Liverpool want 'one of the best players on the planet' for £25m

Liverpool They have had a world-class attacking force for the best part of a decade, but a common theme throughout has been the absence of a playmaker in midfield.

Phil Coutinho certainly made fun of Premier League During that whirlwind period in 2017 when he sat behind Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino, but then he forced his way back to Barcelona. For a staggering fee of £142m In the middle of that season, it was a watershed moment.

Nowadays, Harvey Elliott is gunning for a bigger role on the slot team, while the tireless Dominik Szoboszlai starts most weeks, but then he's not a real player. toy maker, In the true sense of the word.

Jurgen KloppThe team's long reign has been marred by a strong midfield, with the full-backs overlapping to create out wide and the aforementioned front three working in beautiful tandem to break up defences.

But Slott is not Klopp, and while his system bears some resemblance to his predecessor, some of the differences speak to the inclusion of a skilled playmaker from the middle, tasked with the clear aim of creating and influencing the middle, which adds dimension to this. Indeed, Liverpool's team is multi-layered.

Liverpool are eyeing another striker

This talk of ten dynamic new players stems back to reports that Liverpool have a particular interest in Lyon's Ryan Chergui, who has been in impressive form for the Ligue 1 side this season.

It feels great that FSG are pushing to add another talented striker to Liverpool's stacked ranks when other areas of the pitch clearly require attention, but then who can blame them when Cherki is available for such a nominal fee?

According to French outlet Foot MercatoLiverpool are seeking to sign Sharqi, 21, in a stunning January deal. The talented Frenchman is Contract until June 2026 He could therefore be available for just €30m (£25m).

Paris Saint-Germain are also interested and there may be a certain appeal to staying in your home country with the dominant team in the division, but Liverpool are one of the best teams in Europe at the moment and playing within such a thriving attack could make an impact.

Sky Germany previously revealed that a winter transfer cannot be ruled out, and thus Liverpool may now have to act on their plot and prevent any rivals from grabbing one of the greatest young playmakers of this generation.

What will Rayyan Chergui bring to Liverpool?

Liverpool's attack is already full, and there is a great deal of truth behind the arguments that the transfer of energy would be better directed elsewhere, with the only signing coming in the summer. Federico Chiesa arrives, worth £12.5m From Juventus, whose influence was minimal.

But Chergui didn't quite fit into this category, instead being eclipsed by a peripatetic career that sees him operating between the lines, moving between the attacking midfield and the wide area usually covered by Salah. But he is not like the Egyptian.

Lyon hasn't been great this season but Shirkey has been in good form. Scoring five goals and seven assists During 17 matches in all competitions. However, it's not really his production that has earned him his stripes, but rather his skillful flair and quick feet.

In reality, Former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf He has already praised the prospect as “one of the best players to actually exist on the face of the Earth” when talking about the player's tricks and skills, and given that he is similar in style to Cole PalmerMaybe there's something to this comment.

Palmer is a playmaker at heart, but the Chelsea star was transcendent in his performance and cannot really be defined by his positioning.

At just 22 years old, Palmer is widely regarded as one of the Premier League's best players and he's earned it He scored 57 goals from 63 matches Since his departure from Manchester City to Chelsea In a move worth £42.5 million.

An attacking midfielder with the technical license to do what he wants, something few of the world's top players are granted across the world, Palmer is the poster boy for the Premier League, and Liverpool can now secure their own version in Cherki, with a data-driven position. FBref scores pairings as statistically comparable players.

It's a testament to Sharkey's athleticism and consistency when it comes to his ballplay production that he outperforms Palmer across a host of relevant metrics. Of course, he doesn't have the same brazen disregard for goalkeepers yet, but keep working, keep working.

This bodes well for Chergui's chances of success in Slot's Liverpool side, because the Dutch tactician requires hard work and commitment to the cause, and the French star displays qualities that seem tailor-made for that style.

Whether the right-wing midfielder will be fit for purpose as Salah's long-term successor is open to question at this stage, but Liverpool would be wise to go ahead and secure his signature before other suitors come forward.

Who knows, maybe Slott will fashion his own Palmer-type sense of mercurial talent.

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