Jurgen Klopp previews Liverpool’s clash with Fulham
Liverpool are reportedly slipping down the list of clubs in the running to sign Schalke teenager Assan Ouedraogo, who has already been billed as the next Paul Pogba. The Reds are said to be one of several teams with an interest in Ouedraogo ahead of the January transfer window due to his impressive performances in Germany.
The 17-year-old has been making waves since earning a place in Schalke’s senior squad, where he often plays in midfield but can also deputise in attacking roles if needed. More than 20 clubs from elsewhere in Europe are thought to be tracking his progress, with TEAMtalk suggesting that Liverpool are among the sides keen on snapping him up.
However, the Reds have fallen behind a number of their rivals in the race to land Ouedraogo over the last few weeks, according to Bild. It is said that RB Leipzig are currently leading the way after speaking to the player’s father, while Bayern Munich have also been in touch with his family as of late.
Ouedraogo would reportedly prefer to stay in Germany instead of moving to the Premier League, with his stance putting Liverpool at an immediate disadvantage ahead of the January window. He would even be willing to remain at Schalke for now in order to maximise his development before taking the next step in his career at a later date.
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It seems as though Jurgen Klopp’s side may have to shelve their interest and move on to other targets, with the possibility of a move for Ouedraogo now thought to be slim at best. The Reds have been linked with several midfield players in recent weeks despite adding the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai to their squad during the summer.
Royal Antwerp starlet Arthur Vermeeren is among those to have been mentioned in connection with Liverpool following his nomination for this year’s Golden Boy award. Bilal El Khannouss has also been linked with the Anfield giants after impressing with his performances for Genk and breaking into the Morocco senior squad at the World Cup last winter.
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It remains to be seen how Liverpool will fare in their search for a new midfielder in January, although Jamie Carragher has suggested that a right-back would be a more pressing need in order to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to play in the middle of the park.
He told Sky Sports: “Liverpool haven’t got a back-up for Alexander-Arnold as it’s difficult to sign quality to sit on the substitutes bench. I would love Liverpool to acquire a right-back who could play in the big games and push Alexander-Arnold into midfield. That could be the development for Liverpool, to play him in midfield.”
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