Liverpool have been sent a transfer reminder by a star who is ‘very interesting’ according to an ex player. His ‘intense’ style would be ideal for Jürgen Klopp.
Morocco were the surprise package at last year’s World Cup in Qatar. Seemingly coming out nowhere, the North African side marched all the way to the semi-final of the competition and won the hearts of every neutral supporter.
Full of talented players and a growing investment in academy football, Morocco’s rise shouldn’t come as a surprise though. The country is filled to the brim with burgeoning quality, and it’s a market that Liverpool should seriously consider.
One forward in particular could be an ideal replacement should Roberto Firmino decide to opt for pastures new at the end of his expiring contract. Even if the Brazilian stays beyond the end of the season, Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp will still need to find a long-term successor.
An ideal solution could be Youssef En-Nesyri. At 25 years old, he is close to six years Firmino’s junior and he showed at the World Cup that he can be a dangerous forward, well-suited to a team like Liverpool. Playing at the tip of Morocco’s attack, En-Nesyri played in the ‘Darwin Núñez role’ for his country, constantly running in behind the opposition’s defence and harassing his opponents in defensive transitions.
Since then, En-Nesyri has followed up his exploits with a hat-trick in his first game back from the tournament for his club side Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, which means he is averaging 0.58 goals per 90 for his club side this season.
In an exclusive interview with Liverpool.com, his former compatriot and teammate at club level, Nabil El Zhar, told us he believes En-Nesyri would be an interesting fit for Liverpool and Klopp.
When asked which Moroccan international he would like to see at Anfield, El Zhar named En-Nesyri as a player who could be well-suited to Liverpool’s style of play.
You also have Youssef En-Nesyri. He is a very good player. He caught Covid just before the African Cup of Nations and he struggled with injuries, but he is a very, very good player,” El Zhar said.
“He is a player who could do very well at Liverpool. He is quick, he runs a lot, he has a high-speed intensity, pressing the ball and is always in movements on the pitch. He is a very interesting player.”
Importantly, El Zhar also highlighted En-Nesyri’s mentality off the pitch.
“He is a very good guy, too,” he outlined. “When he came to Leganés, he was like a kid, and he was always listening to advice. He is a quiet guy who respects everyone and who is a great professional.”
En-Nesyri has been unfortunate over the last few seasons with a few injuries, but he seems to be getting back to his best, and at the height of his powers in the 2020/21 season he hit 24 goals in all competitions for Sevilla.
With his contract expiring in 2025, he will be entering the last two years of his deal in the summer, which is a critical period for any footballer, and the perfect opportunity for an interested party to pounce on his services.
He would not be the glamour signing fans would desire, but may offer Klopp a relatively cheap option, able to play a competent back-up role behind Liverpool’s more established players.
Having not replaced Divock Origi since the summer, En-Nesyri might just be the perfect candidate to ascend to the Belgian’s throne at Anfield, and he should definitely be a player that Liverpool should monitor closely if they are serious about replacing Roberto Firmino in the near future.
