Now Philippe Coutinho has left Liverpool for Barcelona, would West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini or Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez be the best replacement?
New Barcelona signing Philippe Coutinho poses for a photograph with his shirt as he is unveiled at Camp Nou.
Liverpool are currently on the hunt for a replacement for Philippe Coutinho following the Brazilian’s £142m transfer to Barcelona.
Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United runs with the ball under pressure from Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds were also linked with Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City, who is valued at £50m+, but Sky Sports have since reported that the speculation has no substance.
Yet based on this season alone, which attacker would be the best option to replace Coutinho at Anfield?
Mahrez has played 22 Premier League matches in comparison to Lanzini’s 16 so far in 2017/18, but aside from goals scored – with seven for the Algerian and one for the Argentine – their statistics are remarkably close.
Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City scores the opening goal during the Premier League match against Huddersfield Town.
The Leicester star has completed 25 key passes, provided seven assists, created 32 chances and completed 43 successful take ons. Lanzini has 22 key passes, five assists, created 27 chances and has 39 successful take ons.
Taking into account his six fewer outings in the top tier of English football, the 24-year-old is arguably the better option, although his stats pale into insignificance to Countiho’s from just 14 games (seven goals, six assists, 34 key passes, 40 chances created and 39 successful take ons).
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