Liverpool and Arsenal are both reportedly tracking the Schalke ace.
According to Italian media outlet Calcio Mercato, Liverpool and Arsenal are leading the race to sign Schalke ace Max Meyer, with the German’s contract set to expire with the Bundesliga outfit in the summer.
Both the Gunners and the Reds have spent heavily recently, so the opportunity to sign a player of Meyer’s quality for nothing will surely appeal to both clubs.
Calcio Mercato claim that the two Premier League sides are currently ahead of AC Milan in the race to obtain the 22-year-old’s signature.
Whose need for Meyer is greater, though, Liverpool or Arsenal?
The Gunners have just signed Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, so it is debatable whether they actually need another attacking player.
The Reds, on the other hand, have a gaping hole to fill, following last month’s sale of Philippe Coutinho, and Meyer could really thrive at Anfield under Jürgen Klopp.
The Liverpool manager likes his front three to interchange positions throughout the course of a game, and the 22-year-old’s ability to play anywhere along the front-line would enable him to fit into Klopp’s setup perfectly.
Despite all of this, there are warning signs that he is far from the finished article.
His stats are not the most impressive. In 186 appearances for Schalke, he has scored just 22 goals and chipped in with only 24 assists.
The German is also small in stature. Standing at just 5ft 8in, he could very well find it hard to adapt to the Premier League, what with its’ robust nature.
With his availability on a free transfer at the end of the season, though, he might just be a risk worth taking.
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