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Liverpool enjoyed a blockbuster 2017-2018 season and the Reds nearly won their first Champions League trophy since 2005. They also managed to finish in the PL 'top4', despite the drop in their form during the later stages of the league.
The Merseyside club scored 84 goals in the PL last season which is six more than the 78 goals that they scored in the 2016-2017 season. Moreover, the signing of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January proved to be the key in stabilizing their defence. The Reds conceded 38 goals in the league which is four less than the 42 goals they conceded in the 2016-2017 season.
Nevertheless, the departure of Phillipe Coutinho left a huge void to fill in the squad. Also, they always found it difficult to break defences that like to sit back against them. Jurgen Klopp found the Lyon and French attacker, Nabil Fekir as the suitable replacement for the flamboyant Brazillian and there are several reports claiming the 24-year-old to join Liverpool before the start of the World Cup.
However, he commands a huge transfer fee and his injury problems could prove to be a hurdle in completing the deal and Jurgen Klopp might be forced to look elsewhere for alternative options.
Right on this note, here's a list of five alternatives for Nabil Fekir at Liverpool.
#5 Alireza Jahanbakhsh
AZ Alkmaar's Alireza Jahanbakhsh become the first Asian player to win the Golden Shoe award in a top European league after scoring 21 goals in the Eredivisie last season.
The 24-year-old joined the two times Eredivisie Champions, AZ in 2015, mostly playing as a winger or an attacking midfielder under manager John van den Brom during the last three seasons.
The former NEC player is an excellent crosser of the ball and his ability to create chances for his teammates got a lot of praise from the pundits last season. His goalscoring stats are impressive for a player who doesn't play as the main striker and this subsequently could lower the burden from the shoulders of Liverpool's 'front-three' if Jurgen Klopp decides to go on for a player.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh will be Iran's main man at the upcoming World Cup and a good time in Russia can increase his chances of playing for the big clubs.
#4 Luis Alberto
Liverpool fans must be kicking themselves after seeing the performances of Luis Alberto in the Serie A this season. The former Red is a revelation since his move to Lazio in 2016, emerging as one of the star players in the Italian top division.
The Spanish international scored eight goals last season and finished as the assist king of the Serie A with 14 assists. His performances in the league also caught the attention of the Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui, who handed him his first senior cap in November 2017.
The Lazio man is a technically strong player who is happy to play on the wings or as the central attacking midfielder. His penchant for scoring and laying on goals for others is a key characteristic of his time at the Stadio Olimpico.
Barcelona's academy graduate will help Liverpool break down deep defences and add the extra spark in Reds' midfield which they are lacking since the departure of Phillipe Countiho. His work-rate and unselfishness perfectly fits the Jurgen Klopp style at Liverpool and could prove to be the final piece missing in the jigsaw.
#3 Thomas Lemar
Thomas Lemar was the center of media attention when he was linked with a move to a number of big PL clubs during the deadline of last year's summer transfer window. But he stayed at AS Monaco at the end of the day. With this year's summer transfer window open now, he is bound to get the headline once again.
He was one of AS Monaco's vital players when they lifted the Ligue 1 title in 2017. The same season, he helped the club to reach the semi-final of the Champions League as well. However, his form dropped last season and he managed to score only two goals and eight assists.
The 22-year-old is a technically strong player, possessing a glorious left foot and is capable of scoring goals from the distant. His quick pace and slick dribbling skills help him beat his man with ease creating chances for his teammates. Lemar is an accomplished set-piece taker and could make Liverpool a threat from the set pieces.
The young Frenchmen will be an excellent addition for Liverpool going forward but Jurgen Klopp will face competition from Barcelona and Arsenal to secure the services of the talented attacker.
#2 Lorenzo Insigne
One of the most talented Italian players of his generation, Insigne is making his presence felt with his wonderful displays. The 27-year-old scored eight goals along with eleven assists in Serie A this season.
Best known for his dribbling, vision, and passing skills, he is at his best when playing behind the striker. He is also pretty versatile and can play on either wing or even as a striker.
He often finds the best pass for attackers to thrive on and is capable of scoring goals from the distance as well. His most prolific season was in 2016-2017 when he scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in the league.
Let alone Serie A, Insigne is one of the best players in entire Europe. If he adapts in the way Salah did then Liverpool might find themselves with one of the best strike forces in the world of football.
He was linked with Liverpool to replace Phillipe Coutinho in the last summer transfer window. This can prove to be a brilliant signing for the club as he is capable of providing them with the creativity in the middle, which they are lacking since the departure of Coutinho.
#1 Hakim Ziyech
Luis Suarez, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel; Liverpool certainly enjoyed a huge success with their exports from the Eredivisie. The Ajax star, Hakim Ziyech could be the latest one to join the list of Liverpool's greatest Eredivisie signings.
The 25-year-old is one of the biggest talents in the Dutch top division and provided the most number of assists in three out of the last four seasons. He also won the Dutch Footballer of the year 2018 along with the Ajax Player of the Year 2018 accolade.
The Moroccan international scored nine goals last season and finished as the assist king in the league with 15 assists. He made 4.2 key passes per game last season and 75.4% of his passes found his teammates. Ziyech completed 3.4 dribbles per game in the 2017-2018 season which is more than all of Liverpool's front three - Mohamed Salah(2.2), Sadio Mane(1.9) and Roberto Firmino(1.3).
Hakim Ziyech is a versatile player who can inject creativity in the Liverpool's midfield and his ability to find space in the tight situations will also help the Reds break stubborn defences. His speed and technical ability will complement Jurgen Klopp's style at the club and a healthy competition for the places in the team will only get the best out of all the players.
Liverpool is being linked with the Ajax midfield maestro since the past few weeks and the Moroccan can be a perfect alternative if the deal for Nabil Fekir falls through.
