Liverpool transfers: ‘Rodgers must sign a winger to free up Coutinho’

John Aldridge has urged Brendan Rodgers to make signing a top-quality winger Liverpool’s number one priority in the January transfer window.

The Reds have been heavily linked with a swoop for FC Basel star Mohamed Salah in recent weeks, with the Egyptian also having been touted as a target for Manchester United and Tottenham.

And former Liverpool striker Aldridge would like to see the Merseyside club splash the cash to bring in a player of Salah’s quality to give Philippe Coutinho a free reign in the No10 position.

I’d like to see the manager sign a really good winger in order to free up Coutinho

John Aldridge

“Sunday’s game underlined the need to improve the depth of the squad this month,” Aldridge wrote in his Liverpool Echo column.

“I’d like to see the manager sign a really good winger in order to free up Coutinho to play through the middle.

“We also need a left-back and another option in the centre of midfield – someone strong and quick like a Mousa Dembele type of player.”

Liverpool, who are fourth in the Premier League table, have also been linked with a surprise swoop for ex-Chelsea winger Salomon Kalou in recent days.