Jurgen Klopp is backing Cody Gakpo to fill the void that Roberto Firmino’s imminent departure from Liverpool will create.
The Reds are preparing to bid farewell to the Brazil international as a free agent this summer, after he decided not to sign a new contract at Anfield.
Firmino – who has savoured Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and Carabao Cup triumphs with Liverpool – is being linked with a move to Barcelona.
Interestingly, following in his footsteps will not be easy for anybody taking over the task in Merseyside.
However, Klopp believes the versatile Netherlands international, Gakpo, is up for the challenge.
Jurgen Klopp had hinted of ushering in a new attacking era for the Reds, with Firmino following Sadio Mane out of Anfield:
“I think Bobby in this role is an inspiration for pretty much every player in a similar position, so that’s clear.
“Cody is 23 years old, he was captain of his former club – I had no clue how that happens that early and then when he arrived here you realise, ‘Ah OK, he’s a super-smart kid, really open and a real team player’ and stuff like this.
“On top of that, a really good footballer. He can play this position, can play wide, can play the centre.
“The real nine, a bit higher up, he can play that as well; double striker, can play that as well.
“So, he can create his own way there on the position, so it’s not like we have to do it exactly [the same] because nobody can do it like Bobby, because nobody is Bobby.”
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