Liverpool are on the verge of completing their 3rd transfer of the summer transfer window. Having secured the services of Joel Matip and Loris Karius, Jurgen Klopp is set to bring Southampton’s Sadio Mane to Anfield in a deal believed to be in the region of £34 million.
While the former Red Bulls man might be touted to be a sound buy by many, many believe that the transfer committee at Liverpool could have done better, given the other options available as well as the areas in which the side has been found lacking in recent times.
Here are 5 players we believe who could have been a better signing than Mane for us.
#1 Leroy Sane
The German has been in impressive form since stepping into the Schalke first team squad and has been constantly linked with the Reds. He is good in movement on and off the ball and has shown great link up play with his teammates. The 20-year-old scored 8 goals and created 28 chances in the Bundesliga last season and was key to the side finishing in a respectable 5th position.
Sane is efficient with his passing, has shown great acceleration as well as dribbling ability and most importantly has a good understanding of the game for a player of his age.
When compared to Mane, he completed more take-ons, was frequent and efficient getting into duels and recorded a higher number of assists ( 7 compared to Mane’s 6, despite playing lesser minutes). Like Mane, Sane is a powerhouse and can often beat defenders with his ably supported by his strength.
While he might not have gotten more goals than Mane, he is still a work in progress and could mould into a better attacking threat than Mane in a year or two. In Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have a manager who can nurture raw talent and the Schalke player could have benefitted from the German’s knowledge of the game.
#2 Nabil Fekir
The Lyon attacker had a wonderful 2014-15 season scoring 13 goals and garnering 9 assists in the Ligue1. His performances, in fact, earned him the Ligue1 Young Player of the Year that season. Better things were expected of the Frenchman in the 2015-16 season and he started well, scoring 4 goals in the first four games. However, his season was cut short by a cruciate ligament injury that kept him out till April.
Fekir is back to his best and is expected to be a critical part of the Lyon set up for the season, especially with the rumours surrounding the futures of Lacazzate and Batshuayi.
The Frenchman is quick, strong and has a low centre of gravity which allows him to wriggle his way through the opposition’s defence without breaking much sweat. The 22 year old has good movement and has shown an ability to create space and time for himself as well as his teammates. The biggest strength of the winger though has been his ability in front of the goal. We believe the Frenchman could be a bigger threat than Mane with his intricate link-up play, creativity and incisive finishing.
The player was on Arsenal’s radar last season with the rumoured fee being in the region of £10 million. Given that he hardly played the last season his price could be even lower, which makes him worth a gamble for any top team in Europe.
#3 Julian Draxler
While the German might have joined Wolfsburg only last season, a bid in excess of £30 million could force the club into selling their top man. The former Schalke player reminded the footballing world of his ability with a fine display against Slovakia where he assisted as well as scored a goal. While Draxler is often classified as a winger, he can be equally effective as a Number 10, scoring goals and creating chances for his teammates. He has a fine set of feet and can create chances despite being afforded very little space and time.
He scored 9 goals and assisted on 7 occasions in all competitions last season, making him a constant subject of opposition team meetings. This Liverpool side does not lack flair. However, what it definitely lacks is flair combined with consistency and incisiveness, traits that Draxler possesses. His best season so far was the 2012-13 one where he scored 13 goals and assisted 5.
While he is yet to achieve the feat of scoring more than 10 goals in a season since then, his reputation as a player has only grown. Going by his recent performances for the national team, his confidence is high and should he maintain his form going into the new season, he could turn devastating for the opposition defenders.
#4 Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The Armenian superstar is set to leave Borussia Dortmund in the current window and it surprises us that his former suitors are not keen on acquiring his services. The winger has scored 40 goals in 136 appearances for Dortmund ever since making his move from Shakhtar Donetsk with the last season yielding an incredible 23 goals in all competitions.
His link up play in and around the box is excellent and he can often weave a wonderful pass or put in an accurate cross to put his team in goal scoring position. The fact that he assisted an incredible 24 goals in all competitions in 2015-16 is a testament to his abilities with the ball at his feet.
Having already worked with Jurgen Klopp at Westfalenstadion, a move to Anfield would have been perfect for Mkhitaryan. He is industrious, consistent, skilful and hungry for success, making him a typical Klopp player. The player is in the final year of his contract and is expected to cost £25 million, which is a measly sum given his abilities.
#5 Isco
The former Golden Boy award winner has often found playing time limited at Real Madrid and would be welcome to a move away from the Spanish capital. Despite being only 24 years of age, the Spanish International would bring a wealth of experience and a winning mentality to this Liverpool side. He is nimble in movement, very tidy in possession and can weave his way around the opposition with ease.
Isco was involved directly in 13 goals last season, scoring 3 and assisting 10 during the last season. This comes despite him being pushed deeper into the line-up in order to bring defensive stability to the midfield. He could prove to be a great addition to this Liverpool side with his ability to effectively play across the pitch.
Given his abilities, it would be a treat to watch Isco play alongside the likes of Coutinho, Firmino and Sturridge. While the player won’t come cheap, he is still only 24 years with the peak years yet to arrive and would be a massive statement of intent by Jurgen Klopp.
