Jurgen Klopp can strengthen Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes by bringing Barcelona outcast Philippe Coutinho and these ex Anfield stars back in the January transfer window.
The Merseysiders will spend Christmas second in the table and three-points behind leaders Manchester City after 18 games. The Reds lost ground to Pep Guardiola’s side last Sunday when Tottenham Hotspur held them to a 2-2 draw, for their fifth stalemate of the season.
Liverpool came from behind to lead in north London before Heung-Min Son struck Spurs’ second. It was the fifth time this term the Reds dropped points having led at some stage.
Klopp was unable to name his first-choice line-up at Tottenham, however, as Liverpool dealt with injuries once again. So, he should look to the winter market as a chance to strengthen.
Coutinho – Back to Liverpool after Barcelona nightmare?
Coutinho has endured a nightmare since leaving Liverpool for Barcelona in a £105m transfer in January 2018. The Brazilian has failed to fulfil the expectations of replacing his compatriot Neymar as one of the Camp Nou’s leading figures and may now be bound for the exit door.
Reports by TuttoMercatoWEB claim the former Anfield star has informed Blaugrana chiefs he is ready to leave. Coutinho is even ready to walk away from his €10m-a-year (£164-a/w) wage, as he recognises no club will match his pay after years of injuries and a lack of form.
It is possible, then, that Coutinho could be heading back to the Premier League next month, with Newcastle United interested. But Klopp should rival the Magpies if Coutinho is leaving Barcelona in the January transfer window and try to bring the midfielder back to Liverpool.
Coutinho left Liverpool for Barcelona after enjoying his best form under Klopp that season. The 29-year-old hit seven goals and six assists in 14 Premier League games. The German coach could now revive the 63-cap maestro’s career and end his Camp Nou horrors.
Awoniyi – Liverpool can atone for transfer blunder straight away
Liverpool signed Taiwo Awoniyi in 2015, but the Nigerian striker never played a game for the Reds before joining Union Berlin for £6.5m this July. He spent the in-between six-years out on loan after failing to secure a UK work permit for his Anfield breakthrough.
Yet, per Goal, Awoniyi obtained a work permit this year before returning to Germany after a loan spell last term. He has since shown in Berlin what Klopp never had the chance to see.
The 24-year-old has scored 14 goals over 27 games in all competitions, including nine in 17 Bundesliga fixtures. He has also laid on three assists and made his Nigeria bow in October.
So, as Duncan Castles notes they may sell Divock Origi next month and sign a replacement, Liverpool should look to atone for their transfer blunder right away and bring Awoniyi back.
Wijnaldum – Grass not always greener on the other side
Georginio Wijnaldum left Liverpool at the end of his contract this June, but the 31-year-old has seen the grass is not always greener on the other side at Paris Saint-Germain.
He has so far failed to establish a vital presence in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans at Le Parc des Princes. So much so 90min reported Wijnaldum spoke with the PSG leadership, having become increasingly concerned about his lack of minutes.
The Dutchman’s agent has also approached clubs in England, Spain, Italy and Germany to try and secure the £300k-a-week midfielder a mid-season loan. 90min did not list Liverpool as one, but Klopp should try and bring Wijnaldum back to Anfield if he is to leave PSG.
Klopp did not want Wijnaldum to leave Liverpool in the first place, having relied heavily on the 85-cap star. He started 34 of the Reds’ Premier League fixtures last season and featured from the bench in the other four. He also captained the Merseysiders on nine occasions.
“Gini was the most consistently available player,” Klopp said this August, via quotes by the Mirror. “I loved his way of playing and how reliable he was. But he’s not here anymore.”
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