Liverpool moving for Adam Traore would end any Jadon Sancho hopes

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Liverpool could reportedly move for Adama Traore but that would surely end any plans to sign Jadon Sancho. Reports link the Reds with both.

Sport claim Liverpool like Adama Traore. Wolves are open to a transfer, too, and would want around £36m for the winger.

Leeds United apparently front the queue, with Manchester City alongside Liverpool as they keep tabs on the situation.

Now, for £36m, this feels like a really solid deal. But it would come with an opportunity cost – Liverpool surely couldn’t sign both Traore and Jadon Sancho.

Opportunity cost

We’ve said before how much we like the idea of Traore at Liverpool. He’s the kind of player Jurgen Klopp works wonders with.

He’s raw but has elite assets – a wonderful recipe for Liverpool to work with. They could develop him into the kind of player they want.

Really, it’s much as they’ve done with both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. Two players who were effective in the top flight – admittedly, more so than Traore – but who Liverpool fine-tuned into stars.

They could surely do the same with Traore and at £36m we’d back them to near double his value.

But Traore would take up a spot that Sancho could have. And the Englishman is a far, far bigger prospect.

Sancho doesn’t just have the raw talent but he’s already putting it to good use. His record over the last two years is fantastic in Germany, far beyond anything Traore has produced.

But at the same time, he’s a larger risk. Financially, certainly.

The Independent claimed back in October that Sancho could move to Anfield at the end of the season. He’d cost a fortune, though – the Guardian had his price at £108m.

Liverpool may have a decision to make, then. They could go for the superstar in Sancho but must shatter their transfer record for him.

Alternatively, they could pay a third of the price to get Traore and back themselves to turn him into a star. But he may never reach even Sancho’s current standards.

Liverpool’s current stars negate the need for both. Both are out-and-out wingers, of which Liverpool already have two. Diogo Jota plays best out there, too.

Liverpool only realistically have room for one but both have pros and cons. But let’s be honest – either way, we’d be happy.