Liverpool and Aston Villa target Jeremy Doku has been lauded by Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe.
The Rennes forward has scored 11 goals in 90 appearances over three seasons in France since joining from Anderlecht in his native Belgium.
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He was previously a target for Southampton in January, and Liverpool have also registered their interest in the past.
Doku, who has faced PSG ace Mbappe on more than one occasion, was praised by the Frenchman in 2021.
“Recently, I was speaking with my father about a player who impressed me because of his speed qualities, that is Doku, at Rennes,” Mbappe was quoted saying two years ago.
“In five years as a professional, I have never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power.”
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City were among the clubs taking a look at the forward when he was plying his trade with Anderlecht.
Though Doku’s father, David, revealed there had been concrete interest in his son in the past – in particular with Liverpool.
“At the age of sixteen Jeremy could sign a pro contract with Anderlecht, but even then Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Ajax and PSV were interested,” he told Het Niewsblad.
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“We then visited clubs like Liverpool and Ajax, but Stellar Group left us the choice. My (David, Doku’s father) preference was Liverpool. How we were received there, damn.
“Trainer Klopp explained how he saw a potential successor to Sadio Mane in Jeremy. Steven Gerrard showed us videos with tactical analysis.
“At the training complex [Simon] Mignolet, [Sadio] Mane and [Georginio] Wijnaldum came to talk to us. Yet Jeremy was distracted by the talk. Liverpool panicked.”
The 21-year-old played 29 matches in Ligue 1 last campaign, scoring six and assisting two goals as his side finished fourth with 68 points.
