Swedish forward Momodou Lamin Sonko has caught the attention of top European clubs as Liverpool, Leipzig, and Bologna vie for his signature. The 18-year-old, who turns 19 this month, has already made a name for himself with 44 appearances and 14 goals at the senior level for Swedish club Hacken. In the current season, Sonko has scored four goals and provided an assist in 13 appearances for the Allsvenskan side.
Expressen reported in December that Liverpool and Barcelona were both keen on signing Sonko in January. Now, a report from Fotboll Direkt has reaffirmed Liverpool’s interest and revealed that representatives from Liverpool, Leipzig, and Bologna have held ‘secret’ meetings with Hacken to explore the possibility of signing the highly-rated teenager.
All three clubs are actively pursuing a deal for Sonko, and Liverpool has even sent their representatives to Gothenburg to officially register their interest. Hacken had previously rejected an offer of £3.4m from an undisclosed club, valuing Sonko at approximately £6m.
When asked about a potential move to Liverpool and being personally approached by Jurgen Klopp, Sonko replied, ‘If he were to call privately, I would laugh. It’s pretty unlikely. It’s easier for him to reach my agents than me. I haven’t gotten that call anyway.’
Sonko’s style of play as a right-footed inside forward who operates off the left wing aligns well with Klopp’s preferred system at Liverpool. The Reds, currently leading the Premier League with 45 points after 20 matches, have made significant investments in their midfield last summer with the signings of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch to strengthen their squad.
The competition for Sonko’s signature highlights the growing interest in the young talent emerging from Sweden. Hacken’s sporting director, Martin Ericsson, commented, ‘The interest is huge. Then it must be said that there have been some other young players who end up in the spotlight in Sweden. But the interest is great, especially considering the size of clubs.’
As Sonko continues to impress on the field, the race to secure his services intensifies. Liverpool, Leipzig, and Bologna are all making significant moves to secure the highly-rated teenager, and his future destination remains uncertain.
