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Liverpool are casting their net further afield after securing a squad fit for the future last summer with a Brazilian wonderkid on their radar.
Liverpool spent a lot of money in the summer and spent it on players who they considered low risk and safe bets.
Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez were experienced Premier League operators before being brought to Anfield, they had both played over 100 games in England’s top flight but are still some way off their perspective peaks. Both arrived having been named in the league’s team of the year. It was a similar story with Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong. The first two made the Bundesliga team of the year and Frimpong was a nominee.
Liverpool linked with the new Neymar
If Marc Guehi’s move hadn’t collapsed, the squad would be all but set for the next 5, 6, or 7 years other than to replace potential departures. What it allows Liverpool to do is find players with potential and take gambles on individuals who could become superstars.
One player who falls into this category is Gabriel Mec, the Brazilian prodigy who Gremio are going to struggle to keep a hold of and with Liverpool interested according to transfer journalist Nicola Schira. Ben Mattinson, scout for Cesc Fabergas’ Serie A side Como, has been a fan of the young playmaker for years and provided an insightful look at what the teenage magician is capable of: “Neymar-esque play-style and comes from the same academy (Grêmio) as Ronaldinho. Hard to not be excited by him
“Mec has rapid feet able to do skills so quickly that he can fool defenders easily. A joy to watch, he’s a real throwback Brazilian. Gabriel Mec loves to take on playes. Whether it’s little body feints or rainbow flicks, he’ll get past his marker with ease and in style.
“He plays with his opponent, taunts them. He’ll show them a bit of the ball to bait them into tackling then use a skill to drift past them. When around the box Gabriel Mec loves to play quick one touch passes to create chances for others. He has good vision and scans well so as soon as he has the ball he can pick out players in space quickly. Mec tends to play wide of as a number 10. Wherever he plays he’ll drop deeper or central to receive the ball.”
How could Slot get the best out of Mec?
Players like Ronaldinho and Neymar can’t be tied down or part of a pragmatic game plan which is one of the main reasons why Mohamed Salah has fallen out with Slot and Liverpool. Mattinson went on to explain how a manager could get the most out of a player tipped for the top: “Generally, it’s in the half spaces where Gabriel Mec loves to have the ball, roam about, dribble past players, create chances and shoot from distance to good effect. A player of this ability needs to just be given all freedom to go out on the pitch and play his game, not given too much positional rigidity as it can hold back a player like this.
“Allow him to express himself and be creative. To take on players. Gabriel Mec is one of the prospects in Brazil who I’d expect to make his senior debut young, maybe next season, maybe the season after. So be on the look out for him, I’m sure European clubs will be circling soon.” Chelsea were close to agreeing a deal only last year but Liverpool should look to add a bit of flair to a squad that already has plenty of quality.
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