January Shopping List
It is safe to say the start of this season has exceeded expectations. The Reds are top of the league and tied at the top of the Champions League table. The club is still competing on four fronts and doing so with flair and pragmatism. But we all see what is on the horizon. The injuries are already starting to crop up and the clown car portion of the schedule hasn’t even reared its ugly head yet. That is why I am already preparing a January shopping list to reinforce the squad to chase a quad.
READ MORE: Don’t Panic! Don’t Panic! by Trevor Utley
SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW: YouTube / X (Formerly Twitter) / Instagram / TikTok / Patreon
A Subdued January
I am not proposing that Liverpool embarks on an unfettered spending spree in the winter window. Instead, I am looking to butter our front office’s bread with a sensible signing on each line of the pitch that won’t break the bank. With other Premier League contenders seeing their rosters decimated, my goal is to see Arne Slot be given adequate resources to not suffer a similar fate and to keep this wondrous campaign afloat. So as all team construction should go, let’s start at the back.
DEFENSE- Wilfried Singo, Monaco
Monaco is a club that is always looking to compete and profit simultaneously. At the moment, they possess the stoutest defense in Ligue 1. Similarly to Liverpool, the club has also yet to taste defeat in the Champions League through three matches. While USMNT fans may be frustrated with Folarin Balogun’s deployment with the club, the same criticisms cannot be levied about the defense. That is where I am choosing to focus my attention.
We’ve all lauded Joe Gomez’s defensive versatility these past few seasons. Nevertheless, Arne Slot doesn’t seem to have a regular spot for the England international. But with Ibrahima Konate coming up lame against Brighton at the weekend and Andy Robertson’s gas tank being tested, Joe is going to get some work. So if that shape-shifting super-sub is being bumped up the pecking order, that spot needs to be filled. Enter Monaco’s Wilfried Singo.
The Ivorian international has been utilized primarily as a center-back for Monaco this year. For both his previous club, Torino, and for the Ivory Coast, the 23-year-old also saw extensive time at right back. But with his calmness on the ball and strength, I’m sure he could emulate Gomez and play on the left-hand side in a pinch as well.
As it stands, it is probably going to take substantially more than what Monaco paid Torino (roughly €10m) to pry him away in January. But I personally don’t think his valuation of €25m is unreasonable to pay for a player of his caliber. He’s shown he can rise to an occasion. Better yet he doesn’t shy away from criticism when things go awry.
MIDFIELD- Ivan Ilic, Torino
From a former Torino player in defense to a current one in the midfield, I present you, Ivan Ilic.
I may be mistaken, but Liverpool’s overall goal will be to utilize Alexis Mac Allister as more of a creative facilitator. Ryan Gravenberch’s emergence this season has helped that immensely. But with the aging Wataru Endo as the only cover for that destroyer role in the double pivot, it needs addressing before we are stuck having to run Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai into the ground unnecessarily.
The former Manchester City starlet could be the answer at a bargain price. He is a left-footed player unafraid to put in a tackle. There isn’t much of an adventurous streak in the Serbian. However, when he does push forward it is with a purpose. In a win over Atalanta earlier in the season, it wasn’t until there was necessary cover on his side that he crept forward to get an equalizer. And to complete the set so to speak, he would get a yellow card not ten minutes later wiping out a promising counter from the opposition.
It will be more in the range of €30m-€35m for the 23-year-old mid-season. But honestly, it may make more sense than getting our heart broken by another Real Sociedad midfielder in the summer. I’m looking at you Luka Sucic!
ATTACK- Jamie Leweling, Stuttgart
When it comes to scouting in the Bundesliga, most Liverpool fans’ eyes will be on Eintracht Frankfurt. Prying away the “Egyptian Prince” Omar Marmoush or French up-and-comer Hugo Ekitike wouldn’t be bad business. But in January the goal should be to fix potential problems for this season, not have all eyes on the next few years. That is where Stuttgart’s Jamie Leweling comes in.
SHOP THE AMERICAN SCOUSER COLLECTION TODAY
Don’t get me wrong. Leweling would not be like Liverpool’s last signing from Stuttgart, Wataru Endo. Leweling is just coming into his own at the Bundesliga side and just scored his first goal for Germany against the Netherlands. My thinking about this is his versatility and how far down Stuttgart’s priority list he’s going to be in the summer.
Leweling can play either through the middle or on the right. He would give Arne Slot an option to give Mo a breather until Federico Chiesa is properly fit again. It would also save from having to move Luis Diaz to that side to get that job done. Leweling may provide a tinge of frustration with his lack of goal involvement but if you want to make hockey assists a metric you’re going to be fine. Most of all, like my other two proposed January additions, €25m or less may be all you need to offer to get a deal over the line.
Do any of these signings intrigue you? Are there any other players you want Liverpool to look at in January? Let me know in the comments and on all of the AS socials linked earlier in the piece!
