With the top four looking increasingly unachievable (although we’re not giving up hope yet), fans’ attentions will turn to a potentially exciting summer of transfer business.
Brendan Rodgers is adamant that the owners will back him, and wants big name arrivals signed in time for the 2015/16 campaign.
‘Now we have to look to improve the squad and it’s always great if you can get marquee players to come in and help you. The owners will support that,’ the Northern Irishman said yesterday (via Sky Sports).
The man most consistently linked, and the player to have got supporters most excited, is PSV’s Dutch international forward Memphis Depay, who yesterday ‘liked’ the idea of a Liverpool move on social media (via Liverpool Echo).
So who is the 21-year-old, and is he worth the scramble for his signature…?
Position, style and attributes:
Depay is a modern day ‘wing-forward’. Playing wide in a 4-3-3, the international attacker starts out on the left, but is given permission to freely roam the forward line and get into the box at every possible opportunity. Like Cristiano Ronaldo does for Real Madrid, Eden Hazard does for Chelsea and Neymar does for Barcelona for instance.
He’s right-footed, so scores most of his goals by cutting in from his flank and shooting on his favoured boot.
Depay’s physical and technical characteristics are perfect for this role. He’s rapid, has the skills to dribble and beat a full-back, possesses the creativity and vision to feed team-mates and has a ruthless streak in front of goal – aided by a thunderous shot from distance.
He’s direct, too. Depay nearly always turns towards the opposition goal when given the ball, and looks to take on an opponent and get off a shot on goal.
Statistics:
This season, few attackers have racked up Depay’s numbers, although he has been doing it in the occasionally easy Eredivisie (although once too did Luis Suarez…).
In 28 top flight appearances, he’s bagged 21 goals this season, helping PSV secure the title. In total, he’s scored 48 goals for the Dutch giants, despite having only turned 21 in February. Perhaps equally impressively, Depay’s created 56 chances in 2014/15, only 11 less than Raheem Sterling – who’s our leading chance creator this term.
He’s shot-happy, attempting 5.5 efforts per game, and averages 2.8 successful dribbles per match, too.
(Stats courtesy of Squawka)
Conclusion:
Depay fits the bill, in short. Not only does he provide goals, dynamism and speed to an attack, but his age and potential to improve even further befits our transfer policy.
Nowhere in recent years has young talent been honed like it has in Liverpool, and Anfield would be a wonderful place for Depay to maximise his talents.
We’d be able to provide Depay first-team football, and an attacking counter-attacking style that would enable him the space and chances to thrive.
We’ve missed out on exciting attacking talent to rivals in recent windows, and it would a huge signal of intent if we managed to secure the 15-capped prodigy ahead of Manchester United, who’ve also been linked (via M.E.N).
Alongside the speed and wondrous ability of Raheem Sterling, Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, Depay could help Liverpool score the goals next term we’ve sometimes failed to this campaign.