VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - JANUARY 25: Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal CF reacts during the Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Villarreal CF at Estadio de Mendizorroza on January 25, 2020 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Caught Offside reports that Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, who has been linked with Liverpool before, would “definitely consider” leaving as long as “the right opportunity comes that makes sense for him and the club”.
Liverpool can sign him this summer but will need to pay as much as €80million.
Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino might have been entering respective purple patches just as the season came to a close but there is still concern over their long-term futures at Liverpool.
Between them, they scored just 20 Premier League goals while Mohamed Salah netted 22 of his own, narrowly missing out on the Golden Boot to Harry Kane (23).
While there is concern over Firmino and Mane, Samuel Chukwueze is not the man to replace them in the starting lineup with just four league goals in La Liga this season which makes his €80million release clause seem outrageous. That said, he is a thrilling prospect and one that Klopp would surely be able to turn into a top talent.
Mane joined Liverpool from Southampton off the back of the season where he scored just 11 goals and was turned into a 20 goal a season player. Of course, he only cost the Reds £34million.
Caught Offside reports that the Nigerian has held talks with a number of top clubs and would “definitely consider” leaving as long as “the right opportunity comes that makes sense for him and the club”.
For Liverpool, however, this is not a deal that makes total sense.
Not only is his attacking output too low, but he would also be another African attacker that would leave the club midway through the season to take part in the AFCON.
If Liverpool can’t sign the likes of Jadon Sancho, Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe, they should be looking at Donyell Malen as an affordable player to play as second fiddle to Firmino.
In this scenario, it would be wise to hold onto Harry Wilson as a backup to Mohamed Salah.
Assuming Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri leave this summer, Jurgen Klopp would then have Diogo Jota as Mane’s competition, Malen as Firmino’s and Wilson as Salah’s rival for minutes.
The Welshman would have the most difficult pathway to a starting role as there isn’t a player in the Premier League that would bench Salah let alone at Liverpool.
Malen has 27 goals and 10 assists this season for PSV Eindhoven and while there will be many out there that will wonder if he can translate this to the Premier League, his 6 goals and assists in 8 Europa League games is a good measure of his ability.
Besides, as a backup to Firmino, he wouldn’t be expected to score 20+ goals a season but rather to make an impact when introduced from the bench and to ensure Firmino’s levels don’t slip the way they did this season.
Read more: Liverpool fans notice what Firmino did in the 85th minute against Palace.
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