The Reds are missing someone who can change a game on his own according to their former defender, who has pinpointed the BVB star as the ideal transfer target
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes the club need a player who can change a game on his own and has identified Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus as an ideal signing.
The Reds spent the winter searching for a wide reinforcement to reinforce the attacking options available to Jurgen Klopp but primary transfer target Alex Teixeira opted for a move to Chinese Super League Club Jiangsu Suning over Anfield.
And Carragher feels the void is a troubling one for Liverpool as they aim to re-establish themselves in the Premier League title reckoning and tipped Klopp's former protege Reus as a signing who could leave them competing for honours again.
"The squad lacks a top player who can have an immediate impact," the side's former defender told Sport Bild. "I’d like to see Dortmund’s Marco Reus on the wing. He’d be a great fit.
"Add a forward and central midfielder to it and you can build on it.”
Despite admitting the weakness in Liverpool's ranks, Carragher nevertheless stated he felt the outfit were right to abandon the move for Teixeira once they became sucked into a bidding war with Jiangsu.
The defender-turned-pundit also lamented the inflated transfer rates Premier League teams are being made to pay today, adding: "I think it’s good that Klopp did not stay the pace [for Teixeira].
"It was profiteering, and he passed on the quickfire solution. Klopp is still analysing the squad. And he brought in a great reinforcement in Joel Matip on a free.
“A lot of that [TV] money is wasted. A lot of average players were signed for way too much, and the wages were out of proportion.
"When an English club knocks on a door in Europe, they just add five or 10 million on top of the transfer fee. They milk it.”
Carragher also claimed Klopp can kickstart a new Liverpool era of success at the club if he led them to Capital One Cup triumph against Manchester City on Sunday.
Asked whether the German boss was under pressure to win the prize, the 38-year-old repliied: "I don't think so.
"But should he win his first trophy only five months into his reign he would achieve something that Brendan Rodgers did not achieve in over three years, despite spending millions.
“Klopp beat City 4-1 away from home in the league. Should he replicate that, he won’t be asked a lot of questions about his work in the upcoming weeks.
"Liverpool’s goal has to be to become a regular in the Champions League. That’ll be difficult enough, because many other Premier League clubs will also pursue that goal in the next couple of years.
“But the atmosphere in the team is fantastic, just like back in the day. The players are fully behind Klopp. I would have loved to have been coached by him.
“With this squad, Klopp can target a finish between fifth and eighth. The depth of the squad is just not good enough for more, but nobody expects more.
“It’s not Klopp’s team - he has to work with what Rodgers left him. Also, at Liverpool a lot of money was spent and the result was negligible. That’s why the coach was changed.”
- Goal