Presenter Joe Thomlinson has backed Liverpool to sign Christopher Nkunku this summer if they are looking to replace Sadio Mane on the Football Daily YouTube channel.
Liverpool are set to enter a crucial 12 months, with all three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane entering the last years of their current deals, which could see a huge shake-up occur at Anfield, with the trio being mainstays for several years now.
Who would be better for Liverpool?
Mane!
Nkunku!
The Reds brought in Luis Diaz in January which may well be a step towards easing the workload and reliance on Salah and Mane going forward, so when they do depart, it’s not as much of a shock to the system.
Someone else from outside the Premier League that has been linked is RB Leipzig’s Nkunku, and while reports have suggested he will cost Liverpool at least £50m, Thomlinson believes he is a player Jurgen Klopp has to sign.
He said: “It’s more likely to be Sadio Mane than it is to be Mo Salah [who leaves], I think that they’ll eventually come to some sort of agreement over Mohamed Salah. I think Christopher Nkunku is the guy for Liverpool.
“I think he’s just so perfectly laid out for how they want to play football, that it naturally fits. He can play on both sides, his off-the-ball work is sensational, his underlying numbers this season are just absolutely frightening, aren’t they?”
TIF Thoughts on Nkunku…
The Frenchman has been nothing but spectacular this season for Leipzig, having registered 44 goal involvements across all competitions, and his ability to play anywhere across the frontline is something that will surely appeal to Klopp when you look at the likes of Salah, Diogo Jota and Diaz, who can also do the same.
With reports suggesting an offer of €75m (£63m) may not even be enough, Klopp and Liverpool will have to carefully consider whether or not Nkunku is right for them as that’s a lot of money to splash out on one player, especially after they handed FC Porto £40m just a few months ago for Diaz.
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