Liverpool's cheaper alternatives to Timo Werner

Chelsea's signing of Timo Werner has been confirmed, pending a medical.

A player wanted by Jurgen Klopp was deemed to be too expensive for Liverpool due to the current financial crisis that is taking place.

It is disappointing to miss out on such a quality player to a rival.

But most can understand why the club decided against his signing. In the current circumstances, £53m is simply too much to pay for a player who is not a real upgrade on the current front three.

But perhaps the club may spend a smaller sum on a player that is content with beginning life at Anfield on the bench.

Considering Jurgen Klopp was in contact with the player, it is clear that he would like a new forward.

CAF is still planning to hold the African Cup of Nations in January 2021, per BBC.

This means that Mo Salah and Sadio Mane could miss multiple Premier League games during the busy winter period.

It was believed that it would be postponed, which is one reason that Liverpool were okay with missing out on Werner. However, if the latest reports are true, the need for a new forward is furthered.

So perhaps Liverpool will go and buy some attacking options after all.

Here we will take a look at some potential targets who Jurgen Klopp, Michael Edwards and Mike Gordon could take a gamble on.

The signing profile

The would-be targets must cost under £35 million, as if FSG won't spend £53 million on Werner, they won't spend that amount on someone of lesser quality.

Ideally, they will be pacy players with big potential.

While Werner may be known as a central striker, he actually has played more from the left in recent times. His versatility was a key selling point, so an alternative should be able to play numerous roles.

Ousmane Dembele has been linked, but his injury history makes a move almost nonsensical.

If the transfer committee has one eye on Afcon, then perhaps wide-men would be better targets.

This is because Roberto Firmino and Takumi Minamino would still be available while Mane and Salah are gone. Both of these are more comfortable centrally.

The likes of Emiliano Buendia would be a sensible target but is not suitable to play on the wing for Liverpool due to his lack of pace. He will not be included here.

End product is important, but not vital as the likes of Sadio Mane only developed his prolific goalscoring ability after joining the club.

All things considered, Liverpool will have to think outside the box when making their next forward signing.

Someone, young and quick with big potential, for under £35 million... this may be mission impossible.

Marcus Thuram

We start with perhaps the best option available.

At 22, Marcus Thuram is the ideal age. He is old enough that he has gained good experience and young enough to still be approaching his peak when Mane and Salah age out.

The Frenchman was excellent for relegated Guingamp in Ligue 1 in 2018/19.

This encouraged Borussia Monchengladbach to add him to their exciting side for a bargain fee of just €9m. He has improved further this campaign.

The son of World Cup winner Lillian, Marcus is extremely fast for his 6"4' height.

He is great to watch but he also has good output, with 10 goals and 8 assists in 31 league games. This looks set to improve as he gets older.

He has played both on the left-wing and up front, proving his versatility. This will suit Liverpool as he could play in any of the front three roles.

There are a few things preventing a swoop by the Reds.

His agent Mino Raiola will try to get a big agents fee and will demand big wages for his client. Even if Gladbach sell for under £35m, he may not be affordable.

Perhaps the Reds will regret not picking him up for so little last summer.

Bukaya Saka

This interesting option all depends on the player himself.

Saka's Arsenal contract runs out in 2021. The Athletic report that a new deal was nearly agreed before the country went into lockdown.

However, one must feel that if Jurgen Klopp wanted him, he could probably persuade him to sign for Liverpool rather than stay in London.

If he does decide against signing a new contract and that a move to the Premier League champions-elect is for him, then Arsenal may decide to sell for cheap now rather than losing him for nothing next year.

The Gunners have never been afraid to sell to English rivals, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain swapping the Emirates for Anfield in 2017.

Saka is only 19 next September but already has 20 Premier League games under his belt at a massive club.

The fact that most of these games came playing in an unfamiliar role at left-back increased this pressure.

He has ten assists in all competitions this season, more than any of his teammates.

It is encouraging that he has starred at left-back this season. It adds another string to the bow of a player already comfortable in any of the attacking positions.

The fact that Saka is homegrown is another plus point, although this often means having to pay a premium.

Arsenal would probably look for over £35 million under normal circumstances, but his contract situation means that he could come at a heavily reduced fee.

Moussa Diaby

Another Frenchman playing in Germany, Moussa Diaby only cost Bayer Leverkusen €15 million to sign from PSG last summer.

The Germans may look to make a quick profit on him, especially if it means that they can hold onto Kai Havertz for another year.

Another example of good Bundesliga recruitment, other clubs are probably regretting not signing him on the cheap last summer.

Diaby has seven goals and seven assists in 34 games in all competitions this season. This is more impressive as he only started making regular starts midway through the season.

The 20-year-old is left-footed and has played mostly off the left but he is also comfortable on the right.

He would cost around the €30 million mark, which may be a bit much for someone who has only had one season of regular football.

But there is no doubt that Moussa Diaby would be a good investment for the future and a superb signing in the present.

Calvin Stengs

21-year-old Calvin Stengs is an AZ Alkmaar academy graduate.

He scored nine goals and assisted nine more in all competitions before the Eredivisie season was called to an early halt.

Stengs has played mainly on the right-wing and his future may see him move backwards to midfield rather than forwards to the Liverpool-style inverted winger. All the same, he is a versatile talent which is encouraging for fans.

The Dutchman is perhaps the best performing player this season of those listed here, but he is doing it in a weaker league.

The likes of Vincent Janssen and Alireza Jahanbakhsh have failed to replicate their success at AZ in the Premier League. However, Stengs is younger than the duo were when they moved to Spurs and Brighton respectively.

He has all the raw materials to make it - tall, quick, a good dribbler and a great passer.

If anyone can help him step up to Premier League standard, it is Jurgen Klopp.

Transfermarkt values him at £16.2 million, but it will take a bigger sum than that to sign him. This signing should cost less than £35 million all the same.

Others the Reds may look at signing

There are a few more potential targets who would make sense for Liverpool to go for.

Memphis Depay has spent the majority of the season out with an ACL injury. He was strongly linked to Liverpool previously and his injury combined with the fact that Lyon have missed out on Champions League football might mean that his club will sell for cheaper than normal.

A rogue shout is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. His Arsenal contract is also up next summer so may go cheap in the next window. Unfortunately, he is older than the typical Liverpool signing. He would also probably miss games due to Afcon.

A somewhat peculiar option would be Marcus Edwards of Vitória de Guimarães. The ex-Spurs kid has shone in Portugal and has a £13.6 million release clause in his contract. This clause makes him an intriguing choice.

The cancellation of the Ligue 1 season means that Dijon were spared a relegation battle, but their 21-year-old Frenchman Mounir Chouiar still managed to shine for the club. He ranks in the top five in the league for both dribbles and key passes (per Who Scored).

The likes of James Maddison and Jack Grealish have proven that the step-up from the Championship to the Premier League is one that can be taken.

Perhaps the Reds should look at Brentford duo Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma, or West Brom's duo of on-loan wingers Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana.

Finally, we return to the Eredivisie. PSV's Donyell Malen and AZ's Myron Boadu look set to battle it out for Holland's number 9 shirt for years to come. Both are more comfortable through the middle but are two key men for their respective clubs at their young ages of 21 and 19.