Liverpool will head into the post-Christmas break needing to greatly improve on their 2022/23 campaign so far.

Under Jurgen Klopp, we have been used to heavy metal football, with the Reds playing with a relentless press, a swashbuckling offensive line and a rock-solid defence.

However this season, it has been all change. The German's side are now a shadow of their former selves. The defence looks as though it'll concede first in every game and without Sadio Mane, the attack has lacked an element of spice.

That's not to suggest those up top have performed badly, though. In fact, they have still performed well with Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino scoring 32 times between.

Yet, the table doesn't lie and at the moment Liverpool sit in sixth place, 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal.

Strengthening in January, therefore, is of utmost importance. Firstly, adding a body of real quality in the middle of the park will be key but despite their wealth of options in the final third, it's a striker who is being linked.

Reports in Italy suggest that Klopp is willing to do anything he can to bring Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic to Merseyside next year.

The Serb was the subject of an intense transfer saga last January with Arsenal keen on bringing him to English football, only for him to make the move to Turin instead after leaving Florence and Fiorentina behind.

Vlahovic, who could cost in the region of a whopping £87m, would be a fine signing and one that could make the club forget about a certain Cody Gakpo, another player linked with the Reds in recent times.

The Dutch star is very much the talk of the town this season and has followed up a remarkable haul of 13 goals and 17 assists for PSV with three further strikes at the World Cup in Qatar.

Gakpo has been the breakout star of the tournament and as such, is likely to command quite the bidding war in the January window.

Thus, Liverpool might well be wise to turn their attentions elsewhere to Vlahovic, a man who has also impressed on the biggest of stages in the last fortnight.

The 22-year-old didn't start all of Serbia's games but came up trumps when his nation needed him most, with the dominant 6 foot 3 attacker finding the net against Switzerland in their final group game.

His country didn't end up going through but big goals seem to follow Vlahovic, a trait Klopp would only be too delighted to have in his armoury.

Perhaps the best appraisal you can give the Juventus ace is that he is like the Premier League's top scorer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones once stated that he is "a bit like Haaland" with that comparison having seemingly followed him around since he burst onto the scene.

Nenad Bjekovic, the president of the Serbian FA, went one step further. He said: "Vlahovic is better and more complete than Haaland.

"The Norwegian has devastating power, but Dusan is not inferior: there is also very little difference in their height.

"But the Juventus forward’s variety and styles of play is better."

That is quite the statement and although suggesting he's better than Haaland might be pushing it, there are certainly comparisons.

Both possess great pace, have lethal left feet and more importantly, are ruthless goalscorers.

Indeed, Vlahovic has found the net on seven occasions in 15 outings for his club this term, a tally that adds to the red-hot tally of 29 in 45 outings last season.

At such a young age, his form in a big league is inspiring and Liverpool would be wise to bring him to Anfield over a certain Gakpo.