Reports from Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport claim Liverpool are among a string of clubs monitoring 19-year-old forward Umar Sadiq.
The teenager is owned by Roma, but is currently on loan at Serie B outfit Spezia – who part own him. It’s with Roma’s youth sides that he’s torn up trees though, scoring 19 goals in 18 games.
The article suggests that Premier League rivals Spurs and Arsenal want him too, while Ligue 1 giants Lyon are similarly interested. Roma will have to pay £2m to buy him out of his Spezia contract, but are considering immediately offloading him for offers north of €12m (£9.5m) this summer for a serious, quick profit.
Nigerian Sadiq stands at 6 ft. 6″ and naturally prides himself on strength, holdup play and headers.
For this reason, it seems a little strange we’re linked with the forward. He’s not especially mobile, and we know with the problems Christian Benteke’s suffered this season that Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool require agile, dynamic runners rather than powerful target men.
Previously, the likes of Mario Balotelli and Andy Carroll have flopped at Liverpool, as they suit a direct brand of football which allows them to stay centrally. Liverpool though do not have that style in our DNA, and especially not under Klopp.