Brendan Rodgers has set a precedent with the addition of English duo James Milner and Danny Ings in an attempt to rectify Liverpool’s horrid goalscoring woes.
Liverpool managed just 52 goals last season, 49 shy of the Reds’ 2013-14 campaign which saw them finish runners-up.
Although Milner is not a renowned threat in front of goal, his free transfer went down positively amongst the majority of Kopites. However Ings’ deal caused much debate on social media. Good young prospect that should prosper with better service, or Andy Carroll 2.0?
Whether or not the former Burnley forward can answer to the Anfield faithful is a huge uncertainty, and it has left many supporters hoping for further acquisitions in the attacking department. It is not an easy task to replace the likes of Luis Suarez or Fernando Torres, but the efforts of Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini warrant another look in the transfer window.
Numerous players are linked with Liverpool on a regular basis and more often than not, those rumours come to nothing, but it cannot hurt to speculate and wonder. Christian Benteke of Aston Villa has been heavily linked with a possible move to Anfield for the past couple of seasons, while Villarreal’s Luciano Vietto and Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko have also been mentioned.
What would these players offer?
Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) – 12 goals from 27 appearances
We all know what Benteke will bring to Liverpool; power, pace and an eagle eye for goal, having netted 41 times in 89 matches for Villa. After staying in the West Midlands for another season, the Belgian forward has attracted the interest of Tottenham and Chelsea, making Rodgers’ task much tougher than that of a season ago.
How would Liverpool benefit? Lambert is an excellent target but lacks pace, Balotelli is also a terrific aerial combatant and has a Ferrari engine, but the Italian stallion never ran on full cylinders and, with it, never kickstarted his Liverpool career. Benteke, however, brings the best of both worlds, plus a consistent goalscoring record in the English Premier League.
And the negatives? The price is a good place to start. Although no official number has circulated, approximates of between £25 million and £30 million would not be too far off the mark. The Reds have not had the best history with towering strikers either. Balotelli, Lambert and Carroll have all tried and failed to eradicate that theory.
Luciano Vietto (Villarreal) – 20 goals in 32 appearances
Touted as the next Sergio Aguero in some circles, Vietto is the young prodigy ruling the Villarreal front line and an exciting prospect for those wearing the Liver bird upon their chest. The Argentinian is a predator inside the box and a tricky customer in possession, almost Suarez-esque.
Reports in Spain have slapped a £14 million price tag on the 21-year-old, and both Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are rumoured to be interested. Vietto himself is said to be more inclined to remain in La Liga, so Rodgers may have to pay over the estimated fee.
There is much to like about this transfer. La Liga has produced world class Premier League strikers multiple times in the form of Torres, Aguero and Diego Costa and we all remember how the last South American handled Liverpool.
On the flip side of the Spanish coin, the Reds previously signed the likes of Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto from Spain and neither were able to make an impact.
Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) – four goals in 22 appearances
This was a fairly subtle rumour, but with the interest Manchester City has shown in want-away winger Raheem Sterling, combined with the fewer games Dzeko played in this season, a deal almost makes sense.
Hypothetically, the Bosnian international would guarantee goals considering the 50 plus he has netted for City since 2011, and his ability to lead the line as well as his combination work with Aguero complements Sturridge both when healthy and sidelined.
Would a Liverpool approach even be worthwhile? It is hard to consider, but the Reds have fallen off the top four perch somewhat and it would be naïve to think someone of Dzeko’s pedigree would not overlook Anfield. Another potential hurdle for the Reds is Real Madrid’s interest in Aguero, which would leave a massive hole at the Etihad.
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Do we all remember Divock Origi?
Here is a crazy thought. What if Rodgers has finished shopping for forwards?
There was a real buzz when Liverpool fended off the deep pockets of Chelsea and Arsenal to secure the services of Divock Origi after his stellar World Cup with Belgium, where he took the spotlight off Romelu Lukaku.
The 20-year-old had an inconsistent season at Lille and was criticised for having one eye on Liverpool throughout the year. He only managed to record eight goals from 22. Still, it is significantly better than the four goals Liverpool’s front three racked up.
Origi has already announced his excitement to play in the Premier League and has stated that he hopes to be challenging for the title next season under the guidance of Rodgers who he went on to label a “world class coach”.
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What if Origi and Sturridge become the partnership that Balotelli and Sturridge were unable to forge? It would certainly free up funds to fill the void left by Steven Gerrard and repair a wounded defence.
As the transfer market rolls on, more and more players will be linked with Liverpool and the microscope will only intensify on Rodgers and owners Fenway Sports Group. The three mentioned targets all have immense quality, however that is met by an equal amount of uncertainty.
Sure, play it safe and churn out millions for proven Premier League talents like Benteke and Dzeko, or save a few quid and take a chance on Vietto. Who knows, he could be in the same realm as Suarez.
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