Liverpool have emerged as shock contenders to sign Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar, if reports are to be believed.
The Brazilian striker has had a tough time at the French club, marred by injuries and off-field issues.
Le Parisien (via Express) have revealed that PSG may be interested in selling their star striker. The report states that Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Real Madrid are also keeping an eye out for Neymar, as are former club Barcelona.
The report also claims that Liverpool could be interested in signing Neymar’s teammate Kylian Mbappe, but PSG value Mbappe more than Neymar, and they would sell the Brazilian over the young Frenchman.
Neymar has scored 57 goals and 30 assists in 67 games in all competitions for PSG, and has scored 6 goals in 8 games in the league this season.
If Liverpool do sign Neymar, would he fit in under Klopp?
It is not a surprise that Neymar is looking to leave PSG, as the last year or so has been a tough one for him, with reports linking him back to a move to Barcelona.
With that move falling through, the Brazilian could possibly want to switch to a different club in Europe.
Liverpool would benefit hugely from a world-class talent like Neymar, but there are a lot of question marks over how this deal would work.
Firstly, would Liverpool have the financial muscle to pay in excess of £100 million – which is something Neymar is easily worth now – as well as the lofty wages that he commands?
If they can, the other main question is whom he will replace in the Liverpool lineup. The Reds would not want to pay huge transfer fee and put him on the bench. The current attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah have been in phenomenal form over the last two years, and Jurgen Klopp may not drop them.
More importantly, would Klopp want to disrupt the squad with a figure like Neymar as well as the huge media scrutiny that comes with a player like Neymar. The Brazilian is more selfish and individualistic on the pitch, which won’t sync with Klopp’s style that demands everyone to work in sync.
This is not the right deal for Liverpool at the moment, and Klopp and co. should rather target a younger attacker instead of the Brazilian.