West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame is reportedly a target for high-flying Liverpool. The Reds have been short of midfield options going into the New Year owing to injuries to Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard making his return on New Year’s Day. With games lined up, Liverpool need midfield reinforcements, and here’s three reasons why Liverpool should consider the 26-year old.
1. Physical Presence in midfield
Diame provides a great physical presence in midfield, something which has been lacking for Liverpool. At a shade of 1.84m tall, Diame is the sort of player who can bully opponents in midfield. Compared to Joe Allen (1.68m), he looks like a beast, and has over the last couple of seasons put in impressive performances in the middle of the park for the Hammers.
While his passing may not be the most accurate (78%), he does seem to be assured on the ball, and playing with better players will only improve the statistics. He will be expected to contribute less offensively than he currently does at West Ham, and playing in a strictly defensive role in midfield will suit Diame game given that he averages 2.5 tackles a game this season. Whether in tandem with Lucas or Allen, or on his own, Diame has the ability and the reading of the game necessary to perform at Liverpool.