The Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern were disappointed to miss out on the signing of Nabil Fekir at the weekend, and they are hoping Jurgen Klopp will be able to sign an alternative attacking midfielder over the course of the summer.
For all of the immense quality Liverpool demonstrated in the final-third last season, there is no doubt that they are lacking depth in forward positions. Luckily for the Reds, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane remained injury free for the majority of the season, but Liverpool’s frailties were illuminated when the former was tragically substituted during the first-half of the Champions League final.
Without the electric Egpytial on the field Liverpool appeared toothless and stuck for ideas in the final-third, so Klopp simply must add further talent to his attack this summer. If Salah is injured, suspended or even out of form – unthinkable as it is – they will need a player to replace him in the starting eleven next season, and one man who represents a dark-horse contender to play the role of Salah’s understudy is Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
The Iran international is set to feature for his national side at the World Cup this summer and he’s certainly one for Liverpool and the elite teams of Europe to keep a close eye on throughout the tournament. Despite costing AZ Alkmar a measly £1.62 million to sign from NEC Nijmegen back in 2015, Jahanbakhsh has exceeded all expectation and blossomed into one of the most exciting players in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Jahanbakhsh managed to notch a startling 22 goals in all-competitions last season and provide a further 14 assists, making him the Eredivisie’s top-goalscorer in the process. His statistics speak for themselves and serve to emphasise the immense quality which he possesses.
Naturally, those numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt considering he is playing his trade in Dutch football, but with the right level of patience and investment in his development he could replicate that form in the Premier League with Liverpool.
The rise of Mo Salah was the headline-making success story of the season for Liverpool last time round, but their over-reliance on his quality cannot continue into the new campaign if they wish to compete for silverware once again.
Liverpool were lucky to avoid complications in forward positions throughout the season, but it’s unlikely that lightning will strike twice and, with that to consider, they should do everything in their power to sign Jahanbakhsh whom represents a perfect player to rival Salah for a starting berth next season.
Liverpool fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
