Johnson replacement in sight?

The January transfer window is just about ten days away, with the rumour mill going of it's hinges.

Even if it has been said Liverpool do not need or want to sell players, one or two might find the way out of Anfield. One player that has not been of the best this season is Christian Poulsen. He might be headed for London.

According to Goal.com West Ham manager Avram Grant want to move for the Liverpool flop if he avoids sack until January

If another player disapears in January, Hodgson apparently has his replacement in sight... 

Roy Hodgson has apparently decided to get rid of Glen Johnson after all, and has set his sights on Russian right back Alexander Anyukov to replace him, FootballTransferTavern reports.

After the Liverpool boss’ very public criticism of Johnson’s form, it was thought the England right back would be on his way out of Anfield come January, and despite club press releases to the contrary, it looks as though the relationship between player and manager is beyond repair.

The Daily Mail has reported Hodgson’s interest in Alexander Anyukov, who currently plays for Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg. The 28-year-old is a very experienced professional, including 54 caps for his country, and may bring a bit of stability to Liverpool’s back line.

Anyukov is valued by his club at around £10m, which Liverpool would hope to recoup from Glen Johnson’s transfer.


Liverpool seems to be bringing in two young players in Millwall’s youth goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin and Swedish striker Kristoffer Peterson from Savedalens IF.

But the youth recruitment don't stop there...

Liverpool are hoping to sign Inter Milan youngster Davide Santon according to Cauthoffside.

The talented teenage Italian international has been told he can leave the San Siro and a host of clubs are looking to secure his signature and given the much publicised reports of a falling out between Hodgson and England international Glen Johnson the reports of interest in another right back are no surprise.

Santon has spent the past two seasons trying valiantly to fight for his place with the Serie A giants but is now looking for a new challenge and has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League with the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea reportedly interested in the attack minded wide man who can also operate in an advanced right wing role.

Ironically Liverpool’s hopes of signing the £8m rated Inter Milan starlet may be helped if Rafa Benitez, as widely reported, is sacked as the former Anfield boss may not be so keen to sell to a club who gave him the axe.

And apparently the money from a possible Glen Johnson sale can be ending up many different places...

Again Liverpool is being linked with a move for Mancester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips - now funded by the Glen Johnson sale, The Metro reports.

Liverpool's new owners are ready to sanction a move to end Shaun Wright-Phillips’ miserable spell at Manchester City, with Glen Johnson heading to Europe to fund the transfer, they write.

Anfield boss Roy Hodgson wants more pace in his pedestrian midfield and has identified England winger Wright-Phillips as the perfect candidate for that requirement.

The Reds accept defender Glen Johnson is on his way after a breakdown in his relationship with Hodgson, with Bayern Munich joining Juventus and Inter Milan as possible destinations.

And his departure will help fund the move for former Chelsea star Wright-Phillips, who has found his first-team opportunities severely limited under Roberto Mancini.

One transfer rumour that is being dismissed today is that of Russia striker Alexander Kerzhakov, who has told Liverpool he is not the answer to their striker shortage.

Anfield scouts have watched the Zenit St Petersburg striker over the last six months, but he is keen to stay at the newly crowned Russian champions, The Daily Mail say.

- I'm not planning to go anywhere, said Kerzhakov, who was this week named player of the season in Russia.

- I feel at home here and I don't want to move anywhere.

Today's updated rumour is about Birmingham defender Scott Dann.

Now Birmingham reportedly are bracing themselves for a £10 million bid from Liverpool.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Merseysiders have been closely monitoring the 23-year-old who intends to consider his options should an offer be tabled by a serious bidder.

The chance to join the Reds could prove too good to refuse for the the defender who is a Liverpool native and supposedly once had an Anfield season ticket.

There has been growing speculation in recent months that Dann could be on his way to Liverpool after a string of imperious displays at the heart of the defence - and the former Walsall man has admitted to being humbled by the interest in his signature.

- Obviously the speculation linking me with some top clubs in the Premier League is flattering, Dann told skysports.com.

- Ultimately it is my ambition to play at the highest level with a major club like it is for any player, but for the time being I am happy playing at Birmingham and I am focused on doing my best for the club.

Whether a move for Dann comes to fruition remains to be seen, but Liverpool are thought to be in the market for defensive reinforcements next month.

The next Hyypia?

Liverpools new owners NESV today met with the Liverpool organisation, and John W. Henry warned he will not throw money at the club in a bid to solve their problems.

However, undoubtedly there will be spent some money on new players in january.

Todays hottest prospect in the rumour mill is the Norwegian, towering stopper Brede Hangeland.

Former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp believes the club will launch a raid for the Fulham defender in january, Sport.co.uk reports. He is suggesting the Norwegian is the closest thing to Anfield legend Sami Hyypia.

Hodgson’s close relationship with him could aid his endeavours to land Hangeland; if he in january still is the manager of the club. 

- I’m sure Mark Hughes is bracing himself for a bid from former Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, now he has the Red Sox millions behind him at Anfield, Redknap writes in his Daily Mail column.

Another player being linked with a move to Anfield this fine monday is Wigans Charles N'Zogbia.

Birmingham are being tipped to rekindle their interest in the player, but the Frenchman's form so far this season is said to have alerted the Anfield scouts, Metro.co.uk reports.

N'Zogbia was very close to completing a move to Birmingham i august, but the deal never materialized.

Birmingham is reported to be improving on the Wigan winger's £9million price-tag from the summer, but Liverpool will probably have the funds to compete for his signature.

Todays third rumor is about a tall spaniard. Fernando Llorente is said to have been on the Liverpool radar for some time now.

According to the Liver4Liverpool site Chief Scout Eduardo Macia is keeping tabs on the Atletic Bilbao player, keeping Roy Hodgson and the coaching staff informed of the player.

The spaniard currently has a very impressive record at international level with seven goals in twelve games, and is certainly now challenging Torres for a starting place in the Spanish national side.

Last but not least Liverpool is today being linked with the russian international striker Alexander Kerzhakov.

According to The Daily Mail Liverpool scouts watched the 27-year-old striker score for Russia against Ireland last week which followed on from hat-tricks for his club Zenit St Petersburg against Anderlecht in the Europa League and against Saturn Moscow in the Russian league.

Liverpool would be looking at paying around £6million but the player still has three years left on contract.