Liverpool have already been linked with a bunch of wingers forward of the switch window, and their method to rumours tells us lots concerning the seek for Mohamed Salah‘s successor.
As has been the case for a number of purported targets already this summer season, it didn’t take lengthy for hyperlinks to Newcastle‘s Yankuba Minteh to be quashed by trusted Liverpool sources.
Clearly, the Reds have no real interest in seeing their identify deployed for the advantage of brokers within the coming window, or as a device to help their rivals when it comes to their PSR issues.
However whereas stories flattening thrilling hyperlinks with gamers can typically really feel like they’re sucking the enjoyable out of the switch window, they will additionally supply small insights into what Liverpool truly plan to do.
And that’s notably true within the case of Minteh, who felt just like the a hundredth left-footed proper winger to have been linked with a transfer to Anfield in current months.
Who hasn’t been dominated out
PSV Eindhoven starlet Johan Bakayoko is probably the most distinguished instance of this phenomenon and, crucially, there was no try to dismiss these hyperlinks but.
The identical goes for Brentford‘s Bryan Mbeumo, who has all of the hallmarks of a Michael Edwards-era signing within the mould of Diogo Jota.
And each had been joined on the alleged shortlist by Dario Osorio, who has simply loved a implausible debut season with Midtjylland coming off the fitting wing onto – you guessed it – his left foot.
Whereas not each hearsay could have substance to it, it feels telling that hyperlinks with such an identical profile of attacker have continued to seem of late.
Why curiosity leaks
If it is a market that Liverpool are monitoring, then they’re required to make tentative contact with brokers to evaluate the circumstances of a number of offers earlier than making any choices.
And it’s at this level that data begins to leak out, providing supporters a clue as to what positions the membership’s recruitment employees need to strengthen.
In fact, the indicators {that a} proper winger may be focused had been most likely there within the barely unbalanced squad Arne Slot will inherit this summer season.
For starters, the Dutchman has a humiliation of riches on the left-hand facet, with Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Jota and even Darwin Nunez all able to enjoying on the market.
That may nonetheless be true even when both Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain firmed up their curiosity in Diaz, although that has but to occur.
The following Mo Salah
Against this, choices on the fitting wing are comparatively sparse, a undeniable fact that owes a lot to Salah having been a digital ever-present since his arrival in the summertime of 2017.
Previously, leaving that place solely to the Egyptian made sense given his exceptional availability file and world-class performances.
Nonetheless, with query marks over his future having arisen of late, it will be sensible for Liverpool to begin the future-proofing course of now.
• READ: 25 targets, 14 assists…and 12 months left – What awaits Mohamed Salah?
There could also be zero probability of Salah departing this summer season, however negotiations over a brand new contract with a participant who earns £350,000 every week and who is not going to desire a pay minimize aren’t going to be easy.
What’s extra, there have been small indicators of decline throughout the latter a part of final season that underlined why the Reds are often so cautious of handing out offers to gamers on the mistaken facet of 30.
As such, there may be an argument that, even ought to an settlement over contemporary phrases be discovered within the coming months, an addition on the fitting wing is a necessity this summer season.
What ought to we anticipate?
Beforehand, the function of backup to Salah has fallen to Harvey Elliott, however his lack of electrical tempo and rising affect from a central place make a powerful case to finish that experiment.
As a substitute, the best candidate for that job could be a teen who profiles equally to Liverpool’s No. 11, and who’s able to changing him in the long run.
After all, with the beginning of the Reds’ summer season having been outlined by a endless flurry of hyperlinks to such a participant, understanding precisely who may be focused shouldn’t be simple at this early stage.
However probably the most encouraging side of those countless rumours is that they counsel the membership have recognised a necessity most followers would have had down as a precedence for the approaching window.
