There has been a CLEAR shift in how Liverpool recruit players of late.
The winter transfer window saw Richard Hughes conclude deals for several emerging young talents rather than players considered the finished article.
Defenders like Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe follow this pattern - joining Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet as the new wave of Liverpool incomings.
Jacquet will be signed for around £62m in summer not for the kind of player he is right now - but what he can go on to become.
Reds’ recruiters clearly like what they see in the Rennes centre-back and over the coming seasonshe will develop into a leaderin the system.
It’s not only in defence that Liverpool’s new recruitment policies are being implemented.
France U21 and Bournemouth star Kroupi wanted
Because it looks like the club are going to be in the hunt for Jacquet’s France under-21 teammate Eli Junior Kroupi next summer. The 19-year-old currently plays for Bournemouth and is producing incredible numbers during his first Premier League season.
The former Lorient standout has scored eight goals from only 11 starts for Andoni Iraola’s team - and Caught Offside is now claiming that Kroupi ticks all the boxes for the Premier League champions’ decision-makers.
“The club are continuing to invest in high-ceiling young players who can be developed into elite performers,” the report reads.
“Kroupi’s profile, explosive, technically gifted, and still learning, matches perfectly with that strategy.
“Internally, he is viewed as a forward who could grow into a long-term attacking option rather than an instant starter.”
Kroupi has been on the scoresheet against the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal this season and netted a glorious goal against Wolves a few weeks back.
Kroupi could cost £70m to £80m
Predictably the Anfield side are not going to have a free run at the forward however with the report disclosing that genuine European heavyweights are coming into the mix for his signature.
“Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain are all understood to be monitoring his progress closely,” the report reads.
Under contract until 2030 Kroupi won’t come cheap. Bournemouth have made a habit of turning a handsome profit on players - as evidenced by the sales of Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Antoine Semenyo, Dominic Solanke and others.
Richard Hughes’ former club are now tipped to receive a record sum for their outrageous young talent.
“Club insiders believe he could become the Cherries’ first-ever £70-80 million sale,” the report reads.
Capable of playing as centre-forward or attacking midfielder Kroupi would seriously augment the Merseysiders’ forward options.
Let’s wait and see if Richard Hughes manages to conclude a deal this summer.
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