Liverpool Transfer News: Reds eyeing starlet who plays in Salah's position

Liverpool are among a number of clubs keeping tabs on a Championship starlet enjoying a superb campaign for club and country.

The Reds may have spent plenty in the summer, but their poor season thus far and the re-opening of the transfer window has given Arne Slot’s side the opportunity to pursue some exciting targets.

The long-term injury to Alexander Isak and the unwavering uncertainty over Mohamed Salah’s future will also add to the temptation to add attacking talents to the Reds’ roster.

And it appears the club’s scouts are hard at work searching for those who can help turn the Merseysiders’ season around, with a player of interest emerging from the second tier.

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool, along with a host of Premier League clubs, have been regularly watching Watford right-winger Othmane Maamma, including in the Hornets’ 3-0 win over Birmingham City on New Year’s Day that sent them fourth in the Championship table.

Maamma didn’t appear for Javi Gracia’s side until early November, with the Moroccan having only recently returned from the U20 World Cup, which saw his country return as champions.

The 20-year-old was named as the tournament’s best player and scored in Morocco’s group-stage win over Brazil.

Upon returning to the first-team fold at Vicarage Road, Maamma started the final nine league games of the year, notching three goals and one assist as Watford’s form has transformed them into play-off hopefuls.

Since his debut, Watford have won six, drawn five and lost once.

And it appears Liverpool have watched the youngster several times, handing Maamma an unlikely path to the Premier League just months after arriving from Montpellier, who were relegated from Ligue 1 last term.

TEAMtalk’s report appears to suggest that despite his recent arrival, a big offer may be too good to refuse.

And with Liverpool among the rich clubs taking a keen interest – Manchester United and Newcastle United have also been mentioned – there is perhaps an opportunity for the Reds to take, pipping their rivals in the process.

Maamma’s potential is there for all to see, though his primary concern would surely be whether a big move this soon would hamper his game time, and by extension, his development.

One imagines Watford would prefer not to let such a promising talent go, particularly as they flirt with the possibility of returning to the top flight later this year.

But perhaps the prospect of learning from – or even replacing – Mohamed Salah in the near future is something Maamma can simply not ignore.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.