Liverpool are one of the clubs keeping a close eye on young Schalke midfielder Assan Ouedraogo.
The Reds are still in the market for midfielders, despite bringing in four new ones this summer. Andre of Fluminense would appear to be the front-runner if another is added to that pack, but he isn’t the only name being linked.
Yesterday, Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg took to Twitter to drop in a new one for Liverpool fans to keep watch over.
“Liverpool and especially Jurgen Klopp is monitoring the development of Assan Ouedraogo!” reports the German.
“The 17 y/o versatile midfielder from Schalke has a release clause in 2024. Clubs from abroad have to pay around €20m [£17m].
“Next to LFC more clubs from [England] are interested: Everton & Brighton!”
Very interesting news as preparation for the January transfer window begins to ramp up.
Liverpool monitoring German talent
We’d imagine that Ouedraogo is a new name for pretty much every Liverpool fan. Therefore allow us – or rather bundesliga.com – to impart some insight.
The official site of the German league declare that the 17-year-old is a midfielder with ‘explosive pace.’
Although pace is perhaps the one quality you wouldn’t associate with former Red Xabi Alonso, that hasn’t stopped bundesliga.com from comparing Ouedraogo with the legendary Spaniard.
They claim that the youngster possesses the ability to drop deep and build attacks just like Alonso.
At 6 foot 3in, he’s already got an incredible physical presence, which will no doubt be catching the eye of plenty of scouts.
And although he’s currently playing for Schalke – who are struggling at the bottom of the Bundesliga 2 – Ouedraogo seems destined to end up at a higher level.
So, he may not be a household name just yet. But the inference is that this young man soon very much will be. For the talent Ouedraogo looks to possess, he could be a real bargain for Liverpool. By the sounds of things they should get in there quick, before another side snatches him away.
