Liverpool are already being linked with a host of players this summer, but one man has said he remains on the Reds’ watchlist despite a failed trial in the past
Gent gem Momodou Sonko has revealed Liverpool have retained an interest in his services after a failed trial with the club. And Anfield could be his next destination as he looks to emulate the success of countryman and Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres.
Liverpool will be looking to spend this summer in an effort to build on their Premier League triumph, and one name that has purportedly caught their eye is Sonko. The player is hoping to make significant progress after a challenging first full season at Gent, and international team-mate Gyokeres is a natural role model.
Former Coventry frontman Gyokeres’ career trajectory has been meteoric, transitioning from a Championship regular to becoming one of Europe’s hot prospects in record time. His staggering tally of 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP is evidence of how quickly fortunes can turn in football.
Sonko holds lofty ambitions, and there aren’t many destinations in the world right now that offer higher standards than Liverpool. The 20-year-old already got a taste of the Reds’ setup back in 2017 when he had an unsuccessful trial at the club, but he has now said he remains on Liverpool’s watchlist.
“The way I look at it is that they were already interested there, and I went there and tried it out a bit,” he told Expressen, from the Sweden under-21 training camp. “I felt I was a little too young to move, but they have continued to keep an eye on me.”
Sonko has recently been selected for Sweden’s senior squad but is yet to make his first-team debut under Jon Dahl Tomasson. However, it’s widely anticipated that it’s only a matter of time before Gent’s record signing gets his chance.
Despite providing four goals and three assists in 21 starts (40 total appearances) for Gent this season, he has struggled to build on the promise he showed at his former employer, Hacken. Significant progress is required before he can be considered a talent worthy of Arne Slot’s squad, but the gem has time on his side.
When questioned about how close he came to joining Liverpool in the past, he responded: “I don’t actually know. I was in Hacken and tried not to think too much about sales. Then it happened quite quickly and suddenly I was in Ghent. I don’t really have a good idea.”
Although he isn’t a Liverpool player, Sonko didn’t hold back in praising the club for their successful season. The Reds narrowly missed out on a historic treble in Slot’s inaugural season as manager, and it’s safe to say Sonko admires the Dutchman’s work.
“Yes, absolutely incredible. They have been superior in the Premier League,” he continued. “They also looked very strong in the Champions League before they had a tough match [against] PSG. It has been an incredibly good season. A very impressive debut season for the coaches too.”
Such comments indicate Sonko would be well up for the move should he continue to develop. Sweden has produced several exciting attackers in recent years, with Sonko hoping to follow in the footsteps of stars like Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga.
Two of that trio are currently making a significant impact in the Premier League. And Gyokeres could make it a hat-trick if he swaps Lisbon for England this summer, with Arsenal and Manchester United believed to be very interested.
It’s been 33 years since Glenn Hysen, the only Swede to have represented Liverpool so far, last donned the team’s colours. However, Sonko could be the player to break that drought if he continues to grow in Belgium’s Pro League.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.