There were some Liverpool supporters left dumbfounded that academy graduate Harry Wilson was sent out on another loan ahead of the football season. The winger had starred for a good Derby County team in the EFL Championship last season and looked strong on the Reds’ pre-season tour of the United States. Liverpool have a busy holiday period upcoming and fans are debating whether or not they can continue to win matches. Supporters can use this welcome offer before Liverpool play over the holidays to get the latest bet bonuses before wagering on the Reds.
Yet, the 22-year-old was sent out once more to a purgatory where ex-Liverpool players go to wither and die. Jordon Ibe and Dominic Solanke have seen their careers stall after joining Bournemouth from Liverpool. Wilson was not expected to flounder as the other two, but a return to Anfield next season have never felt on the cards.
Last week, it was announced that Liverpool were ready to sign Red Bull Salzburg forward Takumi Minamino after he impressed in two games against the Anfielders in the Champions League. The Japanese international looks set to join Liverpool making Wilson’s future at the club less likely.
Minamino fits the mould in terms of players sought after by Liverpool’s transfer committee headed by Michael Edwards. Wilson doesn’t fit the criteria the transfer guru and his staff prefer. The Welshman is a long-range shooter who creates few goals. Half of Wilson’s strikes have come from outside the box this season. That attribute alone makes him not very welcome in Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Wilson is valued at £22 million by Transfermarkt which is over three times as much as Minamino. Some of that valuation simply comes due to Wilson being a British player.
When comparing Minamino’s stats against Wilson’s numbers, it is easy to see the Red Bull Salzburg player is the more impressive of the two. Although Minamino has played well for a good team in a smaller European league, he has excelled and won trophies during his time in Austria. The addition of a winning mentality is another reason the forward makes a brilliant transfer signing.
At the time of writing, Minamino has nine goals and 11 assists in 22 matches in all competitions. While his goal numbers are great, the stat that makes the Liverpool transfer committee salivate is the assist figures. Wilson has zero assists in 16 matches in all competitions for Bournemouth. While he does have six goals, an inability to create for others damages his chances of returning to Anfield to play.
Liverpool’s current assist leader is Sadio Mane with five. Minamino will provide further quality in the final third and give Mane and Mohamed Salah valuable rest as well as another option for the manager. Add in Minamino is familiar with playing in the Champions League and Europa League and it is even more clear just why Edwards and company want him at the club.
Wilson’s future is murky. If he doesn’t return to Liverpool, then where will he end up at in the summer of 2020? Liverpool are not likely to sell him to a title rival, so his options will be limited. Wilson could still have a great professional career; it just seems unlikely that it will occur at Anfield.
