There is an exciting talent following in Dominik Szoboszlai’s footsteps. Liverpool should think about making him a transfer target with an eye on the future.
When Liverpool signed Dominik Szoboszlai, it was a momentous occasion not just for Reds supporters but in the history of Hungarian football. The most expensive player of all time from the country, Szoboszlai’s arrival has marked a new dawn for football in his home nation.
For decades now Hungary has been suffering from the distant memories of the Mighty Magyars, the golden team from the 1950s, which famously beat England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953 and reached the World Cup final in 1954.Now though, there is a new era. Hungary has been recording some good results in the last few years including beating England 4-0 last year. Led by new exciting talent like Szoboszlai, as well as Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, Hoffenheim’s Attila Szalai and Freiburg’s Roland Sallai, this is truly a new age for Hungarian football.
And scouts should take notice with plenty of exciting talent coming through, including — by one metric — the most in-form teenager in European football at the moment. Liverpool should take a closer look.
Eighteen-year-old Krisztián Lisztes only celebrated his birthday a couple of months ago, but he is already one of the fan favorites in Hungary’s biggest side, Ferencváros. The son of a legend who won the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, it’s not just because of his name that Lisztes is adored, it’s also because of his brilliance since breaking into the first team.
In just 670 minutes, Lisztes has scored six goals and registered three assists, meaning he has so far averaged a goal contribution every 74 minutes for the club.
Since April, he is also the most prolific player from Europe’s top 30 leagues born in 2005 or later. With his nine goal contributions in all competitions, Lisztes beats Real Madrid’s summer arrival Arda Güler, who has managed eight in the same period.
That alone should alert Liverpool’s attention, but there is more. While Lisztes needs to work on his pressing game, he versatility is something that already stands out, having played as a forward, a false nine, attacking midfielder and winger for his club in his 670 minutes on the pitch.
On top of that he has an innate intelligence for finding pockets of space on the pitch, especially in the box.
His one versus one ability also makes him an exciting player, and he could suit Liverpool in either a midfield or number nine role.
Of course, he still has plenty to develop before he could even be considered in the Reds’ first team, but Liverpool should act now.
Far too often the club has lost out on teenage talents, dithering to make a move only to return back for them years later and having to pay huge fees to bring them to Anfield.
Signing Lisztes now would ensure Liverpool could land him for a relatively cheap price. In order to get him ready for the Premier League, the club could use Brighton’s transfer model by sending him out on loan first and allowing him to develop in a strong European league to bridge the gap between English and Hungarian football.
After Szoboszlai and Kerkez’s arrival in the Premier League, Hungary is a market worth exploring for the club’s scouts, and Lisztes could be an ideal choice with which to begin.
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