4. Bent, Darren
Current team: Aston Villa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT6ItJlA37g Many believe that the Englishman is the most natural fit for BR's side. He's been linked with Liverpool for the last couple of transfer windows but nothing concrete has ever appeared. Many were surprised when Villa plumped up with their £18 million bid to take him away from Sunderland but in my opinion he has been nothing short of a success with a goal scoring record only just under 1 goal in every 2 games. He's the one touch, fox in the box that Liverpool have needed since Torres lost his form and in my opinion there's not many better at it that Darren Bent.
Would He Fit The Role?
I personally think his situation is similar to Huntelaar's with regard to forcing Suarez to play out wide as Bent can play nowhere other than at the pinnacle of a team's forward line. So, again it's a compromise which may hinge on the shoulders of Luis Suarez and/or whether the deal would be a loan or permanent deal. If it's a loan deal then BR would be justified in playing Bent from the bench and therefore keeping Suarez in his favoured central role. This would allow BR to rest Suarez for Europa League knockout and FA Cup games whilst Bent would still give Liverpool realistic options up front rather than playing Shelvey in the "false 9" role or playing Morgan and Yesil, both of whom have a big lack of experience at top level football. In my opinion, Liverpool's squad has enough of every other type of player. Now, I see you all raise your eyebrows in despair but hear me out. There's the hard workers of the team, the donkeys who work 'til they're sweating blood and at Liverpool this role is taken up by Henderson, the immense Lucas, Suarez, Captain Fantastic himself and Joe Allen. These players will run themselves into the ground for the team, so Liverpool don't need much more there - a bit more quality maybe, but they have enough to get by. Then there's the skilled dribblers, who I believe to be: Suarez, Enrique, Johnson and young Sterling. So, what are Liverpool missing to balance the squad and help the variety? In my opinion, a goal hanger. Pure and simple. The lazy striker who barely tracks back and only runs if it's to latch onto a through-ball. Liverpool have missed this kind of player for a long time and I believe Bent fits the profile - much like Hernandez at United. Would he fit? Definitely.
What's The Likelihood?
In my opinion, I think this signing is the second most likely one on this list. For a start he's not fancied by Paul Lambert so Villa may be looking to cash-in or shift a sulky squad player to create better harmony - this puts him in the shop window and therefore open to offers. Ok, he's got a lowish work rate but a loan deal might make a great deal of sense. Liverpool can try the striker out first - thus no gamble and win-win-win for Bent, Villa and BR. Bent also has a proven Premier League record and no fan can deny it. He's scored goals at Villa (before Lambert), Sunderland and Spurs so I believe he'd succeed at Liverpool with the supply of Suarez, Sterling and Gerrard.
Likelihood = 7/10 - Decent possibility.