Liverpool FC Tranfers: Ranking the Top 10 Players Linked to Reds

Although Liverpool may well still revive from their current position and obtain a European spot this season, it would be fair to say that the club is keeping its main focus on strengthening the team both in terms of the starting XI and the bench for the next season.

With rumors surrounding the news that incumbent caretaker manager King Kenny is due to get a long-term managerial position in the summer, the targets for next season may well have been set already. Even Damien Comolli, the newly appointed Director of Football at the club has been reported to make a lot of visits all around Europe searching and evaluating targets for the club.

Out of the scores of players linked with the club, here I have rated the top 10 players linked with the club, most of whom seem very likely to join the club at the end of the season.

Although currently down with an knee injury, the Chilean has been attracting interests from the Premier League giants for quite some time now with his marvelous dribbling ability and pace on the wings and even down the middle for Udinese this season.

The player's agent and even the Director of Football at Udinese had also recently conceded that a big Premier League club had made a good offer for the player, and reports in some corners are that the club is Liverpool.

With reinforcements on the wings a must for Liverpool in the summer , Alexis Sanchez would be a very exciting buy for the Reds .

Rating the possibility of buy: 40 percent.

When asked to compare his earlier buy for Tottenham Hotspur Luka Modric with Dimitri Payet, Damien Comolli responded in favor of the Frenchman. He said that Payet certainly was a technically better and much stronger player as compared to Modric, thus evidently highlighting his personal liking for the player.

Payet, who is a player at St.Etienne, had obviously been watched a lot by Damien Comolli only months earlier when he was involved with the French club as their Director of Football.

However, with a lot of rumors surrounding a few others who could also suit the right wing position that Liverpool need, there are reasons to believe that Payet would not necessarily be a first choice buy for the club especially as Etienne are pretty reluctant to sell the star.

Payet, however, declined to sign an improved and extended contract from the club recently, and if Liverpool are unable to really compete for their first choice player on the wings, Payet may be a distinct possibility as his price tag would surely not be as high as the Reds had to cough up in the winter window.

Rating on the possibility of buy: 50 percent

The Dutch playmaker was considered one of the targets for the Reds in the winter window, however, with the interference of interest from Barcelona, the Reds could not make any further headway to buy the then PSV Eindhoven star.

Now although Barcelona as a club are playing arguably the best football in the world, Afellay has found his chances extremely limited, and reports are that the 25-year-old has been frustrated by this lack of playing time on the pitch.

With Liverpool in need of genuine creative players both in the center of the park and on the wings, Afellay would find no such problems if he were to be bought by the Reds.

There are also reports that Barcelona would be willing to part with their newly acquired Dutchman in the summer for as much as £9 million, very affordable for the Reds.

Rating on the possibility to buy: 60 percent  

Clearly Liverpool need a left back, and they plan to spend sensibly in the summer. Taye Taiwo is an ideal match for the Reds in such circumstances.

The marauding Nigerian left back has made it clear that he wants to leave his current club Marseille in favor of a bigger club in the summer window, and with his contract expiring in the summer, the Reds could easily get a top notch international player for free.

The move could not only provide strength and stabilty to the vulnerable left back position of the Reds but could also free up a lot of cash which they could instead spend on strengthening some other aspects of the squad.

Rating on the possibility to buy: 60 percent

No sooner did Damien Comolli take his erstwhile position as Director of Football Strategy at Liverpool did he make his intentions clear about going after local talents, and now with Kenny Dalglish looking good for a long-term managerial post at the club, the recruitment of English talent seems pretty obvious.

Keeping the foresaid picture in mind, it is easy to see why Liverpool would be interested in nabbing up one of the hottest properties in English Football in Connor Wickham, the 18-year-old Ipswich Town starlet.

Obviously, Wickham would not be a must buy this summer as he would surely not be bought for the starting squad but would be eased into the squad and would also qualify as a home grown talent.

Rating on the possibility to buy: 40 percent

The Bolton Wanderers centre back has clearly snatched all the news and attraction when it comes to rumors surrounding the defense department in the Premier League.

With interests from Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City already doing the rounds, Liverpool may find it really tough to get a good deal for the English International, especially with City ready to splash the cash if need be.

However, should the interest in the player drop in the build up to the summer transfer window Liverpool should be able to compete for the signature of the player who could be a much needed reinforcement to the Reds defence.

Rating on the possibility to buy: 60 percent

Some reports doing the rounds suggest that Liverpool are well aware that they need to strengthen their defense this summer, and with their No. 1 target Gary Cahill expected to set up a bidding war, looking elsewhere would be a sensible option.

It is here that Liverpool seem to have sorted out Mamadou Sakho as their main target should they fail in their bid to land Gary Cahill.

Mamadou Sakho, the 21 year-old French center back has responded to rumors saying that he is happy to stay in France longer, however, as is often the case, things turn out to be very different when an official bid comes in.

Rating on the possibility to buy: 50 percent

In recent days , one of the most rumored left backs linked with the Reds has been Newcastle United's Jose Enrique.

Although Newcastle has not been brilliant defensively this season, Jose Enrique has been a permanent figure in Newcastle United's defense this season and has surely been impressive enough to attract interest from the Reds.

The 25-year-old former Valencia and Villareal player would surely enjoy the company of a host of Spanish-speaking players at Liverpool should the deal go through and thus help the Reds improve their defensive staff, which has been pretty dismal this season especially in the left back position (and under Roy Hodgson).

Rating on the possibility to buy: 80 percent

Liverpool's pursuit of the brilliant Blackpool skipper Charlie Adam in the winter window is not unknown to anybody interested in the Premier league. 

The Tangerine however managed to keep hold of their star man during that time hoping to fight to stay up among the Premier League elites banking on the Scottish International. However, things have not been as rosy for the Bloomfield Road outfit ever since as they failed to match their early season form and currently lie 18th and are seriously considered a relegation candidate.

Whatever be the outcome of their battle for survival in the last few games in the League, Charlie Adam's future seems to destined for a bigger club than Blackpool.

A host of clubs have kept a close look on the 25-year-old former Ranger man, and Liverpool seem to be one of the most interested parties.The Scot clearly has great abilities in dead ball situations and also has good leadership skills all of which could be an invaluable asset for the Reds in their next season as they prepare to challenge for bigger honors.

Rating on the possibility to buy: 70 percent

If reports are to be believed, it is now clear that Liverpool have singled out Ashley Young as their No. 1 attacking enforcement this summer.

The Villan has been subject to a long term interest from the Reds who desperately need to strengthen the left wing and midfield, and this time it looks like with new owners ready to supply the necessary cash in the summer, Liverpool should be able to finally get their man inspite of interests in the player from Manchester United and Tottenham.

The former Watford man has been a real find by former Villa manager Martin O'Neill and has been a real star in the Premier League. It is this invaluable experience that makes Ashley Young such an important player and in such demand.

Even Damien Comolli made it clear in January that Liverpool were clearly looking get hold of Young if he was in the market, and although Aston Villa would be very reluctant to let their man go, with Young refusing to sign an extension to his contract which expires next summer, the Villans would do better by selling their star player for a good value rather than let him go for free next summer.

Rating on the possibility to buy: 80 percent