Liverpool in position to seal deal for sensational talent

Liverpool are in a fantastic position to sign a brilliant talent. The Reds need it to happen, too.

Liverpool went into this summer with the grand plan of signing Yan Diomande. The Ivorian is arguably the brightest young winger in Europe and the Reds are desperate for such a player.

However, things didn't stick to that plan. Diomande essentially rejected Liverpool, making it clear that Paris Saint-Germain were his dream destination.

It leaves the Reds needing to find a new forward - and they certainly need one. They already looked light last season and Mohamed Salah's exit, coupled with Hugo Ekitiké's injury, has them without their leading goalscorers heading into the new campaign.

Diomande could have helped with that but instead, Liverpool are searching for someone new. The Athletic reports they have same names on the shortlist, however, and the Reds are positioning themselves to make a move.

"Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh, Said El Mala of Koln and Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo feature on a list of possible alternatives," it's written.

Now, those are three wildly unproven talents given the eldest is Minteh at 21. Still, they're three of the biggest forward talents in world football and the kind of players who could go on to become superstars.

That's largely what Liverpool need to target, too. There's no great need to spend £100m on someone to be a superstar straight away, especially as Ekitike will be back and minutes may not be guaranteed once the full group of forwards is available.

What Liverpool could have here, then, is a world-class talent who could develop into something remarkable.

El Mala, still only 19, scored 13 times and assisted four in the Bundesliga last season. Fernandez-Pardo scored eight and assisted five in Ligue 1, earning him a place in Belgium's World Cup squad.

Minteh is Premier League-proven, too, with his 10 goals and nine assists across the last two seasons. Liverpool may fancy him above all as he primarily plays from the right, too.

It's an exciting group, then. Liverpool need something to arrive and an elite talent who could gradually earn more minutes sounds like the right idea.