With four wins from their first four games, Liverpool have made a strong start to the league campaign, as they continue the search for their first trophy under new manager Jurgen Klopp.
The German tactician has already transformed the Liverpool squad into one of the strongest in the league but he is not done yet and is already planning for the future. He is still looking for players who can improve his side and the latest name that is linked with a move to Anfield is PSG star Adrien Rabiot.
Rabiot And His Numbers
Rabiot has already spent time in England when he joined Manchester City’s academy in 2008 but he only grew through the ranks at PSG making his senior debut for the club in 2012. From his second season at the club, he has made more than 20 league appearances every season, cementing himself in the first team.
He has 23 goals and 16 assists in 212 games in all competitions for the French giants and also has six caps for the French national side. This season, he has started all four league games for PSG, registering a goal and two key passes. But he is a central midfielder, who loves to keep the ball rolling and his passing accuracy of 94% has been key to PSG making a strong start to the league campaign.
Playing on the left side of the midfield in a 4-3-3 system, Rabiot has also registered four tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game. He also has 3 clearances per game, which shows his all-round ability. He is not a gifted dribbler but his spatial awareness is what makes him effective. He wriggles away from tight spots with ease and is usually accurate with his passing, which allows his side to get out of danger in the midfield.
He also reads the game pretty well and is not afraid of throwing himself around while his energy in the middle of the park is what would have attracted Jurgen Klopp. At just 23, Rabiot is a real star for the future and will be a huge acquisition for the Reds.
Why Do Liverpool Need Rabiot?
The French midfielder has just a year left on his current contract and has reportedly rejected all advances of a contract extension. He has already spoken about his affinity to the English side in the past and if Klopp believes that he could be a real asset for Liverpool, there is no reason for Rabiot to reject this move.
The Reds have an ageing James Milner in their midfield, who is pulling the strings at the moment. Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum play in similar roles but Rabiot is slightly more gifted and more suited to Liverpool’s style of play, and will surely make the Reds a far stronger outfit.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Adam Lallana remain attacking options while Naby Keita and Rabiot can add balance to the midfield. Rabiot can also play in the defensive midfield role against teams that sit back and defend, acting as a backup to Fabinho, Liverpool’s new signing.
Ideally, he will be a long-term replacement for Milner, and the fact that he is an upgrade on a few of the options in the current squad makes him a no-brainer for Liverpool. On a free transfer, Rabiot will be in huge demand this summer, so it makes sense for Klopp and Liverpool to try and tie him to a deal, even before the end of the season.
Stat Credit: Whoscored.com