Liverpool have been linked with Houssem Aouar again but he’s not good enough for Liverpool despite showing promise in recent seasons.
According to ESPN, Liverpool have joined the race to sign Aouar and will compete with Man Utd, Arsenal, Spurs and Arsenal.
The French midfielder reportedly has two years left on his contract with Lyon keen to offload him and interest from the Premier League has been piqued.
LYON, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 26: Houssem Aouar of Olympique Lyon poses with his Man of the Match Award following the the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Olympique Lyon and Juventus at Parc Olympique on February 26, 2020 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
While I will not deny that he is a talented player, he is neither what Liverpool need nor is he at the level the Reds are operating at.
Previously, I thought he would make a good no.10 for the Reds in the attacking no.8 role that Philippe Coutinho excelled in.
However, he hasn’t developed at the rate he seemed he would and Liverpool’s interest in Renato Sanches is an entire case study to compare him to.
This summer, the talented Lille title-winner travelled to the EUROs with Portugal and stood out in the engine room against the likes of Pogba and Kante.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – JUNE 23: Renato Sanches of Portugal is challenged by N’Golo Kante of France during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group F match between Portugal and France at Puskas Arena on June 23, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Aouar was on vacation after being left at home by the senior French team. He had started his summer with France at the U21 EUROs where they were eliminated by the Netherlands.
Liverpool like to uncover diamonds in the rough but Auoar has been stagnating for a while and he’s no longer what is needed at Anfield.
Signing the Lyon star would also require an alteration in Liverpool’s system as their current style of play relies on Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold to provide the creativity.
UNSPECIFIED, AUSTRIA – JULY 13: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during a training session on July 13, 2021 in UNSPECIFIED, Austria. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Aouar could thrive in the same role that Wijnaldum did but it would still be safer to sign someone like Sanches.
While Liverpool definitely need additions this summer, their transfer plans are more about increasing depth of quality.
Signing Sanches and beating Borussia Dortmund to Donyell Malen would put Liverpool in a very strong position to do so.
