This article looks at some of the potential avenues we could venture down...
Christian Eriksen
Obviously the most obvious alternative to the Shakhtar Donestk attacking midfielder would be Denmark international midfielder Christian Eriksen. At 21 years of age, the 2011 Danish Player of the Year is already one of the shining lights of the Eredivisie and he has been crucial to Ajax in securing three back to back league titles, firing 10 goals and creating 17 assists from central midfield in the league, he was also awarded Man of the Match as Ajax dismantled Manchester City in the Champions League group stage.
Touted as a potential replacement for Mario Götze at Borussia Dortmund, the Danish youngster could be the perfect player to create another link between midfield and attack for Liverpool, and could be persuaded by the presence of his former Ajax captain, Luis Suarez, and current Denmark captain Daniel Agger already in red shirts.
Miralem Pjanic
The 23 year old Bosnia international is equally comfortable in midfield and in a more attacking position, similar to Steven Gerrard, Pjanic is more than capable of a long range blast and has become something of a set piece specialist since joining Roma from Lyon two years ago. He notched up three goals and six assists in 27 Serie A appearances this season, in a team that finished 6th in the table.
Speaking fluent English, the move to Britain could be fairly seamless, and being described as “an old fashioned playmaker” with great technical ability, he could be a great addition to a Brendan Rodgers team.
Asier Illaramendi
The Basque midfielder was one of the stars of Spains U21 European Championships and one of the Spanish youngsters likely to make a move into the full national side sooner rather than later. Liverpool’s collapse after the stellar 2008-09 season was mainly attributed to the loss of midfield lynchpin Xabi Alonso – so who better to replace him than heir apparent?
A key part of a Real Sociedad side that finished in a brilliant fourth position, qualifying for the Champions League, Asier Illaramendi has been likened to a Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets hybrid. More suited to a deeper role than Pjanic, Eriksen and indeed Mkhitaryan, with Liverpool’s lack of strength in depth in the defensive midfield positions, he is more likely to play it safe and keep possession, his ability to break up play and recycle possession is only really a quality held by Lucas in the current Liverpool squad. I’ve felt for some time that an addition in this area of the field is more important than in the attacking midfield area, with Coutinho, Gerrard, Henderson, and to a certain extent Suarez being able to play there.
However, with a move to Real Madrid being touted by various media outlets in Spain and further afield, this could be a more difficult signing – although a move to Real Madrid could free up a former Anfield favourite…
Xabi Alonso
The Basque midfielder than spent a brilliant five years at Liverpool, playing a vital role in both the 2005 Champions League win and Liverpool’s second placed finished in 08-09. A self confessed Liverpool fan, who has mentioned his desire to potentially return to Liverpool since his move to the Bernabeu and with a year left of his contract at Los Blancos, now could be a better time than ever to bring back a former Kop hero.
Despite his age of 31, similar to players such as Andrea Pirlo, his game is based on technique rather than physicality meaning he could still play for a good five years, bringing the sort of class that we’ve not seen paired with Steven Gerrard since he left.
Many Liverpool fans seem to have become very caught up with the idea of us signing Mkhitaryan, but should the rumours in the press be correct, there are several other avenues worth pursuing.
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