Liverpool plot summer raid for French striker dubbed ‘future Romelu Lukaku’

Liverpool are reportedly interested in a summer move for Le Havre starlet Andy Elysee Logbo.

According to continental publication Foot Mercato, the Reds are long-time admirers of the teenage striker, and could look to bring him to Anfield at the end of the season.

Despite the fact that Logbo is still waiting on a first team debut for Le Havre, it is widely understood that the youngster has established himself as one of the most highly-rated talents in an academy that has produced a number of world class talents in recent years.

While there are said to be a number of clubs keeping tabs on the Frenchman, the report also claims that Liverpool could hold an edge on their rivals having once invited a 15-year-old Logbo to their training facility.

The youngster flew over to Merseyside with family and is said to already have a feel for what the club is like.

Who is Andy Elysee Logbo?

Still only 17 Logbo very much falls into the category of “one for the future”.

The talented teenager is on the books at French side Le Havre, but is yet to make his first team debut for the club, and generally plays for their U19s.

In terms of the kind of player that Logbo is, the centre-forward stands at 6’2” tall, likes to operate predominantly through the middle, and has hit eight goals and four assists in 13 games for Le Havre’s youth side this season.

As per Foot Mercato, he is widely regarded by club insiders as the next big thing out of an academy that produced the likes of Dimitri Payet, Riyad Mahrez and Paul Pogba, and some have even compared his style of play and impressive natural physicality to that of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.

How likely are Liverpool to seal the deal?

The likelihood is that Liverpool’s main priority this summer will be tying Mo Salah down to a new deal on Merseyside, but there’s no reason why Klopp and his recruitment staff can’t continue their steady process of building for the future too.

While Lagbo wouldn’t necessarily walk straight into the first team at Anfield, there is a recent precedent for players - take Harvey Elliott as an example - to come into the fold and work their way into the first team picture.

Given the young striker’s age and lack of first team experience, the chances are that a deal would be relatively affordable, and if the Reds do decide to pursue this deal properly, there’s no obvious reason why they couldn’t make it happen.