During Jurgen Klopp’s first transfer window in charge, we finalised a deal for Marko Grujic to join in the summer and loaned Steven Caulker until the end of the season.
Hardly awe-inspiring, but in truth – there were not too many other deals to make us especially jealous.
Our priority was Alex Teixeira, and unfortunately we missed out on the Brazilian attacking midfielder.
But these five did make January moves, and could’ve maybe done a job for us from now until the end of the season.
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1) Seydou Doumbia (Signed on loan at Newcastle)
We were impressed by this deal. Doumbia consistently scored Champions League goals for CSKA Moscow, encouraging Roma to splash cash on his services in 2014. He flopped and the Russians bought him back, only to allow Newcastle the player on loan. Doumbia scores goals, he just didn’t in Serie A. Aged 28, he’s registered 167 in total – breaking the 20-per-season mark on four occasions. The Ivorian can finish and has pace and movement. He’s not special, but in Daniel Sturridge’s absence he’d get in our side right now.
2) Guilerme Siqueira (Signed on loan at Valencia)
The 29-year-old Brazilian is a a very decent left-back, and Gary Neville’s Valencia have done well to acquire him from Atletico Madrid. The only reason he couldn’t get in their side was because of the excellent Filipe Luis, and he would’ve definitely provided competition to the out of form Alberto Moreno for us until the end of the season. Brad Smith’s a good rotation option but Siqueira would start ahead of Moreno right now.
3) Adalberto Penaranda (Signed by Watford, loaned back to Granada)
We were linked to the Venezuelan wonderkid in December, but Watford got him on deadline day in an odd deal in which he was loaned to Granada (where he’s already on loan), after buying him from Udinese. (The Pozzo family own all three clubs, of course.) Penaranda is 18-years-old and outrageously talented. He’s scored four goals this term from nine La Liga appearances and has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi due to his size and dribbling skills. We won’t see him in England until next season, but if he shows what he has done so far in Spain – his stock will rise dramatically.
4) Gianelli Imbula (Signed by Stoke for £18m)
Imbula didn’t set the world alight in Portugal for Porto, but he was coveted by Arsenal and Chelsea during his time at Marseille before last summer. He’s a defensive midfielder with an unbelievable engine, and like Nemanja Matic, he drives through the pitch after he makes a tackle – rather than just passing it simply sideways. The Frenchman will now join a very, very talented Stoke squad which includes Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan and Marko Arnautovic – three players we’d also happily take an Anfield.
5) Jackson Martinez (Signed by GZ Evergrande for £31.5m)
We’re not actually suggesting we should have spent anything like this sum for the Colombian, who’s approaching his 30th birthday – but he does represent a proven forward available this January. Unfortunately, Chinese clubs are now increasing prices for European players, with Chelsea also receiving over £20m for Ramires – a player who couldn’t get in their first-team. Martinez only signed for Atletico in the summer, scoring three goals in 12 starts – a poor return from a forward of his Champions League calibre. If his price-tag was half of what Evergrande paid, we’d say he was worth a punt – but certainly not at that price.