Reports today have linked Jurgen Klopp with an audacious transfer that would see him reunited with Borussia Dortmund striker Marco Reus at Liverpool.
The German forward was a key part of Klopp 's former Dortmund side who won the DFL-Supercup and finished as Champions League runners-up in the 2012/13 season.
The now 30-year-old was in tremendous goalscoring form for Dortmund last season, scoring 17 goals in just 27 league appearances, as they pushed eventual champions Bayern Munich all the way in the Bundesliga title race.
His strong form has now seen him linked with a move to Anfield and a reunion with former boss Klopp, which sounds a bit unlikely given that Liverpool are well stocked in attack, but it did get us wondering....
How many goals would Reus score for Liverpool?
And, would he displace Firmino?
We used Football Manager 2019 to have a bit of fun and see what would happen if Liverpool signed Reus this summer.
Marco Reus - Liverpool
Current Ability: 167/200
Potential Ability: 168/200
Positions: AML/AMR/AMC/ST
Top Attributes (out of 20): Off the ball movement (18), acceleration (18), finishing (17), free kicks (16), decisions (16).
The Borussia Dortmund striiker is one of the most dangerous forward players in Europe, according to Football Manager 2019.
Despite his age, Reus still has tremendous acceleration and off the ball movement, combined with exceptional finishing ability, strong technical attributes and is also a threat from long range.
Of course, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp knows this only too well from his time at Dortmund.
But how much difference could he make to Liverpool's performance in the 2019/20 season?
We inputted a £60 million future transfer into Football Manager 2019, added in all the latest transfers, manager changes, promotions and relegations, then simulated the 2019/20 season to see what could happen.
Here's what happened....
Liverpool's top scorers in 2019/20
After his £60 million move, Reus finished as Liverpool's third-highest goalscorer, behind Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, but more than Sadio Mane.
Marco Reus' 2019/20 season for Liverpool
Here's Reus' Liverpool season in more detail.
The German forward made a total of 51 appearances in all competitions, but only 34 of those were starts, as he scored 18 goals and registered three assists.
His goals-to-start ratio was incredibly impressive, scoring 11 in 21 starts in the league, two goals in four cup starts and five goals in nine European starts, making him a very reliable goalscorer for the club.
Liverpool's best XI in 2019/20
However, such was the strength of Salah and Mane individually, Reus didn't get into the overall best Liverpool XI for 2019/20, as they made more starts and contributed more goals and assists overall.
Liverpool's 2018/19 league position: 2nd
Liverpool's 2019/20 league position: 2nd
Sadly, having four regular goalscorers didn't lead to a Premier League title, as Man City pipped them once again in the league.
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Champions League performance in 2019/20
Liverpool very nearly reached the Champions League final for the third year in a row, but Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid beat the Reds in the semi-final over two legs.
Cup competitions performance in 2019/20
However, Liverpool were outstanding in the cup competitions, winning the FA Cup...
And the Carabao Cup too!
Overall, Football Manager 2019 suggests that signing Marco Reus wouldn't guarantee them a league title, but it would result in multiple trophies and an exceptionally strong first season in English football for the German.
Who wouldn't love to see Klopp and Reus re-united?
