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Local source: Liverpool to announce arrival of super fast, super clinical forward this week

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 27: Patson Daka of RB Salzburg takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement during the UEFA Champions League Group A stage match between Atletico Madrid and RB Salzburg at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on October 27, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.
Important notice: This article has been edited to reflect updates to a report from local source the Zambian Observer, who report Daka is on his way to Liverpool.

They claim that Patson Daka will be announced as a Liverpool player this week following similar suggestions last week.

The website covers all Zambian news, from politics to entertainment to sport, and has what seems to be major news on Patson Daka’s next move in Europe following his switch from Liefering to RB Salzburg, where he has since won the Austrian Bundesliga four times and the Austrian Cup three times.

In his four years there, he has plundered 68 goals and assisted a further 27 but this term, he has 34 goals and 12 assists.

Patson Daka of Red Bull Salzburg

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 tipico 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)

We first covered the news that Liverpool were in advanced stages of signing him last week when a report claimed that he would join the club in the ‘coming days’ and as vague as that is, in the 10 days since little concrete news has broken.

Zambian Football previously claimed that Liverpool could miss out on Patson Daka with West Ham reportedly favourites to sign the forward for £25million but now the Zambian Observer reports that a deal has been agreed to sign him from RB Salzburg.

In their initial four-paragraph update, they wrote that “the 22-year-old is set to be announced” this week. The rest of the article discusses how the allegedly impending move to Anfield would make him the first Zambian to play in the Premier League.

However, they have now updated the article to reflect that the Liverpool Echo and ‘a Spanish website’, which is Todo Fichajes, are the original sources of the story.

If true, Liverpool are close to bolstering their attack after a season that saw Firmino score just 9 times in the Premier League while a late purple patch saw Sadio Mane barely break double figures in the league but the hope is that rest and a full pre-season can get the Liverpool stars back to their sparkling best.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates with teammate Roberto Firminho after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 28, 2021 in London, England.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates with teammate Roberto Firminho after scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 28, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

According to Hugo Zoff, an African football aficionado, manager Milutin Sredojević said the following last week: “Daka, Mwepu and Kangwa have to decide on their next future, and it is just fair that they can make a decision that is in the best interest of the country.”

Liverpool have already signed Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig for a £36million fee and while Daka might not be as exciting as Leeds United Raphinha, he would cost a lot less and is still a thrilling player.

The best thing about signing the Zambian over the Brazilian is his superior versatility. Not only is he superb at centre-forward, but he can also do a job on either wing and with his absurd pace, he would be trouble for any Premier League fullback.

One thing that centre-forwards learn that some wingers struggle with is making room for themselves by making darting runs and so to combine that with his ability to make runs in the channel, you find yourself a very dangerous winger.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - DECEMBER 20: Patson Daka of Salzburg during the tipico Bundesliga match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and RZ Pellets WAC at Red Bull Arena on December 20, 2020 in Salzburg, Austria.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA – DECEMBER 20: Patson Daka of Salzburg during the tipico Bundesliga match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and RZ Pellets WAC at Red Bull Arena on December 20, 2020 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Josef Bollwein/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)

He’s very two-footed and much like Sadio Mane, he is superb at scoring headers by slipping away from his marker or finding space by running in between central defenders which causes confusion over whose responsibility it is to mark him.

While it remains to be seen if there is any truth to stories about Daka as sources close to Anfield Central haven’t heard anything credible about it yet, signing him would be a very shrewd move given it could happen for around £25million.

Bear in mind, Liverpool have a very strong working relationship with the Red Bull setup after signing Naby Keita, Takumi Minamino and Ibrahima Konate in the last few years, with the Reds massive fans of their sporting project.

Jurgen Klopp has previously said: “It’s not hard to see why [they are] a favoured destination for players with real talent and hunger. From our experiences dealing with, and facing, Salzburg on and off the pitch in recent months, their reputation as a benchmark modern European club will only grow.”

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