Liverpool striker finally gets green light to kick-start career in UK
Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi will continue his career in the UK after he was finally granted a work permit for next season, claims a report.
There will likely be an almighty scramble for the 23-year-old, who has scored five goals from 20 Bundesliga appearances this season. Rangers and Celtic have previously been linked with Awoniyi. And given Steven Gerrrard’s links with Liverpool they will surely be in the running for his signature.
Goal though reports Liverpool have already fielded seven enquiries for the Nigerian striker, with Fulham, Stoke and West Brom among them.
Awoniyi, who joined Liverpool in 2015, has been on loan since arriving at Anfield. He is yet to play for Liverpool due to difficulties acquiring a work permit. Hence, he has spent most of his time out on loan.
This season he has been with Union Berlin in the German top flight. However, his family were finally granted UK work permits this week following a lengthy process, per the source.
That means that Liverpool will attempt to send the striker on loan either in England and Scotland next season so they can monitor him more closely.
Jurgen Klopp usually likes to see all his fringe players in pre-season action before deciding their futures. The same looks likely for Awoniyi, with a loan or even a sale likely before next season.
Union Berlin are keen to keep the forward, while Stuttgart and Wolfsburg have enquired about the player. The three English clubs though are further down the line, already holding initial talks with Liverpool.
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Awoniyi rated in £8m bracket
Goal report that Liverpool’s valuation on Awoniyi is around £8m, having previously rejected a £5m approach from Anderlecht. Mainz also tried to buy him last summer after a successful spell with the Rhine-River club.
He will have two years remaining on his contract this summer and if Klopp decides to not to offer the right-footer a new deal, then a sale may well be good timing for the club.
Last June he told Liverpool’s official website: “Coming here (Mainz) is just to make myself better. Even without playing for a while, coming in on Sunday just really shows I’ve really improved since coming to Germany. That’s the goal with being on loan.
“I don’t think I’m the same player as I was in the last few years. Personally, I have seen improvement in my game and I believe most Liverpool coaches have seen that as well.
“I just have to be prepared to improve myself and work on my weak points as well. When I’m back at LFC, I hope they will see that.”
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