Journalist claims Liverpool ready to buy 'top-level' forward in January

Liverpool have “significant money” set aside to sign a top-quality forward in January, according to Duncan Castles.

The Reds currently boast one of the most dangerous front-lines in world football.

However, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are set to play in the Africa Cup of Nations early next year.

In addition, Salah and Mane are both 29, while Roberto Firmino is 30.

Therefore, there’s scope for Jurgen Klopp to look for players who can compete with them in the short term and be their successors in the long term.

With the January transfer window on the horizon, Liverpool could potentially look to bolster their attacking ranks.

Admittedly, not many clubs will part company with their top players mid-season if they can avoid it.

Nonetheless, Liverpool are willing and ready to spend big to land a “top-level” forward, according to Castles.

Liverpool may have to wait for Luis Diaz

That said, the journalist believes Anfield’s purported top target, Luis Diaz, is more likely to join in summer.

“Liverpool have a budget and are targeting a top-level forward,” Castles told the Transfer Window podcast.

“So significant money to spend to improve that position.

“They’re ready to do it in January if the right player becomes available in the January window.

“If not, they will definitely do something in the summer if they have to wait on a particular player.

“And this player who is one of the candidates, it seems more likely they’ll have to wait until the summer to get him, is Luis Diaz at Porto.

“The difficulty for January is that I’m told Porto will not sell mid-season. He’s too important to the team.

“It would be unacceptable to the Porto supporters [to sell now] and they want to win the Portuguese league.

“So they say they’ve had no direct contact from Liverpool at this stage.

“They are aware though that Liverpool have been in contact with the player.

“However, their position is ‘we won’t sell in January, come back again in the summer’.”