Is Danjuma the perfect Mane replacement for Liverpool?
Stefan Bienkowski
- 19 Nov 2021 15:47 GMT
- 8 min read
Liverpool may have every intention of reinforcing their attacking options in January but it could prove to be a difficult task.
According to Football Insider, the Anfield club will face an uphill struggle in convincing Villarreal to part ways with new forward Arnaut Danjuma in a few months time.
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The Dutch winger has been nothing short of a revelation in Spain since moving from Bournemouth and has been touted as a potential long-term replacement for Sadio Mane.
But how good is the Dutch forward and how much would he cost the Anfield club to sign?
How good is he?
Danjuma made his name as a young forward with exceptional talent in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League with NEC Nijmegen, when he bagged no less than 11 goals and 17 assists in just 28 league games in the 2017/18 season.
That remarkable run of form earned the player a €2.8 million move to Club Brugge in 2018, however Danjuma was unable to replicate the kind of form he’d shown at his previous club and managed just six goals and four assists in 25 games.
Despite that, the Dutch forward then made a useful move to Bournemouth just one year later for a remarkable €17 million. However, despite the risk involved, Danjuma thrived on the English south coast and picked up 15 goals and seven assists in 33 Championship games.
Such form in the English second tier then earned the forward a move to Villarreal for €24 million, where Danjuma is now playing for his fourth club in as many years. And with seven goals and two assists in his first 15 games, it seemed as though the Dutch talent was settling in perfectly well in La Liga.
However, the forward's reputation undoubtedly hit new heights when his side faced Manchester United in the Champions League group stages. Although Villarreal lost the match, Danjuma spent the match harassing Diogo Dalot at right-back and should have had at least one goal and as well as the assists he picked up on the night.
If that performance at Old Trafford was anything to go by, then Liverpool may need to act fast to sign the young forward.
How much would he cost?
While Danjuma’s form may have wavered over the last four years, his value has only gone up as one club after another has offered more money for the player’s services.
Considering that Villarreal paid €24m for him just last year, it wouldn’t be beyond the general trends of the market to see the Spanish club demand much more than that if Danjuma thrives at the club this season.
At this moment in time Danjuma is worth €18m, but would likely demand a price north of €23m if Liverpool were serious about signing him in the January window.
