AN UNAFFORDABLE MISS FOR LIVERPOOL...

Liverpool’s move for Ukrainian star Yevhen Konoplyanka collapsed after the Anfield side failed to deliver the transfer money on time. The winger’s club Dnipro claim the 24-year-old was set to link up with Brendan Rodgers after Liverpool agreed to meet his £15million buy-out-clause. However, the money never arrived before the transfer deadline and the deal fell through. Initial reports suggested the move was held up by Dnipro’s billionaire owner Igor Kolomoisky, but Executive Director Andriy Rusol claims this was not the case.
It has been clear from this season of Liverpool that the area in which it desperately needs help is on the flank. During the entire season we saw that Liverpool seemed over reliant on Brazilian player Philippe Coutinho on the left flank. When Coutinho was absent, the team lacked creativity. One of the main reasons for this was that Victor Moses, whom Liverpool took on loan from Chelsea, hasn’t produced anything like his best recently. Considering this situation of Liverpool, the signing up of Konoplyanka would have been a boon for the club. Konoplyanka would not only offer cover for Coutinho, but also increase Brendon Rodger’s options. If Konoplyanka was supposed to play instead of Coutinho, he would be in a better position to cut through the infield and offer a goal threat to the opponents. This would surely help Liverpool to get some width and also to stretch the play when necessary. Konoplyanka also gives the option of attacking the full back on the outside. He is quick, dynamic and more disciplined than Coutinho when it comes to closing down an attacking full back. Also the club requires a strong midfield. Steven Gerrard has been given this new position but it will take some time for him to adapt to the midfield play. Considering the latest performances of Liverpool, it has not been able to defeat some of the major clubs. It has performed well against the smaller clubs by winning on a great margin but what it requires now is an edge which would help them reach the top three spot in premier league. Also to keep the champions league ambitions alive Konoplyanka can just be the perfect fit for them. Konoplyanka is not a huge name or a huge star who could suddenly make Liverpool realistic title-challengers single-handedly, but by offering cover across the top end of the pitch and increasing Brendon Rodgers’ tactical options, he is certainly a player who could enhance the squad and increase the possibility of Liverpool qualifying for the Champions League.
With the failure of signing Yevhen Konoplyanka and before that, losing Mohamed Salah to Chelsea, fans really want answers to Liverpool’s haphazard transfer policy. Fans believe that both of these players could add great value to the team and help to break the dead lock. Though Liverpool has lost chances of getting in Mohamed Salah, it should try not lose Yevhen Konoplyanka from signing him in this summer if it is really “a professional club”.