Liverpool reportedly keen on Bahlouli, but they should focus on Wanyama pursuit

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Klopp is reportedly interested in both central midfielders, but which player do Liverpool need more?

Liverpool are interested in the signature of Lyon’s French midfield prodigy Mohamed Bahlouli, according to reports from French magazine FranceFootball.

The Merseyside club are resigned to losing Emre Can in the summer, with Juventus looking his most likely suitors, and despite having secured Naby Keita on a pre-contract, are stepping up their recruitment to prepare for life after Can.

Lyon have a strong tradition of bringing through top class talent with the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Hatem Ban Arfa, Karim Benzema and Anthony Martial having all come through the ranks at the Ligue 1 club, but 18-year-old Bahlouli is relatively unproven.

He has performed magnificently for the Lyon youth teams, but is yet to actually make his senior debut for the club and his adjustment to senior football remains to be seen.

However, with Liverpool having also shown interest in Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama, which player is actually the better option for the Reds?

Bahlouli is no doubt one for the future, but Liverpool need to begin mounting a title challenge now. Can will be a big loss due to his versatility, but if there is an opportunity for the club to bring in Wanyama, they should most definitely take it.

As long as Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele remain at the North London club, Wanyama will face fierce competition for a spot in the heart of the midfield.

Despite this, the Kenyan is a magnificent player, and his dominating style of football would likely be a perfect fit for Liverpool, especially given the shakiness of their defence on frequent occasions.

The 26-year-old is a major presence in midfield and has a knack of doing the dirty work for his side’s back four, with an impressive tackle success rate of nearly 80%.

Should Wanyama jump ship to Anfield, he would be an asset they could make use of from the off, whilst Bahlouli would be more of a project type, having not played a minute of senior football yet in his career so far.

It will be interesting to see what route Liverpool go down when it comes to their summer recruitment, but you cannot help but feel that the Kenyan’s signature would be more beneficial to the club when it comes to their attempts to win a trophy in the next couple of years.

Liverpool need to be looking at the present rather than the future, so Wanyama’s signature should come as a priority ahead of Bahlouli.