€26m forward could finally get Liverpool move after Melwood visit three years ago

Jeremy Doku reportedly rejected a move to Liverpool three years ago in order to play regularly and keep developing but talk has resurfaced regarding him being a player Liverpool could sign.

While it might seem from the outside like clubs only think about making signings during the summer or winter transfer windows but the reality is that clubs, especially ones as big and as ambitious as Liverpool, are constantly working behind the scenes.

It's not just negotiations and talks but it's research, character evaluation and investigation into the finances involved.

What is the history between Liverpool and Doku?

Occasionally, clubs give talented young players tours of their stadiums or training grounds and as the Guardian reported in 2018, then 16-year-old Jeremy Doku was given a tour of Melwood and he bumped into Jurgen Klopp although it probably wasn't a coincidence.

Klopp stopped and spoke to the player and his father, who said: "He explained to us that Jeremy could replace Sadio Mane in a few years."

The Liverpool Echo reports: "Steven Gerrard, Liverpool U18s manager at the time, was also involved, while Salah handed him a shirt, and Mane, Gini Wijnaldum and Mignolet all supposedly stopped for a few words."

While Doku and his father made the mature decision to reject overtures from Liverpool and stay at Anderlecht before moving to Stade Rennais last summer for €26m, David Hughes said on the Analysing Anfield podcast that the Reds could take a closer look at him during the Euros with Belgium.

Just 19, the incredibly fast forward has drawn comparisons to Liverpool's Sadio Mane, with Huges saying: "I have watched a lot of clips of him and he has a similarity with a Mane-type player - hard to predict on the ball, only small but very strong, and has a lot of pace."

Is a Liverpool move likely or is this one for the future?

As Hughes goes on to point out, Doku is yet to display the kind of goalscoring form which earned Mane a move to Anfield as the Belgian has scored just four goals this season but did manage to assist 8.

Liverpool are in the market for a forward but will be looking for a player like Diogo Jota, who can arrive and make an immediate impact but also has a very high ceiling on his potential.

Doku has his whole career ahead of him but will need to improve his output before he can sign for Liverpool. He might have been a target previously but while the club is sure to be tracking his progress in Ligue 1, 4 goals in 44 appearances simply isn't good enough.

He actually reminds me more of Allan Saint-Maximin, who is one of the best dribbles in the Premier League. Much like Doku, the Newcastle United forward could do with adding more goals and assists to his game and focus less on dribbling past two or three players.

Data from the Squawka Comparison Matrix shows that from roughly the same number of games they have very similar stats ranging from goals and assists to take-ons completed and if either player adds more tangible numbers to their game, they could be incredible players.

Unfortunately for Doku, unless he explodes into life at the EUROs, he won't be on his way to the Premier League just yet but time is on his side and there's no telling what he will be capable of after another season in Ligue 1 with Rennes.