Liverpool are struggling to get their season back on the right path, particularly because they are missing the service of Sadio Mane, who is currently representing Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The maths is pretty simple. Find another winger to fill the void in the January transfer window. However, the search is turning into a bane than a boon.
Since the concerns of Mane leaving for international duty popped up, the Reds were believed to be in the driving seat to sign Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes. Even the fans gave an instant green light as he is everything a manager wants in his winger.
However, the 25-year-old has poured cold water on the speculation, stating that he is fully focused on performing for his current club.
Promes has hit the ground running since arriving from FC Twente in 2014 for a fee around €11 million. He has racked up 37 goals out of 72 appearances in Russia. This impressive stats convinced everyone that he is a reliable deputy or even a competitor for Mane.
With his close pal and Holland teammate Georginio Wijnaldum urging him to join Anfield last month, it somewhat doubled the dose of the transfer. The former Newcastle midfielder said: ‘Of course I want him to come to Liverpool.
‘Of course I want him to come to Liverpool.
‘I know he is a good player and also a good person who can help the team.’
In fact, Promes did mention that he had a conversation with Wijnaldum but it was nothing related about a move to the Premier League.
He said to Sport Express (Via Metro):
‘I never thought about other clubs. Never. Some things were said, but I do not know about that.
‘I just know that I play for Spartak, and people who really know me understand this.
‘Yes, he says he wants me [at Liverpool], because he likes me as a player. That’s what he said.
‘I talked with him, of course. But it wasn’t about Liverpool. We’re just friends.’
The Moscow side’s leading scorer will be a huge miss for Jurgen Klopp as his pace, trickery and finishing prowess are tangible to Sadio Mane.
Similar to their goals, winger options are drying up too. Before the Promes saga, Christian Pulisic was closely monitored by Klopp but the wonder-kid has signed a contract extension with Borussia Dortmund not long ago. Meanwhile, Julian Draxler joined PSG, AC Milan outcast attacker M’Baye Niang will be at Watford until the end of the campaign and even Middleborough are looking to punch above their weight as they are on the verge of concluding a deal with former Real Madrid winger Jese Rodriguez. Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt is understood to be on the radar too, but that story is clearly stored for the summer window.
Nearing the climax of the winter window, the fans are hoping that the club will defy the odds and sign a quality winger. If they don’t find an immediate answer and continue to look off colours on the pitch, Klopp’s men might fail to nail down a Champions League place.
