With the transfer window up and running, Liverpool have been quiet this summer with just one signing so far in the form of Sepp van den Berg, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from churning away.
And the latest report from L’Equipe via the Daily Star has claimed that the reigning Champions League holders are interested in a move for Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele, who despite joining the Catalan club two seasons ago in a blockbuster £135 million deal from Borussia Dortmund via BBC Sport has yet to live up to that price tag.
The French World Cup winner has only managed 46 La Liga appearances across two years for Barcelona, with only 32 of those games being starts as well as scoring just 11 goals and assisting 12 during his time in Spain.
Frankly, Liverpool shouldn’t be looking towards the 22-year-old as an option this summer.
In the two seasons Dembele has spent in Spain, the youngster has missed 40 games through various hamstring and ankle injuries according to Transfermarkt, and although there is no doubt that the attacker has the quality to play for Liverpool given his records at both Stade Rennais and Borussia Dortmund in which the France international scored 18 goals and assisted 20 in 58 league games across both sides, his injury record is a concern.
Liverpool are a side who are no strangers to injuries, with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez two players that have sustained long periods of time away from the first-team because of serious injuries. So, given Dembele’s previous record coupled with the age-old adjective of the physicality of the Premier League, with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola stating via Four Four Two how physical the league is compared to others in Europe, and you can understand why a move to Anfield might not be ideal for him.
Furthermore, Goal’s report on the player from November 2018 hinted at a lack of professionalism in his game, so there are two obvious problems here despite the forward’s talent.
Dembele has been unlucky during his time at Barcelona with injuries, but a move to the Premier League at this stage of his career will surely only worsen things for the talented Frenchman, who still has time to impress in La Liga.
Liverpool fans, would you take Dembele this summer? Let us know!
