Liverpool have been linked to the maverick Timo Werner this summer. It would be a massive boost for the club and the manager to have the German in the team, but there is no certainty in the transfer window. As a replacement, a section of the media had linked the Premier League club to Barcelona star Ousmane Dembélé.
However, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has now stated that Timo Werner would certainly join the Kops and Dembele would not be seen at the Merseyside club. In an interview with Football Insider, the ex-Spurs man has said that Werner wants to come to the club and hence there is nothing much that Leipzig can do to prevent him from joining Klopp’s team. He has said, “Dembele is a top player but there is no smoke without fire. There has been talk of Liverpool and Werner for too long now. I can see that happening and that deal going through.
“If the buying club want it to happen and the player wants to leave, there is often very little that the selling club can do other than try and force their price.”
The fall of Dembele
Right before jumping to the Barcelona ship in 2017, the French star was hailed as the next big thing in world football. His name was taken in the same breath as Mbappe, but while the latter has done exceptionally well, the Barca man has languished behind.
The biggest asset of the forward is his pace. He runs like a sprinter with the ball at his feet, and if he gets past a defender, there is no catching up. Although Dembele’s dribbling skills are not the worst in the world, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is more comfortable beating the defenders with his sheer speed.
Moreover, he is adept at playing with both his feet, meaning he could play anywhere in the front three. This versatility makes him a vital member of the squad and gives his team tactical flexibility.
The other facet of the Barcelona man’s game is his sharpness and eye for goal. At Rennes, he had scored 12 times in 26 matches and even at Borussia Dortmund he had shown glimpses of his talent. However, at the Catalan club, the Frenchman has been a pale shadow of his former self, finding the back of the net only 12 times in 51 matches across three seasons.
This season, in particular, has been a disaster for him as he has fallen victim to multiple injuries. The ex-Borussia man is still in the recovery phase, and it is not expected that he would be able to take part in the proceedings right from the start of the new season. This term, Dembele has played just five matches and scored 1 in the process.
Would he suit Liverpool?
It could actually be the other way round. Liverpool would undoubtedly suit the Barca outcast as his style of play could be perfect for the English side, and here he would have the platform to showcase his talent. The Anfield side have made a name for themselves by playing a fast brand of football, with sharp counter-attacks. Dembele could play at his strengths for the English team and regain his lost reputation. Moreover, playing under a man like Jurgen Klopp could work as extra motivation for him and push him to give the extra.
However, unfortunately for the player, we have to say that he does not suit the club’s needs anymore. The European champions are not in apposition where they can have a fallen star and try to guide him through his metamorphosis. They need proven players who are at the peak of their performances to sustain the level that they have displayed over the past couple of seasons and regrettably Dembele does not fall in that bracket anymore. All in all, good news for Liverpool fans if the transfer for Timo Werner goes through instead of Ousmane Dembélé.
