Liverpool’s search for a new left-back seems to be taking the club across the English Channel with reports coming in that the Reds have launched a bid for Lorient’s Raphael Guerreiro. The 22-year-old is part of Portugal’s Euro 2016 side and will be looking to impress a number of other teams in the competition.
The defender has been linked with other European clubs like Borussia Dortmund but Lorient’s vice president, Alex Hayes, stated to Ouest France that the club do not need to sell the highly rated defender, “We’re calm. We don’t need to sell to balance the books.”
The official from the club also stated that they are getting bids from a number of European clubs and the player would only be sold if a crazy bid was made, “He will only be transferred if a club makes an offer that we can’t refuse. For the moment four major foreign clubs, including Dortmund and Liverpool, have made an offer.”
The Reds have been in the market for a left-back who would be an upgrade to Alberto Moreno. The Spaniard had been criticised throughout the season and was responsible for at least one of the goals the side conceded in the Europa League final that they lost.
Guerreiro has already won five senior caps for his national team and also was impressive as he led the Portugal U-21 team to second place in the European U21 Championships. The 22-year-old is an offence minded player, something which is similar to what Moreno was but he seems to have a better end product as he has scored 10 goals in two season for the French club.
The Portuguese is known for his incredible passing and ball control and his overlapping runs would be of great value to Liverpool, who seem to rely on the width of their full-backs as the wide men tuck in to support the attackers.
Guerreiro is known to cut inside and even have a shot at goal but it is his incredible ball control which could make him a threat down Liverpool’s left flank as he links up with the likes of Adam Lallana or Philippe Coutinho.
The Lorient defender would be perfect for the Reds next season but more importantly, he could give them a lot of stability down the left-flank. It is no surprise that many other clubs are trying to sign him but the defender has this knack of getting in the right position and dealing with any opposition and that will certainly help the side next season if a deal is clinched for the 22-year-old.
There is one issue with his gameplay and that is his tackling, Moreno too wasn’t the best in this aspect of the game but hopefully he will do a better job than the Spaniard and with Liverpool in the mood to sign as many player as they can in the summer, don’t be surprised if they do pull this deal off as well.