Liverpool are hoping to prise away French midfield talent Houssem Aouar from Olympique Lyon for a cut-price this summer.
According to a report from The Athletic, as relayed by Olympique et Lyonnais, Liverpool are eyeing a summer swoop for Houssem Aouar. The Premier League giants have been put on red alert in light of the recent drop in prices of Ligue 1 players due to the ongoing financial crisis that has plagued the league.
One of the top targets for Jurgen Klopp is Aouar, with the Olympique Lyon midfielder likely to be available for a cut-price. Earlier this summer, Arsenal were linked with a €25 million swoop for the Frenchman, but they later ceded their interest in favour of other available options in the market.
Part of Arsenal’s reason to move on from Aouar may have been the midfielder’s poor 2020/21 campaign that saw him struggle with form and fitness issues. Although he did feature in 30 league matches, his performances were far from impressive, ultimately leading to his omission from France’s Euro 2020 squad.
The 23-year-old failed to impress in the U21 World Cup as well. But that hasn’t deterred Liverpool from expressing their interest in Aouar, who is likely being targeted as a direct replacement for Gini Wijnaldum. The experienced Dutchman had earlier moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, serving a major blow for Klopp, who already lacks depth in the middle of the park.
While the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago are certainly top class individuals, other midfielders face an uncertain future at the club after failing to live up to the expectations. Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, for one, is a reported target for West Ham United, whereas Naby Keita’s struggles with injuries may also see him depart Anfield.
Given his current form, investing in Houssem Aouar is no less than a risk. But for a fee of just €25 million, it appears to be a gamble Liverpool can afford to make, especially if the Frenchman can end up replicating the performances of the 2019/20 campaign, particularly in the UEFA Champions League.
However, the Reds have no shortage of alternatives either. Recent reports already suggest that they might soon reach an agreement with Atletico Madrid over the acquisition of Saul Niguez. The Spaniard is naturally seen as an upgrade over Aouar but is expected to cost a fortune, so it will be interesting to see who gets the nod at Anfield this summer.
