Liverpool to wrap up deal for 34-goal hitman after ommission from national squad NewsNow
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Liverpool to wrap up deal for 34-goal hitman after ommission from national squad

Liverpool to wrap up deal for 34-goal hitman after ommission from national squad

Zambian forward Patson Daka is not in Zambia's squad to face Senegal, Benin and Sudan as links with a move to Liverpool increase.

This comes after a report claimed he is a target for Liverpool, with the Reds allegedly set to make their move for the forward official in the coming days following their deal to sign Ibra Konate from RB Leipzig.

In all competitions, this season, he got 34 goals and assisted 12 in 42 games and if he could get even half of that at Liverpool, he'd be a hit sensation.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - FEBRUARY 21: Patson Daka of RB Salzburg celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg match between RB Salzburg and Club Brugge at Red Bull Arena on February 21, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Bongarts/Getty Images )
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - FEBRUARY 21: Patson Daka of RB Salzburg celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg match between RB Salzburg and Club Brugge at Red Bull Arena on February 21, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Bongarts/Getty Images )

Before the news emerged that Liverpool were closing in on Daka, a report from Zambian Football claimed that West Ham were in the driving seat to sign the forward for a fee in the region of £25million.

If it's between Liverpool and West Ham, it's an interesting choice that the 22-year-old will need to make and it might come down to game time for a player that played 42 games for RB Salzburg this season.

At Liverpool, his game time could be halved as he would be competing directly with world-class talents like Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane for game time and while that could see the Reds' current players raise their levels, it could see Daka only start around 20 games.

West Ham are in the 2021/22 Europa League and so they will also be able to offer European football to the Zambian.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - MAY 22: Patson Daka of Red Bull Salzburg smiles when walking to the victory ceremony for winning the Austrian Soccer Championship after the Bundesliga match between RB Salzburg and WSG Tirol at Red Bull Arena on May 22, 2021 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Andreas Schaad/Getty Images)
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - MAY 22: Patson Daka of Red Bull Salzburg smiles when walking to the victory ceremony for winning the Austrian Soccer Championship after the Bundesliga match between RB Salzburg and WSG Tirol at Red Bull Arena on May 22, 2021 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Andreas Schaad/Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp can offer more money, Champions League football and the chance to win the biggest trophies in the world but what he cannot offer is a guaranteed starting role to a player that deserves one.

If Liverpool aren't able to afford Jadon Sancho this summer and want to bid their time until next season to sign the likes of Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland, spending a relatively low sum of £25m on Daka could be the way to go.

Despite what I previously believed to be true (thanks to the reader who emailed me to set me straight), Zambia will not take part in next season's AFCON so he will be available to Klopp during the early stages of 2022 when Salah and Mane aren't.

This could be a crucial factor in the Reds' interest as they cannot afford to fall to pieces in January and February for the second season in a row.

GENK, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 27: Takumi Minamino of Red Bull Salzburg celebrates with teammate Patson Daka after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group E match between KRC Genk and RB Salzburg at Luminus Arena on November 27, 2019 in Genk, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
GENK, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 27: Takumi Minamino of Red Bull Salzburg celebrates with teammate Patson Daka after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group E match between KRC Genk and RB Salzburg at Luminus Arena on November 27, 2019 in Genk, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

While Daka is undoubtedly an exciting player, I think there will be a number of fans that will be disappointed if he signs instead of someone like Sancho because after the way this season went, it seems as though fans want the thrill of a marquee signing.

As much as I'd like to see Klopp go for broke, he has a stellar track record with players that maybe weren't as highly rated when he signed them as they are now.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson to name a few. Supporters have learnt not to question the German and his genius sporting director Michael Edwards as more often than not, they get it right.

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