Liverpool are nearing the capture of Trabzonspor wunderkind Abdulkadir Omur, as reported by Mirror. The Turkish midfielder has impressed in the Super Lig this season and could cost around £27 million.
But is he worth the fuss?
Abdulkadir Omur: player profile
Omur initially made his breakthrough last season, where he made 29 appearances for Trabzonspor, during which he was involved in nine goals. And the 19-year-old has maintained his excellent form this season as well, mustering four assists and two goals in 16 league games.
Despite being advertised as a wide midfielder, Omur is primarily a playmaker and thrives in the half-spaces in the opposition ranks.
Indeed, the 19-year-old is a technically astute midfielder, who can unlock opposition defences with skilful dribbling and intricate passing – making him somewhat similar to Arsenal star Mesut Ozil. Omur’s tally of 2.6 attempted dribbles per game is indicative of his willingness to take on defenders.
But unlike Ozil, Omur is a far more agile playmaker, who often uses his explosive pace to drift past defenders. And this combined with his superior vision, allows him to create chances in the final third while also providing a threat from the flanks. He has averaged almost one key pass per game this season.
Furthermore, Omur is quite versatile too, as he can operate on both flanks as well as feature as the number nine and even as a central midfielder, if necessary.
Do Liverpool really need Omur?
Despite boasting some of the world’s most gifted attackers, Liverpool are in dire need of attacking reinforcements, especially in this long season, which often forces the manager to resort to team rotations week in week out.
And as it stands, the Reds do lack proper back-up for the likes of Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah although Xherdan Shaqiri has done quite well this season since coming in.
However, a move for Omur seems rather bizarre given his lack of experience at the highest level of football. As a matter of fact, the 19-year-old is yet to make his debut for the Turkish national team, and it’s rather needless to say that making the transition to the fast-paced Premier League will be exceedingly difficult for the Trabzonspor whizkid.
Therefore, it would be wiser for Liverpool to shift their attention to a proven attacker, who can quickly make his mark in the Premier League.
Borussia Monchengladbach’s Thorgan Hazard, for one, could be an excellent choice as the Merseyside giants look to clinch their first Premier League title this season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
