According to reports, Liverpool are now set to swoop for Ligue 1 forward Gaetan Laborde as he keeps his search on for attacking reinforcements. Jurgen Klopp has been trying to shore up his attacking front for weeks now, but to no effect and Laporte could finally be the new addition at Anfield.
The French international, who plays for FC Girondins Bordeaux, has reportedly been priced at an affordable £9 million and Klopp is looking to seal the deal for the proven striker as fast as possible. At 23, the Mont-de-Marsan born forward has earned some impression in the French league the last term with many clubs already targeting him.
Liverpool enjoyed a rather smooth scoring season last campaign where the Reds went on to score 78 goals in 36 games and secured the fourth position in the process. In Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Phillipe Coutinho, Klopp has some prolific scorers, who gave a solid start to their campaign before inconsistency and injuries forced a huge slump in their form.
And that is where Klopp’s huge concern remains ahead of a busy transfer window. The German found himself in deep waters as he ran out of options in the attacking third. Failure to have a strong bench forced him to face vile criticisms and he wouldn’t want to repeat that blunder yet again.
While Bordeaux had a not so good season, to be honest, Laborde managed to shine with 13 goals and five assists in all competitions. The centre forward can also play on the left flank with equal deft and his pace on and off the ball helps him to be a makeshift winger as and when needed. And that makes him an ideal fit for Klopp who wants his centre-forwards to fall back and win balls.
Laborde is the youth product of Bordeaux and the club made sure of his progress through loan stints with many French underage sides. Before Laborde could get a break into Bordeaux’s B team, he was sent on a season-long loan with Red Star FC. It did help him a lot as he finally managed to break into their first team in 2014.
However, he was still young and inexperienced and the club decided to send him temporarily to Stade Brest 29 and Clermont Foot Auvergne 63. The player managed to prove himself at Clement Foot with eight goals that season and broke into Bordeaux’s first team last season.
At 181cm, he isn’t the tallest of forwards, but his strength could come in handy for the Reds alongside Firmino and Divock Origi.
