Liverpool’s season has taken a turn for the worse as their lack of firepower up front has made them pay so far this season.
With Daniel Sturridge out injured for the foreseeable future and the lack of form of both Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli, Liverpool will be doing all they can to sign a new striker in January.
The loss of Luis Suarez in the summer was always going to be a huge blow and the money received from his £75million sale was poorly reinvested in the squad. The signings of Lazar Markovic, Emre Can and Mario Balotelli have failed to settle in to a side that looks desperate for goals at the moment.
Brendan Rodgers will be keeping his eyes peeled for the potential availability of strikers in the January transfer window. Although Liverpool may not have mountains of money to spend, there are still some quality strikers available that won’t completely break Liverpool’s bank.
Wilfried Bony
The Ivorian has been in scintillating form this year, scoring the most Premier League goals in 2014. He has started the 2014/15 campaign well, with seven goals to his name so far. He attracted a lot of interest in the summer but chose to stay at Swansea. However, his impressive form could lead to him seeking bigger and better things in the winter window.
Bony’s powerful stature makes him a handful for most defences and he is blessed with excellent finishing. A fee of around £20 million could persuade Swansea to part with their star man but will Bony be seeking a move to a club higher up the table?
Charlie Austin
Although he may not be every Liverpool fan’s choice, Charlie Austin has been in excellent form so far this season with 8 Premier League goals to his name, including a brilliant volley against Southampton and a clever back-heeled finish against leaders Chelsea. He may also be the cheapest option for Liverpool, with a bid of around £12-15 million likely to persuade the owners to sell.
The potential stumbling block is QPR’s reluctance to sell the striker as he is clearly a vital part of the Rs’ survival push. If Liverpool do make a move, they’ll be getting a striker that works hard for the team and is also a real poacher in the box, something Liverpool have been lacking this season, especially in the absence of Daniel Sturridge. The 25-year-old is still at the beginning of his career and a potential partnership with Daniel Sturridge could be appealing to Brendan Rodgers.
Graziano Pelle
He hasn’t been playing in the Premier League long, yet Pelle is attracting interest due to his 7-goal tally so far this season. The 29-year-old may not be the immediate long term solution for Brendan Rodgers’ side but there is no doubt that Pelle will score goals. In 57 appearances for Feyenoord from 2012-2014, he managed to score an impressive 50 times.
The Italian, who recently scored on his senior international debut, cost the Saints nine million in the summer and a bid of a similar amount could be accepted. However, with Southampton flying high in the league and Pelle enjoying his goalscoring form, it may be difficult to persuade Pelle to leave St Mary’s.
Pablo Dybala
Hailed as the new Sergio Aguero, the 21-year-old Palermo hitman represents a bit of a gamble for Brendan Rodgers, whose recent go-for-broke effort in the capture of Mario Balotelli has not paid dividends so far. The young striker has averaged a goal every two games this season, netting seven times in 14 appearances. The Argentine has attracted interest across Europe, with some big names linked to the Dybala’s signature.
He recently issued a come-and-get-me-plea after discussing his recent negotiations over a potential new contract with Palermo:
‘The President said I’m worth 40 million? I do not think so, my duty is to take to the field. To know that someone like that thinks highly of me fills me with pride”
Clearly, Liverpool will have to act quickly if they want to avoid the potential 40 million release clause that could be included in Dybala’s new contract. A bid of around £15 million could catch Palermo’s eye, but does Rodgers want to take a risk on a young striker that is unproven in the Premier League?
Saido Berahino
Berahino showed glimpses of brilliance last season and is now producing good performances on a regular basis this campaign. He has managed seven Premier League goals so far this term, attracting interest from a number of the Premier League’s top clubs, including Liverpool.
The 21-year-old striker is blessed with electrifying pace and excellent finishing. A starting bid of around £10 million could prompt West Bromwich Albion into negotiations. However, they will be reluctant to sell due to the striker’s vital importance to the Baggies’ bid for survival. If Liverpool can make a successful move for Berahino in January, the prospect of a Sturridge-Berahino-Sterling attack will surely get Liverpool fans excited.
