English outlet Mirror has reported that Liverpool have made contact with Barcelona over the possibility of signing Ousmane Dembele in a loan deal. Having just confirmed the signing of Thiago, Liverpool are looking to add more attacking firepower before the transfer window closes. Although Dembele’s career so far with Barcelona has been ravaged with injuries, it’s hard to see Koeman let the talented winger go as Barcelona currently do not have the financial ability to sign a replacement winger. Assuming Liverpool do sign the French winger, let’s take a look at how Klopp will want his team to lineup with both Thiago and Dembele.
Transfer Rumour Reliability
Mirror is the source of this transfer rumour and the English outlet are a Tier 4 source in our Football Transfer Sources Reliability Guide. A Tier 4 source is highly unreliable and not to be trusted unless other more reliable media source pick up the story
How is Klopp planning to use Thiago and Dembele?
Thiago is expected to fit in straight away into the starting eleven, considering his quality and his creative output from midfield which Liverpool currently are missing. We have covered previously on how Thiago might fit in Klopp’s 4-3-3 formation but let’s take a look at the formation below.
Liverpool’s 4-3-3 formation with Thiago
Assuming Liverpool also sign Dembele, it’s hard to see how the French winger will manage to break into the starting 11 right away. Liverpool’s front three have a great understanding of each other’s roles and their skillset complements each other. But if there is a weak link in that front three, then it is Roberto Firmino whose goal output has come under criticism. Klopp might want to push Salah closer to the goal as a central threat and use Dembele on the right like shown below.
It also might be possible that Klopp might want to try out Dembele as a central striker instead of changing Salah’s preferred position on the left wing like below.
Even if Liverpool do sign Dembele, it would primarily be as a backup option to the front three and unless one of the front 3 are injured, it is unlikely that Dembele will become a starter for Liverpool.
