Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele in the summer transfer window, as a replacement for Sadio Mane.
Dembele moved to the La Liga giants in 2017 for a fee in excess of €100 million, but the Frenchman has struggled to fulfil his potential.
As per Fichajes, Dembele is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Sadio Mane. The report states that the Senegalese attacker could leave the club in the summer because of the offers that Liverpool have received for him, as well as the below-average season he has had.
The report further claims that Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United are also interested in signing Dembele.
Barca have reportedly offered him a new three-year contract with the same salary. Dembele’s current deal with the Catalan club expires at the end of the 2022 season.
Ousmane Dembele to replace Sadio Mane – A good alternative?
Sadio Mane has been one of Liverpool’s most important players in recent years, and was an integral part of the team that won the Champions League and the Premier League. The 29-year-old winger has scored 93 goals and set up 41 in 211 appearances for the club in all competitions.
Mane’s stats this season have been less than impressive as he has scored 12 and made seven assists in 41 appearances. The former Southampton player has two years remaining on his current deal and Liverpool could cash in on him if they get a good deal.
Diogo Jota, who was brought in by the defending Premier League champions earlier in the season, has impressed this season, and could be earmarked as a replacement for Mane. Jota is 24 years of age and has had two-and-a-half years of experience in England’s top-flight.
#LFC 'consider cashing in' on Mane for Dembele…
Reports from 🇪🇸https://t.co/HdXmQLGtR6 pic.twitter.com/NtzwYJ3Pls
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) April 17, 2021
Jurgen Klopp may want to sign a player who can play on either wing as he currently does not have a dependable backup to Mohamed Salah on the right side. That said, Liverpool’s interest in Ousmane Dembele is surprising.
The Frenchman has a lot of potential, but has failed to impress at Barcelona so far. He has struggled with a number of injuries and has scored just 29 goals in 111 appearances for the club.
Dembele has also had issues off the field, which could be a cause for concern for Klopp. The German manager has built a close-knit team that plays as one, rather than depending on individual performances.
While a manager like Klopp could get the best out of a talented player like Ousmane Dembele, there are far too many risks in the deal. Another issue could be the huge transfer fee that Barca could demand as well as Dembele’s massive wages.
Klopp and Liverpool should instead recruit someone with Premier League experience, who is a hard-working player, and one who isn’t injury prone. The Dembele deal is fraught with too many issues at the moment and it may not be a good move by Liverpool.