Liverpool are reportedly rivalling Arsenal for on-loan Porto striker Moussa Marega, who currently plays for Vitoria De Guimaraes. According to Bild (h/t Express), the Reds and the Gunners are watching the 25-year old Mali striker and plans for a bid are a possibility if they fail to pursue their other targets.
Juregen Klopp’s former side Borussia Dortmund are also tracking Marega and are aware that they may be forced into the transfer market this summer if strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele are reluctantly sold.
Bild portrays Marega as a rags-to-riches story in the mould of Leicester star Vardy, who came from non-league background to help the Foxes win last season’s Premier League title.
The French-born Marega started his career in the sixth tier of French football just outside Paris. He got his big break when he joined Ligue2 side Amiens in 2013 and after a spell in Tunisia, he joined Maritimo in 2015. Last January Porto snapped up the Mali star and after six months, sent him out on loan for the ongoing campaign.
Marega is reportedly valued at £34million and has been dubbed the Jamie Vardy of the Portuguese league. However, Porto might be tempted to sell him on to the highest bidder, instead of using him next term.
Whether or not Marega would be a success in the Premier League is a different question altogether, but a player who has made a rapid rise through the French lower leagues, all the way to FC Porto speaks volumes about his abilities.
One can take the examples of Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny, who both made their mark at the highest level, after coming through the ranks of the French lower tiers.
Marega has scored 12 goals and 3 assists in 21 appearances so far this season and has played for a total of 1721 minutes on the pitch.
The 6’1” tall striker primarily plays as a striker but is also capable of playing wide on the right wing. He can also operate as a deep-lying Centre-Forward and would be a valuable addition to any team and can be used as a back-up whenever necessary.
It will be interesting to see how the move develops over the next few months.
