FIVE ‘marquee signings’ for Liverpool to consider in January

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers proved himself to be a shrewd operator in the transfer market this summer with a number of astute signings at a relatively cheap cost, including the likes of Simon Mignolet (£9million from Sunderland), Kolo Toure (free transfer from Manchester City) and Victor Moses (on loan from Chelsea).

But if there’s one criticism of the Reds’ off-season, it’s that there were many tents, but no marquee. Some might include £15million former PSG man Mamadou Sakho as a marquee signing in defence, but it’s hardly a conclusive and unanimous analysis.

So with that in mind, we take a look at FIVE marquee signings Rodgers should take a look at in January, with full details of their pros, cons and transfer situation.

Andriy Yarmolenko

Ukrainian international Andriy Yarmolenko gave a brief showing of his abilities against England in a World Cup qualifier last week, but Liverpool fans will have had prior knowledge of the winger, having been linked with an Anfield move earlier in the summer.

The 23 year-old has been causing waves in the Ukrainian top flight, with 41 goals in 109 appearances from his last four seasons with current club Dynamo Kiev.

It’s an astonishing return for a wide man, who’s no stranger to the assists charts either, whilst for Ukraine he’s also racked up 34 caps and 11 goals.

Yarmolenko possesses great speed and technique on the ball, capable of cutting inside or hugging the line, and can be deployed on either flank.

He’d also be a significant improvement on the Reds’ current berth of wingers.

But Kiev want big money for their star man, and the tabloids valued him at £20million in the summer.

Christian Benteke

The strike-force is arguably Liverpool’s strongest department considering Daniel Sturridge is leading the Premier League scoring charts and Luis Suarez still hasn’t returned from his biting ban.

But if Brendan Rodgers is serious about the Reds being a major part of the title race, he’ll need further firepower.

Enter Christian Benteke, who’s been able to rival Sturridge’s goalscoring prowess this season at Aston Villa, with a brace against Arsenal and goals against Chelsea and Newcastle.

The 22 year-old, who measures in at 6 foot 3, has shook off the tag of being last season’s vogue player after his 18-goal haul for the 2012/2013 campaign, and is beginning to make a name for himself as a real talent.

Benteke isn’t what you’d describe as the epitome of Liverpool’s style under Brendan Rodgers, but none the less, he’s set to become a leading Premier League target man in the near future.

Aston Villa don’t want to sell however for obvious reasons, and rewarded the Belgium international with a new contract in the summer, so the Reds will have to table a huge offer if they want to lure Benteke away in January.

Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Perhaps it’s a bit early to label 21 year-old Kyriakos Papadopoulos as a ‘marquee signing’, but none the less, the Greek international is touted as a future star of European football, and his next move could be career defining.

Papadopoulos made his competitive debut aged just 15 for former club Olympiacos – a record for the Greek top flight – and has since become renowned for his juxtaposing baby face and bad temper.

He moved to Schalke in 2010, and is now on the verge of making 100 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.

Last season, the 14-times capped Greek international averaged 3.7 tackles, 2.9 interceptions and 6 clearances per game, being utilised at either centre-back, right back or defensive midfield.

Brendan Rodgers was linked with the Schalke defender in the summer, but eventually signed centre-back duo Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho.

The Liverpool boss could return to his former target in January however if he’s still behind new Schalke signing Felipe Santana in the pecking order.

Yohan Cabaye

Despite Yohan Cabaye’s ‘head turning’, as Alan Pardew put it, following Arsenal’s failed £12million bid for the Newcastle midfielder in the summer, he still remains a Magpies man for now.

That could all change in January however if the Toon are still struggling in the bottom half of the table and a club of Liverpool’s stature makes a decent offer for the Frenchman.

The 27 year-old is one of the most consistent playmakers the Premier League has to offer, with 10 goals and 11 assists in 62 appearances since joining the Magpies from Lille in 2011.

He’s also a dead ball specialist, capable of finding the net with powerful free-kicks from long range or putting in clinical deliveries for his team-mates.

Cabaye is a regular for the France national team and his quality on the ball is beginning to make him stick out like a sore thumb at St. James’s Park.

He seems destined for a higher calling at some point in his career, and Liverpool could be the answer.

But the Reds will have to table a bid around the £15million mark to even get Newcastle to consider selling, and they’ll be up against French big spenders PSG and Monaco, who were both linked with the playmaking Frenchman in the summer.

Keisuke Honda

Keisuke Honda has been linked with a move to Merseyside for the best part of eighteen months, but the speculated transfer could take place this January as the Japan international’s contract with CSKA Moscow finally comes to an end.

The 27 year-old has recorded an impressive 20 goals in 80 appearances from midfield since moving to the Russian top flight in 2010, with many of his goals coming from incredibly aesthetic free-kicks that are well worth a watch on Youtube.

The former Venlo star is a technical master with a real creative mind, averaging 2.4 key passes per game in his opening seven league appearances this season.

He’s also got off the mark with a goal and an assist, but Honda’s made it clear that he won’t be extending his stay in the Russian capital past the winter.

Its good new for Liverpool however, who have been hot on the midfielder’s heels for some time, as they can now sign him on a free contract.

But the Reds will be up against stiff competition throughout Europe for his signature, most prominently from AC Milan.