Big Bucks on Midfield or Attack?

Cavani would be the key forward signing Liverpool need

Of course, it was only a friendly. But 4-0 wins over one of the biggest clubs in Europe do not come along too often, even for a high scoring Liverpool side such as the current team under Brendan Rodgers.

A match against German giants Borussia Dortmund pits two teams that follow similar blueprints; indeed it could be argued that Liverpool are simply following the ideas of Jurgen Klopp, but are a couple of years behind.

Modern, fast, free-flowing football with little regard for parking the bus or stale possession, both these managers love attacking football, and they achieve it on a modest budget. Young players are bought on the cheap, with a core of national players, before being turned into top-class and even world-class stars. Then, each summer, one or two are sold for masses of cash to help finance next year’s budget and to help progress the team to new heights.

It led Klopp and his team towards back-to-back Bundesliga titles, although they have been second best to Bayern Munich in recent years with mistakes over contracts and clauses, reducing the money brought in from player sales and causing the club to stagnate a little.

Regarding Liverpool, the sale of Luis Suarez, coupled with the Champions League revenues and TV deals, provided the Reds with a mountain of funds to spend; an advantage they enjoy over Dortmund due to the appeal and wealth of the Premier League compared to its German counterpart.

As mentioned in several match reports and newspapers, Coutinho was sensational against the German side on Sunday and if he keeps up this level of performance in competitive fixtures, then the creative side of the Reds will not be lacking in the so called post-Suarez era.

Dejan Lovren was impressive also. Despite it being early days, he carries all the attributes and hallmarks to be a great Liverpool defender, with his ball skills far surpassing those of Mamadou Sakho, who will still be a major squad player as his physical strengths will come in handy against the likes of Stoke and Crystal Palace.

However, the squad is not yet complete if Liverpool desire another successful season. Aiming for the title is the obvious objective, but such is the strength of the top seven sides in the Premier League, nowadays challenging for the top four is challenging for the league.

Five teams in particular may only be separated by 8-10 points come the end of the season, with one of those edging the title and another unfortunately missing out by a whisker on Champions League football. Therefore finishing in the top four is the primary target, before going on from there. A trophy would not go amiss either, as stated by Reds legend Jamie Carragher on Twitter.

Seven players have already arrived at the club this summer and all will need time to adapt to the pressures of playing for Liverpool, including the Southampton lads with their Premier League experience. Yet there is lot more business that needs to be done, both in terms of arrivals and departures.

The likes of Daniel Agger, Kolo Toure, Fabio Borini, Oussama Assaidi, Jack Robinson, Tiago Ilori, Sebastian Coates, Lucas Leiva and Suso all have major doubts over their futures at Anfield, and the majority of these players should leave, with the majority of those leaving on a permanent basis.

Valdes would be a superb back-up ‘keeper for Liverpool

The left back situation looks set to be resolved imminently, with many rumours of Alberto Moreno’s arrival from Sevilla once the European Super Cup clash with Real Madrid is completed. A credible challenger to Simon Mignolet in goal would also be welcomed and could be a deal that happens on deadline day, with the likes of Victor Valdes available.

The reason for the potential lateness of this deal is because it carries the least importance of the four positions that Brendan Rodgers must address before the transfer window slams shut this summer.

Along with a left back, a defensive midfielder is required – an upgrade on Lucas, who sadly has not been the same player since the cruciate injury, sustained in 2011 against Chelsea.

Lucas and Steven Gerrard both lack pace in their efforts to protect the back four, and the new recruit could sit alongside the skipper and patrol the centre of the pitch, allowing Gerrard to link up with the centre backs and remain the deep-lying playmaker. It would be a return to a midfield partnership akin to the one employed by Rafael Benitez with Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

The captain cannot do it all on his own.

Andrea Pirlo has the likes of Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba with him at Juventus, while Alonso has Sami Khedira at Real Madrid. It would be a good opportunity to bring someone in with Champions League experience, as there is a lack of familiarity of Europe’s premier competition amongst the new recruits and the squad in general.

The other major target, which has been of major interest amongst fans and journalists, is the need for a forward. A player of similar flexibility to Suarez could be desired, such as Q.P.R’s Loic Remy, or Rodgers may yet go for a more typical centre forward to compete directly with Daniel Sturridge, such as Swansea’s Wilfried Bony.

Regardless, whilst Liverpool still have plenty of money left in the bank, if Ian Ayre is true to his word that Liverpool have a net spend of roughly £50m due to their Champions League return, along with player sales totalling approximately £115m, then Liverpool have about £160m to spend, once wages are taken into account.

£90m has already been spent on Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren, Divock Origi and Javi Manquillo. Another £12m will go on a Alberto Moreno, leaving £55m left to spend on three players.

Ideally, the back-up goalkeeper will be a free transfer, such as Valdes or Brad Friedel, who would hardly command a transfer fee at the age of 43. Therefore, these two vital positions are left, and Rodgers will be left with a decision to make.

Which area is more important?

A club record fee of £40m could be spent on a world class defensive midfielder, such as Juventus’ Arturo Vidal or Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez, leaving a figure in the region of £15m for a striker, which is where Bony could come in.

Alberto is about to become another part of the Reds’ jigsaw

Or option two, which would reverse the importance of the positions. £40m would go towards the attacker, perhaps Dortmund’s Marco Reus, who has been linked with the Reds all summer. The fee may be above his release clause, if it does truly exist, but would represent the desire of Liverpool to capture their man ahead of the many rivals that would also be chasing his signature.

The rest of the funds would then go towards a cheaper anchorman who would be a first team player, but not an automatic pick and suspect to rotation. Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender or Barcelona’s Alex Song are potential targets here.

Liverpool may not need to chase a world class star this season – after all, they are perfectly capable of producing their own. But with all of their rivals signing players of elite stature, Liverpool have to send out of message of their own – that they can still attract the best.

With Suarez on the teamsheet, opposition defences were terrified. That psychological power has to be replaced, even with the ever improving Coutinho, Sterling and Sturridge.

Personally, the forward position is of greater importance, and a player like Reus, not Falcao or Cavani (who are alien to the financial structure and profile of the club) would fit in impeccably into Rodgers’ system. It would ensure a title challenge this season.

It might be a lot to ask, but with Moreno, Reus, Song and Valdes, Liverpool’s squad would be ready to compete again. However, there are many other players that could be targeted.

Comment on who you would like to see arrive at Anfield in the final month of the transfer window…