Liverpool are expected to make a move for talented RB Salzburg midfielder Luka Sucic in the coming days, Austrian outlet Salzburger Nachrichten. The Reds are short on options in the middle of the park and hence are looking to recruit in order to replenish the same. Their search for new midfielders has taken them to Austria as Sucic is been touted as a potential candidate to make the move to Anfield.
Moreover, at just 19-years-old, Liverpool feel Sucic could be one for the future as well. Manager Jurgen Klopp is dealing with too many difficulties as the moment with over half-a-dozen of his players already in the hospital after just one game in the new season. The club tends to help their manager with reinforcements, but have already cleared there won’t be any ‘panic-buys’.
Sucic has already impressed Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool have three of their first-team midfielders out with long term injuries as Thiago, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain missing from action. While Jones and Oxlade-Chamberlain already missed the season opener against Fulham, Thiago had to be subbed off during the game after sustaining a knee injury.
All three of them are expected to be sidelined for at least over a month, as they further join Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate, Calvin Ramsay and Caoimhim Kelleher on the treatment table. Klopp as a result only has Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and James Milner to choose from for his midfield.
The Reds now eye Luka Sucic to add to Klopp’s options as the Croat has already impressed at Salzburg. Moreover, the Reds have watched him in action against them when they played Salzburg in a preseason friendly last month. Salzburg got the better of Liverpool as a Benjamin Sesko goal downed the Reds 1-0. Sucic started the game and completed the first-half to be subbed during the second.
As evident, the 45-minute show from Sucic was enough for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp to develop a late interest in snapping him up. He featured in 44 games for the Austrian side last season, to rack up 11 goals and 5 assists. Sucic is a versatile midfielder who can operate as a central, attacking as well as left midfielder for his team. Klopp could heavily benefit from Sucic’s versatility as he can use him to cover the void left by Thiago and Jones.
Further on, at 19-years-old Sucic already has massive first-team experience so far making 75 appearances for Salzburg. Liverpool’s majority of midfield, Thiago, Fabinho and Henderson are on the negative side of their 30s and inducing young legs in Sucic at the club would only reap rewards for the Reds in present as well as future.
Currently valued at £18 million [transfermarkt], Sucic would fetch a higher fee than that if Liverpool are to land him this summer. However, Salzburg and Liverpool share a good relationship since the Reds have often picked plyers from the Austrian side.
Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino were the latest to arrive at Anfield from Salzburg, and Sucic could now follow in the footsteps. The Croat still has three years left on his current deal and given his progress, he is bound to to attract interest from other European giants next summer. Liverpool will have to be quick in negotiations if they are to sign him.