January Transfer Preview: Winger/Attacking Midfielder

January Transfer Preview: Winger/Attacking Midfielder

So we have looked at Liverpool's transfer possibilities for left back and center midfielders so far. In my opinion the last position Liverpool need to strengthen in this transfer window is the wing or an attacking midfielder. Liverpool sent some of their young wingers like Suso(not actually a wing but played there for Rodgers last season) and Assaidi on loan for this season and so they brought in Victor Moses to compensate for their departures. Moses has been a disappointment in my opinion, he is alright with the ball but his work rate and quickness is not up to standards. With Moses not impressing and no one else in the squad to fill in a replacement is essential if Liverpool are going to finish in the top four. I think that a winger is the most important area for Liverpool to strengthen in this window and if a good winger is the only player brought in it will have been a successful window. Here are the players most likely to sign for Liverpool in January:

Mohamed Salah

Salah is a 21 year old Egyptian international who currently plays for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League as a winger. Even though he plays in a small league he has been gaining a lot of accolades due to his speed, flair and finishing. He has done absolutely fantastic for his country, scoring 17 goals in 27 appearances. He has been nicknamed "the Egyptian Messi" due to him being left footed and that their playing styles are quite similar, though Salah prefers to outrun rather than out-pass his opponents. Raheem Sterling has done brilliantly this season on the right flank and I think Salah would be able to have a similar effect on the left side. Out of all of the players being linked with a move to Liverpool Salah is reportedly the closest to signing with it being reported today by some sources that a deal has been agreed for 9 million pounds, though that might be a bit premature. His friend reported to Egyptian media that he is 99% sure that Salah will sign for Liverpool. Salah might not be as good as the likes of Mkhitaryan, Costa or Willian right now but I after watching a lot of highlights from his play I say that he has a bright future ahead of him and that Liverpool would be wise to sign him as soon as possible.

Probability: 4 out of 5

Javier Pastore

Pastore has been linked with a move to Liverpool for quite a while now. He has been with PSG for a few years now after a 35 million pound move from Palermo. I have seen him in action when I went to the Chelsea v PSG preseason match at Yankee Stadium and I thought he was the best player on the pitch, no contest. Despite his talent he has found his playing time diminished lately and might be up for a move elsewhere with Liverpool being a likely destination. He usually plays on the wing or through the middle as an attacking midfielder. He would likely cost a fortune to bring to Anfield and definitely be quite a gamble as he can be inconsistent and might struggle to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League. I would love to see him move to Liverpool but I think this one isn't going to happen for a number of reasons. While he is still quite young at 24 it would seem that he doesn't have the mentality that Rodgers is looking for because he can be quite selfish and not willing to put enough effort into defending. 

Probability: 2 out of 5

Jay Rodriguez

Okay so Rodriguez isn't technically a winger or midfielder, he is a striker, but he has been playing on the wing for his club Southampton and has excelled there since his move there in 2012. He has done so well that he was called up to the England National Team last year. Rodriguez isn't the most influential player but he is a fantastic supporting player that is great at finishing and setting up his teammates. He fits FSG's transfer policy to a T as he is a young English international with much potential. Rodriguez would be a good buy because he could be deployed in basically any forward positions and help give cover to SAS. He would cost in the region of 10 million pounds, though I'm sure that Southampton are determined to try and keep a hold of their star players. I would like to see him at Liverpool, a lot, and it has been a while since Liverpool have bought English so they're about due.

Probability: 2 out of 5

Cristian Tello

This kid is pretty dang good but I from what I've hear him say I don't really like him as a person because he, like many others, seem to be obsessed with FC Barcelona, even though Barcelona don't really reciprocate the same feelings. He is a fantastic talent at 22 year old and has a great future ahead of him, though it will probably be at Barca. He has been linked with a move to Liverpool for a long time now, with a loan deal being talked about but nothing ever coming from it. Unlike Gerard Deulofeu, Tello would rather try to make it into the first team without going out on loan so a move is quite unlikely. Though if Tello decides he wants a move, temporary or permanent, Liverpool is one of the most likely destination. If a permanent deal is in the cards he would probably cost in the region of 15 million pounds. I think that he would be great for Liverpool and would link up well with Suarez and Coutinho but unfortunately I don't think that will ever happen.

Probability: 2 out of 5

Juan Mata

Everyone at Chelsea loves Mata. He has arguably been their best player since he signed for them and yet Jose Mourinho doesn't think much of him. Last week Mourinho was quoted saying that Mata, and three other players, are free to leave Chelsea if they want. It took less than 48 hours for Mourinho to make a u-turn with his comments saying that he is sad that he has had to leave him out of the team so much and he can stay if he wants. That said I still believe that Mata might make a move away from Chelsea and Liverpool is a possible destination. Liverpool tried to sign Mata, on loan, in the summer but had to settle for Moses instead and might go back for him this month. Everyone (except Mourinho it seems) knows that Mata is one of the best players in the world. He plays either on the wing or as an attacking midfielder and is known for his creativity, which is something Liverpool are in need of up front. He definitely wouldn't come cheap, probably costing upwards of 25 million pounds. This one is an interesting one to think about and even pray for but lets be honest, this one is very unlikely to happen. If he was to sign for Liverpool, hello premier league title!

Probability: 1 out of 5