Liverpool could sign $37m star’like Pedri’to help Jürgen Klopp complete midfield rebuild

Liverpool could sign $37m star’like Pedri’to help Jürgen Klopp complete midfield rebuild

In its new-look system, Liverpool has looked considerably more like its usual self. A number of players have been reinvigorated as a result of the switch, and the idea of it becoming permanent certainly has credence.

But regardless of whether or not Jürgen Klopp opts to stick with the 3-2-5 formation in possession, new players are going to be required in order to supplement the squad and improve key areas of the pitch.

Among them will be at least two midfielders, with Liverpool needing to rejuvenate that part of its roster more than any other. And which ones are brought in will give a handy clue as to whether or not the revamped way of playing is here to stay.

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Several players are on Liverpool’s radar. Mason Mount is certainly one, while plenty of others have been linked with a move to Anfield at the end of the season.

Feyenoord captain Orkun Kökçü is the next name on the agenda. Along with Manchester United, Spurs, West Ham and others, Liverpool is said to be keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old ahead of a possible summer switch.

That is according to Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan, who was speaking on the De Telegraaf’s podcast (translated by Sport Witness), with the midfielder having scored 12 goals from the center of the pitch this season.

His numbers certainly look good. With a high rate of progression of the ball via passing and dribbling, Kökçü would appear to be the ideal sort of playmaker to help Liverpool progress up the pitch during build-up from deep.

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Every attacking metric that Kökçü is ranked for by FBref is in the high 90s percentile-wise (albeit compared to the ‘next eight’ competitions as the Eredivisie is not a top-five league), while a price tag of $37m (£30m/€34m) would not be prohibitive.

“I am a Feyenoord man and they are doing very well at the moment,” former Reds man Dirk Kuyt told the ECHO earlier this month.

“They have a very good manager in Arne Slot and some of the younger guys like Kökçü and Geertruida are knocking on the door and playing very well.

“It won’t take long for the interest of top European teams to be there for them. I hope Liverpool is interested in Feyenoord players, and I am an example it can work!

Feyenoord captain Orkun Kökçü.

(Image: Photo by ANP via Getty Images)

“When I was working as U19s coach, Kökçü and Geertruida were in my team at the time. You know who the talented players are and you can see they are going to have big futures.”

The player has also earned lofty comparisons to the likes of David Silva and Pedri in the recent past, which further help to illustrate the type of midfielder that he is.

“I think it was really interesting recently —StatsBomb have a metric called the doppelganger metric and someone asked who is the most similar U23 to current David Silva,” Josh Williams explained on the Analysing Anfield podcast. “This lad came up as the second-most similar behind Pedri of Barcelona.”

It is no surprise, then, that Premier League clubs are lining up to take a look at Kökçü. Liverpool, considering its need for new blood in the center of the pitch, should certainly be among them.

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Liverpool announce major Chinese partnership in’huge moment’for football club

Liverpool have secured a new partnership that will allow them to further their growth ambitions for their retail arm in one of their key markets.

The club, which ships merchandise to 192 countries around the world, has bounced back from the impact on retail caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and is set to register record retail revenues for the second successive year.

To aid the continued growth of the Liverpool brand globally, the Reds have been targeting their expansion in key markets in a bid to maximise their opportunities to get product to fans.

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As part of that push the club has linked up with All Star Partners (ASP), a leading sports and e-commerce retail company in China that focuses on sports licensing, merchandising and retail for top global sports clubs and organisations.

The link-up with ASP will allow the club to improve their position in the Chinese market, presenting fans with ‘easier access to official retail merchandise’ via digital e-commerce marketplaces on the major Tmall, Douyin and JD platforms.

The club will collaborate with ASP on product development, market expansion, e-commerce development and growing the Liverpool fanbase in the Chinese market.

Mike Cox, senior vice president of merchandising at Liverpool, said, “This is a huge moment for LFC to have a new official retail partner in China, and to do this working alongside ASP. Together we can be closer to our Chinese supporters who now have easier access to official club merchandise.

“This partnership is helping to further grow our digital global retail business. We’re looking forward to seeing what we can bring to the Chinese supporters and make them feel a part of the LFC family.”

Liverpool already has a strong presence in China, although it remains in Southeast Asia and countries such as Thailand and Singapore where the Reds have the largest followings away from the UK. The link-up with ASP is seen as a major opportunity for the club to grow its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Luo Bin, CEO of ASP, said: “For us, it’s a great honour to be an official retail partner of Liverpool FC in China. The Liverpool spirit of unity inspired generations of Chinese fans, many of them can even sing the song ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. So, we believe they deserve the best.

“We will bring them more and more great LFC official products, and make sure they will have shopping experiences better than ever. We are very confident that the Reds lifestyle and spirit will keep inspiring more fans in China.”

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