Johan Bakayoko: Liverpool’s Next Frontman?
As the international break continues, so begins the mountain of players that will have been linked with a summer move to Anfield. Ultimately, no football journalist or sports writer will know the post season plans of the reds incoming Sporting CEO, Michael Edwards, yet if enough darts are thrown then, one will eventually land and be heralded later.
As Jürgen Klopp begins his final run as Liverpool manager, the names of Xabi Alonso and Rúben Amorim remain the elite coaches most likely to replace the legendary German, given their current body of work and continual links to the upcoming post. In either circumstance, such an appointment would almost certainly see the current LFC formation shift to a 3-4-3, allowing two attacking options in behind one central striker. In terms of suitability, every forward in the squad should be able to adjust accordingly, apart from perhaps the Colombian flyer, Luis Díaz.
How and Why Luis Díaz?
As a dribbling sensation and perhaps the most natural winger in the current squad, a narrower and more nuanced role may not suit the superb skillset of the former Porto man, who will be 28-years-old by next January. I foresee a summer stamp of authority to be laid down by Michael Edwards and his (presumed) new Technical Director, Richard Hughes, to ensure their new positions are clear to all.
Given the stories that has recently filtered through the gossip pages (which has PSG targeting Luis Díaz as the eventual Kylian Mbappé replacement), it may offer the opportunity for Edwards’ to make a huge statement adjustment to the squad, which does not include selling a certain Egyptian King. The world class abilities of the Frenchman, Mbappé, will be almost certainly be leaving Paris in the summer, as his nearly expired contract would see him land at Real Madrid once the current season commences.
If Michael Edwards were able to extort a substantial fee (beyond €70m) from the Ligue 1 giants, I would expect a deal to be done and funds afforded to the new manager. Given the shift of power and continuing regeneration, a young and exciting player could then be recruited, one who could be developed into the new system of play and offer a different variety of brilliance to Liverpool’s tantalizing forward line.
Fact File: Johan Bakayoko
Club – PSV Eindhoven
Nationality – Belgium
Age – 20-years-old DOB – 20/04/2003
Height – 5ft 10inch
Weight – 73kg
Appearances – 132 games
Goals / Assists – 35 goals / 34 assists
Senior Minutes Played – 8,888 minutes
International Caps – 9
International Goals – 1
Contract Expiry – June 30 2026
Transfermarkt Value – €40m
Projected Cost of Deal – €60m
Current Season Numbers
Appearances – 40 games
Goals & Assists – 8 / 13
Bakayoko: A Worthy Replacement?
As a wide forward that plays almost predominantly from the right, the 20-year-old would not be a straight replacement for Luis Díaz, however, the alteration in system (and thus roles) could see the below changes implemented by either Xabi Alonso and Rúben Amorim. As stated, the wide forwards of the Klopp era would become narrower and deeper, allowing the wing backs in a 3-4-3 formation to supply the width, high and wide.
Central Strikers
Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota, Jayden Danns
Right Inside Forward
Mohamed Salah, Johan Bakayoko, Harvey Elliott
Left Inside Forward
Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Fábio Carvalho
The above is a fully stocked and exciting roster of attacking assets, who would all thrive under new leadership and within the new system. The addition of Johan Bakayoko would start the very slow migration of shifting Mohamed Salah away from the first team, as he himself will turn 33-years-old next season.
Though the Egyptian King should see his current deal extended in the summer, (one which will have only a year remaining by that point), his recent injury points to the inevitable need to play less games. The monies that could be garnered by interested clubs in the Saudi Pro League will not disappear, therefore, a huge deal could be struck ahead of time for when the record-breaking scorer is 35-years-old.
To sign the Belgium international, would be to recruit a wonderful talent who could be moulded into the long-term successor to the former Roma man. Given his pace, creativity, and the coaching abilities of any new head coach, it would enable time to harness the limitless abilities of the PSV, without the need to immediately blood the player into the first team.
The adjustments to this current squad do not need to be drastic, however, under the watch of Michael Edwards and the new regime, they will certainly be more geared towards continual regeneration, something which would make the acquisition of Johan Bakayoko very attractive.
Steven Smith
