leave Merseyside in January to secure more regular minutes. It's believed Tottenham, who are struggling with an injury crisis, are interested in signing Gomez in January.
Jarrod Bowen
Jarrod Bowen has been in sensational form for West Ham this season (Getty Images)Liverpool must find a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah. The Egypt international, 31, is wanted by Saudi Pro League giants Al-Ittihad, who aren't expected to stop until they sign him. Liverpool already rejected a £150m bid in August.
Al-Ittihad aren't expected to bid in January and Salah will finish the season on Merseyside. Yet a summer transfer is a strong possibility, as it will be very difficult for Liverpool to reject another mammoth bid for 32-year-old with 12 months left on his contract.
And with Salah off the Africa Cup of Nations in January, now could be the perfect time to bed in a replacement. West Ham winger Bowen is the name on everyone's lips, having scored the winner in last season's Europa Conference League final.
Bowen wouldn't come cheap - perhaps costing as much as £100m - but he's enjoying a super season with West Ham, scoring 13 goals and proving five assists. The England international is also highly rated by Klopp, who recently called him his "favourite player".
Klopp said: "(Bowen is) probably my favourite player besides all my players, I have to say. It's great what he is doing and how he has developed."
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