Whenever you read a transfer rumour, the automatic response is to decide how realistic it seems.
When the story relates to Liverpool, it’s pretty easy to figure out. If it’s a player that seems surprising and no other team seems to be linked to particularly strongly, then there’s every chance it’s genuine.
One rumour emanating from Spain definitely fails to fit this bill. El Nacional have reported that former Chelsea man Eden Hazard is a ‘target’ for Jurgen Klopp.
Really? A very highly paid injury-prone player who turns 31 in January so is older than the established front three at the club? It doesn’t sound very realistic, does it?
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However, with the contracts of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah currently set to expire at the end of next season, it does at least make sense that Liverpool would be looking to sign a player in the Hazard mould even if a move for the man himself does not seem plausible.
The Belgian remains one of the best players around for dribbling past players, carrying the ball up the pitch and creating havoc in opposition penalty boxes. Here are some more realistic transfer targets for Liverpool who have similar strengths.
Jeremie Boga
If one former Chelsea man is out of reach, how about another? Jeremie Boga was formerly on the Blues’ books but only made one appearance for them, and whether you consult Statsbomb or Smarterscout, they agree that he is statistically like Hazard.
The 24-year-old joined Sassuolo in 2018 and has been in Serie A’s top six men for the total number of players dribbled past every season since ( per FBRef ).
Boga is also currently Italy’s top man for completed carries into the opposition penalty area, with his total of 19 matching Mane’s tally despite him playing 348 fewer minutes. As he’s reportedly out of contract next summer ( per Transfermarkt ) he wouldn’t break the bank either.
Jeremy Doku
Jeremy Doku has already been linked with Liverpool, having even reportedly been invited to train with the club in the past, and it’s easy to see why he would appeal to the Reds .
Injuries have restricted his playing time this season, but he emphatically showed what he is about in 2020/21. He and Memphis Depay were the only two players in Ligue 1’s top five for both carrying and passing the ball into the penalty area. For Doku to do that at 18-years-old is quite something.
He is under contract for another three years after this season so may be a target for further down the line, but the Rennes’ winger is one to watch.
Pedro Neto
Liverpool have had proven success buying a Portuguese international from Wolves in the last 18 months, so could Pedro Neto follow in the footsteps of Diogo Jota?
Could the west midlands outfit become the ‘new Southampton’ as a regular source of transfers for the Reds? Both questions are valid.
As with Doku, there have previously been rumours that Neto is already of interest to Liverpool. Another fine dribbler, across the last 365 days the 21-year-old is in the top three percent of attacking midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for progressive carries (those which advance the ball at least five yards towards or into the opponents’ penalty box).
He is currently recovering from serious injury, so it remains to be seen how well he returns from his long lay-off, but Neto is another player with Hazard-like skills.
Lucas Paqueta
A Brazilian international who has already played alongside Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Firmino, Lucas Paqueta is a versatile attacking midfielder who can play up front when required.
As with the other players on our shortlist, the 24-year-old has excellent dribbling skills, and he is also capable of splitting defences with incisive passes. Last season, Paqueta completed the joint-third most through balls in France, alongside Neymar.
And unlike the others on our shortlist, he already has excellent pressing stats – he’s among the top 10 percent of attacking players in the big leagues – so he might fit in at Liverpool more easily too.
