Just a season ago, Liverpool were known as a team that were struggling to create and take chances under the previous manager Brendan Rodgers. However, no such claims have been made ever since the talismanic German took over the Anfield outfit 8 games into the last season. Since the start of the previous season, Liverpool have had the likes of Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Christian Benteke and Adam Lallana as a part of the attacking options for the manager. Benteke is the only player to have left the club this summer leaving the Reds with enough options in attack.
Klopp, however, is seemingly not happy with his choices and has reportedly made an official approach for Brazil striker Luan Guilherme de Jesus Vieira also known as Luan Vieira. The 23-year old was in great form for Gremio, a Brazilian outfit, last season, and is now attracting interests from some of the top clubs in Europe.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Luan started his youth career at Tanabi in 2012 and moved to Gremio just a year later. He played his first ever professional game in 2014 and has ever since been an important part of the Gremio side in the Brazilian league. He has also represented his nation in the U20 and U23 levels and is one of the many exciting players coming from the land of football. He was also a part of the team that won gold in the Olympics recently and is looking for bigger challenges to prove his potential.
In the wake of the new link, here is out SWOT analysis of the 23-year old.
Strengths
At 23, Luan is a player who has already had some performances that defy his age. He is an exceptional dribbler of the ball and is one of the hardest players to mark in one on one situations. He is comfortable playing on either side of the striker and is also more than an able leader of the attack for his side.
His best performances come on the wing where he likes to cut in and create all sorts of problems for the defence. He is adept at holding up the ball and finding his teammates in space while his positioning allows him to create and score goals consistently. He is a more than decent finisher but his defensive abilities are also astounding. He gives it all to his side in every game and is every manager’s dream.
Weaknesses
Like already mentioned, the 23-year old is a player who does not have too many weaknesses. But the biggest criticism has been his over enthusiasm to get on the ball that leads to him conceding an unusual number of fouls, some even in dangerous areas. He is also not the strongest of the players and is not someone who likes a physical battle. He has a lot of time in his career to improve, but if he wants to become the best, he must get rid of these habits quickly.
Opportunity
The 23-year old is easily one of the most exciting players in Brazil at the moment. He had a decent season in the domestic league in the country and is looking close to ready for bigger challenges. So it does not come as a surprise that Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool are desperate for his signature.
At his age, Luan will cherish an opportunity to play for a club as big as Liverpool and a move away from Brazil can be the start of a great journey for the attacker. He is also on the cusp of finding a place in the senior side of his country and a proving himself in England can easily get him that place before the World Cup a few years later. The camaraderie and playing with his countrymen, Firmino and Coutinho, will help his cause.
Threat
It is revealed that Liverpool have made a £30m bid for the player which is easily a threat in itself. Any youngster who makes such a big money move will find it hard to justify his price tag and win the accolades of the fans until he becomes a super hit. Luan is still inexperienced in Europe and will find it hard to adjust to the Premier League.
He will need some time to get accustomed to the style of play and might lose a year or two of his career trying to play a game that he is not really comfortable with. A move to a club like Liverpool will come with its own pressures and if Luan can handle it and come up with the goods, it will do a lot of good to his career.
