Liverpool could seek Lucas Ocampos transfer
A report by Spanish publication Fichajes (h/t Liverpool Echo) mentions that Liverpool are considering a transfer deal for Lucas Ocampos. The Sevilla winger is on a contract that expires in the summer of 2024. Ocampos is one of the main men at Sevilla since signing for them in 2019.
Before his move to Sevilla from Marseille two years back, Ocampos plied his trade at AS Monaco. He has been at Genoa as well as AC Milan on loan spells, and the ex-River Plate man has experience of playing various leagues. But is he a player that Jurgen Klopp needs to sign before deadline day this summer?
Liverpool can use Lucas Ocampos
The Reds are not having the best depth when it comes to their flank. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are perhaps two of the finest wingers one can find in the country, but they lack quality backup at the club. Their issues on the flank are compounded by them not having a true number 9 that starts consistently.
Roberto Firmino started his career as an attacking midfielder and was transformed into a number 9 during his time at Anfield. But the Brazilian’s poor goal-scoring form last season raised some eyebrows. And during this league campaign, Klopp has opted to start with Diogo Jota down the middle, with Firmino coming on late in games.
If the club had a striker they could trust to start week in, week out, perhaps Jota’s services could have been utilized down the wing. Divock Origi has failed to make any sort of an impression recently and his lack of form is reflected in the fact that the 26-year-old played just 181 minutes of Premier League football last season.
Ocampos can offer depth and quality
Takumi Minamino, another centre-forward who can play out wide, was also not in Klopp’s immediate plans last season. The Japanese forward was sent on loan to Southampton for the second half of the season. Harvey Elliott, a winger by trade, is being used in midfield by the German manager.
And another winger/playmaker in the form of Xherdan Shaqiri has left the club this summer. The Swiss forward has joined Lyon in a £9.5million transfer, leaving the Reds short out wide. And this is where Ocampos would fit in, if Michael Edwards and co. manage to get a deal across the line.
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At 27, he is still very much in the prime years of his career and can offer a number of years of service at Anfield. Ocampos, with over 370 senior career games, also has the know-how of playing football in some of Europe’s top leagues. He is adroit at playing on both wings and apart from just offering backup, can even challenge Mane and Salah for starts right away.
