Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is reportedly interested in signing AS Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo this summer.
According to Italian media outlet Il Sussidiario (via TEAMtalk), Klopp is weighing up a transfer move for the midfielder to add him to his squad at the Merseyside club.
The report also claimed that Roma are keen on using Dejan Lovren as part of the deal that would see the Croatian leave Anfield.
Do Liverpool need to sign another midfielder this summer?
Yes
No
The 20-year-old joined Roma back in the 2018 summer transfer window (per Transfermarkt).
Since then, Zaniolo has gone on to make 60 appearances for the Italian side, in which he has managed to score 12 goals and provide five assists (per Transfermarkt).
Unfortunately for the youngster, he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture back in January that has resulted in him missing a total of 23 matches for Roma since then (per Transfermarkt).
Before sustaining this injury, Zaniolo had managed to score six goals and provide two assists for Roma in his 24 appearances across Serie A and the Europa League (per Transfermarkt).
Zaniolo’s 18 Serie A appearances have resulted in the Italian being awarded a season rating of 6.91/10, making him the eighth highest-rated player in the Roma squad (per WhoScored).
The youngster certainly has good technical ability on the ball having made more dribbles per game (2.4) than any other Roma player in Serie A this season. This attribute from the attacking-midfielder, in particular, could be a good fit for Liverpool as one of their styles of play includes attacking through the middle (per WhoScored).
TIF Thoughts…
The fact that Klopp is reportedly interested in having Zaniolo in his Liverpool squad next season just goes to show how impressed the German is by the midfielder.
However, with Zaniolo having suffered such a serious injury, his recovery should be the main priority for him instead of any potential transfer at the moment.
Whether this injury could disrupt any potential move to Liverpool for Zaniolo is yet to be seen so we will have to wait and see.