It’s obviously important to note that we’re not yet in November and Jurgen Klopp has far more necessary things to concentrate on than future transfers, such as Saturday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham.
But as the tabloids churn out Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus rumours, we’ve checked the Bundesliga to highlight five more realistic players who’d help Liverpool, due to their positions and styles, should we target them either in January or next summer.
1) Ilkay Gundogan – Borussia Dortmund
Klopp’s said he won’t be poaching any of his old Dortmund players right away (via Daily Mail), but he’d be mad not to consider the superb German if he changed his mind. Gundogan recently posted a really complimentary message about Liverpool and his former boss to Facebook (see below), and according to the Metro and various other sources is a top target. We take their claims with an enormous pinch of salt, but see no reason why we couldn’t tempt the 24-year-old if we really wanted to. The lure of a huge contract and Klopp would likely be too much for any of his Dortmund favourites to ignore – provided we finish in the top four this term…
2) Bernd Leno – Bayer Leverkusen
The jury is still out on Simon Mignolet, which after two seasons as no.1, actually suggests he’s never going to be good enough. Leno, on the other hand, is one of a number of German goalkeepers making enormous strides week in week out. At 23-years-old he’s nowhere near his peak, but is performing so well for Leverkusen that the world is taking note. He backs up Manuel Neuer for the national team now, and at 6 ft. 4″, provides a real presence between the sticks. Won’t come cheap, but would effectively secure the goalkeeping position for much of the next decade if he fulfils his potential.
3) Niklas Sule – Hoffenheim
If there’s one position we undeniably need to improve, despite the amount of money we’ve spent on it, it’s centre-back. Martin Skrtel makes mistakes and cannot marshal those around him and Dejan Lovren is horribly error-prone, while Mamadou Sakho has fitness issues. Sule stands at 6 ft. 5″ so is practically unbeatable in the air, but combines this with pace which makes him a terrific physical defender. His composure belies his age, and he has the ability to stride out of defence, something Klopp always demanded from Mats Hummels at Dortmund.
4) Leroy Sane – Schalke
If there’s one thing Liverpool’s squad plainly lacks in terms of numbers it’s wingers. Jordon Ibe is the only attacker who’s naturally comfortable on the touchline, because Lazar Markovic was shipped out on loan to Fenerbahce. Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana are much happier cutting in and playing in central areas, as they’d tell anyone who’d listen themselves. So a future move for a genuine, exciting wide-man might make sense, and in Leroy Sane, the subject of our rejected £11m summer bid (via Bild), there’s one already on the radar. So far at Schalke this term Sane’s been used on the left and he’s notched two Bundesliga goals. His speed, direct running and the fact Schalke often apart with their best players makes him a realistic future target.
5) Lars Bender – Bayer Leverkusen
Bender’s like Lucas in that he’s disciplined and an excellent tackler/interceptor – but he provides a much more mobile central midfield option. He’s faster and a better passer, too. Interestingly, Klopp managed his brother Sven Bender at Dortmund to great effect, and Lars will have only heard fantastic things about our new boss from his twin. Lars is the slightly higher rated of the pair and would increase our anchoring midfield options – with Emre Can, Jordan Henderson and James Milner covering the box-to-box spots with their marauding runs instead.
