Liverpool are lining up a January move to sign Quincy Promes from Spartak Moscow, according to latest reports.
Liverpool are far from lacking attacking options this season with Daniel Sturridge thus far unable to break into Jürgen Klopp’s team due to the scintillating form of quarter Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho.
However, it is clear that the Reds will challenge for the Premier League title this season, due to the strength and cohesion of the squad under the tutelage of Klopp. As such, it is natural that the German would wish to have increased strength in depth – something that Promes would certainly provide.
Mane will not be available after the New Year due to the Africa Cup Of Nations, in which the pacey attacker will be participating in with his country Senegal.
In addition, Danny Ings’s injury setback is another reason why the acquisition of Promes would be welcomed.
The 24-year-old is valued at £25 million by his club, who according to Metro would be unwilling to allow a loan move for their star.
Promes has quite a fine record at Spartak, scoring 36 goals in 71 games, but the stumbling block for Liverpool is that the wide man signed a new deal with the Russian outfit, keeping him under contract until 2021.
However, as well as know new contracts don’t necessarily mean that a transfer cannot happen, but the owners at Anfield will have to trust Klopp with a sizeable amount in order to land the Netherlands international.
What utility would Liverpool find in a winger like Promes? As simple as it sounds, the answer is “width”.
That’s something that Klopp’s boys lack sometimes. Even the quartet of often adventurous full-backs weren’t always enough to stretch play, reliably send in crosses and be threats on goal all on their own.
Promes represented these qualities and more for Spartak, usually operating on the right but occasionally taking advantage of his keen right foot by cutting inside from the left or leading the line.
That versatility already makes him an asset, and his more direct style of play would lend itself to him becoming an ideal game-changer.