In a recent interview with beIN Sports (via the Express), Olympique Lyonnais winger Maxwel Cornet revealed that he was flattered after being linked with Liverpool and said, “Liverpool are a big club, any links are flattering. I’m under contract until 2021, but you never know in football so we’ll see.”
The Daily Mail had recently claimed that the Reds had sent scouts to catch the Ivory Coast international in action for Lyon in the Ligue 1. The playmaker’s recent words seem like a ‘come and get me’ plea to Liverpool so only time will tell whether Jurgen Klopp decides to move in for him later this summer.
Cornet’s Incredible Rise In French Football
The Ivory Coast goal-getter came through the youth ranks of FC Metz before establishing himself in their first-team. He decided to join Lyon at the start of 2015 and has since been a real live wire for the French side down the right flank.
Cornet has enjoyed another impressive campaign after putting in a series of goal-scoring performances for Lyon during the recently concluded Ligue 1 season. The 22-year-old has made 36 appearances for Sylvinho’s side this term, finding the back of the net on 12 occasions while creating five assists across all competitions.
He has also represented Ivory Coast in 10 international matches while scoring three goals for his nation thus far.
What Will The Ivory Coast International Bring To Merseyside?
Cornet boasts blistering pace which enables him to dribble with the ball at breakneck speed down the right wing. He is one of the fastest players in the top tier of France but needs to work on his ball control if he wants to be more productive in the final third. His shots pack a lot of power and Cornet is also not afraid to work his socks off for his team.
However, he is still quite raw and would need time to develop his game and be ready for the challenges that might lie ahead if he decides to move to the Premier League. The Ivory Coast speedster will be an excellent impact substitute for the Reds as his pace will cause a lot of problems for the opposing defenders during the latter stages of a football match.
He will also provide some healthy competition for Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri at Anfield. Hence, Klopp should consider recruiting him in the coming months so that the German manager can have a strong squad capable of challenging on all fronts next season.
