Liverpool are showing a keen interest in signing PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko, but could face competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
The Belgium international joined PSV Eindhoven from the Anderlecht youth academy when he was only 16 years old back in 2019. The winger made his senior debut for PSV Eindhoven back in February 2022 at the age of 18, and since then he has grown leaps and bounds.
Now rated as one of the best young attackers in the Eredivisie, Johan Bakayoko has gone on to clock 116 appearances for PSV, scoring 31 goals and making 22 assists, winning five trophies in the process. He has been fantastic this season with 10 goals and three assists in 31 appearances across all competitions.
The 21-year-old’s dazzling performances have not gone unnoticed, especially his standout display in PSV’s 3-2 win over Liverpool at home in the Champions League last month. That game was crucial, not just for the player’s rising stock but also for the Reds’ scouts watching him in action.
Liverpool are seriously considering making a move for Bakayoko, who would reportedly cost in the region of €50-60m. Arsenal, Newcastle United, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund have been keeping tabs on the speedy winger’s progress at PSV.
Mohamed Salah coming to the end of his contract at Anfield
The 2024/25 season is well into mid-February, we are nowhere close to knowing where Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk will be playing their football next season. The trio are out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season, and none of them appear closer towards extending their stay at the club.
As for Mohamed Salah, he is undoubtedly enjoying his best season in a Liverpool shirt. The Egyptian has been not only banging goals left, right and centre, but supplying assists to his teammates at equal measure. The 32-year-old delivered a goal and an assist apiece in the heated 2-2 draw with Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park in midweek.
However, with Salah coming to the end of his contract and no one knows whether he will sign a new contract or leave on a free transfer, the club bosses have started scouring the market for his replacement.
Johan Bakayoko could be that player for the Reds
Bakayoko has performed incredibly well since the last couple of years to fall on Liverpool’s radar. The Belgian has the skill-set and physical attributes to thrive in the fast-paced environment of the Premier League whilst being a potential long-term replacement for Salah.
With his speed, dynamism, unpredictability, dribbling and directness, the 21-year-old could combine extremely well with the Liverpool attackers and wreak havoc against defences. While he has the age, time and potential to be a world-beater, Bakayoko has to bring more efficiency in his game to realistically replace the legendary Salah at Anfield.
With PSV valuing him in the region of €50-60m, Liverpool must not hesitate to splash the cash on Bakayoko and bring him to the red half of Merseyside in the summer.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
