The summer transfer window is but days away from closing, andLiverpoolmanagerJurgen Kloppis faced with mounting issues to solve on the transfer front.
Who are Liverpool interested in signing?
While the Reds’ window kicked off with promise, Alexis Mac Allister’sbargain £35m arrivalprecedingthe £60m captureof the exciting Dominik Szoboszlai, Ԁєɑłs to signMoises Caicedo and Romeo LaviaєɴԀed fruitless, with both joining Chelsea.
Wataru єɴԀo was shrewdlysigned for £16mto combat this, but work is still to be done, and withrumours of interestfrom Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad in the esteemed Mohamed Salah, the Anfield side appear to be lining up a move for West Ham United’sJarrod Bowento replace the Egyptian.
That’s according toFootball Transfers, who claim that the£42m-ratedwinger has been earmarked as the iԀєɑł ‘short-term’ replacement for Salah, though with such little time left in the window and Liverpool’s immediate concerns lying elsewhere, it will take a dramatic turn of events for this one to come into fruition.
How good is Jarrod Bowen?
Liverpool’sresponse to Saudi Arabian intriguein signing Salah this year has been emphatic, with Kloppdenyingany notion that the club would even entertain the sale of their most coveted asset at this stage.
Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…
But, if the inconceivable was to be contrived, Bowen would be a realistic option, and while he is not the glitziest name on the block, the 26-year-old has glimmered for the Hammers across the past several years, integral in their rise under David Moyes.
This term, Bowen hasscored two goals and registered an assistafter just three matches, already hailed bytalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordanfor joining the “Salah club” after an “unbelievable” goal against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekєɴԀ.
Given that the£60k-per-weekace was instrumental in the Irons’Europa Conference League triumphlast year too, scoring in the final, he would offer the winning, big-game mentality to thrive under Klopp’s management, and he could even blєɴԀ nicely withTrent Alexander-Arnolddown the right channel.
Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool’s renowned creative source. A divisive figure. Scant few teams in Premier League history have wielded such superlative ball-playing ability, but the 24-year-old’s questionable defєɴԀing and lapses in key moments have often welcomed harsh rebuke, with his erroneous display at St. James’ Park – where he could have been sent off for two bookable offences in the early stages – symptomatic of this.
The20-capEngland international is behind only teammate Andrew Robertson in theall-time Premier League assist chartfor a defєɴԀer (54 to the Scotland captain’s 57), and has been described as a “wizard” by Statman Dave and “unplayable” by CBS ɾєρօɾτer James Benge.
Alexander-Arnold strengths
Alexander-Arnold weaknesses
Crossing
Tackling
Key passes
Concentration
Creativity
Discipline
(Stats via WhoScored)
However, having also been branded a “training dummy” by Casey Evans after one particularly horrific defensive display against Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, there’s a bit of a quandary for Klopp when considering how to keep the player’s quality at its zenith.
This is where Bowen comes in. While the one-time Hull City starlet provides a considerable offensive threat, havingrecorded 31 direct goal contributionsduring the 2021/22 season, the right winger is also a tenacious and fierce presence in the defensive third, contributing effectively and consistently to provide respite for his backline.
As per FBref, Bowen ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for interceptions, the top 9% for aerial wins and the top 23% for clearances per 90, underscoring his application and assiduousness.
This would undoubtedly benefit Alexander-Arnold’s creative ingenuity, with the£180k-per-weekphenom ranking amongthe top 9%of positional peers for assists and the top 5% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90.
Described as “electric” by journalist Rahman Osman, Bowen could be the perfect foil to unlock the full scale of Alexander-Arnold’s talents, and while Liverpool fɑɴȿ will loathe the day Salah leaves Anfield, if he does depart this week, then West Ham’s star winger could ensure the club still achieves their seasonal goals.
