Scouting For Klopp – Three Signings Liverpool Should Make To Push For The Title This Season

Liverpool haven’t won a league title ever since the dawn of the Premier League era back in 1992-93. They came ever so close in 2013-14 under Brendan Rodgers but eventually ended up finishing two points behind eventual winners Manchester City. However, in their first full season under manager Jurgen Klopp, the Reds are within a shot for their first title since their 1989-90 triumph.

Liverpool currently occupies the third place in the league, level on points with second-placed Tottenham and seven points behind leaders Chelsea. With close to half of the season left to be played, that difference is not impossible to scale, but Liverpool will need to reinforce some key areas of the squad if they are to be right up there come May.

With less than two weeks to go for the January transfer window to shut, we take a look at three players Liverpool should sign, to help them keep the push for the title on:

Jose Fonte

It is no secret that Liverpool defence has been struggling in recent weeks. Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan haven’t been exactly reliable at the centre of the backline for the Reds and Joel Matip’s return continues to be shrouded with doubts. With the race for the title and the top four places heating up, it is one area Klopp should look to improve on.

And Jose Fonte could be the right man for Liverpool to go for. The Southampton defender is wanting to move away from the St. Mary’s and handed in an official transfer request earlier in January. An experienced head, Fonte has been one of the best defenders in the English top division in recent years and had been in the same form for the Saints this term as well.

Fonte may be ageing, but Liverpool could definitely use the immense experience and the calmness that the Portuguese will bring to their backline and given their history of transfer dealings with Southampton and reported interest from Klopp, this deal could very well happen.

Julian Brandt

Jurgen Klopp knows the German market as well as the back of his hands and has reportedly shown interest in bringing in promising youngster Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen this winter.

Summer signing Sadio Mane’s absence due to his involvement in the AFCON has hurt the Reds badly and they are yet to register a single win since the turn of the year in any competitions. And with Coutinho also slowly being eased into the team after his return from injury, the 20-year old German could prove to be an ideal solution.

Brandt is extremely versatile and can play anywhere across the front three in the attack and can also play in a slightly withdrawn midfield role. He has scored twice and assisted 6 goals for Leverkusen this season in the Bundesliga. Having him in the line-up could help the Reds until Mane’s return and can also ease the burden on their attacking forces to quite some extent.

Jonas Hector

The versatile German is another target for Klopp and Liverpool in this window. Hector, who is primarily a left-back and can operate in the centre of the park as well, has been in prime form for Cologne this term and his performances have caught Klopp’s eye.

James Milner has been used as the first choice left-back this term ahead of Alberto Moreno and while the Englishman has done a fine job, he does not represent a solution in the longer run. And with Lucas Leiva reported to be leaving Anfield, his services may be needed in the midfield.

Hector is an excellent attacking full-back who loves to go past his man and bombard the box with excellent, pinpoint crosses. His work-rate and his concentration levels are impeccable and he is a big strong unit in the physical sense as well. It might prove too tricky to prize him away from Cologne in the winter, but if he arrives at Anfield, it will provide Liverpool a great boost.