Despite managing to keep their heads among the top four sides in the Premier League with a last-ditch attempt on the final day of the season, Liverpool are finding it extremely difficult to get the needed reinforcements to challenge for the Champions League next season.
After the club officially apologised to Southampton in their repeated attempts to lure away the South coast club’s star defender, Virgil Van Dijk, against the club’s wishes, it is now AS Roma’s Mohammad Salah that have got out of their grip. The AS Roma forward, who has been in prolific form since moving to Italy from Premier League side Chelsea, had a long-term admirer in Liverpool.
But, if reports are to be believed, then the Reds are now pursuing Sporting CP forward Gelson Martins now as Salah’s labelled fee of £35 million to £40 million is proving too much for the Reds. Liverpool would surely regret now missing in on the player back in 2014 when he was priced only at £11 million and Chelsea won the race.
Though Liverpool have some of the best-attacking talents in the Premier League, who made sure the Reds scored a decent 78 goals last season, it is the lack of quality on the bench that is concerning them. The injury to Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana last season almost cost them a place in the top four and Jurgen Klopp has to make sure they don’t experience a similar situation next season.
A right winger by nature, the 22-year-old Portuguese international has been one of the standout players for Sporting Lisbon. He has scored seven times and provided 14 assists in all competition for the club in what has been a disappointing season for them. He was declared their player of the season last term.
Martins’ impact on the team could be best indicated from his brilliant 87 first-team appearances at such a young age. The Cape Verde-born player had some short spells with youth teams of Portugal’s historic sides Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, and ultimately joined Sporting’s B-side making an instant impact. Sporting are quite wary of his demand and his long-term contract includes a release clause of £46.5 million.
While it could be too much for Liverpool, Sporting are under high pressure financially and unlike AS Roma, might be even willing to part ways with their emerging star. Klopp will get a more than ideal addition in this wide forward, who will give fierce competition to their top scorer last season, Sadio Mane.
