Five candidates for Liverpool’s ‘final signing’ after Benteke arrives

Do you think we’ll sign another player following Christian Benteke (via the BBC), Reds?

We’ve made a number of fantastic acquisitions already, but we’re still being linked with a host of talented stars – with rumours suggesting we could enter the market to snap up one more player after the deal for the striker is finally done.

Brendan Rodgers may have gotten his business completed early, but if he does dip back into the market it may well be one of these five transfer linked talents that arrive on Merseyside:

5) Asier Illarramendi

Source: Metro

The Metro claims we have already placed a £13.9m bid for the Real Madrid misfit, with the 25-year-old potentially looking for a new challenge.

He has struggled for first-team football at the Bernabeu, but is still a top quality midfielder. The report suggests he is surplus to requirements under new boss Rafa Benitez, so we could get him for a knockdown price.

With Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Emre Can, Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva all competing for starting spots in the three – do we need the Spaniard?

If none of the anchormen perform to required levels, perhaps.

4) Mario Gomez

Source: Metro

Despite the fact that we’ve already added firepower to our squad, the Metro is linking us to former Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez.

He has struggled for form and fitness at Fiorentina, so it would seem a rather strange transfer. At the right price he might be a good back up however, with the German international bringing plenty of experience to the table.

Fabio Borini, Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert are being shipped out – but even so – we’d still have Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings and Divock Origi.

3) Yoann Gourcuff

Source: Express

Another deal that seems somewhat unlikely, the attacking midfielder is well past his best. He was once one of the most talented midfielders in Europe, but injuries have caused him to stagnate somewhat at Lyon.

His contract expired this summer (via the Express), so he would be available on a free. We shouldn’t be wasting money on wages though, especially when Gourcuff is unlikely to get anywhere near the first team.

What’s more, we have attacking midfielders in abundance.

2) Guilherme Siqueira

Source: Express

As the report suggests, the defender has been a long-term target of ours. He is set to leave the club this summer (via the Express) to accommodate the return of Chelsea’s Filipe Luis, which could give us the opening we need to snap up the 29-year-old left-back.

We look to have found an excellent – and surprising – option at left-back in Joe Gomez, but we lack experience in our full-backs.

1) Pedro

Source: Express

Pedro has been heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona recently (via the Express), with his game time severely limited – understandably so with the likes of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, and Neymar ahead of him in the pecking order.

He is still a top quality winger who provides a real goal threat however, and with the report suggesting that he would prefer a move to Anfield over Old Trafford, we could do a lot worse than the La Liga star.

With Lazar Markovic, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, and Jordan Ibe all fighting for spots, you’d argue that we don’t desperately need Pedro. It would however be hard to turn down a player of his quality if he became available.