With a spot in the top-4 well within reach for Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp is trying to make sure that he has all the tools needed to get the job done, come the business end of the season. The Reds have a seriously strong attack at their disposal but their midfield and defence have been the things pulling them down to mediocrity.
So it does not come as a surprise that Klopp is looking to sign some of the most exciting talents in world football and one player constantly on his radar is French international Thomas Lemar.
The AS Monaco midfielder eluded the Reds even after they made an offer of around £75m late in the summer transfer window but reports now claim that Liverpool are expected to make another offer for him, in the January transfer window. They do have a better chance this time around.
Monaco have been knocked out of the UCL this season and are also struggling to catch up to PSG at the top of the table. Lemar has very little to play for at the Stade Louis II and is also wanted by the likes of Arsenal in January. But do Liverpool really need him?
In the summer, many believed that if Liverpool spent on Lemar, it would probably spell the end of their talisman, Philippe Coutinho. Monaco want around £90m for the youngster and if the Reds are to afford it, a part of the funds must come from Coutinho’s sale.
It will not be any different in January but Klopp might persuade FSG, Liverpool’s owners, to spend on the winger in January, and give him six months alongside Coutinho, before the Brazilian leaves to Spain at the end of the season.
It is not a hidden fact that Coutinho could leave to Barcelona next summer and not many Liverpool fans will be surprised if it happens. There are a number of players Liverpool want to replace him with, with PSG star Julian Draxler at the top of their wishlist, and Lemar will only add more quality to this lineup.
Known for his exciting dribbling, gifted technique an cool head in the final third, Lemar is a hard-working winger, who has a direct approach to his attack. He has four assists and a goal in 11 appearances on the left-wing for the French champions this season but has not been able to replicate his form from the previous season.
He has already established himself as one of the best youngsters on show in Europe and will definitely add a lot of quality to the Liverpool attack. So giving him half a season to adjust to conditions in England before taking centre-stage next season is a good ploy from Klopp.
However, the Reds have more impending problems they need to solve and have to do more work on getting those done than trying to lure Lemar for the future. Do you think Liverpool should meet Monaco’s valuation of £90m for Lemar in January?
