New Liverpool sporting director should make easy Mohamed Salah call thanks to FSG transfer link
There are still many questions to be answered in Liverpool. The fate of the club is at stake. Whether it’s about the Premier League table and the coveted Champions League qualification or in the boardroom about the club’s new sporting director, there is still a lot to be decided. And then, of course, there is the ownership issue regarding FSG’s long-term plans at Anfield.
All of that will be revealed in time and there is no doubt those in charge are meticulously working on solutions to make Jurgen Klopp’s job easier.
However, amid all of this, the changes to the club’s squad have stayed a bit under the radar. The focus so far has been on midfield and, to a lesser extent, defence, but there is another ‘problem area’ that will also need to be resolved by whoever is appointed as Liverpool’s new sporting director.
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Liverpool have been on Mohamed Salah’s shoulders for years. As the club’s only right winger, Salah has had to play essentially non-stop week after week, particularly since the departure of Sadio Mané.
His body has been able to take the toll remarkably, and not only that, he has continued to live up to the extremely high standards he has set for himself. Even in a season like this when he should struggle, he still has 25 goals in 32 games in all competitions.
But despite the good form, there are some concerns about Salah as the Egyptian turns 31 this year. He will be entering his twilight years very soon if he hasn’t already and sooner or later Liverpool will have to consider taking some of the burden off his shoulders to ensure the club can maximize his longevity at the highest level.
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This can be resolved by signing a substitute option that can compete with Salah for the right spot and also provide cover if Salah isn’t 100 per cent fit or needs a break. Something Klopp can’t afford at the moment because he just doesn’t have enough alongside Salah to play at a similar, or at least anywhere near a similar, level on that side of the wing.
The club’s new sporting director needs to find the right fit, and at the right price too. Obviously Liverpool will be spending most of their money on midfielders and possibly a defender this summer, leaving not much for another attacking addition.
But there is one player who could be available for just the right price, who has stood out on the right wing and who could definitely take Salah’s place in the squad first as a backup and then as his heir in the future.
Zakaria Aboukhlal made his mark at the World Cup but the 22-year-old has not only impressed with Morocco but has also drawn attention with his club Toulouse. All in all he has 13 goals in 25 games and seven of them in the nine games since the World Cup which is a really solid return.
But what’s perhaps even more impressive is the playstyle. He plays without fear and enjoys picking up players. He has the technique and touch to beat players in tight situations, but can also accelerate quickly when he has space in front of him, making him the explosive player Klopp needs in a counter-press system.
Positionally, he also has the awareness and intelligence to receive the ball in dangerous areas and that’s definitely one of the main factors why he’s been able to contribute with a lot of goals and assists lately.
In such blistering form he might not be an obvious choice as a ‘cheap’ transfer target, but he’s valued at just $3.75m (£3m/€3.5m) by Transfermarkt and Liverpool also have a connection which is at the right price for the exciting winger could help the negotiations.
Toulouse is owned by RedBird Capital, which also has a minority stake in Liverpool, meaning they already have a business partnership there, and interest in RedBird which could make them more open to investing a valuable asset at a ‘cheaper’ price in Liverpool’s favour for sale.
Because of that, Aboukhlal is definitely a player to watch very closely for the rest of the season.