Liverpool Opinion: Why Inaki Williams would be a smart signing for the Reds
According to a report on the Daily Post, Liverpool are eyeing a swoop for highly-rated Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams.
The 24-year-old forward is coming off the back of his most prolific season yet, in which he netted 15 goals in all competitions for Athletic Bilbao. He has also garnered interest from Atletico Madrid, who see the versatile forward as the perfect replacement for wantaway Antoine Griezmann; however, the Madrid-based club have been put off by the £77m asking price.
That gives Liverpool a chance to have a clear run at Inaki Williams and bring him in ahead of the new season.
The Reds were left disappointed in the Premier League once again after they came so close to winning the title. And one of their biggest issues this season was their lack of creativity, with Jurgen Klopp’s side often struggling to break down teams.
Liverpool have the most prominent attack in Europe presently. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino can destroy teams on their day, but Klopp needs back-ups for them, especially Firmino. Firmino isn’t a bonafide goalscorer but the way he links up play and times his runs to perfection to score goals make him an indispensable figure at Anfield.
However, the Brazilian had an injury-hit 2018/19 campaign and was ineffective in some games for the Reds. At the moment, Firmino is Klopp’s first-choice striker but to compete and push him, the German manager should bring in another striker. That’s why a move for Inaki Williams makes a lot of sense.
Williams is a versatile forward, who is adept at playing anywhere across the front-line. Extremely pacy and skilful on the ball, the 24-year-old can also pick a pass in the offensive end of the pitch. He is a lethal finisher in front of goal and does his fair share of defensive duties which would make him the right fit under Klopp.
The Bilbao-born star has shown the potential to become even better and the 2018/19 season is a testament to his rapid development in Spain. Furthermore, Williams’ explosive pace and directness makes him a valuable target.
Verdict
Williams will undoubtedly bring a lot of goals and assists to Liverpool. He is just the kind of player that the Reds need in their team, someone who is direct, athletic and will challenge and keep the likes of Firmino, Salah and Mane on their toes.
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The Bilbao sensation has all the skillset to succeed under an astute tactician like Klopp and thus, the Merseysiders must find a way to thrash out a deal for the forward.