Liverpool enquire over another loanee to replace Cissokho

Finding a dependable left-back has not been an easy task for Brendan Rodgers so far and with Aly Cissokho failing to justify his potential, another loanee is reportedly being targeted by Brendan Rodgers.

With Jose Enrique needing some competition and then being sidelined for the longer term after undergoing knee surgery, the chance was there for Cissokho to make the left-back slot his own.

But, having created only four chances all season, Cissokho has been found lacking in the attacking department, especially compared to the impact that Glen Johnson tends to have down the opposite flank.

Throw in that Cissokho’s tackling success rate is a shade above one in three and he is clearly not having a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch either.

His disappointing performances have even led to the Frenchman being overtaken by rookie right-back Jon Flanagan and the search is now seemingly on for yet another left-back in the squad.

Fitting the bill is Inter Milan’s Yuto Nagatomo, with suggestions that Liverpool have made enquiries about the Japan international.

It would certainly be an attacking recruit by Rodgers, given that Nagatomo is regularly fielded as a left-wing back at Inter.

The positives are that Nagatomo has created 23 chances, provided three assists and scored five goals.

On the flip side, he is another than fails to win even 50 per cent of his tackles and loses over 80 per cent of his headers.

If Liverpool are going to persevere with a 4-2-2-2 formation with Steven Gerrard as a deep midfielder, then it certainly represents a big risk to opt for a defender with Nagatomo’s statistics.

If this transfer does go through, Liverpool will continue to have trouble keeping clean sheets, as they have shut out the opposition in just three of their last 12 Premier League games.

10/11 is certainly reasonable value on Liverpool failing to finish in the top four this season.