Why are Liverpool being linked with Wissam Ben Yedder?
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder, but why have the reports emerged and what could he do?
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Liverpool are interested in signing the 29-year-old France international after his promising Monaco campaign.
This seems to be a clear response to the recent news that Timo Werner might not be moving to Anfield after all, and assumes that Jurgen Klopp has lost patience with current back-up striker Divock Origi.
Origi was criticized earlier in the week for failing to have the impact expected of him in games. The last time he scored was back in December during the 5-2 demolition of Everton – a fixture in which Xherdan Shaqiri also impressed.
Wissam Ben Yedder wouldn’t exactly be a bargain basement signing though. Monaco paid £35 million to Sevilla for the 8-cap Frenchman last season and would want around £40 million for their man, said the Daily Mail.
For that money, does it make sense to bring in someone with no Premier League experience for a big fee and a final payday?
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According to Smarter Scout, Ben Yedder has played 2,250 minutes as a central striker this season but has rarely operated away from that role and has a fairly good all-round game.
With a rating of 54/99 for ground duels out of possession and 65/99 for ground duels in possession, he’s a fairly strong defender and is good recoverer of the ball.
84/99 for passing towards goal and 85/99 for link up play indicate that this is a forward who likes to drop a little deeper to get the ball, which is what Roberto Firmino is famously good at. That would fit in with how Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to play.
But that price tag has go to be a warning to the club. It seems like a lot of money to play for someone who is one dimensional and old, especially if they are going to sell the 25-year-old Origi first.
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It would be better if they could look at other targets as a priority, and perhaps circle back to the Monaco man if nothing else comes off.