Why Liverpool should go ahead with their loan offer for Ousmane Dembele
According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio (h/t Express), Liverpool have tabled a loan offer for Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele.
The 23-year-old winger has endured a frustrating campaign at Camp Nou ever since his £135.5m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. Dembele has spent most of his time at Barcelona on the sidelines due to various injuries and is currently ruled out of the side due to a hamstring injury.
The Frenchman, who has lost a majority of this season due to injury sustained in February is not expected to return at least until August. This is Dembele’s ninth injury since joining the La Liga giants, which has now left the club frustrated.
With his persistent injuries and slow progress becoming a major cause of concern, Barcelona are now looking to offload their young winger. This has opened the doors for a host of clubs including Liverpool, who are looking to add more firepower into their attack ahead of next season. (h/t Express)
Dembele will offer Liverpool more options on the wings
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have had a sensational campaign so far this season after their Champions League triumph last year. The Reds are currently first in the Premier League. They have a huge 25-point gap separating them from defending champions Manchester City in second.
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, like last season, have been in excellent form so far this term as well. With 16 league goals, Salah is currently Liverpool’s highest goal-scorer in the league and is closely followed by Senegalese Mane, who has 14 to his name.
However, with the African Cup of Nations scheduled to kick start in January next year, Liverpool are set to lose their most coveted stars for at least six weeks. This leaves them with wingers Xherdan Shaqiri and Harry Wilson. However, the two of them face an uncertain future at Anfield as of now.
Hence, it would be prudent for Liverpool to bring a new winger in their midst. Thus, Liverpool’s interest in landing the out-of-favour Barcelona winger Dembele makes sense.
Having played 51 games in the La Liga, 32 in the Bundesliga, and 26 in the Ligue 1, there is no doubting the young winger’s experience. Also, with 41 goals and 44 assists from his overall 153 career games, it is clear that Dembele is a young talent with immense potential, leaving aside his injury concerns.
Considering all this, a loan move for Dembele seems like a wise move by Liverpool. Given that he won’t be available for cheap, bringing him on loan would represent a risk-free option. Hence, the Reds should go ahead with this deal. His signing would add more quality and depth to the Reds’ attacking department.
Read more:
- Why Liverpool must let go of unwanted winger Xherdan Shaqiri
- Opinion: Why Liverpool should avoid signing Thomas Meunier this summer
- Liverpool join Leeds in the race for Luke Brennan – Another fantastic youth signing?
Verdict
In-form wingers Salah and Mane’s situation in the future is a cause of worry for Liverpool next season. Hence, roping in Dembele on loan seems like the safest option at the moment. His arrival will also offer Klopp plenty of options in his attack next season. A proven customer, if he stays fit, he would add greater quality to this Liverpool side.
