Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on the Hamburg striker Bobby Wood as manager Jurgen Klopp intends to beef up his attacking depth next season. Liverpool are the highest scoring side in the Premier League so far, netting 61 goals in 29 games, and they clearly do it better than any team in England; but one cannot ignore the lack of depth the manager has on the bench.
The Reds had a bad patch during the African Cup of Nations tournament, when their star player Sadio Mane was away, revealing the exact chink in their armour. And while Roberto Firmino has more or less done his job playing in the number 9 position scoring nine goals and providing seven assists so far, everyone knows he could have got much more and his inconsistency is a big concern for the manager.
Liverpool are done with all their games against the big six, which have been their easier fixtures where the manager had no problems motivating his men, and their remaining few matches will decide if they can end in the top four. Liverpool’s uber-attacking philosophy has faced a bit of stagnancy against midtable and lower teams often, and this is the exact time that Klopp really regrets not having more attacking options in the squad; as reshuffling would have been of significant help.
And it seems Klopp won’t repeat the same mistake next season as he eyes a move to the Bundesliga forward. Though the 24-year-old has been quite underwhelming in his new club since arriving from second-tier FC Union Berlin last summer, Klopp has his mysterious ways of getting the best out of unknown talents.
Wood has netted only nine times for Hamburg this season in all competitions with no assist to his name. The Hawaii-born player has spent most of his professional career in Germany’s lower tiers and would surely need some adapting at the top level. And a move to Liverpool at such a stage could only be a dream for the player.
A youth product of second tier side TSV 1860 Munich, Wood has spent short stints with FC Erzgebirge Aue and FC Union Berlin before moving to Hamburg. But, it hasn’t stopped him from attracting eyeballs. He has already played 29 times for the United States and even scored four goals last year.
A centre-forward by nature, Wood can also play equally well on the flanks, something Klopp really likes. Though only 180cm, he is a perfectionist from aerial attacks and can provide the most exquisite of through balls. Liverpool, however, won’t have it easy in his pursuit as Premier League rivals Everton and Leicester City are also hot on his heels.
