ESPN pundit Steve Nicol has urged Liverpool to sign Ryan Sessegnon this summer, claiming that he could be a good back-up option for Andrew Robertson at left-back.
Sessegnon, 19, is in the final year of his contract at Fulham but according to the Mirror, the Championship club value the England Under-21 international at £40million amid interest from Tottenham.
Liverpool have also been linked with Sessegnon this summer [Express], and ex-Reds player Nicol reckons that the teenager should be someone who is brought in by Jurgen Klopp as a replacement for Alberto Moreno after the Spanish left-back left the club last month when his contract expired.
“Still a teenager,” Nicol said, as quoted by the Express.
“Well he [wouldn’t be] starting, he’s pushing.
“He’s there to push and he’s there to make the eleven that start better.
“He’s still a teenager, still has a lot to learn.
“But, what, in two or three years time, he’s pushing Robertson or anybody else down that left-hand side.”
OPINION
Liverpool should try to sign Sessegnon – but not as a replacement left-back. Sessegnon started off as a left-back or a wing-back for Fulham but over the last year or so he has developed into a left-sided winger due to how much better he is at his attacking duties than defensive. It would be simple to compare Sessegnon’s transformation to Gareth Bale’s at Tottenham, and would people still be calling Bale a left-back now? Sessegnon made 38 appearances in all competitions for Fulham last season and struggled as the Cottagers were relegated from the Premier League. Just eight of those appearances came at left-back as the England youth international mainly featured on the left or right-hand side of Fulham’s attack. Liverpool need to replace Moreno, but not with Sessegnon. Sessegnon is an attacker and one who could be a good back-up option behind Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. He’s young and could develop under the wings of those two European champions.
