Liverpool are linked with a surprise move for Porto striker Moussa Marega who has two years left on his contract with the Portuguese side.
According to a report from Liverpool Echo, the Merseyside Reds are interested in Marega who was the third highest scorer in the Champions League and impressed everyone with his performances in the recently concluded campaign.
Porto have slapped a price tag of €30m on the 28-year-old who has garnered interest from all across Europe with West Ham United and Marseille also in the running for the signature of the Mali International.
The Porto striker managed 21 goals and 11 assists in 47 appearances for the club across all competitions. Although a case for the quality of the league can be made, Marega’s excellent numbers can’t be overlooked by any means.
Marega to Anfield: A good option for Klopp?
Marega is arriving on the back of a successful(on an individual level) season with FC Porto. He usually features in a secondary-striker role for the Portuguese side but possesses the versatility to play any role in the final third be it on the flanks or as a lone striker upfront.
The Mali International’s finishing, tendency to provide key passes and aerial prowess are some of the prime attributes which make him stand out. He managed an average of 1.1 key passes and 1.9 successful aerial duels per game and his 3.1 shots per game also highlights his confidence in front of the goal which is a necessity for any striker to operate at a very high level.
However, he is not exactly adequate at other areas of the game from his general passing to crossing to his defensive contributions all being subpar in terms of the expected levels in the Premier League especially for the Reds who have emerged as serious title contenders over the last couple of seasons combining flair with excellent work ethic.
His pass success rate was a mere 66.1%, while an average of 0.2 crosses and 0.3 long balls per game is poor for the Liga NOS.
The €30m price tag for the 28-year-old also doesn’t help his cause with the Reds not expected to go overboard in the market after a fairly healthy spend in recent times.
Liverpool’s German boss Jurgen Klopp is likely to look at other options in the market in Nicolas Pepe and Timo Werner if at all he wants to add a quality attacker to his ranks. In the striker’s department, he might opt against targeting anyone in light of the recent rise of Divock Origi who played a vital role in the Reds’ Champions League triumph.
Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt, Whoscored