Three Big Money Strikers Who Klopp Should Target
Liverpool are back in the UEFA Champions League after two seasons. The Reds finished the Premier League season at 4th place, courtesy of a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough on the final day, which guaranteed them a place in the qualifying stages of the elite European competition for next season.
After two seasons away from the biggest footballing stages in the continent, Jurgen Klopp and his men will be keen on making a mark on their return to Europe. However, for that to happen, the Reds will need to invest some serious amount of money in the summer transfer window. There are several areas on the pitch that need improvement and Klopp will need to address that if his team are to do well in Europe and in the domestic scenes next time around.
The availability of funds shouldn’t be a problem with the Reds set to gain close to £150million from the Premier League prize money and the TV rights deal. But the question remains if owners FSG are willing to back the manager in the transfer window. If they make the funds available, Liverpool will need to go all out to land a big name striker.
While Roberto Firmino has done very well operating as a false-nine, question marks over Daniel Sturridge’s future and the inconsistent displays of Divock Origi should be reason enough for Klopp to bring in a striker who is already proven on the Champions League stages. And here are three strikers who Liverpool and Klopp should look at as viable options for the summer:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The Borussia Dortmund striker is one of the most lethal marksmen in Europe and is widely chased by almost all the big clubs in Europe.
But now that the Reds are on the cusp of making it to Champions League, they should target an ambitious swoop for Aubameyang. The Gabon international has had another excellent campaign in Germany, finishing as the top scorer of the Bundesliga with a whopping 31 goals. He has also scored 7 times in 9 Champions League outings and one more in the DFB Pokal taking his tally to a total of 39 for the season.
It is no secret that Klopp is a huge admirer of the striker and knows him very well, having brought him to Dortmund during his days in Germany. At 27, he is entering the best years of his career and will be an excellent addition for Liverpool.
Moussa Dembele
The 20-year old hotshot has taken Scottish football by storm after joining Celtic for free, from Championship side Fulham. His performances have peaked interest from the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and various other big clubs.
Dembele, this season, has scored an amazing 32 goals for the Scottish champions from 49 games and has set up 9 more for his teammates. That tally would have been higher if not for a thigh injury that ruled him out of action for the last month or so. He has been one of the primary reasons for Brendan Rodgers’ side staying unbeaten this season in all domestic competitions. The Frenchman also netted 5 times in 12 Champions League appearances (qualifying stages included).
While it will be difficult to convince Celtic to sell their star player in the summer, a big offer may well tempt the club to consider the transfer. Considering his age and the immense ability that he has shown, he has the potential to be Liverpool’s main striker for years to come.
Mauro Icardi
The Inter Milan forward has been slaying it in the Serie A for quite a few years now, but the fact that his side are struggling to go back to their glory days may well make him consider a move in the summer.
Icardi, 24, isn’t always given the due credit that he deserves due to the struggles of the Nerazzurri, but he remains a dangerous striker who’d be able to deliver more than 20 goals per season on a consistent basis. The Argentine notched up 26 strikes from 41 games in a team that has lacked consistency and has had to deal with two managerial changes over the course of the season.
His predatory instincts in front of goal and his temper issues draw a comparison to former Liverpool man Luis Suarez. While Icardi may not be at the level of the Uruguayan, he has the ability to make a huge difference for the Reds if brought in.
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