Liverpool is now focused on the Champions
League and Premier League. But the club will be scouting for potential stars to
sign across Europe now that the summer transfer window is just a few months away.
31 players currently make up the first team squad and some of them will be
moved on in the Summer.
Jurgen Klopp has improved the Reds remarkably
over the
past few years and the club’s hierarchy will be planning to
spend big to bolster the squad to compete favourably against Manchester City
ahead of the 2019/2020 campaign.
Below we look at potential five players
Liverpool could recruit this summer.
#1 Timo Werner
The exciting German international who is just
22 years old is
reportedly a top target for Liverpool this summer. He plays for RB Leipzig in the
Bundesliga as a forward and has scored 11 goals in 21 matches this season.
The key advantage Timo Werner will bring to
the Liverpool team is his versatility. He can play on both wings and as a top
striker through the middle.
In addition, Timo Werner will be a good fit
for the Liverpool front setup when you consider the fact that the Reds front
men are flexible throughout a game.
However, Liverpool fans should keep an eye
out as Chelsea are also interested in the star man. Depending where you look,
Liverpool are still favourites to sign Werner with odds of 9/4, but punters can
now find odds of 3/1 of him ending up at the Bridge.
#2. Paulo Dybala
It’s not been a good season for Paulo Dybala
in Turin following the arrival of marquee signing Cristiano Ronaldo and it is
understood that Jurgen Klopp is need of another attacker. So, Liverpool could
make a move for the Argentine forward.
Last month, reports emanating from Italy
claimed that Juventus are close to agreeing on a deal with Liverpool for the
25-year old before the summer transfer window.
However, Liverpool should be prepared to
fight for his signature because for a player of Dybala's quality, elite clubs
across Europe such as Manchester United and Bayern Munich will also be
interested.
In fact, pundits and
betting sites have earmarked Paulo Dybala as one of the
stars to keep an eye on regardless of the club he eventually signs up with.
With odds of 11/2 on that he ends up at Anfield, it’s one to keep an eye on as
we approach August.
#3. Hakim Ziyech
Hakim Ziyech is an attacking midfielder who
from Morocco. He plays for Dutch side, Ajax Amsterdam, in the Eredivisie.
When Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool for
Barcelona, he created a void in creative midfielder role that the Reds has
struggled to fill. They went for French international Nabil Fekir in the summer
to fill that position but the deal didn’t materialise because Nabil failed his
medical.
The Merseyside team needs a player who can
play a ball through the opposition and dictate play. Ziyech fits this description
and he would come at an affordable price considering today’s expensive transfer
market. However, a number of clubs are tracking the youngster including Bayern
Munich (7/4 to sign up), PSG (10/1), 12/1 to join Liverpool and 16/1 to join
one of Spurs, Juventus, Barcelona and Man City.
#4. Raphael Varane
Real Madrid centre-back, Raphael Varane, will
not only attract interest from Liverpool but from several teams across Europe
when the summer window opens.
The French defender has extensive experience
at the highest level of the game and at just 25 years of age, his best years
are still ahead of him.
Personally, he has won every available trophy
in Spain and may be looking for a fresh challenge in the Premier League.
If Liverpool ends up signing him, partnering
with Virgil Van Dijk at the heart of the defence will be a dream partnership.
It sure will boost their winning odds across
competitions next season and the team a bookmakers’ favorite. With odds of 7/1,
it’s a decent bet, but as with the others in this list, Varane is being tracked
by a number of leading European clubs.
#5. Piotr Zielinski
Piotr Zielinski is a Polish international who
plays for Napoli as a central midfielder in Serie A. So far, the 24-year-old
has played 41 times for Poland's national team since he made his first
appearance in 2013.
This season, Zielinski has played 27 times
for Napoli, scoring 4 goals. Zielinski’s strengths are his swiftness, agility,
and an eye for goal. He poses a real threat to opposition’s defenders who never
know if he is going to set up his teammate for a goal or engineer it by
himself.
The talented midfielder would fit perfectly
into Klopp’s preferred playing style, offering more option in the middle. And
his price shouldn’t break the bank.
Depending on which players might depart Anfield in the Summer, these 5 players could really enhance the overall level of the Liverpool squad. As things stand, Liverpool are 11/10 on, to win the Premier League and are looking good to clinch their first league title in 27 years. For anyone who backed the team from the beginning of the season could be on for a decent return on that punt.
Written by Alan Spencer
