OPINION
After Liverpool won their sixth Champions League trophy at the beginning of June, the received a huge windfall which could potentially be used on transfers.
With marquee players such as Alisson Becker, Virgil Van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah arriving in previous years, Jurgen Klopp has transformed the Reds into a side capable of competing for any silverware.
The transfer window is always full of speculation at Anfield, and this year is no different with Liverpool being linked with moves for the Ligue 1 trio of Nicolas Pepe, Memphis Depay, and Nabil Fekir.
A move for Lille standout Pepe is the most likely, with L’Equipe reporting that Jurgen Klopp had placed a £70million bid for the Ivorian winger.
The 24-year-old enjoyed an outstanding season in front of goal as Lille secured Champions League football, scoring 23 and assisting 12 goals in his 41 appearances.
Despite his success in France, a move for Pepe would be a big risk at such a hefty price. Should a deal be completed for £70million, it isn’t a given that the Ivorian international would start, with Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino all better options than him.
Pepe has only enjoyed one good season at Lille and would need to prove his worth much more than that to not only secure a move to the Premier League but to prove he is better than what Klopp already possesses.
French football expert Rich Allen believed a move for Pepe would be a gamble when speaking on the Blood Red podcast: “As for Pepe, he was Lille’s stand-out player this season, and arguably the stand-out player in Ligue 1, but for the money wanted for him, I think it’s a bit of a gamble, as Lille are looking for a fee in the €65-70m region.”
The Reds’ front three scored a huge total of 56 goals this season, and a big money move for Pepe seems totally unnecessary.
If you compare this to a much younger player in Steven Bergwijn, who has enjoyed similar success this season, the 21-year-old is reportedly available for half the amount of Pepe at £35million.
Liverpool need to be smart if they want to build on their success, and bringing in players that could cause friction in terms of who would start at the club might not be the best idea.
