Phil Thompson tells Liverpool which striker to sign in January

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson says Jurgen Klopp must sign a striker in January and has suggested a top target.

Klopp was not in the market for a striker in the summer, but Thompson says a No.9 should be on his wanted list in the next transfer windown and has suggested Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the man they should be targeting.

The Reds tried to sign a centre-back in the summer with a move for Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk collapsing and Thompson says Klopp needs reinforcements at both ends of the field.

“I do feel that come January we need to improve the defenders and get an out-and-out striker,” he told Sky Sports. “If Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became available then he should be on our hit list.”

Aubameyang’s future has been a subject of debate over the last few years and earlier this month he suggested his future may lie away from the Bundesliga club.

“I am happy to have stayed here,” he said recently. “However, I don’t know what will happen at the end of the season.”

Chelsea were understood to be tracking the 28-year-old in the summer, but reports suggested the Gabon striker was chasing a move to Real Madrid.

“I am still reflecting on whether I should leave or not,” said Aubameyang in the summer. “This club and these fans are incredible, but if I want to grow, I feel I need to leave.

“I need time to think about it. If I want to grow, I surely need to leave this summer.”

Aubameyang is well known to Klopp having been signed by the German for Borussia Dortmund from Saint Etienne for €13million in 2013.

The striker has scored 133 goals in 200 appearances for the German outfit including 13 goal in 11 games in all competitions this season, which has helped Dortmund to the top of the Bundesliga.