While defeat against Real Madrid may have ultimately ended Liverpool’s unlikely tilt at European Cup glory last month, manager Jurgen Klopp has been quick to add to his squad ahead of the brand new season.
A deal to bring in RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita was agreed last summer, for example, with the dynamic Guinean set to join his new teammates after the World Cup. The Reds have also signed the versatile Fabinho from Monaco, after both Manchester clubs cooled their interest in the Brazilian star.
Liverpool failed in their attempts to sign Lyon’s attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir, however, with the Frenchman set to stay at the Groupama Stadium for the foreseeable future. Despite this, Klopp is thought to have identified an unlikely alternative in the form of the unheralded Brazilian Lucas Paqueta, who is a regular performer at youth level with Brazil.
Who is Paqueta and What Would he Bring to Anfield?
According to Premium Sport journalist Andersinho Marquez, Klopp identified Paqueta as his primary transfer target after Lyon announced that Fekir would not be allowed to leave this summer.
Paqueta certainly boasts a similar playing style to the Frenchman, with both possessing a relatively low centre of gravity and willingness to carry the ball at pace. With an outstanding level of technical ability and creativity, the 20-year old Paqueta would also appear to be capable of filling the seismic void left by Barcelona’s Phillipe Coutinho, while adding a new dimension in behind Klopp’s thrilling front three.
Despite his relative inexperience, Paqueta improved tremendously last season, becoming a key player for the Brazilian Serie A club Flamengo. In total, he contributed five goals in 29 appearances in all competitions during 2017/18, while he has managed to score an impressive 11 in 68 games since his debut in 2016.
His growing reputation certainly gained the attention of Brazil manager Tite, who named Paqueta in his 35-man provisional squad for the summer World Cup. While the youngster did not make the final cut, it may only be a matter of time before he establishes himself as a regular starter for Seleção and a transfer target for Europe’s top clubs.
In this respect, the Reds can steal a march on other potential suitors by moving quickly and completing a deal, with initial reports from Brazil suggesting that the starlet has a £40 million release clause in his current contract. This should not prove an issue given that Liverpool were prepared to pay more for Fekir, as while Paqueta may represent something of a risk he undoubtedly possesses immense potential for the future.
How Likely is a Move?
There’s no doubt that Paqueta fits the mould of a Jurgen Klopp player, with his skill, dynamism and creative flair capable of lighting up Anfield. Sure, the youngster would need time to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, but over time he could prove to be an exceptional investment for the Reds.
Paqueta’s £40 million release cause also makes him a relative steal, while it means that a deal could be done quite quickly if there’s enough interest on the side of club and player alike.
With this in mind, this is clearly a deal that has legs and one that could well be completed before the Russian World Cup is over.
