Liverpool appear to have utilised Barcelona-style tactics to lure target Timo Werner to the club, with both Sadio Mane and Naby Keita talking up the move for the Germany international.
Keita and Mane have both urged the RB Leipzig forward to join the Reds in the summer, with the player thought to be on Klopp’s radar.
Why do Liverpool want Werner? Five things to know…
- Werner made his senior debut in 2013 for Stuttgart, where he scored 14 in 103 games.
- Since joining RB Leipzig in 2016, the Germany international has hit 56 in 101.
- This led to a call up to the ill-fated Germany squad for the 2018 World Cup.
- Werner, who has 23 caps for Germany, has 18 months left on his contract and is said to be considering his options.
- Keita played with Werner for two seasons while in Germany.
The two Liverpool stars have made similar sounds in their attempts to entice Werner, in a move similar to that seen by Barcelona over the years.
“We played really well together at Leipzig, and he was one of my best mates,” Keita told German newspaper Sport Bild, via the Independent.
“It’s clear: Should he move, then I ask Timo to join us here at Liverpool.”
Mane, meanwhile, admitted he’s been watching Werner since Liverpool’s capture of Keita.
“When it was clear that Naby would join us, I often watched Leipzig matches,” he said. “But to be honest: It was dreadful for me at the start. Naby saw quite a few red cards.
“I then asked Kevin Kampl, my friend from our time at RB Salzburg, why Naby always got sent off. He didn’t know. Naby missed some important games and I could watch other players more closely. And Timo stood out.”
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Are Liverpool emulating Barca’s transfer dark arts?
When Barcelona are in the hunt for a new signings, it’s not uncommon that current and ex-pros begin talking up the suitability of that player to the Blaugrana.
Formerly we’ve reported how Xavi chimed in on the potential signing of Coutinho while he was still at Liverpool, saying: “Coutinho has all the qualities to succeed in Barcelona. He knows he has to play at the highest level, both at the club level and with his team.
“He has many good qualities, like speed and dribbling, and part is very effective against goal.”
Rivaldo got in on the act with Coutinho too, telling reporters: “I do not know if the signing will be made or not because there is a lot of money.
“But I am convinced that if he comes to Barca, he will succeed because it is easy to succeed here with the quality he has.
“The Barca fans will like his football.”
And in the summer, on the topic of Frenkie de Jong, Xavi said to Mundo Deportivo: “That would be a great purchase.
“The Ajax playing style is a bit like the Barcelona playing style, we both come from the Hollandse School, from Johan Cruijff. De Jong is still young, but he could contribute a lot to Barça, he is seen as a huge talent. It’s a player to think about, a very good footballer.
“De Jong’s profile is exactly what Barcelona needs. A player who is technically very strong, wants to work for the team, but above all has a lot of talent. Barcelona always plays in spaces of thirty to forty meters when the opponent collapses and then you need talent to get through it.”
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