Jorg Jakob, editor of Kicker Magazine in Germany, has claimed Alex Ferguson is a huge fan of Julian Brandt, Liverpool’s primary summer target.
The journalist was speaking on the Echo’s Anfield Extra podcast with Neil Jones and Ian Doyle.
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He said: “First of all I’d like to mention the name of Alex Ferguson, whom I talked to in November after he’d seen Brandt in the Champions League. He was very impressed. And he was right, because Brandt is one of the best and finest talents we have in German football.
“The move makes complete sense. To be honest I don’t know if it will happen, but it makes sense. Leverkusen have a new manager and they definitely won’t qualify for Europe. This might be a reason for Brandt and his agent to say ‘Let’s go to a Champions League club like Liverpool [providing we qualify].’
“If he trusts in Jurgen Klopp a move could happen and maybe in some years it’ll be Real Madrid.”
Liverpool wanted the 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen winger in January, but they refused to consider a winter deal and we’re expected to go back for him in the summer instead.
Stylistically, he’d suit Liverpool perfectly. He presses relentlessly off the ball, is excellent on the counter-attack, and possesses speed and trickery.
If we finish in the top four, along with the allure of working under Klopp, Liverpool will hopefully appear an attractive proposition for the young flyer.
We badly need enforcements in the front-three, anyway. Along with a wide player if Brandt’s ilk, a goalscoring centre-forward would do nicely as well.