Five players Klopp could bring to the Kop

Five players who could return Liverpool to the top four under Klopp

With Jurgen Klopp in advanced talks with Liverpool about their managerial vacancy, here are five players who the German coach could bring with him to Anfield.

The former Borussia Dortmund coach is set to be officially be announced as Brendan Rodgers successor on Friday, according to a number of sources.

Here are five of Klopp‘s former players who could improve Liverpool‘s chances of returning to Europe’s elite tournament and help challenge for the Premier League title.

Marco Reus

The Germany international is entering the peak of his career and would most likely be looking for a better opportunity than the one Liverpool currently present, if they are to prize him away from his boyhood club.

Reus, 26, is a versatile player who can play on the wing, up front or as a number 10, who could provide Liverpool with more attacking flair depending on whether they can get Christian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge working well as a partnership up front together.

Should Phillipe Countinho leave Liverpool next summer, as some newspapers are suggesting, he could also fill the creative gap in midfield.

He possesses skill, quality ball control and better still, can turn a single point into three with moments of magic that have helped Dortmund on numerous occasions.

It would be an incredible move if the Reds were to capture the German’s services, who had been tipped to join Barcelona this summer, while Arsenal also showed an interest.

Reus was apparently ‘flattered’ by being linked to Anfield this summer, which gives the Kop some glimmer of hope that a deal could be done.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Yet another Arsenal target, who had been linked with a move to the Emirates this summer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has set alight the Bundesliga this season, becoming the first ever player to score in six consecutive Bundesliga games.

Liverpool aren’t reportedly after the Gabon international, but he would be a valuable addition to an attack-minded Liverpool side and would surely work well under former coach Jurgen Klopp.

Having stumbled early in his Dortmund career, Aubameyang has now scored in all but one of his 11 appearances for Dortmund this season, that being against FK Krasnodar in the Europa League.

If Liverpool are looking for injury-free back up to Sturridge, Aubameyang is Klopp’s man having scored 10 goals from 13 shots on target this season, on the back of 25 goals last campaign.

His frightening pace would suit the Premier League, suit Klopp and help Liverpool in every attacking sense, especially if they could acquire Reus also.

“We get on well off the pitch, which naturally contributes to how we play together,” Aubameyang said of his friend Reus.

Mats Hummels

Okay, Liverpool are certainly could not complete all five of these Dortmund signings, but the one they need the most if Hummels.

The Reds aren’t great at the back, and if they could match the quality they have up front in defence, then they could contend with the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

However, United have been keen on Hummels for a while, and it seems likely that if he was to leave, it could be the north west, but Old Trafford rather than Anfield.

That aside, Klopp had worked with Hummels before and could persuade the 26-year-old to team up with him at Anfield.

Boasting a rate of 88% tackles won and an 84% pass accuracy, Hummels isn’t just the heart of the Dortmund defence, but helps set up attacks and plays stylishly from the back.

His contract runs until 2017, so therefore could cost Liverpool some serious money, but anything would be better than the £18 million they shelled out on Mamadou Sakho, surely?

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

It is another former Liverpool target and another who has shown respect for Liverpool, but could they persuade the Armenia international to the Premier League with the Reds?

Playing as either an attacking midfielder or winger, Mkhitaryan has scored three goals in eight games this season, can dribble well and has a strong finish which would again, strengthen Liverpool’s forward options. But would he really be strengthening an area for Liverpool or just creating further midfield options.

Midfield is probably the least of the Reds worries and Mkhitaryan is known for periods of inconsistency, something Liverpool could do without in their current situation.

But the Dortmund winger did have this to say, about the club who were close to a deal for the player in 2013: “Liverpool have a long and illustrious past – but BVB are successful today,”

Could Klopp tempt Mkitaryan to Anfield, following on from the success the 48-year-old German had at Dortmund?

Ilkay Gundogan

Once referred to as world class, injury has prevented the German from going on to prove that. But at 24, would a new challenge abroad at a club that is underachieving by his standards be the place to prove really how good he is?

He is known for his precision passing, reading the game well, and his pass accuracy this season is currently at 88%. Something Andres Iniesta and Xavi would be impressed with.

But once again, it’s whether the Dortmund star would trade Champions League football for a new project in the Premier League with one of England’s sleeping giants.