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With the January transfer window almost a month away, Anfield Index takes a look at the potential under the radar gems who could be on Liverpool’s shortlist this winter.
Lamine Camara
Liverpool are looking at a holding midfielder in the market at the moment. The club’s persisting interest in Martin Zubimendi would be an indicator of that.
However, a smart alternative to the Spaniard could be Lamine Camara.
The Senegalese international is still only 20 years old, five years Zubimendi’s junior, yet he has very impressive numbers and can do what the Real Sociedad midfielder does.
Photo: IMAGO
Camara is a defensive monster – he ranks 6th in Ligue 1 among midfielders for successful defensive actions (11.02 per 90) and fifth for possession-adjusted interceptions (7.76 per 90).
He wins a high volume of duels at 60% and those defensive numbers alone make him a really attractive option for Liverpool.
But Camara is also assured on the ball and ranks in the top 15 in the league among midfielders for passes into the final third (7.23 per 90).
He’s also very assured on the ball ranking again among the top 15 midfielders in the league for passes completed (88.45%).
At 20 years old he seems like a very suitable fit for Slot’s midfield and perhaps someone who may cost a lot less than Zubimendi as well.
Maxim de Cuyper
Liverpool have been linked with a lot of left-backs recently. From Milos Kerkez to Rayan Ait-Nouri and etc.
One player the club has kept an eye on and who isn’t being mentioned a lot right now is Maxim de Cuyper.
However, he could be another astute option for the Reds based on his numbers this season, which are going very much under the radar.
Photo: IMAGO
The one thing that stands out about Cuyper is the fact that he is an excellent creator. He hasn’t registered an assist in the league so far this season but that’s been due to the underperformance of his teammates rather than him.
In fact Cuyper has averaged 0.32 xA per 90 and has amassed a total of 4.32 xAs so far this season. That’s by far the highest among left-backs in the Belgian Pro League.
It’s not an anomaly either. Last season Cuyper led the stats as well, averaging 0.18 xA per 90.
He’s very good when it comes to progressing the ball from the back averaging a whopping 13.77 progressive passes per 90 – the most among left-backs in the Belgian top flight this season.
Meanwhile, defensively out of left-backs who have averaged at least five defensive duels this season, Cuyper has the best success rate winning 77.6% of them.
His numbers come with the caveat of being in the Belgian league, but he could be a very under the radar gem for the Reds and someone who should be on Liverpool’s radar in their pursuit of trying to find a new left-back to replace Andy Robertson.
Cuyper’s numbers are definitely scalable and he seems ready to make the next step up in his career.
Ricardo Pepi
The USMNT striker has been on Liverpool’s radar ever since his breakthrough in the MLS.
When he left the US for pastures new Pepi opted to join Bundesliga outfit Augsburg. He couldn’t really make his mark in Germany but that did not derail his career.
Pepi has grown and developed tremendously over the last couple of years in the Eredivisie, first playing for Groningen before joining PSV Eindhoven.
Photo: IMAGO
Still only 21 years old, his early form this season will indicate a player with tremendous potential and value for Liverpool.
Pepi has averaged 1.31 goals per 90 in the Eredivisie this season, scoring 10 goals in 14 matches while playing under 700 minutes. He’s also registered two assists. In all competitions, he is currently averaging a goal contribution every 52 minutes for PSV.
Liverpool are lacking in strikers at the moment and while Pepi is not the finished article, he is a brilliant finisher who has shown he can make an impact off the bench this season.
Out of Eredivisie forwards who average 2 shots per 90 minutes, no one has a better goal conversion rate 32.25% than Pepi. Impressively, he averages 4 shots per 90 minutes yet gets more than half of those shots on target with a 51.61%.
He won’t be a starter at Liverpool, he’s not ready for yet. But he could be a very valuable bench player who can make the difference in the final third towards the end of games.
He’s someone who presses a lot and is very effective in defensive situations as well, winning 82% of his 2.87 defensive duels per 90. So he’d be suited to Slot’s pressing game as well.
There have been reports Liverpool are still monitoring his progress so it would not be a surprise if this is a move the Reds explore. With Diogo Jota’s fitness and Darwin Nunez’s form unreliable, Liverpool need extra reinforcements in that position, Pepi could be someone to provide further ammunition.
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