Liverpool transfer target: £20m alternative to Aspas assessed

Football statistics analysts WhoScored.com cast their eye over a reported Liverpool target who could put Iago Aspas' stuttering Anfield career under increased threat. Take a look at more Liverpool stats on ), but first read all about Koke…

With much of the limelight currently focused on , Atletico Madrid team-mate Koke has been quietly going about his business, providing the ammunition for the Brazil-born striker. The midfielder, whose full name is the far more impressive Jorge Resurrección Merodio, has won his fair share of admirers following a blistering start to the season, in which Los Rojiblancos have maintained a 100 per cent start to La Liga's 2013/14 season.
 
With an average rating of 7.66 from his eight league appearances, the Spain international has done enough thus far to warrant interest from Premier League side Liverpool. The Reds were rumoured to be monitoring Javier Pastore recently, but are supposedly keeping tabs on the 21-year old as they continue their pursuit for a top four finish.
 
The 21-year old has impressed for Atletico since becoming a first team regular and it’s little surprise to see interest in the youngster from a number of teams across the continent. With six assists to his name – no player in Europe’s top five leagues has more – his creative capabilities are evident, especially when aiding a striker in form, accentuated in the fact that four of those six assists were for Costa to score.
 
In comparison, the two league assists from and José Enrique this term are the most for the Merseyside outfit, with the likes of and Sturridge likely to profit from the innovative ability of Koke. This is further emphasised in that the five clear-cut chances he has created this season is bettered only by Barcelona duo Cesc Fábregas (15) and Neymar (6) in La Liga, with the defending champions the only other side in Spain’s top tier to boast a 100 per cent start to the campaign.
 
In contrast, only  has created more than one clear-cut chance for the Reds this season, with the striker expected to be netting such opportunities, not forging them. While the return of Suárez will undeniably ease the burden unintentionally placed upon the Englishman’s shoulders, the potential arrival of Koke would significantly improve the creativity running through the ranks within the squad.
 
With all seven of his league starts coming on either the right or left flank, his ability down the wings would further benefit the club, especially with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers recently opting to field a three-man defence. Koke’s defensive capabilities, emphasised by of ‘defensive contribution’ and ‘tackling’ could see the Spaniard prove to be a viable option on either wing in a 5-man midfield.
 
Boasting a further strength of ‘crossing’, it’s a clear indication that not only would Koke be able to contribute to the defensive side of Liverpool’s game, but provide an attacking outlet on the wing that would likely assist Sturridge and . While Atletico will be loath to losing one of their prized assets, speculation surrounding his future will likely persist with each impressive performance for the Spanish capital side.
 
With Liverpool aiming to break back into the top four this season, a January move for the highly rated midfielder would go a long way to bolstering their chances of returning to the Champions League.