Three Championship players Liverpool should look at in January

Liverpool added further silverware to their trophy cabinet by winning the Club World Championship by seeing off Flamengo in Doha. The Reds are becoming the most dominant side in the game after adding the world title to their Champions League crown. 

Jurgen Klopp’s men are on course to end their title drought in England after 30 long years without the trophy. Everything is perfect at Anfield at the moment, and the prospect of the January transfer window will allow the German to plug up any potential holes in his squad – or better yet plan for the future to ensure that the club remain at the top of the Premier League.

The Championship has a mine of young quality players available to the Reds, and here are three players that could appeal to Klopp to become part of his squad.

Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)

Phillips is one of the most-sought players on the market in the second tier due to the quality of his performances for the Whites. However, the 24-year-old has insisted that he will remain at Elland Road, especially considering that Leeds are the leading contenders in the Championship betting odds to be promoted to the Premier League. Having come through the academy at the Yorkshire outfit, Phillips won't be easily swayed. 

Liverpool should be in the market for a midfielder as Jordan Henderson is approaching his thirties, while James Milner is nearing the end of his career at the top. Phillips provides the same energy and combative edge needed to thrive in the middle of the park. It might take a fee in the region of £20m to lure him to Anfield, but it worked in the past for Henderson.

Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers)

Eze is a player on the rise in the Championship, offering a goalscoring threat from the midfield. The 21-year-old has taken a huge step forward in his development under the tenure of Mark Warburton at Loftus Road. Eze has come through the ranks with the club and has found his form with devastating effect, leading the R’s in the goal column at time of writing by scoring nine strikes in 21 appearances this term. 

He has made three appearances for the England Under-21s and will still be a work in progress should the Reds move for him, but there is undoubted potential and is a different player from what Klopp currently has in the middle of the park. They could face competition from Tottenham, pressing the need for Liverpool to be assertive.

Ollie Watkins (Brentford)

Watkins has developed this season, adding a clinical edge to his game that was in need of refining in his previous two years at Griffin Park. At the age of 23, he’s ready for the step up to the top flight, and he has been linked with Sheffield United and Crystal Palace. However, Watkins has a lot of potential and has the ability to play across all three spots in the front three. 

That could appeal to Klopp to provide Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane with respite at times, especially the latter, who has played a lot of matches this term. Watkins has scored 13 goals in 23 games in the second tier and he should have no problem elevating the level of his game for the Premier League.