Transfer Centre

How Liverpool could line up with Ousmane Dembele

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 04 July 2019

Liverpool are being linked with a move for Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, but how could the Barcelona winger fit into Jurgen Klopp's starting lineup?

Liverpool have just enjoyed one of the memorable seasons in their history, courtesy of claiming the Champions League trophy and going agonisingly close to ending their long wait to win the Premier League.

There is an argument that Jurgen Klopp does not need to be active in the summer transfer window, unless it is to bring in a like-for-like replacement for a player who has left the club.

However, it would come as a surprise if Liverpool do not make at least one high-profile signing ahead of the new campaign as Klopp looks to get the better of an all-conquering Manchester City side on the domestic front.

Ousmane Dembele is one name who has been linked with a switch to Anfield due to Barcelona contemplating ways to raise funds to secure deals for Antoine Griezmann and Neymar.

That said, the arrival of the France international may force Klopp into a rethink over his preferred tactics given that Dembele is likely to demand regular first-team football.

Here, Sports Mole predicts how the German may make changes in order to accommodate the 22-year-old, who could potentially cost in the region of £100m.

The front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have been set in stone for some time, although there is a way to introduce Dembele into the fold without dropping any of the trio.

Firmino is regularly used down the middle, but the Brazilian's all-around versatility and tendency to drop deep means that he is an obvious candidate to be deployed as an attacking midfielder.

That would likely see Salah move into the middle - a role he has regularly taken on for Egypt - and it would leave Mane able to remain out on the left flank, where he made a huge impact during the second half of the campaign.

Ernesto Valverde has mainly used Dembele as a left winger at Camp Nou, but the attacker is no stranger to featuring on the opposite wing, something which may have to happen to ensure minimal disruption in the final third.

Aware that he cannot stifle Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson in the full-back areas, Klopp would have to find his most effective combination in midfield, meaning that a creative player may have to be sacrificed.

Georginio Wijnaldum could be that player, with Klopp likely to prioritise Fabinho's calmness and Jordan Henderson's energy over the Dutchman's link-up play.