Liverpool have a significant amount of work to do if they are to claw themselves back into the Premier League title race, with Manchester City still having a hefty advantage.
Jurgen Klopp's side are still in contention though despite Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita departing to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Could they still have one eye on a January bargain before the deadline next Monday?
French football clubs have often been hunting grounds for Premier League sides in the transfer market - including Liverpool, who landed Fabinho from Monaco in 2018.
However, Ligue 1 isn't an area where Liverpool shop often, with their last signing from France before that being Divock Origi, but there are a number of targets who could be looked at by Reds sporting director Michael Edwards this month or in summer - and we've picked out four of them....
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Jonathan David (Lille)
Liverpool look short in attacking areas at times with a reliance on the traditional front three. Diogo Jota has eased some of the burden this season but there is a feeling that one more signing may be required.
Especially given there are questions over the long-term future of Origi and Takumi Minamino. If there is not a squad gap already, there may well be soon.
Jonathan David, 21, has scored at least 10 non-penalty league goals in each of the past four seasons and much like Jota is two-footed with 14 league goals scored with his right foot at Lille and 10 with his left.
A Canadian international, he has a clean injury record and seems to be a good finisher, having overperformed xG by 5.8 goals since his move to Ligue 1 .
With his contract expiring in 2025 there is no immediate pressure for Lille to sell and any deal could be an expensive one for any of the Premier League's interested clubs with Arsenal and West Ham reportedly keeping tabs on him.
Aurelien Tchouameni (AS Monaco)
One of the most sought after defensive midfielders in Europe, Aurelien Tchouameni is reportedly a target for some of the continent's biggest clubs having been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The French international, who turns 22 this month, has featured in all but three of his team's league matches since the beginning of last season showing the level of consistency required of a top player.
With James Milner's contract up in the summer and considering Liverpool's injury problems this term, a move for Tchouameni could be a safe bet for the Reds.
He ranked joint-top of in Ligue 1 for tackles and interceptions last season and has an elite ability to read plays and break up opposition moves.
Tchouameni has averaged roughly the same number of tackles and interceptions per-90 as compatriot N'Golo Kante since the beginning of last season.
He is also accustomed to playing in a midfield two, which may require adaptation on his part to fit into Klopp's 4-3-3 system but with youth on his side there is time to adjust.
Lucas Paqueta (Lyon)
The Reds have done well this season with the signing of Jota as a versatile attacking threat but could do with a similar profile of player to bolster the squad - Lucas Paqueta could be an option here, albeit with less of a direct goalscorer.
The Lyon attacking midfielder is 24 and has been in Europe for two-and-a-half years now following his emergence at Flamengo as a teenager.
The left-footed player is versatile and is capable of playing in central midfield, as a no.10 or as a withdrawn striker. He is also creative and placed joint-eighth in Ligue 1 for Expected Goals Assisted last season.
The 28-times capped Brazil international is good at moving the ball into dangerous areas and placed fifth in Ligue 1 for progressive passes last season and 11th for passes into the penalty box.
He blends goals and assists - 14 non-penalty goals and eight assists in Ligue 1 since moving to Lyon a year-and-a-half ago after struggling in a season with AC Milan.
His contract in France runs until 2025, but as he is approaching his mid-20s he could be a cheaper option than some of the other players in this list.
Amine Gouiri (OGC Nice)
Another player with a similar profile to Jota is Amine Gouiri, the 21-year-old Frenchman can play across the front three as well as in attacking midfield.
He is well known for bagging goals and assists for his team, scoring 14 non-penalty goals in Ligue 1 since last season, while also registering 11 assists.
He is likely to be available given OGC Nice's current financial position, despite the team sitting second in Ligue 1, eleven points behind PSG. He will have two years remaining on his deal from this summer.
Gouiri is an expert set-piece taker who takes penalties, corners and free-kicks for OGC Nice, not only this, he is dynamic and creative on the ball, placing high against other strikers from across Europe for touches, dribbles, carries, progressive passes.
