Go for it Klopp – Liverpool signing this highly-rated 18-year-old ace would be smart investment

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Why Jeremy Doku would be a great long-term signing for Liverpool

According to Het Laatste Nieuws (h/t Mirror), Jeremy Doku has caught the eyes of Premier League champions, Liverpool. It has been claimed that his profile appealed to the club. He is being considered as a potential backup to their troika of attackers.

Profile

Jeremy Doku started his youth career at Beerschot before joining Anderlecht’s academy in 2012. The highly-rated forward spent six years in the club’s youth system before making his senior professional debut against Sint-Truiden back in November 2018, aged just 16.

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Anderlecht s Jeremy Doku celebrate after scoring during a soccer match between Waasland-Beveren and RSC Anderlecht, Saturday 19 September 2020 in Beveren, on day 6 of the Jupiler Pro League first division of the Belgian soccer championship. 

Doku made only 5 league appearances in his debut season but he established himself in a more prominent role last term. He accumulated 3 goals and 4 assists in 21 outings for Anderlecht. The teenager made a promising start to the ongoing Belgian Pro League campaign, bagging 2 goals and 4 assists in 7 games before moving to Rennes in October. (h/t Transfermarkt)

The 18-year-old’s stocks are currently soaring higher than ever following his latest heroics for Belgium. Doku made his debut for the national team as a late substitute in a 2-0 win over Denmark in the UEFA Nations League before capping off his first start with his first senior international goal as Martinez’s side beat Iceland 5-1.

Doku is one for the future and Liverpool should pursue him then

Jeremy Doku has been held in high regard ever since his childhood days in Anderlecht’s academy. The 18-year-old’s recent emergence on the international scene comes as a timely reminder of his incredible potential.

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18 JEREMY DOKU REN FOOTBALL : Rennes vs Angers – Ligue 1 Uber Eats – 23/10/2020 FEP/Panorami

That he made his senior league debut for Anderlecht at the tender age of 16 is indicative of a level of maturity that belies his tender years. There aren’t too many footballers from the elite nations in Europe who earn their first international cap at just 18. Doku has now joined the select group.

Liverpool have scoured the continent for exciting prospects like Ki-Jana Hoever, Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott over the past couple of years in a bid to unearth the next gem. To that end, it should be a no-brainer for the Reds to go for Jeremy Doku in the future.

The Reds don’t really need to make any wholesale changes to their forward line. The likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are widely regarded as the best goalscorers on the planet. But it’s important for Klopp to keep an eye on the future.

Hence, the English champions should try to get their hands on a promising youngster like Doku with a view to integrating him in the first-team mix over the next 3-4 years.

Anderlecht's Jeremy Doku pictured in action during a soccer match between Cercle Brugge KSV and RSC Anderlecht, Sunday 26 January 2020 in Brugge, on day 23 of the 'Jupiler Pro League' Belgian soccer championship season 2019-2020. (Getty Images)
Anderlecht’s Jeremy Doku pictured in action during a soccer match between Cercle Brugge KSV and RSC Anderlecht, Sunday 26 January 2020 in Brugge, on day 23 of the ‘Jupiler Pro League’ Belgian soccer championship season 2019-2020. (Getty Images)

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Jeremy Doku might not fit the bill as an immediate game-changer at Liverpool, who already have some world-class players in front of goal. Considering his vast potential though, the Reds would be smart enough to complete a deal for him and then loan him back to Rennes or some other club to allow him to further his development with regular game time.