Charles De Ketelaere: The ANTI-DARWIN who would fit Arne Slot's Liverpool PERFECTLY

Atalanta are sitting pretty at the top of Serie A on Christmas Day.

A sequence of 11 consecutive league wins - culminating in their 3-2 victory over Empoli on Sunday - has carried them ahead of Napoli into top spot.

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Much of the credit for their current form must go down to the all-star front three comprising African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman, Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere - who scored two against Empoli. The trio have already netted 36 goals between them in all competitions; a testament to the ever-strong recruitment of the Bergamo-based side.

Inevitably, all three have been linked with moves onwards. Lookman has been linked with Liverpool and is also reportedly attracting attention from Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Even though it’s Retegui’s first season at the club, he has already been associated with a high-profile move to Arsenal.

And the latest reports from Italy indicate that Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini believes it’s just a matter of time before De Ketelaere ends up at Liverpool or Real Madrid. And what a transfer coup that could be for the Reds.

Why Liverpool NEED De Ketelaere

An elegant, upright dribbler, De Ketelaere also possesses strength in the air and in his playmaking. Along with his 10 goals this season he has also provided nine assists.

Flitting between No.10 and centre forward, he is not an on-the-shoulder goal poacher. He is more rounded in his general play, capable of bringing extra players into the attack as well as finding space for his own shots on goal.

The 23-year-old is coming into his peak as a player, growing in confidence and in stature seemingly by the week. The Belgium international looks at home at Atalanta, where he moved to bounce back following a failed move to AC Milan.

De Ketelaere left Club Brugge for San Siro in a €35 million deal back in 2022, seemingly ready for the next big step in his career. But his career stalled under previous Milan coach Stefano Pioli, seen by sources close to the club as the reason why De Ketelaere never really caught fire for the Rossoneri.

He ended up on 40 appearances after his one and only season with Milan, scoring zero goals.

De Ketelaere can be NEW Firmino

De Ketelaere was shunted on loan to Atalanta in the summer of 2023 and began to find his feet under Gasperini. He ended up winning the UEFA Europa League title and earning himself a permanent move to the Gewiss Stadium last summer.

And since then he has gone from strength to strength, earning links to some of the biggest clubs around.

Highly-placed sources around AC Milan have told Anfield Watch that he is EXACTLY the type of player who would flourish under Arne Slot’s management, describing him as the total opposite of the Reds’ current No.9 Darwin Nunez.

De Ketelaere would give Liverpool the Roberto Firmino-like figure at the sharp end of their attack that they have so lacked since the Brazilian left. Described as composed and meticulous, one improvement that De Ketelaere could make is toughening up.

But as seen since his fruitful spell at Atalanta, it looks like he is well on the way to finally fulfilling his potential.

This looks like a deal that Liverpool should get done, especially considering Gasperini’s recent admission. It’s only a matter of time before De Ketelaere ends up at a true European giant.

Let’s hope it’s Liverpool and not Real Madrid.

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