Better than Diomande: Liverpool ready to sign "the next Mbappe" for Iraola

Ibrahima Konate is the latest superstar to be leaving Anfield on a free transfer this summer. But the France centre-back demanded £300k per week to rermain at Liverpool, and the figures did not add up.

Liverpool have signed Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for £60m, also welcoming Giovanni Leoni back from rehabilitation after an ACL injury suffered on his debut against Southampton last year. Here, FSG believe they have two of the most talented young defenders in the world.

But there's still so much for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to sort out, hoping to appoint Andoni Iraola after sacking Arne Slot. Does this change the Reds' transfer strategy? Potentially, but FSG know the profiles they need to land, and Iraola has shown at Bournemouth an ability to weather any number of blows during transfer windows.

Yan Diomande has been earmarked as the man to succeed the legendary right winger, but Liverpool have to juggle many parts, with Hugo Ekitike's long-term injury another issue.

Liverpool preparing bid for Premier League forward

Ekitike will be lucky to play football again this year after rupturing his Achilles during Liverpool's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

When he does return, there will also be an indeterminate stretch of time allocated to Ekitike's return to form. This basically means that Liverpool need more than one forward this summer, not just Diomande.

Diomande, 19, has the world at his feet, but he doesn't yet have Premier League experience under his belt. If you look at Florian Wirtz, for example, you see that adapting to the England game - especially in a shaky Slot system - can be a tough ordeal.

However, Junior Kroupi has already passed that test with flying colours. According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have joined Chelsea and Manchester City in the race for the £80m-rated Bournemouth striker.

Man City are currently considered the frontrunners for the French forward, but Liverpool are considering an official approach. The Cherries are in no mood to entertain approaches from Premier League rivals, but the race is hotting up all the same, and Kroupi is considered among the most talented young forwards in the world.

Why Kroupi is a bigger talent than Diomande

First and foremost, it's totally possible that Kroupi and Diomande could operate next to each other within Liverpool's system, but whether FSG would sanction such a staggering outlay across two teenage signings is another question.

But Kroupi is the real deal, scorer of 13 Premier League goals this season, missing only three big chances. Diomande might be a flashy winger with bundles of potential, but how that skillset will translate to Premier League life is anyone's guess.

It's with that record in mind that Iraola hailed Kroupi's "elite" finishing. Look at it this way: Kroupi has a natural-born ability to finish chances.

The technique, the connection, the power, it all speaks of world-class potential, and when you consider how his keen edge is underpinned by athleticism and pace that has seen him be hailed as "the next [Kylian] Mbappe" by GOAL.

Kroupi tends to play centrally, but those attributes have seen him deployed out on the left any number of times, often drifting out wide and curving inwards.

He has multiple different strings to his bow, and there is a real chance that Liverpool now sign a player who has already established himself under Iraola, the clear frontrunner to replace Slot at the Anfield helm next season.

But whether Liverpool manage to overtake the likes of City remains to be seen at this stage. However, given how his clinical shooting would be perfect as Salah leaves, there's a case to be made that he would be a better fit than Diomande, someone who would ensure that the Reds get bang for their buck from the get-go.

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