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Despite the drama of the Van Dijk saga, Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp are reportedly ready to go back to Southampton for another round. Although this time, the target isn’t a central defender but a winger, surely to shore up those channels for all the matches the Reds are sure play next season.
According to The Times and the Echo, Liverpool are looking at Dušan Tadić, the 28 year old Serbian international who has been with Southampton since 2014. He is believed to have a £13 million release clause on his contract, which would be a lot easier to trigger and follow through on than his Dutch teammate. Tadić was signed by Ronald Koeman for the Saints from FC Twente in the Eredivisie, but has reportedly become “disillusioned” with Claude Puel and would welcome a move.
While not a position exactly screaming out for depth, a proven creative force in ready when needed could only help the Reds instead of hinder. Tadić has scored or assisted 42 goals in his 3-year Premier League career, so he could be a steal at only £13 million, compared to what the club are willing to shell out for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Ox, to his credit, would be looking to play in central midfield if he did move from the Emirates, while Tadić is a winger through and through, preferring to play on the left side specifically. Tadić could also potentially do well to reunite with former Southampton teammates Sadio Mané, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, and Dejan Lovren (that’s a ridiculously long list when you look at it like that).
Or we could all be wrong and the club could end up signing both, or neither of them. We’re only halfway through June, after all, and the transfer window hasn’t even officially opened yet. We all know too well how quickly things can change.