Transfer News: Liverpool interested in Jeremy Doku

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Belgian international Jeremy Doku from Ligue 1 club Rennes in the summer transfer window.

According to a report from Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, Premier League bigwigs Liverpool have identified Rennes’ Belgian winger Jeremy Doku as one of their main transfer targets this summer.

Doku came through the youth ranks at Belgian outfit RSC Anderlecht and made his first-team debut for the club in 2018. The young winger went on to make 37 appearances for the senior team, in which he managed six goals and seven assists. The teenager earned a call-up to the Belgium national team in September last year and, after making a strong impression, was snapped up by Rennes a month later.

Upon arriving in France, Doku had a rather slow debut campaign, during which he managed a return of just two goals and four assists from 37 matches, although there were plenty of glimpses of his natural ability on display. The same came to the fore again this past Friday in the UEFA Euro 2020 during Belgium’s quarter-final clash against Italy.

Even as the Red Devils crashed out of the tournament, Doku stood out with a fine attacking performance on the left flank, where his pace, trickery and directness caused the Italy full-back quite a few problems.

Embed from Getty Images

Now, it is being claimed by Rudy Galetti that Liverpool have locked in on the 19-year-old as one of their main targets in the summer transfer window. This is not the first time that the Reds have shown an interest in Doku, with Jurgen Klopp having tried to recruit him a few years ago, while they were said to be keeping tabs on him after his switch to Rennes last year.

And, if Galetti’s update is to be believed, the ten-time capped Belgian international is once again back on the agenda for Liverpool in the ongoing transfer window. The Merseyside giants will be needing attacking reinforcements this summer as Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi find themselves staring at the exit doors at Anfield while Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino endured underwhelming campaigns last time out.

With Liverpool also set to be without Mane and Mohamed Salah for a stretch of the season due to the Africa Cup of Nations next year, securing reinforcements in attack becomes that much more important. Doku, to that end, can be a viable target, given his immense potential. At 19, the Belgian is only likely to get better from hereon, which would make him a good long-term investment for Liverpool.

Galetti further adds that Rennes value their prized asset at €40 million after having spent around €25 million to sign him last year. It now remains to be seen if Liverpool will formalise their interest in Doku or look at alternate targets such as Harvey Barnes of Leicester City.