The transfer merry-go-round has been unrelenting for Liverpool fans so far this summer. And the fact we’re saying ‘so far’ when it’s only mid-June sums it all up.
The red half of Merseyside have barely begun celebrating their top-four finish yet they’ve been inundated with reports and rumours. Some, incredibly, already seem to have fallen by the wayside.
Other transfer sagas, however, are only just getting started.
What’s clear is where the Reds need to improve.
The Reds in need of a proper winger
Defence is a big priority. But another area is the need for pace and quality out wide. Several names have already been linked yet one candidate holds a significant advantage over all of them: Douglas Costa.
Indeed, the Brazilian Bayern Munich forward is a big talent. He can score goals, register assists and is known for his skill, pace and crossing.
That doesn’t sound too dissimilar to Sadio Mane - and just look at the debut season he enjoyed at Anfield.
Got Champions League experience
Possessing talent, of course, is not enough by itself to succeed at Anfield. But that significant advantage Costa holds over his competition is his Champions League experience.
The 26-year-old has now spent two seasons at Bayern Munich, performing for them both in the Bundesliga and European competition.
Costa, though, also amassed a wealth of European experience in his previous five years at Shakhtar Donetsk and has been capped several times by Brazil. What a prospect Costa linking up with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino could be.
The fact he has not flattered to deceive on the big stage already bodes well. As Liverpool fans will know, so many promising young forwards have failed to deliver after making a big step up.
Costly, but worth it
If Costa really is that good, however, why will it be so easy for Liverpool to recruit him, you may ask? It won’t. Jurgen Klopp and co are likely to have plenty of competition when it comes to signing the forward.
But is landing him impossible? Not by a long shot. Getting into that Bayern Munich starting XI isn’t easy and Costa would be guaranteed far more first-team football on Merseyside.
That - and the chance to work with Klopp - has proved a big caveat for players in the past.
Costa won’t be cheap - expect a large fee if Liverpool do go for the jugular here - but he will be worth it. The players the Reds have already been linked with have been promising.
A potential boost and lift for the club and its supporters
But luring a talented Brazilian away from Bayern Munich would send out the right kind of message ahead of Liverpool’s return to the Champions League.
The club should do all they can to sign him.
Written by Timothy Poole
Follow Timothy on Twitter @TimPooleSport
Check out Timothy’s fantastic blog, Rate Your PL Manager
Follow Timothy’s blog on Twitter @rateplmanager
Like O-Posts on Facebook
You can also follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts