As we enter the home stretch of the January transfer window, there are still plenty of betting offers available as to potential player moves prior to the end of business for clubs in England at 23:00 GMT on Wednesday, 31st January.
The January transfer window has always been widely regarded as being the one in which the clubs in the lower reaches of the Premier League take centre stage, but things have changed.  The summer transfer window saw the bar raised by the deal that took Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and the knock-on effect had a definite impact on Liverpool.
The Reds were at the forefront of the big money deals when the current window opened for business, with Philippe Coutinho’s £142 million (including add-ons) move to Barcelona coming just days after Virgil van Dijk headed for Liverpool from Southampton for £75 million.
It was looking increasingly as though Jurgen Klopp would be content with what he had at his disposal until the summer. Â However, a couple of surprising and damaging defeats in quick succession at Swansea City in the Premier League and at home to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup may have changed his thinking on the matter.
The impetus from a significant new addition could potentially be the difference between a top four Premier League finish and dropping back into the Europa League next season.
Scottish left-back Tony Gallacher recently joined from Falkirk in a deal worth £200,000. However, with the 18-year old destined for Neil Critchley’s Under-23s squad, he is one for the future. It would be fair to say that not even the best online betting offers would have been much use had you wanted to bet on that particular transfer taking place.
According to the bookies, the most likely new high-profile recruit would appear to be a creative midfielder/ attacker or goalkeeper.  For example, Monaco’s much sought-after Thomas Lemar is only odds of 4/1 to join the Reds before the close of the January transfer window with Paddy Power, although probably not at the currently reported £90 million asking price.
Likewise, it would seem too late to agree any deal with Atletico Madrid for Antoine Griezmann, another 4/1 shot with the aforementioned Irish bookmaker (but a far more backable 20/1 with Ladbrokes) – an indication of how volatile the transfer betting markets can be.
Roma’s Brazilian No.1 Alisson seems to be the favoured goalkeeper target, but with a reported bid having been rejected, it could yet be the summer before there is any new custodian of note between the sticks.
