After a huge transfer deal like Philippe Coutinho’s historic move from Liverpool to Barcelona the inevitable question always arises: how do the Premier League side and Jurgen Klopp plan on spending their newly-earned fortune?
Leicester City’s star forward, Riyad Mahrez, has been the first port of call, with many news outlets going as far as to report that the French international has undergone a medical and will be joining the Anfield club imminently.
Yet, despite his obvious talents, Mahrez alone won’t make up for the loss of Coutinho. Nor will his move from Leicester to Liverpool take up most of the money Liverpool will have to play with. So who else could they go for?
Klopp has made a habit of returning to the German Bundesliga when he’s in need of talent or inspiration in the transfer window. Four Bundesliga players have already moved to Liverpool since he took over the reigns at the club and Naby Keita should make it five when he moves from RB Leipzig in the summer.
And with good reason. If Liverpool are looking to bolster their midfield, specifically the art of playmaking, then they could do worse than to consider RB Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg. The Swedish international created more goals than any other player in the Bundesliga last season and can play on the wing or through the middle. Hoffenheim’s Kerem Demirbay would do a similar job too.
Should Klopp favour more pace and talent on the wings - as seems to be the case with the targeting of Mahrez - then there is also Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt. The young forward has been a constant source of speculation to the Premier League in recent years and has recently found himself strongly linked to Bayern Munich. Yet a big offer from Liverpool in the coming weeks would surely be favoured by the Leverkusen board over a move to Munich.
Similarly, Brandt’s recently-acquired teammate, Leon Bailey, has wasted little time kick-starting his career in Germany with six goals and four assists in 14 games for the club this season. The Jamaican international will undoubtedly be a big star in the future and Liverpool could jump in with a bid before bigger clubs take note.
Alternatively, Liverpool could consider a more experienced option in Borussia Monchengladbach’s Thorgan Hazard. The 24-year old was once a Chelsea youth player but has made his home in the Bundesliga for the past three years. There he has turned in to a wide forward not too dissimilar from his older brother, while becoming a leading player in the German top division and for the Belgian national team.
Liverpool fans may mourn the loss of Coutinho from their Premier League and Champions League aspirations, but they should rest well in the knowledge that their coach is well aware of alternative replacements in the Bundesliga.
