On the latest episode of the Transfer Window podcast, Ian McGarry has revealed that Liverpool are tracking Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard as they prepare for one of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino to depart in the summer.
It’s been a difficult season for Jurgen Klopp’s men, who find themselves sitting in sixth position in the Premier League standings, 25 points behind runaway league-leaders Manchester City.
The reigning English champions have suffered from several long-term injuries to key players this season, however, a huge drop off in form amongst their famed front three has also seriously hindered their aspirations.
Salah, Mane and Firmino have formed one of the most feared forward lines in world football in recent seasons, but now McGarry believes Klopp is preparing to break the trio up and introduce a new face to the Anfield attack.
He said: (41:05) “Liverpool and Arsenal are two teams who are chasing Odsonne Edouard of Celtic, Duncan, a player who we’ve mentioned a few times on the podcast, mostly with regards to Arsenal’s interest.
“What’s, I think, particularly interesting about the fact that Liverpool have entered into the equation is that they’ve done so on the basis that they expect, or at least suspect, that one of the front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, or Sadio Mane may well leave in the summer window.
“And that Edouard, who’s a different kind of player to all three, given that he plays as a number nine exclusively and can score goals, and of course, they do have Diogo Jota in that position as well but is someone who could fulfill a role either in the centre or along the front three attacking positions and is available, as we’ve reported, for around 25 million euros, and there’s an option for them with regards to a replacement for one or other of those players.”
TIF Thoughts on Edouard…
Liverpool need to bring some fresh faces to Merseyside in the upcoming transfer window to reinvigorate Klopp’s charges, that much is clear.
However, whether Edouard is up to the task of replacing the likes of Salah is up for debate. The 23-year-old has bagged an impressive 81 goals in 161 games for the Hoops, but whether he could replicate that sort of form in the English top-flight remains to be seen.
It is set to be an important summer for the Reds and their enigmatic German manager, and if he does decide to shuffle his pack, any wrong move is likely to be severely scrutinised.