Connect with us

Opinion

Alternatives to Liverpool target Ismaila Sarr

With Watford demanding £40 million for Ismaila Sarr, are there alternatives who represent better value for money on the market?

With Liverpool having made clear they won’t spend heavily in this market, the Senegalese may not be the best value investment. The ideal player will be young, have pace, and be able to play across the front line. However, this kind of quality doesn’t usually come cheap, so the Reds may have to look outside the Premier League.

Milot Rashica

Once looking like he was on his way to RB Leipzig, the Kosovan’s future looks to be up in the air. Almost relegated with Werder Bremen, he has been the standout player for them.

With eight goals and five assists in the Bundesliga, his return in a poor side is admirable. However, it looks as if he’s finally set for a new challenge.

Rashica’s reported release clause is set at €38 million, six million fewer than Sarr’s reported price. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY FOOTBALL FANCAST.

Able to play as a central striker, or on the wing, his versatility would no doubt please Jurgen Klopp. Another bonus is that he’s comfortable shooting with his weak foot, with three of his Bundesliga goals this season coming from his left foot.

He’s happy to try his luck too, with 2.78 shots per match, with 37% of those hitting the target.

The best part about the move, however? Rashica’s reported release clause is set at €38 million, six million fewer than Sarr’s reported price. There are even reports saying a fee as low as €20 million with add-ons could be enough.

Donyell Malan

The young Dutchman looks set to be the next on PSV Eindhoven’s frankly ridiculous conveyor belt of talent. Able to play off the left-wing and as a striker, like Rashica he provides the type of versatility the Anfield club needs. However, unlike Rashica he has experience playing in the Champions League.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 14: Donyell Malen of PSV during the Dutch Eredivisie match between PSV v Vitesse at the Philips Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Eindhoven Netherlands. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY PHOTO PRESTIGE/GETTY IMAGES.

He also has a frankly frightening rate of production. In just 21 club appearances in the 2019/20 season, he provided 15 goals and 2 assists. His youth is also a factor in favour of the Reds. At just 21 there’d be plenty of time for him to develop into the kind of forward to start for the Reds in the long term.

Of course, his youth does work against him to an extent. He’s never played in one of Europe’s top five leagues and is in and out of the Dutch national team. However, as a young option that fits into Liverpool’s 4-3-3, he’d be an excellent option.

Patson Daka

Most teams would struggle to recover after losing a striker like Erling Haaland. However, for a team like Red Bull Salzburg, they usually have a new player coming through on the production line. Enter Patson Daka. Jurgen Klopp will know all about the young forward after he scored two goals against them in their pre-season match.

Blessed with lightning pace and ruthless finishing ability, the young forward will be the one to lead the line for Salzburg in Haaland’s place. If he could come close to the rate of production he came out with last season for Liverpool, he’d be a perfect back-up for the Reds.

With 30 goal contributions in just 31 league appearances, he’s certainly got the scoring touch. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY BARBARA GINDL/APA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES.

With 30 goal contributions in just 31 league appearances, he’s certainly got the scoring touch. Able to play off the right-wing as well as upfront, he’d be able to cover Mohamed Salah perfectly.

He comes with similar draw-backs to Donyell Malen in that he lacks experience in one of Europe’s top leagues. However, with limited pressure as a starting player, he could be a cost-effective high scoring alternative to Sarr.

Must See