Liverpool fans: It's time to start watching Maxim De Cuyper highlights

Liverpool fans - it's time to keep a real eye on Maxim De Cuyper. He could be the Reds' next left-back.

Liverpool would like to sign Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. That much is obvious at this point.

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Kerkez is one of the brightest left-backs around at the moment and a player who may well go on to be the best. That's the kind of talent he has.

However, he'd also cost £40m. At least £40m, in fact - the eventual fee could surpass that by some way, depending on the competition for him.

That's a problem for Liverpool. Not only would they prefer not to spend a fortune on a left-back (a left-back who may not even be first-choice from the get-go) but there are other plans, too.

Anfield Watch understands Liverpool want to overhaul their attacking options this summer. Spending so much on a left-back leaves them with a lot less money with which to do that.

We do still think Liverpool will push to sign Kerkez. All reports point in that direction - but it doesn't mean they actually end up signing him.

And that's why all Liverpool fans should keep an eye on Maxim De Cuyper.

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Maxim De Cuyper

Liverpool have been watching De Cuyper for some time now. This season has shown why.

He's been playing in the UEFA Champions League for Club Brugge - an unfancied team, in other words. They did manage to qualify from the League Phase (via the playoff round) and went out in the last 16 to Aston Villa.

Looking at the competition's statistics, De Cuyper has been one of the best full-backs in the entire competition.

He was in the top 46% of full-backs when defending one vs one, while his numbers for interceptions and blocks are again around the 'average', range.

And that's good! Because what De Cuyper brings going forward is fantastic.

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His progressive passing distance is in the 96th percentile of full-backs in the competition. That's the combined amount of yards progressive passes have made.

A progressive pass is one that moves the team forward at least 10 yards from any of their previous six passes. It's a way of measuring whether the player can break through the lines and genuinely move the team forward.

This is an important one. The best full-back in the competition for this metric? Andy Robertson. Liverpool would understandably love to replace the Scot with someone who can also deliver his strengths.

De Cuyper is someone who can do just that. He's averaged comfortably over one key pass per 90 minutes, he's 95th percentile for through-balls and he's a set-piece taker.

All of these stats are just from this season's Champions League remember, so we're comparing him to the best of the best here. And De Cuyper really stands up.

He's 24, coming into his prime, and would cost a fraction of someone like Kerkez. The fact he's already delivered in an elite competition makes him a genuine option this summer and arguably the one who makes the most sense in what's a complicated, financially taxing transfer window for Liverpool.

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