With Bayern Munich’s 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday evening, Liverpool’s tenure as European champions ended after a long football season.
The 2019/20 season was postponed so long that the preliminary rounds for the competition in the new season had already started and the first round of the Ligue 1 games took place this weekend.
With all the clubs that took part in the shortened tournament in Lisbon now taking a breather before starting their assaults on the 2020-21 season, the top end of the transfer market could now come to life.
PSG’s Thiago Silva has been linked to a move to Chelsea as his contract with the French champions has expired while no one needs to be reminded of the saga of Thiago Alcantara’s ongoing Liverpool ties.
Aside from men named Thiago, there may be other players who have performed well in the Champions League since the restart and could be of interest to the Reds.
The natural assumption is that the top stars of the biggest clubs will remain banned for Jürgen Klopp this summer. Hence, they may have to target players like Lyon and RB Leipzig, both of whom disrupt the chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Both clubs have many fascinating players Moussa Dembele one of the eye-catching actors for the French side. The 24-year-old scored 16 goals in the shortened 2019/20 Ligue 1 season, surpassing only Wissam Ben Yedder and Kylian Mbappe.
The Lyon’s two goals against Manchester City in the quarter-finals have undoubtedly drawn his attention to football fans on this side of the English Channel as well. Dembele was in the top 5 of Ligue 1 for expected goals (via FBRef.com) and was among the top 75 players from the five major European leagues last season for the pressure per 90 minutes in the last third. There is a lot there that Klopp could work with.
Houssem Aouar is another man from Lyon who performed and was good combined with a move to Liverpool in 2016 when he was just 17 years old. With a statistical profile similar to that of Gini WijnaldumThe 22-year-old could perhaps become the Dutchman’s long-term successor in midfield for the Reds.
And what about Memphis DepayWho scored in each of their first six Champions League games this season?
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It’s been almost 60 years since Phil Chisnall was the last player to be transferred straight between Manchester United and Liverpool, but the Dutch striker was able to make a detour between the two football giants from the northwest.
He was the only player in Ligue 1’s top 5 to be responsible for both goals without penalties and expected assists in the 2018/19 season. He has certainly improved since he left Old Trafford.
RB Leipzig also has some impressive players. WhoScored’s ratings are not the best way to rate a player, however Dayot Upamecano made it their team of the Champions League season, must have done something right.
A more specific highlight is his ability to propel the ball across the field of play. He finished fourth in the Bundesliga – and 24th in the major leagues – because he carried the ball towards the opposing goal (via FBRef.com).
If Klopp wanted to bring that particular skill to the right side of his central defensive pairing, the 21-year-old could bring it with him.
The Champions League always acts as a showcase for players, especially when they are lining up for a club that the average football fan is less familiar with.
People like Lyon and Leipzig are sure to have given scouts and analysts across the continent food for thought.
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