Liverpool don’t act emotionally or impulsively in the transfer market, rather they behave clinically. Michael Edwards waits for the right opportunity to come along and he pursues it. If reports in the Mail on Sunday of an Arsenal midfield clearout are true then Liverpool should move for Matteo Guendouzi, he would be the right opportunity at the right time.
Liverpool should move for Matteo Guendouzi if Arsenal are forced to sell. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
According to the Mail on Sunday Arsenal are intent on signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey. However, with the club estimated to make a loss of £144m next year, Mikel Arteta will be forced to raise transfer funds through player sales.
The report in question has touted Alexandre Lacazette, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi as potential outgoings. With Arsenal facing such huge losses and being forced to sell in order to buy then we can assume that any club targeting these players could find themselves bagging a bargain.
Arsenal signed Guendouzi from Lorient for £8m in 2018. Whilst he was initially brought in as a player for the future he quickly established himself as a first choice defensive midfielder at the Emirates, making 33 appearances in his debut season in North London.
Liverpool should move for Matteo Guendouzi if Arsenal are forced to sell. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
The Frenchman is still just 21-years-old and doesn’t turn 22 until next April. Whilst impatient Gooners often charge the youngster with being too negative in his play it would be difficult to deny his immense potential. Any player holding their own in an Arsenal midfield at such a young age has a bright future ahead of them if paired with the right coach.
We know that Jürgen Klopp can get the best out of players; many questioned why the Reds made the unglamorous signing of Andy Robertson from a relegated Hull City but Klopp has turned doubters into believers with the Scotsman now captain of his country and regularly cited as one of the world’s finest left backs.
If Arsenal are looking to sell on the cheap then Liverpool could bag a bargain with Matteo Guendouzi. This season Fabinho averaged four tackles per game with an 87% pass completion rate, Guendouzi averaged three tackles per game with a pass completion of 89%. He is also an ideal FSG signing thanks to his youth, Liverpool would likely be able to profit off him in the future.
Under the guidance of Jürgen Klopp we could see Guendouzi realise his undeniably immense potential at Liverpool. He has the character for it: he is passionate and determined on the pitch – sometimes recklessly so – but if he can channel these characteristics correctly then he could be a bargain signing.