FC Zurich winger Wilfried Gnonto has been picked out as a potential target for Liverpool by writer Seb Stafford-Bloor.
As part of Tifo’s ‘Sensible Transfers’ series, Gnonto was namechecked as a prime candidate to enhance Jurgen Klopp’s current squad.
The 18-year-old is a product of Inter’s academy, but moved to Zurich in the Swiss Super League back in 2020 and made 33 appearances as the club won their first league title in 13 years last term.
Klopp has lost 120-goal Reds ace Sadio Mane this summer but acted quickly to smash the club’s transfer record and bring in striker Darwin Nunez from Benfica for £85m.
The Uruguayan adds to the attacking options which already consist of Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah, with Harvey Elliott also capable of playing in the front three, but Stafford-Bloor has identified another possible option he feels could match the club’s recruitment criteria.
Discussing what the club needs, he wrote: “A young player with a high ceiling who could cover at least two positions.
“As before, we’re also after players who’ve had a lot of experience early in their careers and if possible, someone approaching the end of their contract.
“Wilfried Gnonto ticks all of those boxes.
“Even at 18, he’s just finished his second full season at the club, during which he and they won the Swiss title.
“He scored eight times and was also capped by Italy at senior international level. He’s now made four appearances, scoring one goal.
“In 2021/22, he had over 1,400 minutes in the league, playing exclusively in a striking pair.
“He’s not really a centre-forward, though, as evidenced by his playing on the left or right for Italy.
“He’s short – just 170cm tall – but he’s a quick, foul-provoking player who dribbles well and who’s active in wide areas.
“Despite a lack of data to support this, he’s also a capable creative player, too.”
TIF Thoughts on Gnonto and Liverpool…
Do Liverpool need to make more signings?
Yes!
No!
A certain Mo Salah also once plied his trade in Switzerland with Basel before rising to prominence, and Gnonto took the decision upon himself to turn down a professional contract with Inter in order to play regularly in Zurich.
He insisted he wanted to play, and that at his age, he couldn’t be sitting on the bench.
And at such a tender age, he has already demonstrated tremendous quality, averaging a goal or an assist every 102.2 minutes last season.
His season is already underway, with Zurich 3-2 down after the first leg of their Champions League qualifier, and if they don’t advance, he could be persuaded to move elsewhere – and being capable of playing anywhere across the front three could appeal to the Anfield giants, with a cut-price deal plausible considering his contract is up in the summer of 2023.