With Roberto Firmino recently departing the club and with Fabio Carvalho linked with a move away from Anfield too, Liverpool could do with signing a future prospect to bolster their forward line in the summer.
The Reds are still left with a solid choice of forwards with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez but with Europa League football on the horizon, I can’t help but feel Klopp would like to be able to rotate heavily.
This leads me to believe a move for Leeds United wonderkid, Wilfried Gnonto, would be a realistic and incredibly smart option for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Obviously signings like midfielders and defenders are much more important, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Liverpool were to look at making a move for a forward in the near future.
Player profile:
Wilfried Gnonto is a 19-year-old forward for Leeds United, capable of playing on either wing as well as centre forward.
The teenager has ten caps to his for the Italy national team, becoming the country’s youngest ever goalscorer as well.
Gnonto joined Leeds for just £4.5million from Zurich last summer, but has been linked with a move away from the club as they look destined to be relegated to the EFL Championship.
A relegation from the Premier League for Leeds United would potentially mean some of their talented players will become available for cheaper than if they were playing in the Premier League still.
In 23 Premier League appearances he has scored two goals and assisted four, as well as two goals in three games in the FA Cup, which has led to his market value rising to around £18.5million according to Transfermarkt.
Due to his contract not set to expire until June 2027, any potential move in the summer would likely cost between £20-£30million but could ultimately prove to be a bargain to sign one of the most promising players in the world.
Summary:
Although he comes across as very raw at the current stage of his career, I personally think he could become a clinical forward and score goals for fun in the Premier League.
FBref has took Gnonto’s stats and playing style into consideration to determine which Premier League players are similar to the youngster.
The top results were Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic, which I would say overall makes some good reading for Liverpool supporters.
If the rumours that Liverpool are going to splash the cash this summer to massively rebuild the squad, then I would love to see the recruitment team indetify Gnonto as a target.
Whether it be in this window or as a future target, he would prove to be a terrific signing.
