Jack Frankham provides four alternatives to Mario Götze in the wake of Liverpool’s failure to persuade him to move to Liverpool.
Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Götze has been strongly linked with a move away from the German giants. Liverpool were interested in a £20 million deal before the 23-year old expressed his desire to fight for his palce in the team. Götze is one of the most promising players for his age, if Liverpool doesn’t sign the German here are four players worth considering:
Sadio Mané has emerged as a possible target with the Reds reportedly ready to bid for the Southampton winger. He has a proven track record in the Premier League after scoring 15 goals last season. The Senegal international has been a threat from every angle this season. While he may be a little inconsistent he is certainly capable of transforming the Reds as he has blistering pace and a sweet right foot. Klopp has been reported by the Metro as being a huge fan and has scouted him since 2012 for BVB. The rumoured price is to be £30 million. This may seem a bit too much for a player who has not played any European football since joining Southampton. Is Klopp ready to take the risk?
Andriy Yarmolenko has been targeted by Liverpool for many years now. At 27 years old, Yarmolenko he is looking to take a step forward in his career. Liverpool have competition from local club Everton who have an eye on him since the summer but he rejected the move. The likelihood is that he wants to leave and is ready due to the fact he has scored over 60 goals since joining Dynamo Kyiv. He is rated at €20 million with the Reds looking to snatch them off their local rivals. This is a player that would bring balance to the side and would benefit from Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino. He also has a track record for scoring against teams in the Europa league and when playing in international games for Ukraine with over 35 goals for them since 2011.
Isco. With Liverpool targeting Götze, it seems like they want a player with brilliant technique. This singing would also classify as a big-name marquee player and would capture instant support from the Liverpool fans. The Götze deal is not dead by any means but with Isco struggling for game time at Real Madrid, it would be a good option to consider. He would do well to establish himself in the Premier League with big name teams like, PSG, Arsenal and Manchester United who are also interested in the player also. Following the appointment of Zinedine Zidane in January, it looks like Isco is second favourite to James.
At 24 years old he is hugely experienced for his age with winning the Champions league twice already. His search for first team football could play nicely into Klopp’s hands. The reds should make a statement of intent but this would mean Isco would demand a key role under the Klopp era. He would command a huge fee, however, and both FSG and Klopp like to buy small sell large.
Lazar Markovic has been on loan in Turkey and has had a far from successful loan, as a result, Klopp is looking to kick-start his Liverpool career and give Lazar a chance to play in his preferred position. He’ll be given a full pre-season to impress. With the 22 year old picking up 3 hamstring injures while being in Turkey, he has found it difficult to get a run in the squad at Fenerbahçe . Lazar is hugely talented and was bought for €20 million from Benfica at the age of 19. Markovic’s off the ball pressing would work as a delight for Klopp, with him looking to find what he has to offer down the right flank. It would give depth to the squad with Sheyi Ojo and Jordan Ibe being the only out and out wingers. Klopp is likely to give Markovic time to impress during pre-season.
If any of these players impressed in front of the Kop it would be fantastic. Klopp will weigh up cost and talent and make the best decision with both in mind.
Featured Image – The World Game