Villarreal’s Nigerian midfielder Samuel Chukwueze and Zenit St. Petersburg’s Argentine forward Sebastian Driussi vie for the ball during the Europa League round of 16 first leg football match between FC Zenit and Villarreal CF in Saint Petersburg on March 7, 2019. Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP
The African footballers who could be headed to Liverpool next season
Liverpool have set their sights on some of the best footballers from Africa including players from Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.
Villarreal’s Nigerian midfielder Samuel Chukwueze and Zenit St. Petersburg’s Argentine forward Sebastian Driussi vie for the ball during the Europa League round of 16 first leg football match between FC Zenit and Villarreal CF in Saint Petersburg on March 7, 2019. Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP
Liverpool has become a club rich in African talent with Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane two of the club’s biggest stars.
The Reds also deploy the services of Guinea’s Naby Keita and former Cameroon international Joel Matip but could be set to add more African talent to the books.
Jurgen Klopp is understood to be in the market for a replacement for Daniel Sturridge who will be allowed to leave Liverpool when his contract expires.
A number of exciting African attackers have been scouted by Liverpool as they search for a player who will add quality in the final third.
Here we look at the African players believed to be on Klopp’s radar.
Samuel Chukwueze – Nigeria
Chukwueze won the Under 17 World Cup with Nigeria in 2015 but has risen to prominence after a strong finish to the La Liga season with his club Villareal.
The winger was a big part of saving the yellow submarine from relegation from Spain’s elite division. The 20-year-old is an accomplished dribbler which has led to him being compared to Dutch Legend Arjen Robben.
Villareal say the young man is not for sale.
Nicolas Pepe – Ivory Coast
Another African winger, Pepe, currently turns out for Lille in France’s Ligue 1 and has generated interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.
Pepe cracked in 21 goals for Lille this season and set up 13 more to help the club secure second spot behind mega-rich PSG.
Lille are understood to be asking a steep £60m for the Ivorian.
Hakim Ziyech – Morocco
If Liverpool are looking for a winger who poses a goal threat then Ziyech should be at the top of the list.
His performances in the Champions League this season have been spectacular so the Dutch-born Morocco international will not come cheap.
United are also in the hunt for Ziyech’s signature after his 19 goals in 41 appearances for Ajax Amsterdam this season.
Maxwel Cornet – Ivory Coast
Cornet has shown an appetite for the big contest this season scoring in both of Lyon’s matches against Manchester City but he hasn’t racked up the kind of goal numbers that would get anyone at Anfield excited.
He has scored just eight goals in 31 matches across all competitions this season.
A mooted move to Watford seems more likely than Cornet finding himslef on Merseyside next season.
Bertrand Traore – Burkina Faso
The former Chelsea striker scored ten goals in 41 appearances for Lyon this season and was reportedly scouted by Liverpool at the same time as Cornet.
Lyon appear keen to cash in on a tidy profit by selling the Burkinabe back to the Premier League for more than four times the fee they paid for him.
Everton have made inquiries about the players availability and been told his price is set at £40m.
