Liverpool preparing bid for first January signing

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Hilder Costa of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates with Matt Doherty and Lo Bonatini after scoring a penalty during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United at Molineux on November 22, 2017 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Hilder Costa of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates with Matt Doherty and Lo Bonatini after scoring a penalty during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United at Molineux on November 22, 2017 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Liverpool look to start off the January transfer window strongly

Jurgen Klopp has turned Liverpool into an offensive juggernaut. The trio of Mane, Salah and Firmino score almost at will, breaking opposing defenses with their speed and quick passing. Salah also leads the Premier League with nine goals scored this season and looks to be only just getting started. There is one problem, though, that the team needs to address.

Liverpool’s defense. The team has struggled to keep opponents off the scoresheet, often going with the notion of scoring more rather than defending well. This philosophy will only get you so far in the top league, so something needs to change for the Reds.

That change could come in the form of a player this January. Specifically, defensive midfielder Romain Saiss of Wolverhampton. The Moroccan international is a rock in the middle of the pitch for Wolves and is a key reason that the team sits top of the table in the Championship.

Saiss has also been key in Morocco’s successful quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Morocco kept a clean sheet in each of their final four qualifiers, with Saiss playing the full 90 minutes in those four matches. It is obvious that he brings a defensive presence to the pitch and looks to be the perfect player to add to the Liverpool midfield.

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There are two issues with this transfer going through. The first issue is the interest Liverpool has shown in RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita. The young Guinea man has been a top target since the summer and seems to be on the verge of a transfer to Liverpool in the coming months. Saiss and Keita would presumably have similar roles in the squad, so bringing them both in would be unnecessary.

The other problem is Wolverhampton allowing a player of Saiss’ importance to leave less than halfway through the season. The club has been in great form this campaign and will hope to keep their core players through January as they push towards promotion.

Despite those issues, Liverpool will need to sign a defensive minded player in January regardless. Whether it is Saiss from Wolverhampton or Keita from Leipzig, the team needs a tough, ball winning player in front of the backline to help solidify the leaky defense.