Liverpool Linked With Ligue 1 Hit-man Once Again, But Why They Must Close The Deal This Time Around

Liverpool are reportedly back in for Alexandre Lacazette, according to Telegraph (h/t Liverpool Echo). Lacazette has been linked with a number of clubs over the years and is somehow, still at Lyon. The Lyon president has always played hardball when it comes to letting go of the striker. Arsenal have long been linked with the Frenchman and the deal did not materialise, thanks to Lyon’s heavy price tag on the striker.

However, Lacazette’s former Lyon teammate, Samuel Umtiti, who left Lyon for Barcelona in the summer, has revealed that Alexandre is waiting for the right time to move.

He was quoted by The Telegraph: “I have a lot of respect for Lyon, they’re one of the biggest French clubs. But there will come a time when he could leave to improve. He’ll have that desire, I know his character. He’s waiting for the right moment.”

The right moment to improve, as Umtiti says, could possibly arrive this summer. With a host of clubs linked with Lacazette, he will have a lot of offers on his table when he decides to leave Lyon.

A Liverpool move may suit Lacazette and the reasons are plenty. Arsenal, for example, have a settled frontline, with Sanchez and Giroud, supported by Ozil, Walcott and Iwobi. While Liverpool, have been experimenting with Origi, Firmino and Sturridge up front. Sturridge has been injury prone all these years and Origi isn’t the established striker to lead the line and Firmino hasn’t settled in that position.

The comparison needs to be done with Gunners because Liverpool and Arsenal are joint-top on the list of most goals scored in the league.

Thus, it leaves Klopp with only one option, which is to buy a striker in the summer. If Liverpool can score 54 goals in 25 games without an established striker, and with their highest goal-getter in the league being Mane, with 11 goals, how would they fare with a hotshot striker?

This is a question that needs to be answered. The list of top 10 goal scorers in the league features only 1 Liverpool player, and that is Sadio Mane at 9^th place. Arsenal have Alexis Sanchez on top of the list with 17 goals. Lallana and Henderson have excelled in midfield play and Henderson stands on top of the list in the most number of passes made. Lallana has given 7 assists, which is only 2 less than De Bruyne’s 9, which is the highest in the league.

Hence, the answer is clear. Liverpool would be unstoppable with a proven goal scorer up front.

If they get a chance, it’d be wise for them to move for someone like Lacazette, as the availability of strikers in the market is not abundant.