Could Lyon’s Emmanuel Mammana be a £14.9 million Van Dijk alternative for Liverpool?

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With Liverpool fans still patiently waiting and hoping for news of progress in the club’s pursuit of Southampton defender Virgil Van Dijk, they may be surprised to hear the club linked with another defender. Sports Review report that the Reds have made a £14.9 million bid for Lyon central defender Emmanuel Mammana.

An Argentina international, the 21-year-old only moved to Europe from River Plate last summer, after being linked with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham. Since then, he has made 26 appearances in an impressive debut season in Ligue Un.

What would he bring to Anfield?

The youngster has shown his style of play in France and maintained the key aspects despite leaving Argentina. That involves good reading of the game to intercept attacking moves before looking to launch some of his own with his dribbles out from the back driving his side forward from deep.

With an impressive range of passing too, Mammana is far from the rough and tough kind of central defender that is less and less in fashion. Using his intelligence and anticipation to give him the advantage, he is an excellent tackler and defender but is far from reliant on those aspects of his game.

However, at just 21 years of age he does not have experience on his side. There is plenty of potential for him to develop further, but that does not seem to match exactly what most Liverpool fans are crying out for in their defence this summer.

Is a move likely?

Lyon will be understandably reluctant to part with a player with such potential after just one season at their club. Having paid just over £7.2 million for his services only 12 months ago, they may be confident that in another year’s time they may be able to do even better than doubling their money.

Mammana may push for a move to a lucrative contract in England, with a five year deal worth £54,000 per week said to be on the table, but he has shown no sign of such an attitude yet. With Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and potentially others for competition, he may be reluctant to give up an increasingly important role in France.