According to latest reports, Liverpool are set to reignite their interest in AS Lyon striker Alexander Lacazette. The French international has already announced that he is leaving the club in summer, which has put numerous clubs on high alert, and Liverpool are one of his prime suitors.
The Reds have had an improved season this term from the previous one undoubtedly, but given the form Jurgen Klopp’ men have been against the top sides, the German would surely regret dropping points against the mid-table clubs throughout the season. And the prime reason for that was the side’s over-dependence on the few first-team stars.
For a team who has attacked as its only strategy against all sides, Liverpool had little resources to implement it throughout the season. In the likes of Phillipe Coutinho and Sadio Mane, the Reds have individuals who can pull off some incredible feat against top opponents but they are hardly consistent and needless to say, highly injury-prone.
In the poacher’s role, Liverpool have Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi. And while they have worked hard to execute Klopp’s false 9 plan, they lack the quality to perform on a regular basis. Liverpool desperately need a striker like Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez or Harry Kane, who can fire 20 plus goals in a season.
And Lacazette could be the best fit in that role given the 25-year-old’s attacking attributes. He has scored a whopping 35 goals and registered five assists in all competition. A centre-forward by nature, Lacazette relies heavily on his pace on and off the ball and exquisite finishing. His phenomenal work rate makes him an invaluable asset for any side.
A huge strength of Lacazette is that scoring is his basic instinct, which makes him all less inconsistent. Since being a regular to the French side back in 2011-12 season, he has scored a staggering 127 goals and registered 43 assists in 274 games. And his ability to play on the flanks with equal ease makes him all the more effective in the absence of Mane and Coutinho.
A youth product of AS Lyon’s famous academy, Lacazette first broke into the first team in 2009 and was regular in two years. His contract with the club comes to an end in 2019 and with his decision to leave the club already announced, Lyon have little option than to cash on him.
However, Liverpool will face stiff competition from the likes of Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, who have been long-term admirers of the striker and would certainly be able to pay the £34 million price tag Lyon have placed on him.
