Liverpool opinion: The Reds must make a move for Domenico Berardi
Liverpool are not expected to spend big in the summer transfer window, but signing a striker to provide some competition to the deadly front three must be Jurgen Klopp’s priority.
Klopp has been without his star trio throughout Liverpool’s pre-season preparations, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane playing in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Roberto Firmino lifted the Copa America with Brazil.
The Reds will play Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 4 and none of the club’s first-choice attackers has returned to training yet.
Few teams in the Premier League can boast a forward line quite as prolific as Klopp’s side but an injury to one of Salah, Firmino or Mane could prove disastrous in their bid to challenge Manchester City for the title again next season.
Many fans would argue that their team doesn’t need much strengthening after lifting the Champions League trophy last season. After releasing Daniel Sturridge though, they need to sign somebody who is happy to come in as a back-up to their lethal trio.
Last month, Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi admitted his desire to play for Liverpool. The 24-year-old, who bagged 9 goals and 5 assists in 35 appearances this past season, is ready to quit his boyhood club this summer. With only two weeks of the transfer window remaining, Liverpool should go all out to land the Italian.
Berardi is a right-winger by trade, but he can play anywhere across the front-line, and he would provide excellent competition for the Reds’ current front three.
The Italian is highly skilful when in possession of the ball and can deceive his marker using his pace and trickery in the opposition half. He can also make well-timed runs behind the opposition backline, which makes him a real threat in the final third. A promising attacker like Berardi will undeniably improve Klopp’s attacking options at Anfield.
Read more Liverpool FC News, click here- Latest Liverpool FC News
Ever since Philippe Coutinho left for Barcelona, Liverpool have missed a bit of flair and invention in central areas, and Berardi is more than capable of dropping a little deeper to knit the play and use his vision to split open the opposition defence.
That would allow Firmino to stay in his position and an attacking quartet of Berardi, Salah, Firmino and Mane would strike fear in the Premier League defenders.
Verdict
Berardi is precisely the kind of talent who can thrive in Klopp’s high-pressing system in Merseyside. All in all, the 24-year-old Italian would be a fantastic signing if Liverpool can lure him to Anfield before the start of the new campaign.