Transfer Targets: Liverpool FC

There is no club in England with more of a devoted following nor with a more storied past: Anfield, the Kop, 18 League titles and 5 European Cups. Yet it all seemed so far away this time last year. A group of small-market American owners with a small-market mentality instilled that lack of ambition all the way down to the famous Melwood training facilities. Players were lining up to leave a club that few had dared to reject in the past. Then Boston Red-Sox owner John Henry bought the Reds. Trading one set of American owners for another seemed cosmetic at best, but the re-emergence of a club legend like Kenny Dalglish has re-instilled pride in the club and in the badge again. They have a renewed ambition sure but they have an influx of filthy lucre which is better still. I know the club have signed Sunderland's 20 year old midfielder Jordan Henderson and they'd like to create a more typically English side by signing Blackpool's Charlie Adam and Aston Villa's Stewart Downing amongst others, but is this the time to abandon their policy of signing Spanish players to Costa del Merseyside? There are bargains to be had in cash-strapped Spain. I´d say it's time to redouble the efforts on the peninsula.

Defense: Spanish defenders aren´t usually mistaken for the sort of hard-nosed intimidators that thrive in England but there are still some around. Fernando Amorebieta of Athletic Bilbao is that sort of typically built bruiser grown on the grounds of the famous Lezama academy and would be a perfect fit alongside Martin Skrtel at Liverpool. There is however a more immediate concern for Kenny Dalglish. With Paul Konchesky on the way out and with Fabio Aurelio´s injury woes continuing, the club have got to find other options at left-back. The tabloids have pipped Arsenal´s Gael Clichy but I think a promising youngster like Jose Angel Valdez of Sporting de Gijon is perfect. He looked primed for FC Barcelona just this past week before the deal fell-through and could be had if his valuation of 15 million euros is met.

Midfield: I know this is where Liverpool are looking to find the sort of grit and determination that the 20 million pound Henderson and the intrepid Blackpool captain Adam would provide, but if technical ability is what's missing in comparison to the Liverpool sides of old, then how can you look past a comparable Spanish player? Joe Cole is out, so I think I´d rather have a similar player, Pablo Piatti of relegated Almería who is the sort of Argentine spark-plug that if I were lacking in descriptors I´d say reminded people of Lionel Messi; a bit, if you closed one eye and ruffled his hair a bit. Or made him slouch some. More centrally, Ever Banega is never going to be the sort of player that fits Unai Emery´s system at Valencia either personally or professionally, but he is the sort of player that combines the steel of Javier Mascherano with the creativity of Xabi Alonso; two players that are clearly missed in the Liverpool midfield. Come to think of it, I think I'd rather spring for Banega instead. Never mind about the Piatti thing then; Ever Banega it is. I mean if they can't get one internet exhibitionist in Young, why not bring in another one, no?
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Winger: you can forget about attracting Ashley Young now. He´s now at Manchester United. Juan Mata has been a favorite an Anfield since Rafa Benitez´s day, but he´s too valuable right now for Valencia, but I actually prefer the idea of bringing Jeffren in from FC Barcelona as is rumoured. He´s the sort of small pseudo-winger that Barcelona bake by the dozen at La Masia and whose chances of a starting place are dwindling by the minute as the club keep talking with Cesc Fabregas and Giuseppe Rossi. If real service for Andy Carroll is needed however, and they can´t prise Spanish International Santi Cazorla from Villarreal then I think Real Madrid´s Pedro Leon is a perfect substitute. He played very well for Getafe in 2009-2010, but after falling out with Jose Mourinho last year, he could be had for a song. Or maybe if they added some tapas to go along.

Now remember, this isn´t your usual transfer speculation blog, not even close by a long shot, but just a bit of light-hearted musings as to who I think would be valuable additions to a Liverpool squad. Let us know who your preferred options are at Anfield, ok?

Next stop in the Premier League gravy train: Tottenham Hotspur