The summer transfer window may have only just slammed shut but we at Football FanCast are already looking forward to January.

And it appears Liverpool are too, despite spending almost £120million on inward signings this summer. The Reds added well to consolidate themselves after claiming a runner-up finish in the Premier League last season, bringing in the likes of Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic and Mario Balotelli to name a few.

But if the Anfield side are to retain their Champions League spot this year, further recruitment in 2015 is needed. The tabloids are already filled with a plethora of speculation regarding winter arrivals on Merseyside, and being the lovely bunch we are, we’ve listed FIVE of them.

So without further ado, here’s the FIVE January deals that have already caught Brendan Rodgers’ eye.

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PEDRO

Liverpool came close to signing Barcelona forward Pedro this summer, so news that the Spain international is reportedly disillusioned at the Nou Camp will undoubtedly have pricked Brendan Rodgers’ ears:

The 27 year-old winger-forward has been part of the Nou Camp tapestry for some time; he’s won eight major honours with Barca since his 2008 debut and in that time has amassed 102 goals in just over 300 appearances. But he’s yet to manage a full ninety minutes under new Catalans boss Luis Enrique and is allegedly concerned that his game-time will be further slashed when Luis Suarez returns from his four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. There’s no doubting Pedro’s pedigree – as well as consistently claiming titles with Barcelona, he’s picked up World Cup and European Championship medals with Spain. Here’s a look at his Top Ten goals: //www.youtube.com/embed/YO3qqjzFJxQ?rel=0 A versatile forward with endless stamina and a clinical eye for goal, the Rojo star could be the talismanic attacker Liverpool’s squad is desperately calling out for. He’s well proven in the Champions League too. But Arsenal remain equally interested and will provide strong competition for his signature.

EZEQUEIL LAVEZZI

Another winger-forward option known to be on Liverpool’s radar is PSG’s Ezequiel Lavezzi:

The Argentina international was a potent performer at former club Napoli and has likewise provided an important contribution to the Parisians’ escapades in Ligue 1 and Europe over the last two seasons, as detailed below:

He also netting this thumping strike against Chelsea last term:

But he’s growing disillusioned at playing second fiddle to prolific duo Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and is resultantly widely expected not to renew his contract in the French capital, which expires at the end of next season. Thus, The Express claim Liverpool are poised to make an offer in January, with PSG looking increasingly likely to sell. The 29 year-old would certainly be an impressive addition for the Reds, with his mixture of pace, technical quality and goal-threat suiting Brendan Rodgers’ philosophy perfectly. Here’s a look at some of the attacker’s best goals: //www.youtube.com/embed/sM19XM03ShE?rel=0

ANTONIO CANDREVA

According to the tabloids, Liverpool are prepared to follow up on their £120million spent this summer with a £24million swoop for Lazio star Antonio Candreva in January:

If there’s one notable gap in the Liverpool roster, it’s the absence of established quality on the flanks.

Candreva is primarily considered a No.10, but his rave reviews over the last few seasons have been earned through his ability to impact from wide positions – this World Cup assist to Mario Balotelli against England being a classic example:

The Italy international was in potent form last season, as detailed below:

And has carried that into the current campaign:

Capable of scoring goals or creating them and famed for his blistering pace, the 27 year-old would fit Liverpool’s current philosophy well. But Arsenal, Spurs and Juventus have all been linked since the end of the summer window, whilst other speculation suggests Lazio are about to offer Candreva an improved contract:

XHERDAN SHAQIRI

Liverpool already possess a plethora of talent in attacking midfield but Brendan Rodgers will find the opportunity to snap up long-term Reds target Xherdan Shaqiri impossible to ignore in January.

The attacking midfielder has proved himself a useful cameo performer for Bayern Munich following his move from FC Basel in 2011, finding six goals and two assists in 17 Bundesliga outings last season. The Switzerland international was in strong form at the World Cup too, as detailed below:

But having a world-class roster to contend with for a regular place in the Bavarians first team, the 22 year-old is concerned that his progress is being stifled at the Allianz Arena. Shaqiri was the subject of several bids from Anfield throughout the summer, having been on Rodgers’ radar for some time, but the German champions refused to sell. His brother and agent recently informed Kicker magazine however; ” In the summer there was no chance of leaving. But in the winter, there’s a strong possibility, and we will look to see how many games Xherdan has played by then.” That gives the Reds a fantastic opportunity to weigh in for the £15million-rated midfielder, who has also been linked to Spurs and Atletico Madrid in the past year. Here’s a look at Shaqiri in action: //www.youtube.com/embed/tvXakNsBBSQ

JAMES MILNER

Brendan Rodgers loves to vary his tactics and earlier in the summer called for ‘multipurpose additions’ to his Liverpool squad. The likes of Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Lazar Markovic certainly meet that requirement but recent speculation suggests Liverpool could make another versatile acquisition in January in the form of Manchester City’s James Milner:

The England international has been deployed in wide, central and holding midfield roles throughout his career and Roy Hodgson even tested him at right-back against Ecuador in a pre-World Cup friendly.

Milner may not be the most exciting midfielder the Premier League has ever witnessed. In fact, he’s so consistently dull that parody twitter page ‘Boring James Milner’ has developed a huge online following:

But the 28 year-old offers great experience, hard-graft and quality, such as this goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season:

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Furthermore, the former Aston Villa star’s contract is up at the end of the season and he’s reportedly holding out on a new deal. That could apparently see him leave the Etihad for as little as £5million.

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