The Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern believed their club were dominating the transfer market this time last week, but fast-forward 7 days and it seems Liverpool’s grip on the market is not as tight as it initially appeared.
After completing the signing of Fabinho at the beginning of the window it appeared Liverpool were set to move quickly to complete their second acquisition from Ligue 1 in the shape of Nabil Fekir, but that deal appears to have fallen through. Another long-term Liverpool target Thomas Lemar also appeared to slip through their grasp earlier this week as Atletico Madrid confirmed they have reached an agreement in principle to sign the 22-year-old in a deal worth £52.7 million, paving the way for Antoine Griezmann to depart the club in the process.
The unravelling of events has been met with bitter disappointment by the Reds faithful propping up our bar who were eager to see at least one of the aforementioned talents move to Anfield. With little by way of back-up for Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, the Liverpool supporters believe the signing of a new attacking wide player is imperative this summer.
Although Ligue 1 has not been a happy hunting ground for Liverpool in the past week, Klopp would be wise to return to the French top-flight in pursuit of another electric talent, namely Florian Thauvin of Marseille (valued at £45 million by Transfermarkt). The 25-year-old winger previously flopped at Newcastle in the Premier League, but he should be excused for his failure to prove himself on Tyneside and given a second chance to prove himself in English football.
With better players around him, Thauvin proved his quality last season by notching 26 goals and providing 18 assists in all competitions – a phenomenal record within any top European league. Sure, it’s fair to say the standard of the French top-flight is beneath that of the Premier League and making the transition would not be a straightforward process for Thauvin to undertake, but the abundance of quality talent within Liverpool’s squad would certainly make his life easier than when he moved to St James’ Park.
When Thauvin discovers his best form he is difficult to stop in possession of the ball with his dazzling dribbling and dead-eyed end product, and his ability to play on both-wings would give Klopp a perfect opportunity to experiment with different combinations next season.
Thauvin’s career with Newcastle was nothing short of a complete disaster, but with patience and trust in his ability he could become a resounding success at Anfield, so Klopp should put the Fekir and Lemar disappointments behind him and move for Marseille’s crown jewel in the coming weeks.
Liverpool fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
