OPINION
Even Pep Guardiola will be sweating at Liverpool’s ambitious January transfer plan.
Anfield sporting director Michael Edwards and manager Jurgen Klopp are convinced the player they need to make an already mighty fine one title winners is Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele.
That is according to the Sun, who claim the Merseyside giants are ready to smash their transfer record for the second time in a year with an £85million move for the France international.
It is said Liverpool are keen to test Barcelona’s resolve to hang on to the 21-year-old, who they signed for an astonishing £135.5million at the start of last season.
Liverpool are well placed to push Manchester City all the way in the title race after both sides headed into the international break with unbeaten records after 12 matches of the campaign.
Klopp’s side are a far steelier outfit than the one that finished fourth last season but they have not had the swagger in 2018-19 of Guardiola’s champions, who average three goals a game in the league and are on track to eclipse their record-breaking points and goals tallies of last season.
The City manager has consistently spoken of the title threat of rival clubs, and has been generous in his praise of Liverpool.
Should Liverpool transfer guru Edwards push the January signing of Dembele over the line that would be a game-changer in the title race.
Dembele is blisteringly quick, super skillful and creates and scores goals for fun.
He has looked more at home at Barcelona this season after a difficult debut campaign but has still not hit the heights of his year at Borussia Dortmund, where his 50 matches yielded 10 goals and 22 assists.
Ex-Dortmund boss Klopp is a huge admirer of Dembele and will know he is the type of player that can add a new dimension to an Anfield attack that has not fired on all cylinders this season.
Guardiola will be fearing what an impact the Frenchman could make.