10 players who could join Liverpool in January

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 5 min read

Liverpool have got off to their worst ever Premier League start under Jurgen Klopp and are now for sale. Some winter transfer surgery could be in order…

Liverpool have already secured the €57 million signature of Cody Gakpo, stealing the Dutchman from under Manchester United's noses, but they aren't likely to stop at that this winter.

The Reds are sixth, 16 points off Arsenal's Premier League-setting pace, and they have some work to do if they're going to close the gap.

READ: Which players are Liverpool watching at the World Cup?

The Fenway Sports Group has recently put the club on the market, and whether they gift a new owner a flagship signing or leave them to make one themselves, there is sure to be movement at Anfield this winter…

Top Liverpool transfer targets for January 2023

Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham has been Liverpool's top transfer target for some time after starring for Borussia Dortmund and England at the tender age of 19. The problem for Jurgen Klopp and Co. is that Bellingham's ascent has been so swift that Manchester City and Real Madrid have also entered the race to sign him. He would be a welcome upgrade in an ageing midfield.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) May 17, 2022

Mohammed Kudus

A cheaper alternative to Bellingham, although not an identical player, Mohammed Kudus was signed as a central midfielder by Ajax in 2020 but has been used in attack this season, from where he hit four goals in six Champions League games. On target twice at the World Cup with Ghana, Kudus tried to force a move to Everton in the summer but now looks out of reach for that half of the Merseyside divide.

READ: Liverpool's Bellingham alternative if they miss out on Kudus

Youssoufa Moukoko

Having sold Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland for a combined €145m in consecutive summers, Borussia Dortmund have somehow managed to take their eye off the ball with Youssoufa Moukoko, and the 18-year-old Germany striker is out of contract in June. Says he loves Dortmund, but so did Klopp not so long ago…

Matheus Nunes

Bellingham looks increasingly likely to choose Real Madrid over the Reds, even if he remains a top target for Klopp and Co. But in the event he decides his future is elsewhere, Matheus Nunes has been targeted as a midfield upgrade. The Wolves and Portugal man can play in more than one midfield position but is getting more expensive by the week.

Randal Kolo Muani

Randal Kolo Muani impressed for France in the World Cup final against Argentina, putting the rest of the world on high alert having impressed Bundesliga observers with his five goals and 10 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt already this season. His club insist he "is not for sale", but they are traditionally sellers and Liverpool would be a considerable step up.

Mason Mount

Mason Mount is refusing to sign a new contract at Chelsea and the England midfielder, who has been at the Blues since he was six, has never seemed more available. "Mount has outplayed his contract," Kevin Campbell told Football Insider recently. "He's won the Champions League and done very well at Chelsea. If they're not offering the type of contract he wants, he might be tempted to try his luck somewhere else - like a Liverpool or a Man City."

Sofyane Amrabat

Liverpool's interest in Sofyane Amrabat is testament to their midfield predicament - not that he's a poor player! James Milner and Jordan Henderson are 36 and 32 respectively, while each of Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo have been injured this season. With interest in Bellingham so high, Amrabat - who has six progressive passes per 90 minutes for Fiorentina over the last year - could be an under-the-radar alternative.

Noah Okafor

Sadio Mane's €41m departure to Bayern at the start of the campaign has been put forward as one of the reasons Liverpool endured such a difficult start, and Darwin was never a like-for-like replacement. But Red Bull Salzburg's Noah Okafor could well be. The Switzerland attacker can comfortably operate out wide or between the lines, and has 10 goals in 22 games this season. Valued at €12.3m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm.

Manu Kone

Another, perhaps more under the radar, midfielder in Liverpool's sights is Borussia Monchengladbach man Manu Kone. The French youngster has completed more dribbles than any other player in his position in the Bundesliga over the last year and is still only rated at €21m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm.

Moises Caicedo

Another player who is fast outgrowing their surroundings is Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo. Had an impressive World Cup with Ecuador and Man Utd must be wishing they'd pushed through with what would have been a €5m transfer January 2021. Attracting interest from throughout the Premier League, but Liverpool could offer him the clearest path into their first XI.