Possibly with the aid of Darwin Nez — and Ibrahima Konaté’s contact list — Liverpool can improve their attacking depth and the next generation in a single transfer
Darwin Nez was a player for UD Almera in the second division of Spanish football in the 2019–20 season, when Liverpool was winning the Premier League.
For Mário Silva’s team, the Uruguayan scored 16 goals in 30 games, aiding them in finishing fourth in the standings.
Nez secured a £30.6 million transfer to Benfica as a result of his strong season, and after two seasons with the Primeira Liga team, he would become Liverpool’s record signing.
Another attacking player established himself in the Segunda División last season. Lex Baena was given on loan to Girona by Villarreal, where he quickly became a significant player, making 42 appearances, contributing seven assists in addition to five goals, and helping Girona achieve play-off promotion back to La Liga.
According to Sport, 21-year-old Baena, who is currently back at Villarreal, has made his way onto Liverpool’s radar as well as that of Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
The Yellow Submarine would like to keep him for “at least two or three more seasons,” but they have no control over the issue after losing to Liverpool in the Champions League semifinals last season.
This is so because the player’s contract contains a €35 million (£31 million) release clause. Although Villarreal want to lock him into a new contract with a greater clause, he might be hesitant if he knows English giants are also interested. Ibrahima Konaté was acquired by Liverpool from RB Leipzig using the same tactic last summer.
Although Baena hasn’t really started a La Liga game for Unai Emery’s team this season, he has nevertheless made a significant impact as a replacement, netting three goals in six substitution appearances. Baena has the credentials to play throughout the front line.
He has also equaled that total in the first two Europa Conference League matchdays, scoring twice against Hapoel Be’er Sheva after scoring twice in a 4-3 victory against Lech Pozna.
Jacek Kulig, a talent scout, described his season-opening performance as “sensational.”
The player’s exceptional dribbling ability is what really strikes out when you watch the player’s highlight reel. Baena routinely employs feats of dexterity to elude obstacles or escape challenging circumstances. His direction change is deadly.
He can defeat numerous opponents in a single run, which is a result of both his incredible acceleration and the variety of his moves, which keeps opponents off guard. It should come as no surprise that defenders frequently lunge at him to try to stop him, which might make him more likely to commit fouls.
Baena enjoys cutting inside from either flank, demonstrating his ease on both feet and reassuring potential suitors of his positional adaptability.
He is capable of picking out sharp passes even when he is not carrying the ball. Baena has the ability to play perfectly weighted passes behind opposing defenses, occasionally even dinking the ball over them with some impudence.
By driving a cross low across the field or digging it out from close to the byline, he may also create significant possibilities for his teammates.
In summary, when it comes to his passing game, he has exceptional vision and execution.
Baena has outstanding long-range goals in his arsenal, much like Luis Daz. He sent unstoppable shots into the top-right of the goal from about 20 yards away against Valladolid this season and Tenerife last season. Against Real Oviedo, he watched a clearance land on his right boot and slammed it into the far corner. Consider Allan Saint-Maximin when facing the Wolfs.
Even though he doesn’t always produce a lot of power, the precision is sufficient. For instance, he scored his first goal of the current campaign against Valladolid by calmly rolling a lay-off from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
Only 13 goals have been scored by him at the men’s level, but there are already hints that he’s developing a variety of finishes. The boldest of the bunch has to be his acrobatic effort last week against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
It will be fascinating to see his improvement this season if, or more precisely when, he pushes himself into the starting lineup.
Recent interactions between Liverpool and his representatives, ICM Stellar Sports, who represent 2021 acquisition Konaté, have taken place. It wouldn’t be shocking if they picked up the phone once more in an effort to increase their attacking variety and sign yet another potential future star.
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