Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Turn to Swedish Star to Bolster Attack

Christian Pulisic, Julian Brandt, Quincy Promes. Liverpool have been linked with a solid collection of attacking talent, and most expect at least one new signing fitting that mold to arrive before the month is out—and, with Sadio Mané already off on AFCON duty, preferably well before then.

Pulisic, though, isn’t for sale and Klopp and Liverpool’s best efforts haven’t convinced Borussia Dortmund to reconsider. Brandt similarly doesn’t look likely to move this month despite the loud rumbling in December. And Promes, though a target, is reportedly being considered for the summer.

With the top names apparently off the table, then, the rumour mongers today have Liverpool quickly moving to Plan B in an effort to shore up their attack ahead of a hoped-for second half title push, and the name leading the list appears to be Red Bull Leipzig attacker Emil Forsberg.

The 25-year-old Swedish winger has been a breakout star in Germany this season, his rise nearly as meteoric as Leipzig’s, and with five goals and nine assists in 16 games his agent is busy making noises about turning his stellar showing in the first half of the season into a move to a more established power.

Leipzig brought Forsberg to Germany in 2015 for £3M when they were in the second division. He was key to their promotion to the top flight this year, and has been similarly key in their surprise title challenge—they currently sit second in Germany, just three points back of Bayern Munich.

“RB is on the way to becoming a big club which will soon be in the Champions League,” noted Forsberg’s agent earlier this week when Bild asked him about his client’s plans for the immediate future. “Nonetheless, I can’t promise that Emil will stay at Leipzig this winter.”

Potentially complicating any Liverpool move for the player, Arsenal and Juventus are also rumoured to have approached Forsberg’s agent about a January move.