17 Feb 2016

Anfield-bound? Klopp wants 'exceptional' €30m attacker who's 'like Reus'. Liverpool 'eligible' to sign him

Last month, Liverpool were heavily linked with a move for Anderlecht stat Dennis Praet, and new reports suggest that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp remains intent on signing the coveted Belgian attacker.

According to the The Mirror today:

"Liverpool are keeping tabs on the availability of Anderlecht midfielder Dennis Praet [who] wants to leave the Belgian club at the end of the season".

Recent transfer timeline:

* Nov 2014: Praet's agent mused: "Dennis will not go just anywhere. Clubs like Valencia, Liverpool, Arsenal or Atletico Madrid are eligible".

* Dec 2015: Anderlecht Chief Herman Van Holsbeeck told reporters: "We have to sell as he [Praet] has only one year on his contract. We have to work towards a transfer".

* Jan 2016: Tuttosport claimed that Klopp pressed FSG sign Praet during the January transfer window.

* Jan 2016: The Mirror insisted: "Liverpool would have no issue meeting the [€30m] valuation".

* Feb 2016: Belgium's under-21 coach, Enzo Scifo, noted: "About Praet, I can say he is ready to embark on an adventure with a top club".

Some info about Praet:

* Attacking midfielder, who can also play central-mid, and right/left-wing. Under contract at Anderlecht until June 2017.

* Anderlecht: 63 goals/assists in 156 in 163 games (Goal every 484 mins/assist every 327 mins/GA every 192 mins).

* Nov 2014: Former Anderlecht coach Aad De Mos raved: "Praet is an exceptional talent; he's the number 10 every club is looking for. He is like [Marco] Reus. He can be his successor."

€30m for an attacker who scores a goal every 484 minutes? You're having a laugh. For the right price (i.e. £10m-£15m), Praet may be worth a punt, but as history shows, it's too much of a gamble to spend £20m+ on a possible future star who may or may not come good (in the Prem) at some undetermined point in the future.

Additionally, with the greatest respect, Belgium is not one of Europe's stronger leagues, and from watching Praet play, he'll need to build up his body strength quite a bit to cut in the Premier League. If he can't score regular in Belgium, it's doubtful he'll make a splash in the Premier League.

Also, why spend €30m on Praet, when 26-year old Andriy Yarmolenko has a £14.5m buyout clause. It's insanity.

Author: Jaimie K


0 Comments:

Post a Comment