Hughes has held talks to sign £51m star for Liverpool

Liverpool have bought Jarell Quansah. Liverpool’s defensive graduate has performed his half over the previous few years, changing Joel Matip after the Cameroonian’s knee damage after which happening to win titles and cement himself as a first-team star.

Praised by expertise scout Jacek Kulig for his “full bundle”, Quansah is the right profile for a contemporary centre-back; nevertheless, he struggled to copy his type below Arne Slot’s final wing, on the backfoot from the offing after his half-time substitution final August, the brand new coach bemoaning his aspect’s success within the duel throughout his opening match within the dugout in opposition to Ipswich City.

It is the occasions of Liverpool’s triumphant 2024/25 season which have led to Quansah’s sale, however the 22-year-old can definitely maintain his head excessive after profitable the Carabao Cup and Premier League, notching 58 Reds appearances in complete.

Inexperienced persons luck? Unlikely. It is a great expertise who has now been signed by German membership Bayer Leverkusen in a deal value £35m. Liverpool have inserted a buyback clause.

Liverpool are having a improbable switch window, however they might but must deal with additional exits to ruffle issues up in Slot’s squad. Certainly, Luis Diaz can also be being chased by one of many German Bundesliga’s heaviest hitters.

Why Luis Diaz might go away Liverpool

There’s lots to be enthusiastic about if you happen to’re of a Liverpool persuasion, however there isn’t any query that promoting Diaz could be met with a measure of concern.

Bayern Munich have seen a proper strategy rejected for the Colombian winger after Barcelona’s rebuffed bid initially of June.

Whereas Diaz’s contract expires in two years, there have been no concrete negotiations pertaining to a renewal. This has left the 28-year-old annoyed, for he earns a relatively modest wage of £55k per week.

For FSG’s half, they’re comfortable to run down Diaz’s contract, waiving any probability of banking a wholesome price and as a substitute taking advantage of his performances on the pitch.

In spite of everything, Diaz is coming off his finest marketing campaign in a Liverpool shirt, notching 25 purpose contributions and offering invaluable help as a makeshift centre-forward.

However there stays an curiosity in a long-term successor all the identical.

Liverpool in talks to signal new winger

In keeping with The Unbiased, Liverpool are one of many golf equipment in touch with Lyon winger Malick Fofana, though FSG know work is to be executed if they’re to win the race, for Nottingham Forest have had an official bid accepted already.

Lyon have been provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 for monetary troubles, thus widening the chance for suitors to signal Fofana, 20, this summer season.

He will not go low cost although. The French giants have slapped a €60m (£51m) price ticket on their rising star, and that determine might but soar as Lyon search to carry out and drum up as a lot curiosity as doable.

Why Liverpool ought to signal Malick Fofana

Sporting director Richard Hughes has been monitoring Fofana for some time, and his fashion of soccer suggests he could be a really perfect addition to emulate the success Diaz has loved on Merseyside.

Fofana, who has already made his worldwide debut with Belgium, has been praised for his “explosive” fashion of play by analyst Ben Mattinson, bearing tempo and physicality that is not too far-off from Diaz’s sturdy talent set.

Becoming a member of from Belgian group Gent for a price rising to €22m (£19m) in January 2024, he is definitely proven himself to own a scientific eye, scoring 15 targets and supplying seven assists throughout 62 appearances, of which solely 29 have been begins.

The vast majority of these contributions got here final time period, with Fofana’s 11-goal and six-assist haul marking the start of a prolific journey that would see him emulate Diaz at Liverpool.

When taking a look at how the 2 wingers ranked up throughout all competitions in 2024/25 for his or her respective golf equipment, there’s maybe a curious level to be made relating to Fofana’s (and in sequence Diaz’s) output, extra artistic and marginally extra prolific than his counterpart.

Add his unrelenting ball-carrying into the cut price and you have a large ahead able to taking part in the position which Diaz plies so successfully for the Anfield outfit. In March, Fofana freed himself from his teenage years; one of the best is but to return.

However that is to not say he hasn’t proven his high quality in opposition to heavy hitters. Only some months in the past, he racked up an help in opposition to Manchester United in that extraordinary Europa League knockout tie. The Purple Devils went by however the Belgian winger added to his earlier success within the competitors with an impactful off-the-bench efficiency.

Did we point out that throughout his 16 Ligue 1 begins final season, the left-sided, right-footed ahead scored 5 targets, lacking solely 4 huge possibilities, created six huge possibilities and received 54% of his floor duels, as per Sofascore. Combative and inventive, he is the total bundle.

Getting into the Premier League whereas nonetheless discovering his toes as knowledgeable would make Fofana a danger for Liverpool to make, however an informed one at that. He would not be anticipated to carry out with the slick depth that Diaz brings, not from the offing, however there isn’t any query he has the instruments to interchange and possibly even enhance upon Slot’s South American sensation.

Liverpool’s boss has already demonstrated an unbelievable teaching aptitude on English soil, lifting the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo (who provides good competitors on the left flank).

It is a expertise of immense potential, and with so many golf equipment queuing up, Liverpool would possibly need to take their shot earlier than it is too late.