Liverpool had a busy summer with several key signings but opted not to rope in a midfield attacker after pulling the plug on the Nabil Fekir deal. They were in the market for a while to replace Philippe Coutinho in a ‘number 10’ role, however, switched the strategy later on and tweaked the set-up to find a resolution.
The Reds, under Jurgen Klopp, excelled sensationally in recent years but failed to attain the title glory after losing in several finals including the prestigious Champions League competition. They were maintaining a steady lead over Manchester City in Premier League until last week when a disappointing draw against rivals Everton saw them dropping below the Citizens by a point.
The Reds, meanwhile, have struggled to grind out results in the past few games and a lack of creativity in the middle of the park often led to futile outcomes versus sterner opponents. The necessity of a ‘number 10’ has been discussed time and again to execute an alternate plan, and Liverpool might now have one in the summer if a report from Don Balon is accurate.
The outlet claims that the Reds are interested in Juan Fernando Quintero, the Colombian who has regained his reputation at River Plate after a disappointing spell with FC Porto. The midfielder scored in back to back World Cups while representing his nation and earned attention for his creative spark, gifted skills and a strong left foot.
At 26, Quintero deserves another shot at resurrecting his career in the European circuit, particularly after finding his rhythm back since joining the Argentine giants. His initial loan stint was made permanent for €3.5m – an astronomical sum in today’s inflated market and the player penned a contract until 2022 that includes a release clause of €26m.
Quintero, on his day, is as good as the world’s renowned stars but is highly inconsistent and struggled to perform persistently throughout his club career. He would not be a guaranteed starter in Klopp’s squad and must improve his work ethics to secure an Anfield switch.
The Reds have an array of midfield options but lack someone who would be driving the show from behind and dictate the flow with his vision, link-up play, off the ball movement as well as strong passing and shooting attributes. Quintero does not match Coutinho’s class but is indeed a risk worth taking and a value for money recruit considering his quality and sharpness high up the field.
