Red Bull Salzburg striker Patson Daka is taking inspiration from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sadio Mane amid speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal or Liverpool, speaking to the BBC.
The perennial champions of Austria have made a habit of selling and replacing their star players.
And, once Erling Haaland was spirited away by Borussia Dortmund 12 months ago, Salzburg wasted no time in throwing Daka in at the deep end.
Remarkably, Daka has not only survived but thrived in a post-Haaland world, scoring 15 goals in 17 matches in 2020/21 alone.
CBS believes the Zambia international could soon follow in Haaland’s footsteps with a potential £20 million move to a European giant.
Arsenal have identified Daka as a long-term successor to Alexandre Lacazette with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool another potential destination (Far Post).
And should Daka swap Austria for England, there’s a real chance he will soon be sharing a dressing room with one of his heroes.
“To see our big brothers like Aubameyang, (Mohamed) Salah, Mane, it’s something that gives me the dream that I can also make it,” explains the 22-year-old, who has been compared to Samuel Eto’o and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
“I can be like them. They are my inspiration, knowing they also come from Africa.
“I think when people are making those kind of comparisons, it’s great, looking at the status of Sadio Mane, the kind of football he plays and the kind of person he is.”
Daka scored twice against Liverpool in pre-season and, according to his one-time Kafue Celtic coach Lee Kawanu, the Anfield club has always held a special place in the striker’s heart (First Time Finish).
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
