Goal.com Summer Shopping: Who Should Liverpool Buy?

(taken from goal.com)

Goalkeepers
Between the sticks, Liverpool have arguably the best goalkeeper in the League in Reina, and perhaps Benitez’s best signing thus far, and the Reds certainly don't need to look for a replacement for the Spaniard.

In reserve, Brazilian stopper Diego Cavalieri is an adequate understudy. The ambitious 28-year-old is seemingly more composed than the back-up goalkeepers at rival clubs - Arsenal’s Lukasz Fabianksi springs to mind - and the Reds can feel confident that they house enough quality in this vital department.

Defence

Liverpool’s back-line would certainly welcome some reinforcements, if not just the acquisition of stronger understudies.

In terms of centre-backs, Benitez has four senior options at his disposal, in the shape of Carragher, Daniel Agger, Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Martin Skrtel. However, with Carragher (32) and Kyrgiakos (30) not getting any younger, an extra addition would be useful to the Liverpool tactician.

On Tuesday, Goal.com UK revealed that reported target Simon Kjaer is open to a move to the Premier League, after agent Mikkel Beck revealed that his client: "Is ready to leave for sure, and he is already ready to play in a big team.”

The Palermo centre-back has a £10 million release clause in his contract, an interesting proposition for a Liverpool side not blessed with a wealth of excess change. However, with full-back Fabio Aurelio set to leave the club, and with Carragher and Agger likely to get the nod ahead of the 21-year-old Dane (should he sign), Benitez may feel that the money could be better spent elsewhere.

City Light | Onuoha could prove a surprise bonus

An option for the Spaniard could be Manchester City’s Nedum Onuoha. The talented 23-year-old seems surplus to requirements at Eastlands, and with 113 senior appearances under his belt, including 94 Premier League matches, would certainly need no time to settle into the league.

But more importantly, the versatility of the former England Under-21 international would make him an attractive signing for the Reds, with Onuoha able to play anywhere across the back-line. Not only would he offer competition to Agger and Insua, he would also prevent Javier Mascherano from having to fill-in at right-back whenever Glen Johnson is sidelined.

Midfield

On paper, Liverpool appear fairly healthy in the midfield department. Nonetheless, unsavoury relationships between Benitez and players such as Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun seem destined to end in a similar fashion to that of exiled winger Albert Riera, and their departures could help fund significant team improvement.

For whatever reason, Benitez has never seemed convinced with the Israeli; and with other clubs willing to snap-up the midfielder, the Spaniard may as well use his sale to finance new signings.

Rumoured summer departures of Gerrard and Mascherano seem unlikely; the latter is set to miss-out on a move to Barcelona with the La Liga giants focusing their crosshairs on Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, so Benitez has the opportunity to turn a malfunctioning midfield into a mouth-watering machine.

It’s simple, Liverpool need width and a confident, ball-playing midfielder. With Joe Cole’s Chelsea future hanging in the balance, the Merseyside giants should pull-out all the stops to acquire the talented England man, who would be available on a free-transfer, and help solve their left-sided problems, as well as adding extra attacking options in the centre of the park.

Another option for the Reds would be Atletico Madrid's Simao, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent weeks, and would cost around £8 million.

Cole Coup | Chelsea man should be No.1 target

Again, the Reds should look to prise talent from neighbours City, and with Mancini’s side going all-out to sign James Milner, Stephen Ireland would prove a great addition for the Anfield club, adding not only the creative spark which their midfield craves, but an extra goal threat in the process.

However, the club, as revealed by Goal.com, may look to acquire Valencia’s Ever Banega for around £8.5 million. An astute piece of business for sure, but with Alberto Aquilani, a player of doubtless quality, having already shown the difficulties international stars have adapting to the Premier League, capturing a proven star would be a wiser option.

Attack

Liverpool desperately need extra attacking options. In Fernando Torres, they have one of the world’s best strikers, but the Spaniard, who has suffered with injuries this season, cannot do it alone.

Benitez has looked to solve the problem, with the forthcoming addition of Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic, who is set to join in the summer, but the club could do with some extra experience in the forward line.

With youngsters David N’Gog and Nabil El Zhar having been thrown in at the deep-end this season in Torres’ absence, a cool head to work alongside, both on and off the pitch, would prove invaluable. It would also allow for the young strikers to be sent out on loan to gain some valuable first-team experience.

Real Madrid legend Raul has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield, and would certainly fit the bill, but another of La Liga’s ‘old hands’ would prove a more useful signing, especially in Torres’ absence.

Old Hands | Henry would add a wealth of experience

The future of Barcelona’s Thierry Henry is yet to be confirmed, although a move away from Camp Nou is widely expected. The former Arsenal man, linked with a move to MLS side New York Red Bulls, once famously praised the emotion of the Anfield fans, and a final stint in England’s top-flight could prove too tempting to turn-down.

However, the touching welcome offered to Shay Given by the Reds fans after Henry’s infamous handball in the World Cup qualifier against Ireland could see the Frenchman’s perception of the Anfield crowd change somewhat, and more likely, theirs towards him.