Liverpool will return to action this weekend when they take on Shrewsbury Town of League One in the FA Cup third round, but it remains to be seen what sort of line-up Jurgen Klopp will be able to field.
In the aftermath of the first leg of the Reds' League Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal being postponed due to the club's Covid-induced carnage, the Premier League have ordered all teams to play, even if that means fielding youngsters.
The Anfield club reopened their Kirkby training base on Friday just in time for the FA Cup clash, with Peter Krawietz, another of Klopp's right-hand men, overseeing preparations, as the German manager's prolonged absence continues.
With Covid causing havoc and the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane away at the African Cup of Nations, Liverpool are being heavily tipped to bolster their squad this January with short-term and long-term planning in mind.
The Reds are set for a busy month of transfer business, with a number of incomings and outgoings expected, and Mirror Football brings you all the latest gossip coming out of Anfield.
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Danjuma release clause revealed
Talk of forward cover being recruited to compensate for Salah and Mane's absence this month has hogged the headlines in recent weeks and the Reds' have been dealt another blow in their pursuit of a target.
After reports of a deal for Porto's Luis Diaz were deemed wide of the mark, the release clause of another attacking option in Villarreal 's Arnaut Danjuma has been revealed, and it's an hefty one.
According to The Athletic, the flying Dutchman would set Liverpool back a reported €75million (£62.6m) should they wish to buy him out of his current contract.
The Reds are believed to have expressed an interest in the winger, who only joined the La Liga outfit in the summer, but are unlikely to be willing to meet such a high figure.
In addition, Danjuma himself, who has netted nine times in 18 appearances for the Yellow Submarine since joining from Bournemouth for £21.3m in August, is said to be happy in Spain, quashing suggestions he could make the move to Anfield this month.
Tchouameni talk
While discussions over the potential signing of a new attacker have dominated Liverpool gossip columns in recent weeks, another area in which the Reds may well strengthen in the near future is in midfield.
And according to The Athletic, Monaco talent Aurelien Tchouameni is one of the candidates being considered as a long-term option in the middle of the park.
Reports claim that the Reds are keen to plan for the future having seen Gini Wijnaldum depart in 2021 and James Milner enter the final six months of his contract.
In addition, both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita only have 18 months remaining on their current deals.
Tchouameni has established himself as one of Europe's most promising midfield talents and Liverpool face stiff competition for the 21-year-old, who is also attacking interest from rivals Manchester United, as the battle for his services is set to intensify this summer.
Origi on his way out?
Liverpool may well be exploring the possibility of potential signings this month, but they also face losing a number of the squad's fringe players, and striker Divock Origi is one of those in demand.
Amid reports that Origi would prefer a Premier League stay over a move to Serie A, Newcastle are reportedly ready to step up their interest in the Belgian as they target forward reinforcements.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the Magpies are considering Origi, as well as former Red Dominic Solanke, as they look to recruit some attacking cover following an injury to star striker Callum Wilson.
The Premier League strugglers, who have unveiled Kieran Trippier as their first signing of the new Saudi-ownership era, are reportedly contemplating a £7m bid for the 26-year-old.
It is believed that Klopp will not stand in the way if his valuation is met for Origi, who has a rumoured six months left on his current deal, though his contract is said to include an option for Liverpool to extend.
