So, Kacper Kozlowski.
According to reports, Liverpool are rivalling Brighton and Hove Albion for the youngster. The Argus claim the Reds are prepared to pay £10million to secure the services of the versatile 18-year-old, with the Seagulls only prepared to pay £8million for the Poland international.
It’d be a bit of an odd move for the Merseysiders. They are always in the market for the next-next big thing. As in, the likes of Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland come with a huge price tag despite not having the sample size to back it up. So Liverpool shop in the tier below that to bag the likes of Harvey Elliott, Bobby Clark and Kaide Gordon for relatively low fees. Those with huge potential but without the transfer fee to match.
Kozlowski would see them depart from that model, though. He is somewhere between a Bellingham and an Elliott.
The six-cap international – who became the youngest player to appear at a European Championships during the 2020 tournament – has an interesting profile.
Watching him slalom past opponents, you’d be forgiven for not realising he is 6ft. He is fleet-footed and comfortable in wide areas but then he has the physicality required to dominate centrally.
For Pogoń Szczecin, he is usually deployed in midfield. Not in a specific position, though. He’s played on both the right side the left side of a two and a three, He’s also played as an attacking midfielder and on the right side of the attack.
Kozlowski is composed in the penalty area and can be a goal threat when tasked with that role. However, he seems just as content when responsible for pulling the strings as a creator.
His current deal expires in 2023 and if a new contract isn’t agreed soon, Pogon Szczecin could be forced to cash in on the highly-rated midfielder.
Kozlowski has been likened to Kevin De Bruyne and Paul Pogba. I’m not necessarily sold on that idea. Both De Bruyne and Pogba could be described as passers, though they are both much more than that. You get the point though. From what I’ve seen of the 17-year-old, he’s more of a ball-carrier in midfield. If I had to compare him with anyone it would probably be Elliott when he was playing in midfield. Another David Silva or Bernardo Silva, if you will.
He is neat and tidy in possession but has that extra gear he can get into if required. The youngster is happy to make off the ball runs and get beyond the attacking line to offer himself as an option.
Often described as a box-to-box midfielder, he isn’t a powerhouse runner, he instead glides over the pitch and covers a lot of ground. He isn’t the tallest – just 5ft10 – but he puts himself about and is quite happy to battle for the ball in the middle third.
I can understand why Liverpool are reportedly interested in Kozlowski. He’s clearly a talent and he’s young enough to be developed into whatever sort of midfielder you want him to be.
Eh Sam, is he 6ft or 5ft 10”?