Issa Diop is someone Jurgen Klopp can work wonders with

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Jurgen Klopp could turn Issa Diop into a great player. Liverpool could move for the player, according to reports.

The Athletic claims that Liverpool may move for Issa Diop. They’ve already asked about him, in fact, but it wouldn’t be a smooth deal.

Liverpool want a simple loan but West Ham United don’t like that idea. The Hammers, instead, would want a £20m obligation to buy in the summer.

That would be a real problem, from our point of view. You can read more about that here.

But what about the positives? Well, for us, there’s a clear one.

Potential

Issa Diop is the kind of player Jurgen Klopp can squeeze the potential out of. We’ve seen it before.

Mohamed Salah is arguably the best example – a player with the raw attributes to reach the top but needed the right guidance and fit.

But really, Liverpool’s squad is just littered with similar stories. They’ve built a wonderfully successful side on the back of this very strategy.

They find players with great potential who have never really fulfilled it. They sign them around the ages of 24 or 25 and find a way to click them into place.

Diop can be that player, too. He arrived at West Ham United with a lot of hype but hasn’t really lived up to it – he’s not getting in the team right now.

It’s clear to see his potential, though. Diop is a natural athlete, aggressive, and has five years of experience in top European leagues.

That all suits Liverpool wonderfully well. The 24-year-old would suit their high-line, while his passing averages around 90 per cent completion – exactly what Liverpool want.

So there’s a lot to like, here. Liverpool would do the move on the idea that they can squeeze that potential out of him, arguably offering a better stylistic fit than West Ham.

It’s certainly a gamble – there’s no doubting that. But Liverpool have taken these gambles before and won.

There’s no reason they couldn’t do the same again.