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It hasn’t been that start to 2025 many Liverpool fans would have hoped for, and the January transfer window hasn’t offered much comfort to them.
The Reds have picked up just one win in their four games since the turn of the year – and that was against League Two side Accrington Stanley – putting some doubt on their hopes of silverware this season. What’s more, supporters are becoming a little too accustomed to seeing potential transfer targets come and go over the last couple of weeks.
The chance to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia seems to have gone now, with Paris Saint-Germain looking as though they’ve won that race; while Martin Zubimendi looks as though he could be heading to Arsenal soon, having turned down Liverpool just a matter of months ago.
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Having been quiet in the summer window, Reds fans will be desperate to see a new face or two this month, but it seems as though the options might be running out. There are still some players who could realistically make a move to Anfield in January, though.
Goncalo Inacio
Jamie Carragher’s in no doubt that Liverpool needs to sign a defender this month, and looking at how the Reds have fared recently, it’s hard to argue against that.
With that in mind, Goncalo Inacio could be a name that appeals to the Reds. The Sporting CP star has been linked with Liverpool plenty of times over the past year or so, and he is being touted for a transfer this month.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reported last week that Inacio’s representatives have been in contact with Borussia Dortmund, with the German club ‘very interested’ and monitoring his situation. It’s also suggested that the current valuation, said to be around $36m (£29m/€35m) plus add-ons, is too expensive for Dortmund.
That hardly seems like an over-the-top figure for a 23-year-old Portuguese international. Inacio would offer a left-footed option at center-back which Liverpool hasn’t had for years, and he’s also capable of playing left-back – it could be well worth hijacking those Dortmund talks.
Patrick Dorgu
Andy Robertson has not looked all that assured this season, and with the Scot now on the wrong side of 30, it is about time for Liverpool to start looking at his long-term heir.
The sooner, the better, considering his performances have been a real concern, and if reports in Italy are anything to go by, the Reds may already have someone in mind.
According to Solo Lecce, Patrick Dorgu is Liverpool’s primary target this month, with a $41m (£33.5m/€40m) bid supposedly being prepared. It’s not exactly the most prominent of sources for Liverpool transfer news, but Dorgu has been linked with the Reds for a while now, so he could be one to keep an eye on.
Loic Bade
Anyone who’s been keeping an eye on Liverpool’s transfer rumors recently will instantly recognize the name of Loic Bade. The Sevilla defender has increasingly found himself being linked with a move to Anfield over the last few months, although another side looks as though it might have moved to the front of the queue.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa has opened talks with Sevilla, with Bade seen as a “concrete” target for Unai Emery’s side. Discussions are said to have started already as they explore a January move.
Villa have already got their hands on one player previously linked with Liverpool in Donyell Malen, so perhaps it’s time for the Reds to enter the conversation and get that defender that they need.
Joshua Kimmich
A January move for Joshua Kimmich might not be doable, but Liverpool can at least lay the groundwork for a potential free transfer in the summer.
Kimmich’s contract at Bayern Munich is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning he is free to speak to any clubs outside of Germany. Turning 30 next month, and no doubt with some big wages to his name, it’s not a move Liverpool would usually go for, but there are some obvious advantages to it.
Kimmich offers some versatility, given he is able to play as a defensive midfielder or a right-back – two areas Liverpool could do with some back-up in, especially if Trent Alexander-Arnold is heading to Real Madrid. And while a player on the wrong side of 30 might not appeal too much, having a senior figure to offer support to Ryan Gravenberch and Conor Bradley – aged 22 and 21, respectively – could actually be a smart move.
Rayan Cherki
Rayan Cherki’s name has been floating around the transfer rumors for a while now, and it seems likely he will be on the move soon. With Lyon having been provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 in France unless its finances drastically improve soon, it needs to do some business, and quickly.
Cherki seems an obvious player to cash in on. He has been attracting plenty of attention, and according to Lyon owner John Textor, he already made it clear during the summer (via Rousing the Kop) that he wanted to move to PSG.
With the French champions looking set to sign Kvaratskhelia, perhaps it should be Liverpool’s chance to go after a much sought-after forward. The Reds have been linked with Cherki in recent months, with reports last month suggesting scouts at Anfield have been keeping an eye on him, so the time could be right to make a move.