Home » ARTICLES » Arsenal legend urges Liverpool to go big for talented 23-year-old La Liga attacker

Arsenal legend urges Liverpool to go big for talented 23-year-old La Liga attacker

Photo of author

By Shrishh Attavar

Liverpool told to sign Joao Felix by Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit

Joao Felix and Liverpool are no strangers. The player sees himself linked with a move to the Merseysiders again now, after multiple occasions in the past and has also been talked highly of by Jurgen Klopp.

One could say that there is an unspoken agreement among the player’s fanbase and football outside Spain in general that Felix’s talent is more often than not misspent at Atletico Madrid. Under Diego Simeone who is a defensive manager, the natural abilities of a player like Felix who is so good on the ball, tend to go to waste rather than to the next level.

The 23-year-old was one of the best players for Portugal in the World Cup wherein he unleashed a side unknown to the people familiar with his game at Atletico. In four games at the tournament, he accumulated a goal and two assists.

Liverpool told to sign Joao Felix by Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit.
Joao Felix at Atletico Madrid has not been up to the hype. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

His £113m move from SL Benfica back in 2019 has not necessarily been worth it. At a club like Liverpool, his true potential could be a treat as per Arsenal icon Emanuel Petit. Here is what he told Boyle Sports via Liverpool Echo:

“Any club would be lucky to have Joao Felix,”

“He has proved just how good he is at this World Cup and when he’s not in [a] defensive system, he can be a real threat for any side.

“I would love to see him at Arsenal or Chelsea, but in truth I can see him joining Liverpool.

“He seems like Jurgen Klopp’s type of player and with Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota out for a while, I believe they will go for him in January.”

Injury situations with Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota mean that the Reds are more or less understaffed in the attacking third. Moreover, with Roberto Firmino’s contract expiring next summer (Transfermarkt), it is essential for Liverpool to look into the future.

Felix and the Reds

Besides, Felix is a player who can replace the Brazilian who can play the False 9 role to perfection. The Portuguese international is still young and has his best years ahead of him, and can prove to be a long-term replacement for Bobby.

Nevertheless, the style of play does not really matter when it comes to younger players as they could adjust to roles the manager could want them to explore. Having said that, Felix has a lot of potential in the False 9 role, and the Reds could benefit from that as well.

Joao Felix could benefit from a more attacking squad like Liverpool.
Joao Felix could benefit from a more attacking squad like Liverpool. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano’s Substack column with Caught Offside put a number on Felix’s sale situation and claimed that Atletico would want around €100-€120m for their player which might turn out to be a lot for Liverpool.

More Liverpool News:

The Reds already have Jude Bellingham on their radar who himself would cost around the same figure, and hence, given Liverpool’s spending habits in the past, it is hard to see two marquee signings in one single window under FSG. Hard though, not impossible.