Johan Bakayoko is a PSV attacker, and Wim Kieft has stated that he believes speculations linking him to Liverpool are “madness” and that his agent is “putting such reports into the world.”

The Reds don’t appear to have spent much time this summer researching attacking players. Given that they have lost five midfielders permanently, including Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, they have prioritized midfield recruits.

The attacking aspects of the team didn’t really need to be improved. Five first-team caliber strikers already make up the group: Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, and Diogo Jota.

But lately, there have been rumors about PSV winger Bakayoko. Former Dutch football player Kieft thinks it’s absurd that those connections even exist and thinks the player’s agent made them up.

He admitted to being shocked by the news that Liverpool was considering signing Bakayoko to Voetbal Primeur.

That is crazy, isn’t it? That, in my opinion, is complete craziness. I don’t think any of those reports are true. Such reports are just being spread by his operatives.

In light of rumors that the Egyptian winger was considering moving to Saudi Arabia, references to Bakayoko came with the qualification that he was to replace Salah. They weren’t necessarily saying he would replace Salah as the team’s starting offensive player, but rather that he would fill an attacking position.

Bakayoko would likely be introduced gradually while one of the other attackers assumed the starting position. If Salah stays, it seems improbable that he will join, thus it’s really not that crazy.

Bakayoko is too young to join the Premier League, according to Kieft, who also cites the fact that he “often lacks guts” as one of the reasons for his opinion.

However, if he were to be introduced gradually, as would probably be the case for a 20-year-old who has only participated in 42 senior games, he would start to pick things up and advance.

Kieft may be correct that Bakayoko is not yet ready, but his 23 Eredivisie games last season saw him score five goals and assist five times, suggesting he is a player with a bright future, wherever that may be.

It is unnecessary to minimize the talent of a young talent by implying that his agents must have fostered rumors of interest in him.