Versatile young Liverpool target put up for sale in Belgium
Published:
Jurgen Klopp will kick-start his rebuild of Liverpool’s senior squad with the acquisition of a vaunted young Belgian playmaker this summer.
That’s according to the Sun newspaper, who report that Reds target Dennis Praet has been put up for sale by parent club Anderlecht.
The 21-year-old made the headlines recently when his national U21 coach said the midfielder was ready to move to one of Europe’s elite clubs. Now it seems his owners are ready to help realise that ambition.
Praet is a versatile player that can play anywhere across the attacking-midfield line. He has been at Anderlecht since 2010, when he joined the Belgian powerhouse as a youth teamer.
He has since gone on to make 164 senior appearances for the side and has 25 goals and 37 assists to his name in that time.
This season the Leuven native has added four strikes and six assists to that tally and has featured against Tottenham during the Europa League phase.
With a wealth of experience already for someone so young, Praet will hope to oust the likes of Adam Lallana, James Milner and Roberto Firmino as Liverpool’s premier jack-of-all-trades prospect should he move to Anfield.
Praet has long been highly regarded in his homeland, making multiple appearances for the Belgian national team at every age group from U16s to U21s.
He graduated to full international honours in 2014, making his Red Devils bow in a home friendly against Iceland. As yet, he hasn’t managed to add to his tally of caps.
Should the pursuit of Praet pay off, Klopp will have added a second young midfield talent to the Liverpool playing roster since taking charge.
The German signed off on a deal for Serbian teenager Marko Grujic in January, although Liverpool loaned him straight back to Red Star Belgrade to aid his development.
In a topsy-turvy tenure thus far, the former Borussia Dortmund tactician could add his first piece of silverware when he takes on Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final next weekend.
The Reds are rated 2/1 by Ladbrokes to beat the Citizens at Wembley.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
