With
Liverpool’s season going from bad to worse, following last night’s virtual elimination from the Champions League, we look at five players that the much-maligned Rafa Benitez could bring into Anfield in January in order to help revitalise the side. Among them are a former Manchester United striker, a World-cup winning former Arsenal star, a Spanish wing-wizard, a promising young Stoke City centre back and a technically gifted Bolton Wanderers playmaker.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Club: Real Madrid
Nationality: Dutch
Position: Striker
Age: 33
The former
Manchester United striker is probably not the most popular figure among the Anfield faithful, but he certainly would provide more of a goal threat that the hapless Andrei Voronin or the inexperienced an raw David Ngog.
Having been left of the periphery of the Real Madird first team after the club’s heavy summer spending, Van Nistelrooy would be allowed to leave the Bernabeu, and a move to Liverpool would be hard to turn down, even taking his links to Old Trafford into account.
The presence of van Nistelrooy would give Rafa the chance to rest Fernando Torres when need be, and although playing second fiddle to the Spaniard might not sound particularly appealing to most strikers of the Dutchman’s calibre, it’s certainly better than being sat behind Real’s vast arsenal of forward talent.
Patrick Vieira
Club: Inter Milan
Nationality: French
Position: Defensive midfielder
Age: 33
Another Premier League great who could be up for a return to these shores for one last hurrah (and pay day, naturally) is the World Cup winner and former
Arsenal lynchpin.
Linked with the Gunners, as well as arch rivals Spurs, over the summer, Vieira hasn’t been as big a success in Milan as he was in London, playing only 10 Serie A matches last season, and five of the 11 so far this. Despite praise from manager Jose Mourinho, it looks like the rangy Frenchman could be available to anyone willing to take on his rather hefty wages (rumoured to be around £120,000 a week).
Despite improved form in recent weeks, there are still question marks over Lucas’ place in the Liverpool midfield. Vieira could replace the Brazilian in the Reds’ engine room – adding the kind of drive and thrust from deep that has often been missing from Rafa’s side this season, particularly when Steven Gerrard has been absent.
Ryan Shawcross
Club: Stoke City
Nationality: English
Position: Centre back
Age: 22
The Manchester United academy graduate who was highly rated by Sir Alex Ferguson, but was still forced to leave Old Trafford in order to gain regular first team action. Shawcross is a talented young centre-back, who is strong in the air and on the deck, and who loves to get forward.
The 22 year old has proven himself as more than capable of keeping the Premier League’s best at bay, since stepping up with
Stoke at the start of last season, and Benitez is already said to be a big fan.
Liverpool may already have some established names among their centre backs, but with lapses in concentration and judgement starting the creep in this season, now could be the time for new blood.
David Silva
Club: Valencia
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Winger
Age: 23
Benitez would have to twist the Yankees’ arm to increase the debt a smidgen, but the club will be far less sellable if they’re not in next season’s Champions League – which is a real threat if they continue their current malaise for much longer – so any deal would pretty much pay for itself if it proved the difference between a fourth and fifth place finish.
Valencia, of course, have financial concerns of their own, and may be under even more pressure to sell players in January, having been able to hold onto the bulk of their big names over the summer by
taking out a $106 million loan, and recouping a decent wodge of cash in January may be exactly what the doctor (or accountants) orders.
The advantages of signing Silva are obvious – the Spain star is fleet-footed visionary, comfortable playing on either flank or in behind the striker. The 23 year old would give Rafa an option in several areas where he is often short - a more natural winger than Kuyt on the right, and a more consistant performer than Riera on the left. His presence would also ease the pressure on Gerrard and Torres to play every game.
Tamir Cohen
Club: Bolton Wanderers
Nationality: Israeli
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25
The Israeli may not be one of the biggest names in world football, but he’s starting to look like a reliable and consistent performer at Premier League level – and that’s what Liverpool have missed for large parts of this season so far. He’s also exactly the kind of busy, hard-working yet creative midfield player that Benitez seems to love (see fellow Israeli Yossi Benayoun).
A move to Liverpool would also see Cohen follow in the footsteps of his father, Avi, who played for the Reds between 1979 and 1981. Cohen the younger recently scored three goals in his first four league games of the season, helping to turn around
Bolton’s stuttering start to the campaign and arguably keep Gary Megson in a job – but Trotters fans don’t seem to be holding that against him...
With Bolton’s debt steadily increasing, selling a player signed for only £650,000 less than two years ago for a couple of million more in January would probably be pretty good business, and may even allow the ginger Mourinho the chance to pick out two or three more bargains.