Kylian Mbappe bigs up a Liverpool-linked forward with Neymar comparison... he WOULD be affordable 😲

The Frenchman hasn't seen ANYTHING like the Belgian

You wouldn’t be gutted as a young player if you opened up your laptop one day to find out that one of the most elite superstars in Europe had singled you out for praise, drawing comparisons between you and Neymar.

Oh, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang!

Waxing lyrical over Liverpool-linked forward Jérémy Doku, fellow rumoured target Kylian Mbappe admitted he’s a HUGE fan of the 19-year-old Stade Rennais starlet.

“Recently, I was speaking with my father about a player who impressed me from the stands – because I was not playing – because of his speed qualities, that is (Jérémy) Doku, at Rennes,” the World Cup-winner told France Football.

“In 5 years as a professional, I have never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power.

“In terms of an incredibly quick player, I would also put Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Neymar too, certainly before his injuries.

“He could change direction with crazy ease.

“There are also players less explosive from a standing start like Kyle Walker at Manchester City.

“He is like a tank once he hits his speed once he gets into it.”

We at EOTK Insider know that the club was interested in the young Belgian, with links between club and player enduring over the years since he first passed on an opportunity to make a switch to Anfield as a 15-year-old.

“As soon as I’m asked if I regret it, I always say no, because if Liverpool came to me at 15, if they like me, they’ll come back later, that’s certain,” the Belgian prodigy said in a prior interview with Ouest France. “It’s up to me to be good.”

In fairness to the teenager, we can respect the display of maturity in resisting the temptation to go for the big move at a young, impressionable age.

Given that he’s catching the eye of a talent like Mbappe, the former Anderlecht prospect’s prediction regarding Liverpool may very well come true.

Assuming the worst (or the best, depending on how you look at things) and that Doku gets opportunities to show off his talent during the European Championships, we can only imagine that his value (£19.8m according to Transfermarkt) will rise considerably.

Though, given the global context of the financial ramifications of COVID-19 - not to mention Ligue 1’s reported financial struggles - we can’t imagine Liverpool being ridiculously priced out of a potential move, if our interest remains.

The main stumbling block (beyond his long-term contract in France) would undoubtedly be the player’s age, with the recruitment team probably picturing a more mature, Diogo Jota-esque signing that the club can have a bit more faith in, in terms of being able to make an instant impact.

Coming back to our good friend, Kylian, however, one does have to wonder whether we would be taking a massive risk waiting another year, or longer, to have a second crack at signing the Belgium international.

After all, if Doku’s already attracting attention from his fellow French top-flight star, how long will it be before another European heavyweight decides to take a serious look at him?

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