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Liverpool remain keen on signing 17-year-old from Belgian giants as Mane successor

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By Pranav Ravindrannair

Liverpool could return for Belgian starlet Jeremy Doku

According to Het Nieuwsblad (h/t Daily Star), Liverpool remain keen on signing Anderlecht’s promising striker Jeremy Doku after missing out on him a year ago.

The Reds are to renew their interest in the 17-year-old. Doku has made 21 appearances for Anderlecht in the Belgian first division and has scored three goals and three assists.

The player’s parents recently opened up on a failed move to Anfield when the youngster was 16 years old. They revealed that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp viewed the Belgian starlet as the long-term successor for superstar striker Sadio Mane.

Jeremy Doku
Jeremy Doku is being viewed as Sadio Mane’s successor by Klopp

Doku’s move collapsed last year due to a misunderstanding involving Chelsea and the player’s sister who has the same name. They went on to reveal that a number of European giants were interested in the player when he turned 16. Apart from Liverpool, these teams include Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven were also interested.

The player’s father revealed that his preference was for his son to move to Liverpool. He added that he was taken aback by the reception he got there.

Jurgen Klopp talked to them and revealed that he sees Doku as Mane’s successor while then youth team manager Steven Gerrard showed videos of tactical analysis. They also got to interact with Liverpool stars Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Simon Mignolet.

Jeremy Doku
The player’s sister is named Chelsea, leading to a misunderstanding

According to the report, the move collapsed due to a misunderstanding. The player’s sister is named Chelsea. The Reds misunderstood that the player had made up his mind to move to Chelsea every time they mentioned his sister by name.

Liverpool had the chance to sign the player on a free transfer and were keen to do so. Unfortunately for us, we will have to pay up to secure him after Anderlecht convinced Doku to stay.

Doku has represented Belgium Under-17s in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2018. Still only 17, he has gone on to make four appearances for the Under 21s and has scored one goal.

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It remains to be seen if Liverpool will manage to sign the Belgian or not. If we do, he will join a number of promising talents already at the club as the management looks to build a conveyor belt of players coming through.