It has become accepted wisdom that you don’t place too much attention on the January transfer window unless you’re really in trouble. The right players aren’t available and those who are will probably cost far more than they are worth. That much was recently outlined by Liverpool’s CEO Rick Parry, serving as indication that there weren’t many moves in line for Rafael Benitez’s side.

Yet some of Benitez’s best transfer moves have been made during January: Daniel Agger, Alvaro Arbeloa and Martin Skrtel were all brought in during the mid-season transfer window. Even allowing for a couple of spectacular misses – Fernando Morientes anyone? – that is an impressive tradition.

Of course, if Liverpool have an such move lined up this year, we won’t know about it until it is done because the common element between those three transfers is that very little was known of either one of the players. The assumption, therefore, is that any new player is unlikely to be well known.

Which sort of defeats the purpose of an article intended at trying to second guess who Liverpool are going to buy. So rather than do that, it is probably better to see which sort of player Benitez is likely to look out for.

The implication that a club that is currently top of the league might need too many players is slightly churlish: indeed it could be argued that Liverpool’s first team doesn’t need any new faces, certainly not from the players who are likely to be available at this stage of the season.

Yet, as Benitez’s constant team changes show, this is now a squad sport and here is where Liverpool have been found lacking. Whenever he wants to change things out wide, Benitez has had to turn to Nabil El Zhar and whilst the Moroccan is a decent player, he is not the sort who can really change games. Same goes up front where David N’Gog lacks the experience to make much of an impact.

All of which would explain the interest in someone like Emile Heskey. Put aside that the England striker could be available at a fee that is within Liverpool’s limitations, he offers Benitez all sorts of options. Indeed the fact that Heskey can be used on both sides of midfield as much as he can as a striker makes him an enticing choice despite his mediocre goalscoring ratio.

Which, thinking about it, would give Liverpool another Dirk Kuyt, a player whose work rate and tactical flexibility has made him practically undrop-able for Benitez. Given that the Dutchman’s presence has become much more appreciated by the fans these past few months, perhaps the scepticism that has met the rumours about Heskey will fade away if he becomes as effective.

But, whilst he may become an acceptable choice for the fans, the real question is whether Heskey would be willing to accept being a squad player. His improvement at Wigan has come about largely because he is playing every week so it remains to be seen whether he would be willing to forgo that for a final shot at glory.

Don't think that Emile Heskey is a good option for Liverpool? Who should Rafael Benitez sign this January? Leave a comment with your opinions.