Timo Werner has almost done with it Chelsea. Although he wanted to play for Anfield, the coronavirus crisis has forced Liverpool to prevent and not execute the € 60m clause to avoid potential financial problems.
Reds were best positioned to take over the German striker from RB Leipzig, even Jürgen Klopp He spoke several times with Werner. But if in Liverpool They do not see it feasible to execute their 60 million euro clause that ended on June 15 (or they see it as financially dangerous), everything indicates that we will not see major signings at Anfield this summer. So your sports director, Michael Edwards, you must show again what you know how to do.
It is even possible that Liverpool will not sign anyone in the next transfer market. The football economy is hanging by a thread right now with the coronavirus crisis, and although the reds have had success lately, from England there is speculation that the group that is at the head of Liverpool, the Fenway Sports Group (FSG), you do not want to risk your finances and perhaps choose not to sign anyone, according to The Athletic.
However, among the possible candidates, there are names that have sounded to sign for Liverpool throughout the season and footballers who, despite not being a '9', can occupy attacking positions:
– Todd Cantwell: Left inside of 22 years and with a contract until 2022 with the Norwich city. He is not exactly a striker, but he can play both inside and more down to the wing, so he can occupy attacking positions. Right-handed, young player with quality who, if he finally descends with Norwich, is likely to come out. The Athletic explained a long time ago that Liverpool had intensified its interest in English and it was speculated that the ‘canaries’ would let it go if the offer approached 35 million euros. Today he has 6 goals and 2 assists in 31 games.
– Leon Bailey: 22-year-old left winger, Jamaican and under contract until 2023 with him Bayer Leverkusen. He plays on the left but also on the right wing and is valued at 29.59 million euros (according to Transfermarkt). Express and Daily Star agreed that the reds are in the running with Manchester United and Chelsea to sign the left-handed Jamaican. The truth is that Leon Baily would be a much cheaper alternative. Not having a crack status yet, it could be a substitute and be a future project. He has 7 goals and 2 assists in 26 games.
– Jérémy Doku: Right-handed 17-year-old winger who can play on both sides. Player in the style of Ansu Fati or Vinicius and nicknamed the ‘new Mané’. Born in Ghana but of Belgian nationality, he renewed this 2020 until 2022 and according to Daily Star Liverpool sent scouts to see his evolution. Even so, the Dutch media Nieuwsblad, stated that Doku would stay one more year in the Anderlecht. Right now he is valued at 9 million, but his 8 goals and 3 assists in 27 games will surely increase this value. Regardless, despite the renewal, if Klopp were to finally go after it, it wouldn't be a prohibitive price.
– Ryan Fraser: 26-year-old Scottish left winger who ends his contract this summer. It rang to reinforce Liverpool last winter but was never heard from again. Also, their numbers are pretty poor with the Bournemouth: 1 goal and 4 assists in 32 games this season. The positive part, that if you do not renew with Eddie Howe's, it would come free. As if that were not enough, the ‘cherries’ now occupy the 18th position in the Premier League, if they finally fell, it would be difficult to retain the player.
– Dries Mertens: Forward of great quality and who can play both extreme, attacking midfielder and even '9'. The Belgian, one of the players emblems the Naples, contract ends this 2020, so it would come free. However, in Sky Sports they assure that Naples has already made him a renewal proposal, so with 33 years, he is likely to end his career in Italy. Despite this, the extension of his contract is not yet official, so if Werner's has taken an unexpected turn, so can the case of Mertens. This season he has scored 12 goals and has distributed 6 assists in 29 games played.
– Willian Borges: The peculiarity of the right-hand end of the Chelsea that contract ends this summer. At 31 years old, the Brazilian does not look like he is going to renew his contract with those of Lampard: “Chelsea is proposing to extend it for two more years and I ask that there be three. We don't talk anymore, there is no negotiation. ” The Brazilian international, who was for a long time in the orbit of FC Barcelona, has 7 goals and 6 assists in 37 games played this season. Despite his age and not being a '9', he would be a player who could fit in well with Klopp's attack.
The Academy, a solution
– Curtis Jones: 19 years old, a 'Scouser' of pure strain. He is perhaps the most promising player in the network academy. It was uncovered with the goal that he made to Everton in the third round of the FA Cup and that eliminated the toffees on January 5, 2020. But in Melwood They already knew the talent of English.
In addition to having a great shot, Curtis Jones is very fast with the ball at his feet, very agile, a player with a lot of class and a lot of technique, with a great vision of the game and passing between the lines. A level that has been growing since he trains regularly with the first team.
The only thing that plays against him is his desire to play in the '10' position, a position that for example in the first team is not used. Since Klopp plays with a 4-3-3. Although he does use the 4-2-3-1 from time to time with the result against, so he would have his space there and more if Shaqiri leaves the team, since it is a system that Klopp uses especially to give entry to the Swiss.
But despite not being able to regularly play as a classic playmaker, Curtis Jones has shown himself capable of playing both a classic midfielder, inside and far left, on a different leg. The probable free march of Adam Lallana at the end of the season could give Curtis Jones a much greater role, which we remember, he is only 19 years old and has 16 goals and 7 assists in 27 games played this season combining the under-23 with the first team.
– Harvey Elliott: English winger, with just turned 17 years old (born on April 4, 2003). He is the youngest player in history to play a Premier League game, with 16 years and 30 days. It was in a Wolves – Fulham on May 4, 2019. And before that, beware, he had already debuted in the Carabao Cup … at just 15 years old.
Liverpool signed last summer but to play with the under-23, although this season has been gradually entering the first team playing 3 FA Cup games, 3 Carabao Cup and one Premier League.
Klopp has before him the difficult decision of whether he will have him for the first team next season or keep him one more year in the under-23. The probable departure of Xherdan Shaqiri would open a gap for a player with a similar profile as Elliott: left-handed creator, who likes to play from the extreme right, with a lot of technique, fast and skillful.
In the 27 games he has played in total this season he has 4 goals and 9 assists.
The question is whether it is too early for Harvey Elliott to go up to the first team and take on top-notch responsibilities.
