This past season has had some serious ups and downs, but as a whole it was massively entertaining. And a major player in the chaos that we call he Premier League was Liverpool FC. It seemed that only a month ago, the media had crowned the Reds the best team in Europe, and manager Jurgen Klopp had the quadruple in his sights. However, the Anfield side spluttered across the line and ended the term with only two trophies, those being the FA cup and League cup. Despite the Champions League and Premier League heartbreak, there are a lot of positives to take from the year, and some of their players were on inspired form. One of these being Sadio Mané.
After 6 years of calling the Anfield turf his home, it looks as though winger Sadio Mané is looking for a way out of his current club. Over the course of his career with the Reds, he has won pretty much every trophy to be had. From winning Liverpool’s first title in 30 years, to lifting the Champions League trophy in 2019 against English rivals Tottenham. He certainly has embedded himself into the heart of this historic club and endeared himself to the scouse locals.
Signing from Southampton for a fee of £34million in 2016, Mané arrived in the north as a raw prospect, and one who showed great potential. Under the tutelage of German manager Jurgen Klopp, Mané has developed and adapted his game to make him one of the most lethal players in the modern era of the Prmeier League. And in the 6 seasons he’s played for the Reds, he’s scored double digit goals in every one, including a golden boot winning campaign in 18/19 where he found the back of the net 22 times. His impact on this side has been apparent, and the partnership he has formed with teammates Mohamad Salah and Roberto Firmino will go down as one of the deadliest trios in English history.
Mané offers everything you want in an elite forward man. He’s lightening quick and has the physicality to back it up. Plus he’s confident on the ball and can run around a man as well as through him. Arguably his greatest strength is getting into the right positions on the pitch, and when he does, he’s composed enough to slot the ball past the keeper more often than not. Although he doesn’t profile as a traditional number nine, and has seen more of his minutes out on the left flank, he does possess traits that can see him played all across the front three. And this versatility has helped Klopp create one of the most potent attacks in Europe for the past half a decade.
But like all good things, they must eventually come to an end. And as such it feels Mané is ready to start a new chapter in his life. Having just turned 30, it looks as though he’s looking for one last big pay day, as he still has so much more to offer on the pitch. The hierarchy at Liverpool seem to be hesitant to give into the players demands, therefore an exit looks most likely. Media sources have claimed that Bavarian giants Bayern Munich are the front runners for the newly crowned AFCON winner, but I’m sure other clubs will at least enquire for the game changing winger. But with that being said, for Liverpool, there will be a massive void that needs filling in their side. In recent seasons, the Liverpool directors and owners have been applauded for savvy business in the transfer window, and their scouts talent evaluations have been superb. Players such as Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konaté just accentuates their abilities to bring in talent on the cheap.
But today we will look at 5 players Liverpool could sign this summer to replace the seemingly irreplaceable Sadio Mané. These players have been selected based on a number of factors. These include availability, talent level, age and fit of system. Regardless, I’d imagine manager Jurgen Klopp would be able to work his magic and turn any of these up and comers into world beaters.
Christopher Nkunku- RB Leipzig (24 years old)
We start off this list with one of the most in form players in Europe this year. France international Christopher Nkunku had a breakout season with Leipzig this year where he scored 35 goals and assisted a further 14 in all competitions. These sort of numbers are often only recorded by stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but Nkunku dominated his opposition and showed he was amongst the continents best attackers. His performances were so outstanding he received 10 man of the match awards in the league, and this lead him to being awarded with the Bundesliga player of the season. To go along with his achievements in his domestic league, he displayed he could do it in Europe as well. Nkunku registered 8 goals and assists in 6 Champions League games. A stat that appears even more impressive when you take into account that Leipzig were in a group with PSG and Manchester City.
Along with his remarkable goal scoring prowess, Nkunku offers much more to a team than just goal scoring, though his finishing ability has improved ten fold over the course of the year. The youngster has fantastic awareness and elite level movement in the final third of the pitch. This is a trait that is vital in Jurgen Klopp’s heavily attacking based system. On the ball Nkunku shines also. The 24 year old is very comfortable on the ball and he frequently likes to progress play with his feet. His close control also draws a lot of fouls, which will be highly effective in giving players such as TAA the chance to find the back of the net from the free kick spot. Nkunku has great awareness and is able to make passes all over the field. Whether it’s quick one on ones where he has to hold up the ball, or cross field long balls, he can do it all. Another element of his game that could be well utilised is his versatility to play all across the front three (just like Mané this past season). Christopher started at least three games in each of the three forward positions this past term. And according to Whoscored stats, he never dipped below an average performance of 7.00 in any across the year.
After highlighting some of his key strengths, it’s clear that Nkunku would thrive playing at Anfield along creative players such as Salah and Thiago. But the problem with having such a stellar year is that there will likely be a long queue for his services. Teams such as Chelsea and Manchester United have been linked to the attacker, and its rumoured that he will cost around £50million. Considering he’s still only 24 years old, and it looks as though he’ll only get better, £50million seems a bargain considering his contract runs out in 2024. So all in all, the Liverpool directors would be smart to at least put in a call for this certain future star.
Moussa Diaby- Bayern Leverkusen (22 years old)
We now move onto another Frenchman from the Bundesliga, this time being Moussa Diaby. Another former PSG youngster, Diaby had a real breakout year in Germany, where he contributed to 32 goals in all competitions. Still yet to turn 23 in the summer Moussa has already shown that he can carry a team on his shoulders and win a game out of the blue. His stellar performances helped parent club Leverkusen to a very respectable 3rd place league finish. Playing alongside striker Patrik Schick and wonder kid Florian Wirtz, they formed a formidable trio that lit up Bundesliga defences. Despite his dominance this past year, it’s clear that he still has room for improvement, and at times has shown how raw he is as a prospect.
As a player, his style is very direct and aggressive. The Frenchman found himself hugging the right flank primarily, but also shared minutes out on the left where he was equally as effective. He even found himself as the focal point of the team at the #9 position, but he wasn’t as impactful there. When watching him play, you get a very clear view of his strengths straight away. He’s blisteringly quick and breezes past defenders with ease. Diaby frequently drops a shoulder and leaves the fullbacks in the dust. More impressively, he isn’t just fast when looking to find space, but he can run with the ball like an Olympic sprinter. His ball control is quality, and rarely gives the ball away needlessly. His ability to find space with his feet gives him the opportunities to either get into strong goal scoring positions as well as it gives him the time to get his head up and find a man. Leverkusen manager Gerardo Seoane utilised him so well in the league he contributed to 13 goals and 12 assists in a little over 2770minutes, therefore averaging a goal contribution every 110 minutes, which is better than Sadio Mané’s ratio of every 156 minutes.
Considering Moussa has had the best season of his career to date, the 22 year old will be in demand this summer. Newly crowned richest club in the world Newcastle have been linked to the youngster, and it’s been reported that an offer of around £60million should be enough to get the job done. That price tag does have the potential to put suitor off, and that type of big spending has been something Liverpool have looked to avoid in recent years, so this deal could just be a pipe dream. But it’s easy to envision how nice Diaby would look in the red kit of Liverpool next year. Pair him up with the electric Luis Diaz, and you’ll have a combo to cause defenders nightmares for years.
Rafael Leão- AC Milan (22 years old)
Leão had a standout season for the newly crowned Seria A champions AC Milan this past term. In a squad full of attacking talent including Olivier Giroud and Zlatan, you could argue that the 22 year old Portugal international was the best of them all. Leão’s performances even drew the attention of fellow players and pundits alike as he was recently awarded the Serie A MVP award, joining the likes of Ronaldo and Lukaku who are recent recipients of the award. Scoring 11 goals and recording 8 assists in the league helped lead the Rossoneri to their first league title in 11 years.
Leão has improved immensely since his transfer to Milan from Lille in 2019. And he’s even forced his way onto the international stage as he’s been awarded 6 caps for a star studded Portugal side. Speaking of his international side, he plays very similarly to his compatriot, and arguably the greatest player of all time, a young Cristiano Ronaldo. Leão likes to play very direct football and likes to run at defenders with the ball at his feet. He has immense acceleration and can leave defenders for dead with a simple dummy. When dribbling, he doesn’t keep the ball too close to his body, but he’s elite at controlling his frame and bodying defenders and protecting the ball. This past year, the youngster completed 2.9 dribbles per game, which is the same as Sadio Mané and almost twice as much as Mohamad Salah. Physically Leão is a specimen, a rare mixture of size, strength and speed, players with his physical attributes don’t become available all too often. It even gives managers the option to play him as a target man up front, which is the position he started out his young career in. Going forward I can see similarities between him and Premier League legend Didier Drogba, so any team that can grab a player like that should jump on the chance.
A deal won’t come easy however. Milan have shown no sign in wanting to get rid of their standout youngster. And coming off an award winning season, his price tag will never be higher. But a player of his ability and potential is well worth the investment, and if Liverpool would be willing to drop £80million on the 22 year old, then I imagine it won’t take long to reap their rewards.
Serge Gnabry- Bayern Munich (26 years old)
We’re back to the Bundesliga with this pick. And this selection is one of the most talented players in the league. Gnabry has registered double digits for goals in the league across the last 6 seasons, showing how far he’s come as a player since his West Brom days. Spending the early days of his career in London with Arsenal, Serge struggled to get game time and moved to West Brom on loan in the 15/16 season. Again he struggled for minutes under Tony Pulis, and only started one game throughout the course of the campaign. After this disastrous year, the youngster moved back to his native Germany, and hasn’t looked back since. In July 2017, the winger signed for Bavarian giants Bayern Munich for €8million, and has been proven to be worth every penny. But after 4 years with Munich, in which he’s won 4 league titles and the Champions League, it looks as his time may be up with the club. And we could see some form of switcheroo with himself and Sadio Mané, who will go in the other direction.
But how does Gnabry fit in with this Liverpool side? Well on paper he in fact fits very well. The German is a massively improved player who shows great maturity on the pitch. He can adapt very well to different systems and has the diverse ability to play all across the front line (just like Mané). Another similarity to Mané is that he knows where the back of the net is. This season alone he scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga, and across his international career with Germany, he has scored 20 goals in 31 games, which is a great return. To go along with his goal scoring prowess, he is a great creator, and utilises his great passion and vision as well as his ability to carry the ball into dangerous areas. This season he registers on average 5.35 progressive passes and 9.25 progressive carries per 90, which is in the top 10% of players in his position, which just demonstrates how much of a forward thinking player he is. And in a Jurgen Klopp system where players play fast with their head up could prove to be beneficial.
Should Bayern look to bring in Sadio Mané to the Allianz Arena, it could spell the end for Gnabry who would be surplus to requirements for Julian Naglesmann’s side. Recent reports have said a bid of between £35/45million could be enough to sway Bayern in allowing him to leave. And that sort of deal does fit the profile of signing that Liverpool like to make. And adding a very experienced and talented player to a front line already containing Mohamad Salah would likely reduce the drop in quality that a player like Mané would create. Plus it’d be fun to see another crazy haircut enter the league.
Amine Gouiri- OGC Nice (22 years old)
Time for a bit of a left field shout now that nobody is really talking about. 22 year old Amine Gouiri has been a delight to watch for Nice this term and showed real flashes of world class potential. In a season where Nice climbed to 5th in the table, Gouiri displayed that he was their star man. In 38 league games the youngster scored 10 goals and assisted a further 9. The French youth international played a majority of his league games as a central attacker but also displayed his versatility as he performed in a handful of appearances out on the left flank. As an out and out goalscorer he still needs to work on that element of his game, and should he move to Liverpool, he may not start straight off the bat. But his creative numbers have been elite, and grabbing 9 assist in the league has shown that he can be dynamic as a creator as well as a finisher.
Watching Gouiri play, he reminds me somewhat of Liverpool new boy Luis Diaz. He catches the eye with his creativity and flair, and he can turn a defender inside and out. An assist he provided earlier in the season against Versailles was arguably the best worked individual goal I’ve seen all year. His ball control is elite and he carries the ball very well, and he dribbles at speed. Pair that with his vision and shooting ability, makes for a confusing puzzle for defenders to try and work out. He draws in defenders and can easily take multiple opponents out with a quick pass or drop of the shoulder. And it’s always fun to add more flair players into the Premier League.
Gouiri has combined for 38 league goals and assist across the past two years and it looks as though he’s close to forcing his way into a star studded France side. So it may be savvy business for a team to pick up the youngster now for a reasonable fee before he is worth double in a couple of years. And we’ve seen the Liverpool board make these sort of smart decisions in the past. So why not make another?
Forgotten Footballers 