Liverpool must rely on a former Chelsea and Barcelona star to complete their transfer plans, as Mohamed Salah has changed his mind.
Jérémy Doku’s name was on every Liverpool fan’s lips this summer. Transfer rumors began to circulate around the same time the Belgian gave everyone a tantalizing taste of his abilities at the European Championships.
This, however, was far from the beginning of the Doku to Liverpool story. In fact, the club attempted to sign him as a 16-year-old, even showing him around the training grounds and introducing him to Sadio Mané.
The presence of Luis Daz has complicated the path once touted as an ideal heir to the Senegal winger, but Calciomercato claim that the now-19-year-old is back on the club’s transfer radar.
Doku has had an injury-plagued season with Stade Rennais, scoring once and assisting twice in limited game time. Liverpool, on the other hand, may see this as an opportunity to strike a deal at a much lower price than the ‘100 million euros’ (approximately £83m) the owner claimed would be required to compel him to consider a sale last summer.
It’s difficult enough to sign a world-class right winger when it’s unclear what Mohamed Salah’s future holds.
Things become even more complicated when the target’s agent is a cult hero for another interested party.
Nonetheless, that is the situation Liverpool is in with Deco. Raphinha is now represented by the former Chelsea and Barcelona player. There appears to be interest in bringing him to Anfield — albeit potentially contingent on Salah — but there is also a strong push to bring him to the Nou Camp.
Salah was said to have a ‘total willingness’ to move to Barcelona in a £58 million deal just a week ago. It’s unclear whether Liverpool would have approved such a move, but the player was said to be interested.
Deco is already ‘handling’ a Liverpool offer, according to Sport (via Sport Witness), but Barcelona has also submitted their opening proposal. The Catalans are eager to ‘close the operation’ before Klopp’s interest grows.
Deco’s close ties to Joan Laporta and Xavi are thought to give Barcelona a significant advantage. However, if Salah were to leave, a chance to be his replacement would undoubtedly be enticing for Raphinha. Liverpool, too, has an inside track, with the former Chelsea man also representing Fabinho.
