Liverpool are ready to sign the “next Mbappe” of Iraola

Iraima Konate is the latest star to leave Anfield on a free transfer this summer. But the French defender wanted £300k a week to stay at Liverpool again, and the figures don't add up.

Liverpool signed Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes for £60m, and welcome back Giovanni Leoni from rehabilitation after injuring his ACL against Southampton last year. Here, FSG believe they have two of the most talented young defenders in the world.

But Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes still have a lot to sort out, hoping to appoint Andoni Iraola after sacking Arne Slot. Does this change the Reds transfer strategy? It's possible, but FSG know the profiles they need to land, and Iraola has shown at Bournemouth the ability to deal with any number of strikes during transfer windows.

Yan Diomande has been named as the man to succeed the popular right winger, but Liverpool have to replace many parts, with Hugo Ekitike's long-term injury another problem.

Liverpool are preparing a bid to advance to the Premier League

Ekitike will be lucky to play football again this year after rupturing his Achilles during Liverpool's loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Once he is back, there will also be a deadline set for Ekitike to return to form. This means Liverpool need more than one striker this summer, not just Diomande.

Diomande, 19, has the world at his feet, but doesn't yet have Premier League experience under his belt. If you look at Florian Wirtz, for example, you can see that adapting to England's game – especially in a sluggish Slot system – can be a tough test.

However, Junior Kroupi has passed that test with flying colors. According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have joined Chelsea and Manchester City in the race for the £80m Bournemouth striker.

Man City are currently regarded as frontrunners for the French striker, but Liverpool are considering a formal approach. The Cherries are in no shape to impress their Premier League rivals, but the race is just as intense, with Kroupi regarded as one of the most talented young players in the world.

Why Kroupi is a bigger talent than Diomande

First and foremost, it is possible that Kroupi and Diomande can work alongside each other in Liverpool's system, but whether FSG can justify the surprise explosion of the two new players is another question.

But Kroupi is the real deal, scorer of 13 goals in the Premier League this season, missing just three big chances. Diomande may be a flashy winger with plenty of talent, but how that talent will translate to life in the Premier League is anyone's guess.

It is with that record in mind that Iraola congratulated Kroupi on his “elite” finish. Look at it this way: Kroupi has an innate ability to eliminate the odds.

The technique, the communication, the strength, all speak of world-class skills, and when you look at how his sharp edge is backed up by the athleticism and speed that has seen him hailed as “the next [Kylian] Mbappe” with GOAL.

Kroupi usually plays through the middle, but those attributes have seen him deployed on the left any number of times, often drifting outside and curling inside.

He has many different strings to his bow, and there is a real chance that Liverpool can now sign a more established player under Iraola, a striker who is clearly set to replace Slott at the Anfield helm next season.

But whether Liverpool can overcome City remains to be seen at this stage. However, given how good his clinical shooting will be with Salah gone, there is a case to be made that he will be in better shape than Diomande, who will ensure the Reds get their money's worth from the get-go.

Pundit Daniel Sturridge said Kroupi is “one of the best finishers in the Premier League”. There's someone who knows a thing or two about scoring goals at Liverpool, and it's probably worth listening to his judgment.