Heading into club football after a lengthy break due to the World Cup in Qatar, Liverpool supporters would surely be heartbroken to hear of a fresh injury setback for Luis Diaz.
The Columbian international winger, who was included in Liverpool’s squad for the mid-season training camp in Dubai, made his travels back to Merseyside after just two days of training for further assessment of his thigh injury.
There is talk doing the rounds that Diaz could be set for a spell on the sidelines until March 2023 meaning that Liverpool have lost a key first-team regular to an extended concern on the injury front.
With the January transfer window just weeks away from now, the Reds boss Jurgen Klopp could be forced into a hunt for a short-term fix to provide cover in the left-sided winger role where the German is unable to call upon the services of Diogo Jota besides Diaz.
Here are five players we believe can be of interest to Liverpool in the January window –
1. Memphis Depay
The Dutch winger, on the back of a stellar run of displays at the World Cup, has been linked with a move to Anfield with his future in the Barcelona shirt hanging the balance ahead of January 1.
Depay is said to be keen to leave the Catalan outfit and could be available on a free transfer with Barcelona prepared to terminate his contract and offload him midway through the season.
2. Cody Gakpo
Another of Holland’s in-form forwards, Cody Gakpo, has courted interest from England’s biggest clubs since the turn of the year with his superb start to the 2022-23 campaign making him a coveted name in the transfer market.
Manchester United and Chelsea are rumoured to be in the mix for the PSV talisman who is expected to fetch a hefty price tag which could put off Liverpool from making an approach for his services.
3. Arnaut Danjuma
The Villarreal wide player was on Liverpool’s transfer radar in the summer when the Merseyside outfit had been looking to bring in a viable replacement for the outgoing Sadio Mane and add to their front line options.
Danjuma has been a consistent performer in Spain’s top flight since making the move to Villarreal from Bournemouth as the Dutchman netted 16 goals and provided four assists in 34 games in his debut campaign.
4. Ousmane Dembele
Despite recent suggestions that Barcelona are preparing a new long-term deal for the Frenchman Dembele who has rediscovered his red-hot streak of form for both club and country after nearly calling it quits at Camp Nou in the summer.
Dembele has worked with Jurgen Klopp before during their days at Borussia Dortmund and the winger could be lured to signing for Liverpool should his contract extension talks with Barcelona come to a halt.
5. Christian Pulisic
The USMNT star is heavily expected to leave Chelsea when the transfer window reopens for business in the New Year with Pulisic struggling to earn regular first team football at Stamford Bridge in spite of the change in managers.
Klopp’s relationship with the American forward, who played under the former at Dortmund, is reckoned to be one of the reasons why Pulisic could be interested in making the switch to Merseyside from west London.
